LSU Football Recruiting 2016: Top Remaining 2016 Recruits, Class Predictions

Following an unusual 2015 season for the LSU Tigers in which it appeared as if head coach Les Miles was going to lose his job, only to be saved after the regular-season finale, this recruiting season is a big one for the program. 

The good news is LSU's incoming class shows that Miles hasn't lost his recruiting chops. Entering national signing day, 247Sports has the Tigers owning the top-ranked class with room to widen that gap if things break their way Wednesday. 

No one can question Miles' ability to relate to young men when it comes to his football program. He's done great work so far, and LSU has the potential to be a national title contender soon if these remaining targets give him their commitments. 

Player	Rating	Status
CB Saivion Smith	4 stars	Enrolled
LB Michael Divinity	4 stars	Enrolled
WR Stephen Sullivan	4 stars	Enrolled
RB Devin White	4 stars	Enrolled
WR Dee Anderson	4 stars	Enrolled
DT Rashard Lawrence	5 stars	Hard Commitment
S Eric Monroe	4 stars	Hard Commitment
DT Edwin Alexander	4 stars	Hard Commitment
LB Erick Fowler	4 stars	Hard Commitment
WR Drake Davis	4 stars	Hard Commitment
G Donavaughn Campbell	4 stars	Hard Commitment
DT Glen Logan	4 stars	Hard Commitment
OT Willie Allen	4 stars	Hard Commitment
DE Rahssan Thornton	4 stars	Hard Commitment
DE Andre Anthony	4 stars	Hard Commitment
CB Andraez Williams	4 stars	Hard Commitment
TE Jamal Pettigrew	4 stars	Hard Commitment
S Cameron Lewis	4 stars	Hard Commitment
DE Caleb Roddy	3 stars	Hard Commitment
WR Da'Monte Coxie	3 stars	Hard Commitment
QB Lindsey Scott	3 stars	Hard Commitment
OT Jakori Savage	3 stars	Hard Commitment
K Connor Culp	3 stars	Hard Commitment

Top Remaining Recruits

Kristian Fulton, Cornerback

As the list of top remaining recruits as well as the commitments LSU has already obtained demonstrate, Miles is at his best bringing in defensive players. 

Kristian Fulton is the best remaining player who is giving the Tigers serious consideration. He's a 5-star talent and the nation's No. 2 cornerback prospect, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. 

LSU would seem to have the upper hand in recruiting Fulton, who is from Metairie, Louisiana, and attends Archbishop Rummel High School. 

However, per Andrew Spivey of Gator Country, Fulton seems to have taken a liking to another SEC school recently:

Keith Fulton, Kristian's father, told Spivey that his son's official visit to Florida was great for everyone involved: 

"

We had a great time. Coach [Tim] Skipper and Coach [Jim McElwain] Mac was great; Coach Mac’s wife was great too. We really enjoyed it and right now in my opinion its like Florida and LSU. People will take that as I’m making a decision for my son, but I think I know what is best for my son and I’m not making his decision for him.

"

While those comments could give fans in Baton Rouge reason to panic, the crystal ball predictions on 247Sports have LSU with a 96 percent chance to secure Fulton's commitment. 

Florida is getting all of the late talk in large part because it was the last school Fulton took an official visit to before national signing day. 

Given how heavy the odds are in LSU's favor because of both Fulton's proximity to campus and the crystal ball predictions, it would be one of the biggest upsets if he opted to play college football for anyone besides the Tigers. 

Prediction: Fulton commits to LSU

Deontay Anderson, Safety

If Fulton's commitment to LSU feels like a foregone conclusion, Deontay Anderson going to Baton Rouge would be a stunner. 

The star safety from Manvel, Texas, does have LSU on his short list of finalists, per 247Sports, and he took an official visit to the campus on Jan. 22. Unfortunately, it ranks last among the major candidates, with fellow SEC programs Mississippi, Texas A&M and Alabama above LSU in 247Sports' crystal ball predictions.

One small feather in LSU's cap from Anderson, per Andrew Lopez of the Times-Picayune, is the fact that he did call the program "DBU" or Defensive Back University. 

Miles does have an ability to develop defensive backs, with players like Jalen Collins (2015), Eric Reid (2013), Tyrann Mathieu (2013), Morris Claiborne (2012) and Patrick Peterson (2011) being drafted into the NFL after successful tenures at LSU. 

Given that kind of track record for Miles and LSU, Anderson would be justified in picking the Tigers. The problem is he would be competing for playing time with two incoming safeties—Eric Monroe and Cameron Lewis—and returning starter Jamal Adams. 

Anderson is one high-profile recruit Miles won't be able to reel in, though safety is a position that appears secure for LSU right now. 

Prediction: Anderson commits to Ole Miss

Trayvon Mullen, Cornerback

One of the most unstable situations on national signing day involves cornerback Trayvon Mullen. Three major players appear to be in the mix for Mullen, who is a 4-star prospect and the No. 6 cornerback, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.

Speaking to Safid Deen of the Tallahassee Democrat, Mullen's high school coach, Kareem Reid, said the star defensive back is "torn" between LSU, Florida State and Clemson. 

One problem Florida State could have in securing Mullen's services, as noted by Deen, is how deep head coach Jimbo Fisher's secondary is heading into 2016:

"

The Seminoles want to add Mullen and four-star cornerback Carlos Becker, who is down to FSU and Ohio State, to the class in addition to the nation’s No. 1 cornerback Levonta Taylor, four-star cornerback Kyle Meyers and four-star defensive back Jamel Cook.

FSU’s defensive-back depth is stacked, and senior Marquez White and lengthy five-star sophomore Tarvarus McFadden are among the early favorites to start at cornerback in 2016.

"

That bodes well for LSU, though its aforementioned depth in the secondary could be problematic for a talented young player who has every reason to think he will see the field early in his career. 

One benefit for the Tigers is the fact that Mullen did tell Chris Kirschner of SECCountry.com that he likes what the coaching staff has been saying to him in recruiting. 

"They are telling me that I fit their style as a cornerback," Mullen said. "Coach (Corey) Raymond, the cornerbacks coach, is a great dude. I feel like I could be coached by him and be a great player. I think I could play right away."

Mullen is a wild card for LSU. The recruiting class won't fall apart if he opts to attend one of the ACC schools, but a commitment from him will allow Miles to boast one of the nation's deepest secondaries heading into next season with all of the incoming talent and the returns of both Adams and Tre'Davious White. 

Prediction: Mullen commits to LSU