LSU Football Recruiting: Top Positional Needs for 2011
LSU goes into the 2011 season as one of the most talented and experienced teams in the nation and will likely hold a preseason top-five ranking.
Despite the enormous amount of talent returning from the 2010 season, the Tigers do need to improve production at certain positions and add depth at others.
Currently the No. 8 recruiting class in the nation, the Tigers have another great group of recruits coming in that could make an immediate impact on the field.
LSU has a legitimate shot to compete for an SEC and BCS title in 2011, but to reach this goal it will need young kids, some true freshmen, to step into the lineup and make a difference. If some of these holes are filled, Tiger fans may see their team come home with a third national championship in nine years and improve the SEC’s national title streak to six.
Offensive Line
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With only one starter from their 2010 offensive line departing, LSU will have an experienced group returning for the 2011 season.
Seniors T-Bob Hebert, Will Blackwell and Josh Dworaczyk along with junior Alex Hurst will return from last year’s starting lineup. This group, if they all remain starters, will be joined by a new starting tackle, likely sophomore Chris Faulk, sophomore Evan Washington or incoming freshman La’El Collins.
Collins is the top-ranked tackle in this year’s recruiting class and will compete for a starting role immediately.
The Tigers will have a host of young talent on the offensive line thanks to a deep recruiting class. Corey White, Jonah Austin and Trai Turner will add needed depth at the position.
Top Incoming Recruits:
- La’El Collins
- Jonah Austin
- Trai Turner
- Corey White
Wide Receiver
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Although LSU does have three very good receivers in Russell Shepard, Rueben Randle and Chris Tolliver, the Tigers lack depth at the position.
With a new, pass-happy offensive coordinator in Steve Kragthorpe, the Tigers will be utilizing their wide receivers a lot more in 2011 and thus will need more than three capable wide receivers.
Incoming recruits Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham, Jr. are more than capable of playing significant roles in the Tiger offense as true freshmen.
If the Tigers spread the field with four or five receivers, defensive coordinators will have a nightmare of a time trying to cover the speed and allusiveness of Shepard and Beckham, Jr. as well as the size and speed of Randle and Landry.
Top Incoming Recruits:
- Jarvis Landry
- Odell Beckham, Jr.
Linebacker
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The Tigers are returning two very solid senior linebackers in Ryan Baker and Stefoin Francois, but the depth chart behind these guys includes one junior and nine sophomores, so there will definitely be competition for the remaining starting spot.
Incoming freshman Trevon Randle is unlikely to take this starting spot immediately, as he is a very raw talent at linebacker. The spot will most likely be filled by Jarrett Hardnett or Justin Maclin.
The Tigers do still have an outside chance of landing one of two top linebacker recruits still uncommitted.
Curt Maggitt, out of Florida, has the Florida Gators at the top of his list, but is still considering LSU.
The Tigers have a better chance of landing the No. 9 linebacker in the nation in C.J. Johnson, a 6’2”, 225 lb player out of Mississippi. Johnson currently has the Tigers at the top of his list, but is also considering Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
Top Incoming Recruit:
- Trevon Randle
Kicker
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The Tigers are not only losing their starting kicker, but also an emotional team leader and fan favorite in Josh Jasper.
Replacing Jasper will not be as easy. The first consensus All-American placekicker in LSU history, Jasper was not only an accurate kicker and an elite pooch-punter, but a game-changer known for his unique fakes that led to conversions at critical times in LSU’s season.
The competition to replace Jasper will not just be about kicking. The fans have come to expect more in Baton Rouge. Fans will be severely disappointed if the new kicker does not have the flare for the dramatic and the courage and toughness to put his body on the line for the sake of the team.
Competing for the kicking job will be incoming recruit James Hairston, senior Trent Hebert, junior Drew Alleman and 6’6” 215 lb sophomore Seth Mannon.
Top Incoming Recruit:
- James Hairston
Quarterback
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LSU is not losing any quarterbacks to the NFL or graduation, but the position still remains one of the biggest needs for the Tigers.
Quarterback production was non-existent in 2010 with the passing game ranking 107th nationally.
The 2011 preseason will be a full-fledged competition as the Tigers and new offensive coordinator Steve Kragthorpe look to get the passing game moving.
Additions to the quarterback competition will be incoming recruits Zach Mettenberger, a junior college transfer and Stephen Rivers, the younger brother of San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. The Tigers also have sophomores Alex Walton and Barrett Bailey and experienced senior Jarrett Lee to push incumbent starter Jordan Jefferson for the starting role.
The Tigers will unlikely rotate quarterbacks again in 2011, so look for this fierce competition to be settled before the start of the season.
Top Incoming Recruits:
- Zach Mettenberger (Junior College)
- Stephen Rivers
