Lonn Phillips Sullivan
Dec 29, 20203 min
by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
Detailing a few recruiting newsies for Tiger fans, here it is:
It's now time we follow up what we predicted just the other day on our 2021 offensive line piece:
Well, only 12 hours after posting & sending that article to Kimo Makaneole himself, the Niceville, Florida guard has decommitted from Florida State, with LSU as his only other known / proclaimed destination.
Anyone with half of a brain would say he's LSU-bound at this point and we'll even go as far to call him an LSU lock right now (especially with the impending news of Ed Ingram's NFL plunge...heard here first).
It also helps that both Makaneole parents are firmly in LSU's corner & the guard sees himself as a day one starter; James Cregg feels the 6'4 285 pound guard could be, too.
On January 2nd we know Leigh and Foreman will announce, however we always skip over another important Tigers announcement, that of local U-High safety Jardin Gilbert.
The 8th overall talent out of the Boot, Gilbert has become a priority for DBU Miyagi Corey Raymond, even further than I previously believed and his signature for LSU's 2021 class is now guaranteed.
Most years, Coach O and the staff may have looked at their loaded safety room (Sage Ryan, Matthew Langlois, Derrick Davis Jr) and chased other prospects...
However this year more than others, Orgeron is making damn sure LSU won't get burned by defecting local talent again (like Devonta Smith did this year or Travis Etienne nearly pulled off last January)....which makes a top 165 player and top 11 safety a must.
Regarding LSU's other targets, we're hearing Korey Foreman and Raesjon Davis are collaborating to stay home in Southern California....and it's nearly a lock.
Foreman's decision will be key to Raesjon's choice, although the sense is LSU are gradually losing grasp of their former #1 LB commit.
I'll have much more for you soon...
While things are in true toss-up territory for Tristan Leigh, I can't help but feel LSU are winning the war for the real #1 overall OL.
Slowly but surely, Leigh is trending to LSU and in the end, based on my own reporting and interviewing, I FIRMLY BELIEVE the Tigers will secure his signature on January 2nd.
Too many things are falling in the Tigers' favor behind the scenes right now, although the social media campaign led by Garrett Nussmeier, @aperkins2113 and @Pegredd has paid massive dividends in keeping the perpetual positive purple and gold vibes flowing.
Leigh to LSU???
I'm also hearing there are a few random targets LSU have in their sights in case of certain happenings:
Snow College offensive tackle (and #1 rated JUCO OT) Jordan Moko would be pounced upon as an "O-line replacement" if the Tigers miss on either Leigh or Kimo...
Walker High superstar Brian Thomas is also in play for the Tigers, edging closer to purple and gold due to his epic friendship with LSU signee Chris Hilton, another top 10 receiver from Louisiana.
Hilton is working Thomas hard, alongside WRs Coach Mickey Joseph, though it's Coach Orgeron himself who's taken the lead down the final stretch, calling Brian as many times as allowed by LSU's self-imposed sanctions.
Once again, Coach O is putting a huge emphasis on keeping the best local players in Louisiana, and he's nearly kept them ALL in state, forcing a flip from Miss State-bound Malik Nabers, staving off Bama for Sage Ryan, dominating in the chase for Maason Smith, pulling Chris Hilton homeward, and finally, making sure the best DE in the country knew his value could only be maximized in Baton Rouge....(Saivion)....
We feel Brian Thomas has one foot in the LSU door...he's getting closer to defying both A&M (our previous favorites for his signing just a month ago) and Alabama in order to stay home at LSU....and just think of the terrifying prospects:
Trying to cover Deion Smith, Chris Hilton, Brian Thomas, Jack Bech AND Kayshon Boutte on the field simultaneously???
I think LSU will have the #1 2021 receiving unit finishing with Smith, Hilton, Bech and Thomas combined with LSU's specimen upperclassmen (Boutte, Jenkins, Palmer, Moore, Gilbert potentially)....
My record so far from Signing Day:
(Key wins: MAASON, DERRICK, GOODWIN & LANGSTON FLIPS, SAGE RYAN WHILE EVERYONE SAID "BAMA")
(Losses: JO JO EARLE & KEANU KOHT)
21. SAIVION JONES (DE)
22. RAESJON DAVIS (LB)
23. KIMO MAKANEOLE (OG)
24. TRISTAN LEIGH (OT)
25. BRIAN THOMAS (WR)
GREYSHIRT:
26.JARDIN GILBERT (S)
OR JORDAN MOKO (OT)
21. SAIVION JONES (DE)
22. JARDIN GILBERT (S)
23. TRISTAN LEIGH (OT)
24. KIMO MAKANEOLE (OG)
25. BRIAN THOMAS (WR)
(26. JORDAN MOKO OG)
By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
Copyright 2020 Uninterrupted Writings Inc LLC
SHOUTOUTS: HARRRRROLD! EL JEFE! 1971JIM, CLAYETH MY BROTHA,
I LOVE YOU RICHARD SALOOM YOU CRAZY DOOD.