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by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
Over the next month, many of America's top recruits will descend upon every top college football program, with some high profile commitments and forged favorites to be expected in their wake.
During 2021, many recruits kept their options open until way late in the process (due to a lack of visits); On the flipside, 2022 has shown recruits stacking visit after visit....LSU one week, Bama the next, Ohio State after. Because of these hyperventilating itineraries, this month could see a whirlwind gold rush of major first impressions taking place:
Already boasting a trio of five star commitments to go alongside their #3 ranked national class (#2 in the SEC), Orgeron's Tigers seek to knock Alabama off their perch from last year's #1 highest ever ranked class or Georgia & Ohio State from their current lead atop the rankings board.
And they have worked their way to a mighty establishment which could make those lofty goals possible: in fact, it's not out of the realm of possibility for LSU to sign between 5-8 five star athletes for the first time in the school's illustrious history.
LSU, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Florida, USC, Ohio State among others will host 2022's premier talents, from Shemar Stewart to Shazz Preston, Walter Nolen, Emery Jones, Enai White, Devon Campbell, Keon Sabb, Malik Agbo, Harold Perkins, Denver Harris, Kamari Wilson, Quency Wiggins, and Amori Abor to name a few of 2022's high octane class.
Maybe we won't see a billion commitments in June, but it could be a time where a certain comfort level will crop up and favorites will likely emerge... all starting from these first visits.
Because these young recruits haven't experienced collegiate visits yet, there will be a hell of an opportunity for LSU to wow prospects with our stunning new facilities.
Unlike Georgia, Clemson, Florida, A&M, among many others, Louisiana State can show off their CFP Championship trophy, Burrow's Heisman, Reed & Chase's Biletnikoff awards, Peterson, Claiborne & Delpit's Thorpes, the 2019 Tigers' Joe Moore Award, our unparalleled in-game simulator, all backed up by LSUHQ's state of the art amenities at every turn.
There aren't many schools who can combine LSU's notorious brand of rock star living with the program's championship pedigree and team / individual success.
June 2021 will be the first time in over a year and a half since the Tigers last officially hosted recruits on campus.
During that time, LSU has taken a major public relations hit due to the Title IX scandal, primarily under prior Head Coach Les Miles' tenure, all while recruits and their families have only been able to communicate with staff through Zoom, text messages or phone calls.
This month is a great time for the University to remind everyone why LSU is the #1 institution in America, why it's a special community to be a part of & how the University is forging forward in a positive direction. It'll also be a lot easier to communicate to parents directly when a concerned mother asks "why LSU failed in the past and how they're going to improve in the future".
LSU's staff must make a big connection with the 2022 class.... not only on a personal or footballing level, but in a genuine all out blitz to restore the Tigers brand from Title IX's damage.
In person, parents will be able to spot the sincerity a mile away far better than over the phone or through Zoom. Also helping LSU's unique approach to recruiting? Visits offer a chance for actions to back up the talk, and in doing so, there is no better recruiter in the country than Head Coach Ed Orgeron's brand of "stallion's swagger and homecooked chill".
If Orgeron had the opportunity to recruit 2021 5 star standouts Raesjon Davis and Tristan Leigh in person during the height of LSU's scandal, I know Coach O would've signed both players.
Despite a few losses on the 2021 trail, we found out who were true believers in the Tiger Way when recruits had to blindly make a choice and ride alongside whom they felt most supported by, comfortable around, and ready to have as their coach.
More often than not, when it came to a player LSU had a universally high feeling about (both staff and fan base), those young men chose to ride with Coach O during a pandemic, realizing his foxhole would be where they'd receive the most support. Included among the list are high ranked out of state recruits such as Texas' Garrett Nussmeier, Michigan's Garrett Dellinger, Maryland's Greg Penn III or Pennsylvania's Derrick Davis Jr.
There's a primary reason why players believe in what Orgeron sells:
When you ask 'what's Orgeron really about? What's he going to be like when the cameras turn off?', all you have to do is ask Warren Sapp, Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, Patrick Willis, Joe Burrow, Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Mike Wallace or K'Lavon Chaisson how he is.
Many have criticized Orgeron for the undying support he's given his players, current and former, even when everyone is screaming at the man to give up on a player such as Arik Gilbert (for the most recent example), Coach O has stopped at nothing to defend, support and try to reunite with his former player.
Even going so far as to take media haymakers from all sides, after his "homesick" comments about Gilbert, Coach O continued to recruit the polarizing star....
That's the kind of personal dedication and loyalty young "student-athletes" won't be able to find anywhere else in college football's cutthroat "business before the business" set up.
As the 2022 class race heats up to match this summer's blistering pummeling from good ol' Ray Baker, much of the top prospects remain up for grabs.
With LSU potentially able to sign the nation's #1 class and their highest ranked cycle ever, June will be the first key month of many in securing these historic marks.
JUNE 4TH VISITS:
-Kelvin Banks OT (Summer Creek)
-Kam Dewberry OT (Atascoita)
-Shemar Stewart DE (Monsignor Pace)
-Terrance Gibbs RB (Winter Park)
JUNE 5TH VISITS:
-Julian Armella OL (St Thomas Aquinas)
JUNE 11TH VISITS:
-Denver Harris CB (North Shore)
-Malik Agbo OT (Todd Beamer)
-Omari Abor DE (Duncanville)
JUNE 16TH VISITS:
-Nyjalik Kelly DL (Dillard)
JUNE 18TH VISITS:
-Chris "Uno" Graves DB (Bishop Verot)
-Dominick James DT (IMG)
-DeMario Tolan LB (Dr. Phillips)
-Azareyeh Thomas DE (Niceville)
-Sam McCall ATH (Lake Gibson)
OCTOBER 2ND VISITS:
-Earl Little Jr CB (American Heritage)
COMMITMENT PREDICTION:
-If the Tigers are able to hold serve during Shemar Stewart's upcoming visit on June 4th, let alone improve their standing with Monsignor Pace's 5 star defensive end, he will sign with LSU.
More predictions? Check out our Updated Predictions Piece HERE
By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
Copyright 2021 Uninterrupted Writings Inc
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