by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
According to Sports Illustrated, Head Coach Brian Kelly's next hire will be McNeese Head Coach Frank Wilson, a name many LSU fans remember well:
Sharing a birthday with this author, born in New Orleans and playing running back for Nicholls State, Frank Wilson is not only Louisiana through and through, the former McNeese Head Coach grew to become one of the Tigers most legendary recruiters and assistant coaches.
Coaching the running backs, as well as running the recruiting show and serving as Assistant Head Coach, Frank Wilson was brought on staff by former disgraced LSU Head Coach Les Miles, and over his five years, LSU built a national recruiting brand that carried Saban's early 2000s work to another level:
Named National Recruiter of the Year in 3 different years by 3 separate outlets, Scout.com, Rivals.com & NFL.com, Frank Wilson's arrival marked LSU's ascension into the upper echelons of the recruiting world, taking on Alabama toe to toe for each and every player....and with Wilson on our side, rarely, if ever, did a top Louisiana talent leave the state.
Over 6 recruiting classes as LSU's recruiting coordinator, LSU never ranked lower than 13th:
2010: 9th
2011: 8th
2012: 13th
2013: 6th
2014: 2nd
2015: 5th
In his debut class, Wilson signed arguably the greatest defender to ever wear purple & gold, Tyrann Mathieu, one of LSU's best ever safeties (Eric Reid), and recruited a big time running back out of Cincinnati, Spencer Ware.
2011 saw the class go up a notch, Wilson signing 3 five star talents out of the state of Louisiana alone, offensive tackle La'el Collins, DT Anthony Johnson and iconic Tigers WR Jarvis Landry.
2012 may have been Wilson's lowest ranking class during his time at LSU, however he still signed K'won Alexander, perennial NFL Pro Bowl DL Danielle Hunter, DBU Representative and current LSU assistant coach Dwayne Thomas, and yet another great running back, Jeremy Hill.
In 2013, Wilson made a massive push, earning the commitment of other Tiger Legends such as Tre'Davious White, a longtime NFL veteran at center (Ethan Pocic), linebacker Kendell Beckwith, and DL such as the talismanic Christian LaCouture, or talented Tashawn Bower and Lewis Neal....plus current Super Bowl Champion with Tampa Bay, WR Cyril Grayson, a track star Wilson convinced to give football a try.
2014 was arguably the crowning achievement, developing four 5 star players, headlined by RB Leonard Fournette, Malachi Dupre, Clifton Garrett and Tiger Legend Safety Jamal Adams.....oh yeah, the class also had future Tiger #7 D.J Chark, longtime NFL veterans Will Clapp, and Russell Gage.
2015 continued the pace with another trio of 5 star talents, Kevin Toliver, Tyron Johnson and Maea Teuhema, while also supplying record-breaking RB Derrius Guice, DBU standout Donte Jackson, LSU's all time-leading single season sacker Arden Key, RB Nick Brossette, NFL FB Foster Moreau, and long snapping veteran Blake Ferguson.
Overall, we're talking 10 five star talents signed, and from 2011-2014, Frank Wilson's recruiting classes sent 29 players to the NFL (only a single young man behind Alabama's number from the same time frame). Wilson signed three players who'd wear the iconic #7 jersey & 2 who'd dawn the legendary #18...
Combined, his classes have won 7 Super Bowls and played in 8.
With a 2022 class in need of desperate help at the 11th hour, who better for LSU to snag than Frank Wilson?
A man who may specialize in running backs, but can really do it all....
Wilson's help could be especially key in the Tigers' pursuit of 5 star talents Harold Perkins and IMG's Kamari Wilson, the #1 LB and #1 safety of the class, Perkins just coming off an in-home visit with Coach Brian Kelly and Kamari Wilson set for an official visit at LSU this weekend.
We could also see Frank Wilson's return be a game-changer for the recruitment of two mega Louisiana talents, 2022 5 star safety Jacoby Mathews and high 4 star St James WR Shazz Preston, both special talents who were starting to lean away from LSU due to the mounting uncertainty.
Now, with a Head Coach in place and a certified Louisiana recruiting mastermind, you have to feel Kelly's vision is not only right for LSU, it's actually an upgrade over the previous few seasons.....regardless of the Tigers' top 5 nationally ranked recruiting classes.
Wilson always made sure needs were met.....he never let the roster suffer with gaping holes, especially in the trenches or skill positions.
Brian Kelly's recall of Frank Wilson is not only a major stroke of genius, it's exactly what I've been demanding of LSU since Wilson walked out the door:
But in 2021, I feel like there's every opportunity for the Kelly / Wilson braintrust to pay even greater dividends than during the mid 2010s...now LSU are a proven quarterback school....
Frank Wilson and LSU = National Championships.
by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
Copyright 2021 Uninterrupted Writings Inc
SHOUTOUTS: WELCOME BACK COACH WILSON!