Recruits who spurn Tigers draw Miles’ wit
When LSU coach Les Miles met with reporters Wednesday to discuss the Tigers’ 2012 recruiting class, he made veiled references to “third-party” influences that sounded like they were directed toward the recruitment of two top Louisiana players who signed else where: Landon Collins and Torshiro Davis.
Later Wednesday at the Bayou Recruiting Bash, Miles was even more pointed in his comments about another recruit who got away, one-time quarterback commitment Gunner Kiel.
Miles didn’t mention Kiel by name as he addressed the crowd at the Baton Rouge River Center, but it was clear whom he was calling out when he referred to a “gentleman from Indiana.”
Kiel, who switched from Indiana to LSU in December and then from LSU to Notre Dame in January and became an early enrollee in South Bend, is from Columbus, Ind.
“We needed a quarterback. We lost two, so we needed a quarterback in this class,” Miles began, referring to the losses of seniors Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee.
“There was a gentleman from Indiana who thought about coming to the Bayou State. He did not necessarily have the chest and ability to lead a program, so you know.”
Conversely, Miles praised the “chest” of the quarterback that LSU did sign, Oxford, Miss., native Jeremy Liggins.
Miles told reporters he advised Liggins not to announce his commitment in Oxford’s town square as he did Monday night, mere blocks away from the Ole Miss campus.
Liggins did anyway, donning an LSU helmet and Mardi Gras beads to commemorate the moment.
“I enjoyed how he made his decision,” Miles said. “He said, ‘These people are my home and I want to make my announcement there,’ and he did.
“That was a straightforward way to conduct his business.”
Liggins (6-foot-3, 270 pounds) led Lafayette County High School to 32 straight wins to close his prep career and back-to-back Class 4A state championships. He’s ranked No. 93 on the 24/7 Sports Top 247 list of the nation’s top prospects and No. 118 on the ESPNU 150, in both cases as an athlete prospect.
Kiel (6-3, 215), is listed by Scout as the nation’s No. 1 quarterback, the No. 1 pro-style quarterback by Rivals and 24/7 Sports, and No. 3 quarterback by ESPN.
Kiel’s change of heart was one of several disappointments for the Tigers in the final month of the recruiting season.
Kiel’s decision arguably cost LSU a shot at offensive tackle Patrick Miller (6-7, 255) of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Miller planned to enroll at LSU early, but because LSU was holding a spot for Kiel, Miller instead enrolled at Auburn.
LSU also lost Collins to Alabama, and on signing day unexpectedly lost Shreveport Woodlawn defensive end Torshiro Davis to Texas.
In addition to Liggins, the Tigers picked up late pledges Monday from former Texas A&M commitment Corey Thompson (6-2, 205) of Missouri City (Texas) Elkins and on Wednesday from Oxford (Ala.) linebacker Kwon Alexander (6-2, 220).
LSU signed 22 players on Wednesday, Liggins being the only quarterback in the class.
The Tigers’ recruiting class has been ranked anywhere from No. 7 to No. 16 nationally by the major recruiting services.