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Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert won’t be the only headliners on the LSU campus this weekend. For LSU football fans, the Bayou Country Superfest at Tiger Stadium will merely be the sound track for the Bayou Picnic recruiting event Saturday on the LSU campus. The Bayou Picnic will allow LSU coaches to entertain some of … Continue reading →
D’haquille Williams decommitted from the LSU football team Tuesday. If you belong to the increasingly small demographic that doesn’t follow — and by follow I mean live and die — football recruiting with missionary-like zeal, this is not going to register as much of a blip on your radar. If you are recruitnik, more specifically an … Continue reading →
NEW ORLEANS — On his way to the Riverside Hilton on Tuesday on the Tiger Tour, Les Miles undoubtedly was tempted to detour by 2600 A.P. Tureaud or 3332 Huntlee Drive in Algiers. Those are the locations of St. Augustine and Karr high schools, both with multiple players the Tigers are recruiting, including five-star running … Continue reading →
NEW ORLEANS — The Tulane men’s basketball team may have found its replacement for departing point guard Ricky Tarrant, signing junior college prospect Malcolm Canada. Canada, a 6-foot-3 point guard from Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa, committed to the Green Wave two weeks ago, took his official visit last weekend and faxed … Continue reading →
LSU’s promising 2014 football recruiting class picked up a tangible new asset Friday night as D’haquille Williams of East St. John, the nation’s top-ranked junior college prospect, committed to the Tigers, according to multiple recruiting services. Williams (6-foot-3 and 190 pounds) is rated a five-star prospect by 24/7 Sports and the nation’s No. 1 junior college player. Continue reading →
2014 commitments (10) Donnie Alexander, LB, 6-1, 196, New Orleans Edna Karr Garrett Brumfield, OG, 6-4, 285, University William Clapp, OG, 6-4, 270, New Orleans Brother … Continue reading →
NEW ORLEANS - Tulane's mens basketball team received its second commitment of the spring when Ryan Smith pledged his future to the Green Wave on Tuesday night. The 6-foot-11 center from Escondito, Calif. adds significant size to the Tulane roster, which lost three post players to transfer in the offseason, including first-team All-Conference USA forward Josh Davis. Smith said he chose Tulane … Continue reading →
NEW ORLEANS — Leonard Fournette and Speedy Noil will be wearing purple and gold at LSU on Saturday. But don’t read too much into that, recruitniks. Fournette, the running back from St. Augustine, and Noil, the wide receiver from Karr, ranked the nation’s No. 1 and 8 football prospects by ESPN, will be sporting … Continue reading →
Garrett Brumfield has played his entire high school career on the LSU campus. Saturday, he apparently decided to stay for college, too. The highly sought-after
University High offensive guard became LSU’s ninth commitment for the Class of 2014 when he gave his pledge to LSU, according to 24/7 Sports and Rivals.com. One of … Continue reading →
Brian Bridgewater had a
secret. The Scotlandville High School basketball standout said he committed to LSU a few weeks ago and opted to keep things quiet until Wednesday. That’s when the 6-foot-5 Bridgewater signed with the Tigers, trumpeting what turned out to be a good recruiting day for Baton Rouge and its teams. Two of … Continue reading →
The last year of the Rob Spivery era at Southern, the men’s basketball team had more players from New Jersey (four) than Louisiana (three). Spivery’s successor took more big steps Wednesday toward enhancing the program’s local flavor. On the first day of college basketball’s spring signing period, Southern coach Roman Banks welcomed aboard four players who … Continue reading →
Fifteen time zones, a hemisphere and 8,975 miles separate Baton Rouge from the Australian city of Canberra. Stated another way, it’s helpful to have fax machines cover the distance when LSU accepts its sole letter of intent from center Darcy Malone on an otherwise quiet signing day for coach Johnny Jones and the Tigers. In early February, the wispy … Continue reading →
First-round softball playoff games and pivotal district baseball games help highlight Tuesday’s high school sports schedule in the Baton Rouge area. Top-seeded Brusly (28-2) hosts Avoyelles at 5 p.m. in Class 3A action, while No. 2-seeded St. Amant (24-2) hosts Lafayette High also at 5 p.m. to lead a large list of Class 5A teams competing on … Continue reading →
The main pitch of the LSU football team to high school football players it is recruiting is the fact that the Tigers send a lot of players into the National Football League. LSU had 28 former players at its recent pro day. What kind of impact will that have on recruiting? In this video, Advocate Online Sports Editor Pierce W. Huff talks with LSU recruiting coordinator/running backs coach Frank Wilson. Continue reading →
Florida Gulf Coast is trending big time right now, so the LSU football team decided to get in on the act by dipping into FGCU’s part of the Sunshine State for its newest commitment. Sharieff Rhaheed, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound defensive end from Fort Pierce (Fla.) Central announced that he has become the Tigers’ eighth commitment for the … Continue reading →
Dylan Moses isn’t old enough to have a learner’s permit or take his first high school class, but twice in the past year he has become the biggest school-age sensation in Louisiana this side of 9-year-old Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis. Moses made national headlines last summer — the summer before he began his eighth-grade year at … Continue reading →
Forget Paris? Perhaps that would be LSU coach Les Miles’ advice to other schools after his Tigers received their biggest commitment to date for the Class of 2014. Ed Paris, a five-star cornerback from Mansfield (Texas) Timberview, near Arlington, announced his commitment to LSU on Monday evening, cutting short a plan to wait until his birthday (March … Continue reading →
When it comes to the talent-laden team at Edna Karr, all eyes on the LSU Tigers’ 2014 recruiting effort have been on players like wide receiver Speedy Noil and defensive end Gerald Willis. Noil and Willis may become stars of LSU’s class one day, but on Sunday teammate Donnie Alexander beat them both to the punch by … Continue reading →
Denham Springs High defensive lineman Tevin Lawson is scheduled to sign with TCU at 1 p.m. Friday at the school, according to DSHS coach Dru Nettles. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound Lawson committed to LSU last spring and then wound up looking at other options after the Tigers asked him to take grayshirt offer instead of signing earlier this … Continue reading →
The fax machine at the LSU football office still hasn’t cooled off from receiving letters of intent on National Signing Day last Wednesday, but the Tigers staff is hard at work laying the foundation for the highly anticipated Class of 2014. To that end, LSU is expected to welcome more than 80 prospects to campus Saturday for … Continue reading →
The football factory that is Louisiana rarely if ever slows production, though there are some years that stand out more than others. The Class of 2001 has long been the standard by which other Louisiana recruiting classes are judged. Seven members of The Advocate’s Super Dozen that year went on to play in the NFL, among them … Continue reading →
There was no reason for signing day sulking Wednesday at LSU. No reason to question anyone’s chest. Only one reason, within reason, for gray clouds to slide across the Baton Rouge sky and spit rain down on the Bayou Bash Recruiting Party, and even that disappointment was a bit like worrying about the taxes when holding a $30 … Continue reading →
Maquedius Bain (6-5, 286, DT) Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) University Has great size and projects to play on the inside of the defensive line. … A participant in the 2013 Under Armour All-American Game with the Black Team. … A four-star prospect by ESPN and 24/7 Sports. … … Continue reading →
Player HOMETOWN/SCHOOL POS HT. WT. CONSIDERING Donnie Alexander New Orleans/Karr LB 6-0 196 LSU, Ariz St Terrence Alexander River Ridge/John Curtis CB 5-9 167 Miss, Ark, Stan, Cinn, KSU Kendall Ardoin Ville Platte/Ville Platte TE 6-5 215 LSU, ULL, Tulane, Miss St Garrett Brumfield (ESPN, Rivals, 64) Baton Rouge/University OG 6-3 264 LSU, Ala, Fla, A&M, FSU Continue reading →
NEW ORLEANS — The bottom of the news release announcing Tulane’s 2013 football recruiting class included information for purchasing season tickets. If just the friends and families of the bulk of those who signed with the Green Wave on Wednesday choose to do so, then the phones should be ringing off the hook. Continue reading →
CLINTON — Leaning against a brick wall in the East Feliciana High School gym, Urhonda Beckwith snapped to attention Wednesday at the marimba ringtone chirping from her iPhone. Urhonda grinned, glancing over at her son, linebacker Kendell Beckwith, the top prospect in Louisiana. She tilted her phone to show him the caller: LSU recruiting coordinator … Continue reading →
The day in December when he was introduced as Southern’s new football coach, Dawson Odums promised to make anybody “within a tank of gas” the focus of the program’s recruiting efforts. Odums made good on the commitment in putting together his first recruiting class. Seventeen of the 26 newcomers whom Southern celebrated Wednesday are prospects who … Continue reading →
LOGANVILLE, Ga. — The bright red dress worn by the mother of the country’s No. 1 college football prospect should have offered a clue as to where her son would land. Before a near-packed house in his school’s auditorium and what was no doubt a large viewing audience on ESPNU, Grayson High School … Continue reading →
HAMMOND — Southeastern Louisiana football coach Ron Roberts is about to find out if the old adage “bigger is better” really holds true. The Lions unveiled a 37-man recruiting class on Wednesday, with an emphasis on bulking up the offensive and defensive lines and adding experience in several areas. SLU’s class includes three … Continue reading →
Tim Williams’ signing day story was a tale of two tables. Darian Claiborne got an early-morning haircut to make sure it looked just right, while Shelby Christy made sure his new colors were in full view. The three Baton Rouge area standouts played for different high schools, but shared a special bond by signing football scholarships with … Continue reading →
To the victors go many of the National Signing Day spoils. On Wednesday, the New Orleans area’s three high school football state championship schools celebrated the college decisions of some of their best playmakers. Karr’s Titus Charles drew laughs as he struggled to put his Southeastern University cap over his full head of hair. Charles … Continue reading →
THIBODAUX — Nicholls State stuck with its plan to recruit Louisiana athletes by signing 13 state prospects, including four from the Baton Rouge area on Wednesday. “We are very excited about this signing class,” Nicholls State Charlie Stubbs said in a university news release. “We have some versatile players in many of the positions that … Continue reading →
NEW ORLEANS — Edward Williams felt overwhelmed Tuesday night, the eve of National Signing Day. Unsure which of his favorite college choices — Oregon State, Texas Tech and Tulane — he wanted to sign a letter of intent with Wednesday morning. Then Williams, a 6-foot-3 linebacker at Warren Easton, received a call that night … Continue reading →
Grambling (19) *Aaron Breed, LB, 5-10, 215, Trinity Valley C.C./Kirbyville, Texas Arkez Cooper, DE, 6-2, 220, Mansfield Myles Davis, OL, 6-6, 355, Acadiana High/Scott Tristan Durden, OL, 6-2, 300, Tatum/Beckville, Texas Jerod Fisher, LB, 6-1, 230, Stevenson … Continue reading →
2013 COMMITMENTS (27) 1. Chuck Baker, WR, 6-1, 190, Slidell Salmen 2. Kendell Beckwith, ATH, 6-3, 225, Jackson East Feliciana 3. Josh Boutte, OG, 6-4, 305, New Iberia Westgate 4. Tashawn Bower, DE, 6-5, 241, Somerville, N.J. Immaculata Continue reading →
NEW ORLEANS — Edward Williams felt overwhelmed Tuesday night, the eve of National Signing Day. He was unsure of which of his favorite college choices — Oregon State, Texas Tech and Tulane — he wanted to sign a letter of intent with the following morning. Then Williams, a 6-foot-3 linebacker at Warren Easton, … Continue reading →
LORANGER — Even the best recruiting efforts run into roadblocks. The NCAA mandates quiet periods and dead periods throughout the recruiting season, times when coaches are limited or forbidden from talking to prospective players. That’s when schools need an alternative plan. That’s when they need a Jeryl Brazil. For the top prospects, … Continue reading →
A year ago, the excitement bubble over LSU recruiting slowly collapsed like a cake that lost its lift. First, Dutchtown’s Landon Collins picked Alabama over LSU, then Alabama beat LSU in the BCS national championship game. Hot shot quarterback Gunner Kiel switched commitments from Indiana to LSU to Notre Dame, prompting a frustrated LSU coach Les … Continue reading →
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) - Second-year Mississippi coach Hugh Freeze is poised to haul in a big recruiting class on Wednesday's national signing day. The list of potential names is stunning for a program the caliber of Ole Miss, which isn't known for its ability to attract big-time prospects. A perfect storm of family ties, momentum and Freeze's recruiting experience has brought … Continue reading →
Erstwhile LSU commitment Chuck Baker tops the list of players expected to sign with new Southern football coach Dawson Odums on Wednesday. Baker committed to LSU nearly a year ago, but the sides parted ways soon after Baker completed his senior season. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound receiver is listed as a three-star recruit by Rivals, Scout and … Continue reading →
LSU recruiting is in its stretch run before Signing Day but, thanks to commitments from players like Curtis linebacker Duke Riley, the Tigers should be fine. In this "Final Score" podcast, Advocate Online Sports Editor Pierce W. Huff and Advocate sportswriter Scott Rabalais talk about LSU's current recruiting class and the Tigers preparations for Signing Day. Continue reading →
East Feliciana rush defensive end/linebacker Kendell Beckwith talks with Advocate Online Sports Editor Pierce W. Huff about his commitment to LSU, the strong, favorable impressions he got from the Tigers' coaching staff and the team's strong recruiting class. Continue reading →
LSU clearly made a strong impression on the nation’s
No. 1 prospect during his official visit this weekend. The question remains is it strong enough to convince Robert Nkemdiche to sign with the Tigers on Wednesday? Nkemdiche (6-foot-5, 265 pounds), the highly lauded and highly sought defensive end from Logansville (Ga.) Grayson, tweeted several positive messages … Continue reading →
The LSU Tigers went into the last weekend of the 2013 recruiting season with some concerns about a repeat of last year’s 11th-hour flip by long-time commitment Torshiro Davis to Texas. But LSU appeared to weather the potential storm with its recruiting class intact as the Tigers try to hold onto the 27 pledges (plus one early … Continue reading →
Despite the fact that 2013 has been an above-average year for football talent in Louisiana, and that LSU has kept most of the top talent it wanted in state, LSU’s coaches have nonetheless wracked up plenty of frequent-flyer miles to assemble this year’s class. Of LSU’s current haul — 27 commitments and one early junior college signee … Continue reading →