Best Recruiting Class Ever?

I'm back. Like it or not. Thanks to Joshua for keeping the site going while I adjusted to a new job and a new baby.

So. Could it be? The best LSU recruiting class ever? Well, national signing day is a long way off. But, we can estimate and extrapolate. Why not? The worst that could happen is that I'm wrong...again.

Before I start, a few caveats and disclaimers.

First, these are kids. Some of them completely unpredictable. So this is all just a fun exercise in futility. You dig? I knew that you could. Second, the Rivals and Scout star ratings are imperfect but useful for reference. Third, I have zero inside info, expertise, or access. I'm pulling all this out of my butt. Charming, no? Fourth, how many commitments will the Tigers accept? The general consensus online seems to be somewhere close to 25. So that's the number I'm going to play with.

OK. Where we at? As of right now, LSU has the following verbal commitments. (Pos, Rivals/Scout)

Current Commitments

Russell Shepard (QB, 5/5)
Michael Ford (RB, 4/4)
Dexter Pratt (RB, 4/4)
Stavion Lowe (OL, 4/4)
Janzen Jackson (DB, 4/4)
Michael Brockers (DL, 4/4)
Drayton Calhoun (Ath, 4/4)
Kevin Minter (LB, 3/4)
Chris Faulk (OL, 4/3)
Carneal Ainsworth (OL, 3/3)
Josh Downs (DL, 3/3)
Willie Ferrell (LB, 3/3)
Chris Garrett (QB, 3/3)
Henry Orelus (OL, 3/3)
Josh Williford (OL, NA/3)

That looks like a strong but not necessarily record breaking beginning. A couple of notes worth pondering. Russell Shepard may be one of the most popular football players in LSU history when his time as a Tiger is complete. So far, he's been nothing short of a phenomenon as a recruit. Chris Faulk is probably way underrated, even by Rivals. I'm reading that he looks as good as the best OLs in the country at camp. And Rivals hasn't rated Williford yet for whatever reason.

OK. So, that's 15 commitments. What might the last ten look like? Here are a couple of permutations for your enjoyment. First, the most unlikely but most fun to imagine.

DREAM CLASS

Russell Shepard (QB, 5/5)
Craig Loston (S, 5/5)
Chris Davenport (DL, 5/5)
Jamarkus McFarland (DL, 5/5)
Rueben Randle (WR, 5/5)
Andre Debose (WR, 5/5)
Gabe Lynn (DB, 5/5)
Michael Ford (RB, 4/4)
Dexter Pratt (RB, 4/4)
Stavion Lowe (OL, 4/4)
Janzen Jackson (DB, 4/4)
Michael Brockers (DL, 4/4)
Drayton Calhoun (Ath, 4/4)
Kenny Bell or Kraig Appleton (WR, 4/4)
Jarvis Jones or Barkevious Mingo (LB, 4/4)
Darrington Sentimore (DL, 4/4)
Richard Wilson or Orson Charles (TE, 4/4)
Kevin Minter (LB, 3/4)
Chris Faulk (OL, 4/3)
Carneal Ainsworth (OL, 3/3)
Josh Downs (DL, 3/3)
Willie Ferrell (LB, 3/3)
Chris Garrett (QB, 3/3)
Henry Orelus (OL, 3/3)
Josh Williford (OL, NA/3)

Go on. Sniff it. Savor it. Read it again. And again. And again. It likely won't happen. But it is possible. And that says volumes about where the program is right now. Seven five-stars. 4.0 star average rating. Add to that the real possibility that one or more of Garrett, Ferrell, Faulk and/or Minter are underrated - and that's a smokin class, bro.

Notes: Loston decommiting from Clemson and becoming a Tiger is a very real possibility, even likely. Davenport is a virtual lock. McFarland looks promising. Randle won't make his decision until the end of the season (so he says) but I'm thinking we'll be saving a seat for him. DeBose and Lynn are longer shots, but neither are out of the question and I think DeBose had a blast at the camp this week. Mingo and Sentimore are likely to accept commitable offers. As is Bell. And I think LSU has a good shot at either of the two TEs. So, even though this is a dream list in it's entirety, half of it is very likely to happen and the other half is doable enough to make it very, very compelling. I'm sure I've left out your favorite. That's what the comment section is for, meat.

MORE LIKELY OUTCOME

Russell Shepard (QB, 5/5)
Craig Loston (S, 5/5)
Chris Davenport (DL, 5/5)
Jamarkus McFarland (DL, 5/5)
Rueben Randle (WR, 5/5)
Michael Ford (RB, 4/4)
Dexter Pratt (RB, 4/4)
Stavion Lowe (OL, 4/4)
Janzen Jackson (DB, 4/4)
Michael Brockers (DL, 4/4)
Drayton Calhoun (Ath, 4/4)
Kenny Bell or Kraig Appleton (WR, 4/4)
Rontavious Wooten (WR, 4/4)
Jarvis Jones or Barkevious Mingo (LB, 4/4)
Darrington Sentimore (DL, 4/4)
Richard Wilson or Orson Charles (TE, 4/4)
Kevin Minter (LB, 3/4)
Chris Faulk (OL, 4/3)
Toben Opurum (FB, 3/3)
Carneal Ainsworth (OL, 3/3)
Josh Downs (DL, 3/3)
Willie Ferrell (LB, 3/3)
Chris Garrett (QB, 3/3)
Henry Orelus (OL, 3/3)
Josh Williford (OL, NA/3)

Still not too shabby! Lose a couple of five stars, pick up a 3-star FB and a WR with a name to go with Barkevious Mingo. Barkevious, Rontavious. Rontavious, Barkevious. Five 5-stars, and a 3.9 average rating.

Other possibilities? McFarland is from Texas. His Mom likes Texas and is very involved in his decision making, as it should be. So he's anything but a lock. Bell and Sentimore are flirting with Lord Saban and the Bammers. The out of state talent is so thick on LSU's board that it is not beyond reason that the Tide could snag either or both of these two because LSU has had so much success in Texas, Florida and elsewhere. It's also likely that the coaches will take a chance on a couple of lesser known "projects" in the hopes of finding the next Jacob Hester (2/3) or Brett Helms (3/3). And I wouldn't put it past the coaching staff to have the inroads on a 5-star that noone seems to think LSU has a chance at (Xavier Nixon (OL), Nico Johnson (LB), Marlon Brown (WR)).

Regardless (cause irregardless aint a word, dude) I dub thee a lock for one of the best three classes ever. We'll see which of the three you turn out to be. Either way - me likey.