LSU 2015 Recruiting Preview: Defensive Backs

LSU once again added fantastic DB's in their 2014 class, namely, two of the top three safeties in the nation, No. 2 overall, and five-star, Jamal Adams, and No. 3 overall and four-star, Ed Paris. The future of the LSU Secondary continues to look brighter and brighter. But you have to keep replenishing. And LSU is doing that. And boy could it be good. So let's take a look at some commits and targets from the 2015 DB class who could be making their way to Baton Rouge.

Cornerback

Commits

Kevin Toliver II (6'2", 185 lb., Jacksonville, Florida) HUDL: LSU's first and so far only cornerback commit and well, he's a doozy. So good he's the No. 1 overall prospect in the country (we could get the No. 1 player two years in a row. And some want to say recruiting is slipping!). Toliver's got 46 offers, so virtually everyone. He holds some interest in Auburn, Ohio State, UCLA, and Virginia Tech but don't worry. He's 100 percent to LSU right now. Another potential outstanding DB and corner heading to LSU.

Offered

Tarvarus McFadden (6'2", 180 lb., Fort Lauderdale, Florida) HUDL: McFadden is a composite 4-star DB prospect that could be a jumbo corner or grow into the safety position. McFadden named LSU his leader, specifically citing Corey Raymond, and he's currently Crystal Balled to LSU, though only five total predictions. LSU is a major player in the race for his signature, but it may be tough to wrestle him out of Florida.

Kendall Sheffield (5'11", 180 lb., Fort Bend Marshall, Texas) Highlights: Sheffield is the No. 2 cornerback prospect in the country, second to Toliver, but is an outstanding prospect in his own right. Not a lot of highlights available on him, and he's ranked #9 overall in the nation. Shows how good he is. Sheffield currently has Texas and A&M as his leader and is a heavy lean to the Aggies at the moment. A host of other schools hold some semblance of solid interest in him, and this would be a really tough pull for the LSU staff.

Iman Marshall (6'1", 190 lb., Long Beach, California) HUDL: Marshall is the No. 3 CB on the board, and another five-star. He's also a Top-15 prospect, further showing how deep a CB class there is in 2015. LSU is definitely in it for Marshall and is one of 7 schools in which Marshall holds a good bit of interest. USC and Stanford appear to be his favorites at the moment, with USC the leader.

Minkah Fitzpatrick (6'0", 185 lb., Jersey City, New Jersey) HUDL: Another talented five-star, Fitzpatrick is the No. 4 CB in the country. He's the No. 1 player in the state of New Jersey which usually has one five-star prospect per year and this year it's Fitzpatrick. He currently holds a "warm" interest in 10 schools and for right now, LSU isn't one of them. It's obviously very early and he's a guy who could go foreseeably go anywhere right now.

Xavier Lewis (6'0", 175 lb., Reserve, Louisiana) HUDL: Lewis, a Top-15 CB and four-star prospect, was at one time an LSU commit before decomitting in the last few weeks. He's a talented corner and a Top 10 player in-state so he's an important target and the chances are still very good that Lewis ends up in Baton Rouge.

Maurice Smitherman (5'11", 178 lb., Adamsville, Alabama) HUDL: Smitherman, like Lewis, is lighter in stature to some of the other CB prospects, and like Sheffield, slightly shorter. Smitherman is a three-star prospect, but has received 28 offers with many coming from top schools.

Safety

Committed

Kevin Henry (6'1", 200 lb., Baton Rouge, Louisiana) HUDL: One of my personal favorite commits so far, Henry is a hard hitting Safety right out of Baton Rouge. With his size and potential growth, he could wind up at LB, but he's a talented Top 15, four-star Safety

Offered

Jamal Peters (6'3", 200 lb., Bassfield, Mississippi) HUDL: Another big and strong safety who could end up at LB if he makes his way to Baton Rouge. Peters, is a Top-Five safety, Top-50 prospect and four-star overall. He's currently "cool" on LSU, and Alabama, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss are the favorites for his commitment.

Larry Pryor (6'0.5", 190 lb., Sulphur Springs, Texas) HUDL: Pryor is another talented Safety prospect, coming in as the #6 S in the country. He's currently committed to Texas A&M.

Kendrell McFadden (6'3", 187 lb., Hollywood, Florida) HUDL: The tall and lanky McFadden was a surprise commit to West Virginia just over a month ago, seeing as the No. 7 overall safety had offers from numerous top schools. Definitely one to look out for for a potential flip to a host of potential schools.

Deontai Williams (6'0", 175 lb., Jacksonville, Florida) HUDL: Williams is rated highly by 247, a four-star, Top-20 safety prospect. He checks in as a 3 star per the composite, however. He's a Florida commit.

Recruits to watch

Mark Fields (5'10.5", 183 lb., Cornelius, North Carolina) HUDL: Fields is rated highly by 247, the No. 11 overall Safety and a four-star prospect. He hasn't yet received an offer by LSU but is very high on them. He's one to watch over the summer months. His father is also former NFL LB Mark Fields.

LSU as always is currently loaded in the defensive backfield. But they're definitely looking at many talented H.S. DB's who could improve LSU even more and help further the claim to "DBU". It's still very early, and many new names will come to the forefront, some will fall away, and there are plenty of twist and turns to come. Make sure to tune in to the rest of the installments Cdub will be working on as we preview the potential 2015 class for LSU.