LSU National Signing Day Preview: Running Backs

There's never a shortage of running back talent in Baton Rouge. The last time LSU fielded a truly unproductive running game was 2009, and even that season featured a running back coming off a 1,200 yard season, who was eventually drafted (Charles Scott). Not to mention future NFL draft pick Stevan Ridley as well as a couple guys who hung around in the league for a while in Keiland Williams and Richard Murphy. It's like clockwork in the Miles regime: LSU simply will have a talented RB in the fold, if not four.

Last year, LSU made an all-in play to obtain Leonard Fournette, lightly recruiting other backs around the country, while entirely bypassing taking a RB in the signing class before. The strategy worked, but does leave LSU's RB depth chart currently thin. Only Fournette and fellow freshman Darrel Williams return to the fray in 2015, while LSU is currently without a FB with any playing experience following the graduation of Connor Neighbors and departure of Melvin Jones due to academics.

Thus, Frank Wilson and staff were tasked with putting together a monster RB class for 2015. Though Fournette is likely to be "the man" this season, LSU will continue to spread the reps, and must find a capable FB, if they are to continue to filed the same offense they have in years past.

Commits

David Ducre (Signee)

5'11", 238 pounds

247: ****, #186 Nationally, #1 FB
Rivals: ****, #164 Nationally, #16 RB
ESPN: ****, UR Nationally, #35 RB
Scout: ****, #214 Nationally, #29 RB

Early reports ranked Ducre squarely as a FB, and some continue to insist that's his future. It's easy to see why, as the 5'11", 240-pounder is a bulldozer at the position. But reports on the LSU side say they will utilize him as a RB/FB hybrid. Don't mistake the size for being a plodder, though. Ducre has good feet and nice top-end speed. He's already enrolled, so chances that he plays come this Fall are exceptionally high. Playing a hybrid role like Jacob Hester may be his future, but with LSU's current needs, don't be surprised if Ducre is the opening game FB.

Derrius Guice

5'10.5", 213 pounds

247: ****, #70 Nationally, #5 RB
Rivals: *****, #15 Nationally, #2 RB
ESPN: ****, #96 Nationally, #8 RB
Scout: ****, #45 Nationally, #3 RB

On first blush, Guice looks like a speedy, all-purpose type, but checking in at 213 pounds, he's got the size to bang between the tackles on an every down basis, too. Guice is lethal in the open field, and should give LSU plenty of options, as a runner and receiver. Rivals recently compared him to Marshawn Lynch, due to his rugged running style. I think Guice features a bit more speed and likely not as much power as the indomitable Lynch.

Guice put a scare in some LSU fans when he originally scheduled to take an official visit to Alabama this weekend. He's since canceled and will sign with LSU next Wednesday.

Nick Brossette

6'0", 207 pounds

247: ****, #216 Nationally, #19 RB
Rivals: ***, UR Nationally, #34 RB
ESPN: ****, #121 Nationally, #12 RB
Scout: ****, #155 Nationally, #22 RB

Brossette is another versatile back who completed one of the most productive HS careers in recent memory. He doesn't have the top end speed of Guice, nor the raw power of Ducre, but he does a little bit of everything well.

Whether or not Brossette winds up at LSU is a big question mark. He recently announced he would be making his "final decision" on National Signing Day.

I'll be telling everyone my final decision on Wednesday! 4⃣

— Nicholas Brossette (@NBrossette) January 30, 2015

Some may take this to be a bad omen, since Brossette is still considered an LSU commit. But remember, Davon Godchaux similarly made a "final decision" on National Signing Day last season, after declaring himself an LSU commit many times over. I honestly don't know what Brossette will do. There's more early opportunity for him at Texas, but Texas may also be closing in on another 5-star RB in this class. Still, for LSU to lose a Baton Rouge Lab player they heavily pursued would be the first in my recollection.

Targets

Unless the staff gets early wind of Brossette flipping to Texas, don't expect any new names to surface. Kirk Merritt remains on the board, though he never visited LSU and seems long for Oregon. The staff never really heavily pursued the speedster from Destrehan. The rest of the backs LSU offered are all currently committed, so I don't expect much action at the RB spot on National Signing Day.

How much would losing Brossette hurt? From a depth perspective, a little, though a backfield of Fournette, Williams, Guice, and Ducre should be plenty. 2016 RB Devin White is also likely to commit to LSU for next year's class, so that will be some additional depth to the fold.