Edwin Alexander Commits...Again

With the rain parting ways for LSU to get its spring game festivities in, the staff welcomed the assist from Mother Nature to secure a commitment once again from 2016 defensive tackle Edwin Alexander. Initially a commit in 2013 following the Texas A&M game, Edwin opened things up just slightly in order to make sure he had made the right decision. Extended time around Coach O was all that was needed and Alexander became the lone commitment (so far) from the weekend. Becoming the fourth defensive commit in what could be shaping up to be a remarkable 2016 class, Alexander is the first of likely many d-line recruits in this class to refill the cookie jar for Coach O.

What He Brings

I know what most think when they see he's from St. Thomas Aquinas. "Oh no, this is just going to be another Chris Davenport situation." Elite player coming to LSU from a smaller high school. There's two differences here that will be prominent when Alexander's tenure at LSU is over. First, I was never really impressed with Davenport's film and how he was rated that high was beyond me. With Alexander, you can clearly see why he was given his rating, even if it is against lesser competition. Second, he has Orgeron leading his position. Don't get me wrong, I liked Brick Haley, but just hearing everything from players, other coaches on the staff and media, Coach O has put an emphasis on technique, something that will be paramount for a guy that has used his brute strength to dominate his competition.

Even with that, Alexander shows an impressive burst off the snap and out of his position to get in the backfield. Once he does, he is very adept at locating the ball-carrier and shows impressive athleticism for a guy his size to even chase him down to the sidelines to make the tackle. He also does a good job at disengaging linemen trying to go low on him, which makes his task of tracking the ball even easier. One of the first things Coach O began teaching at LSU was pass-rushing moves, and I think if Alexander could learn that, you could see the second coming of Glenn Dorsey, except in a slightly bigger package. There's a lot of Dorsey that I see in that film outside of the skill he is lacking that I mentioned.

The Class Impact

Alexander becomes the second, and more than likely not the last, five-star recruit to join the 2016 LSU class. I still believe Franks and Dee Anderson could join that upper echelon when it's all said and done, and there are still plenty of 5-stars out there that LSU is after. Expect Alexander to follow Saivion Smith's suit and start recruiting as well to ensure new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele fills the cupboard for his first class in Baton Rouge.