Boom! Five-star DT Rashard Lawrence commits to LSU!

Just a day after Willie Allen pushed LSU's epic 2016 recruiting class back near the top of the 247 Sports rankings with his commitment, the Tigers took a huge step towards No. 1 with the commitment of five-star defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence.

The 6-3, 305-pound tackle out of Monroe's Neville High School is the No. 2 prospect in Louisiana in the 247 rankings, but the 23rd-ranked player in the country and the fifth-rated defensive tackle. The Tigers won a hotly contested recruitment out over Ohio State, who they may pass soon in rankings. Lawrence is, quite frankly, the platonic ideal of an LSU defensive tackle. Short and squatty, but quick and athletic, much in the mold of previous stars like Glenn Dorsey, Drake Nevis, Chad Lavalais, Kyle Williams and Booger McFarland, or current DT Davon Godchaux. He is also the nephew of Tiger linebacker Oliver Lawrence, who played in the 1980s and still holds the program's single-season sack record with 12.

Big kudos to Ed Orgeron and Bradley Dale Peveto or closing the deal here after a string of struggles in the Monroe/West Monroe area for LSU with players like Cameron Robinson.