Football Recruiting: Spring Game Visitors

The Spring Game always ignites the fuse for the start of football, getting fans hyped up for a season that isn't going to start for another 4+ months.  Nonetheless, it gives the staff a huge opportunity to host a number of recruits outside of the junior days.  This weekend is no different from previous iterations with a number of key recruits coming in.

They Come From All Over

With the in-state crop not as strong as previous years at some positions, it becomes paramount, and almost tradition at this point, to attack the neighboring and southeast states (mostly Florida) to reel in even more talent. The biggest name on that list is once-Alabama commit Cam Akers. After being committed to the Tide for seven months, Akers re-opened his recruitment and has taken a sincere interest. While the Mississippi product has the two in-state SEC schools near the top, Akers is only a little more than an hour away from LSU, so proximity can help. Edward Ingram made a surprise stop in Baton Rouge before heading to Alabama on Saturday.  It appears it is down to those two, so getting him on campus once again is key. One guy that will be on commit watch is Florida linebacker Tyler Dunning. Aranda likes the No. 10 inside linebacker and if they press, Dunning could end his process, something he says he would like to do soon. While LSU has had trouble with Manvel in recent years, they are in good position with 2017 safety Derrick Tucker. Derrick has a lot of interest in LSU, but with the Tigers at the top for guys like Todd Harris, who is also visiting, and Grant Delpit, it could get crowded quickly. High school teammate of Eric Monroe, pass rusher K'Lavon Chaisson will be in attendance. The Baylor legacy may be a tough pull, but the power of Aranda and Orgeron will be in full effect.

Three 2018 defensive backs from Florida headline the visiting junior class. Sons of former NFLers Patrick Surtain Jr. and Asante Samuel Jr. will be in attendance. Patrick has state numerous times that LSU stands out as his leader with his father originally from New Orleans. Former LSU commit Justin Watkins will be visiting as well, and could give him an opportunity for some face time with the new coaches, including Dameyune Craig, who may wind up being the athlete's position coach.

The In-Staters Will Be Aplenty

Seven current commits highlight the in-state visitors, including Tyler Shelvin, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Patrick Queen, Jontre Kirklin and 2018 commits Devonta Jason, Corione Harris and Kelvin Joseph. Shelvin is definitely the biggest name of the group, especially with his recent interest in Alabama, so getting him on campus and around the always-energetic Orgeron will help solidify things. The other six commits are as solid as you will get, so it will be a nice weekend for them and doing their part to get in some recruiting of their own.

The biggest name of the in-state visitors not already committed to LSU would be current Alabama commit Dare Rosenthal, who recently threw everyone for a loop with his (to take a Les Miles wording here) want to play on the defensive side at the next level. Either way, expect Jeff Grimes, Orgeron and Aranda all doing their part with the massive, athletic recruit. Todd Harris, who was mentioned above in the Derrick Tucker bit, probably comes in at a close second. The No. 4 safety in the 2017 class could be a part of yet another solid secondary class from Corey Raymond with the home-state Tigers holding a fairly strong lead.

While that's obviously not all the names that will be attendance, it is some of the more significant ones to follow leading into the weekend. It's always tough to make the prediction on the number of commits, but I think Tyler Dunning joins the 2017 class for sure following this weekend. I could also see two or so more make it official,  but with it being mid-April, this is more about getting a lot of recruits around one of, if not the best, recruiting staffs in the country, especially with some of the new additions on the staff. It should definitely make for a good time for everyone and should lead to good news all around in the coming week.