LSU Football Recruiting January 20th Weekend Update

LSU hosted another group of top flight recruits over the weekend, looking to fill out their final spots in the 2017 signing class. While last week’s class featured more high profile uncommitted recruits, this week’s group proved equally important in terms of meeting needs.

As covered Saturday, WR Racey McMath gave his pledge just a week after taking his official visit. The big-bodied WR could have a chance to immediately contribute considering his size.

Most recruits are tight lipped at this stage, but let’s take a look at the rumblings around the remaining visitors from this past weekend.

Willie Gay

One of the most coveted targets left on LSU’s board, Gay has been effusive in his praise of LSU and his intention to wind up in Baton Rouge. The crystal ball has trended heavily in LSU’s direction from both LSU and national recruiting experts. This weekend reportedly went quite well and SEC Country’s Sam Spiegelman wrote he formed a tight bond with 4-star OU LB commit Jacob Phillips and 4-star LB commit Patrick Queen. Confidence seems to be high that Gay will wind up at LSU.

Jacob Phillips

Though he hasn’t been as vocal, most in the LSU camp feel Phillips has been trending to LSU for a good while now. This weekend’s visit did nothing to deter that momentum. As mentioned, he’s bonded with Queen and Gay and the staff has made clear how much they are prioritizing his commitment. Phillips is a true ILB and could be a starter as early as next year in Dave Aranda’s defense.

Markaviest Bryant

Orgeron just has a way of winning over DL recruits and Bryant might yet be his next conquest. He’s long believed to be a Georgia lean, but Bryant’s visit was supposedly strong. He’s seemingly enamored with Coach O in the same way current LSU DE Arden Key, also from Georgia, was. He’s visiting Arkansas midweek before heading to Auburn for the final weekend. This isn’t a battle I’m expecting to win, but LSU put its best foot forward looking for a successor to Arden Key.

Marlon Williams

Coaches walk a tightrope near signing day trying to keep recruits in play while higher rated target remains on the board. Right now, LSU is playing a bit of a waiting game for Devonta Smith, which makes Marlon Williams a possible, but not definite, take. The visit seemingly went well and Williams will be headed off to Tennessee this weekend for his final visit. My impression is the staff probably wouldn’t take his commit unless they knew they struck out with Smith first.

Justin Harris

Harris is a prospect LSU got involved with later in the cycle. The former UCF commit has some grade concerns, and like Williams, my guess is the staff has other players higher ranked. If Mavin Wilson or Phidarian Mathis don’t pick LSU, Harris may suddenly come into play.

Neil Farrell

Farrell has been a commit since July of last year, but FSU is coming with the heavy press now. The coaches worked to answer any of Farrell’s concerns, but it’s looking like a two-horse race until National Signing Day with the Noles, despite his continued commitment. Farrell will take in FSU next weekend, which gives them the last on campus shot. Like with Wilson and Mathis, if Farrell flips to FSU, Justin Harris comes into play.

K’Lavon Chaisson

He was on his official visit to Austin this weekend and rated it an 8.9. It’s interesting to note he rated LSU a “1000” after last weekend. Not really sure what to make of any of it. Most recruits are flatly lying to reporters right now to generate interest in their Signing Day announcements. I do think the staff did all they could here, but I’m guessing Chaisson is UT bound.

Kary Vincent

Vincent randomly popped up in Austin this weekend and this now becomes something to watch. Vincent has been all LSU and even once said he only wouldn’t wind up at LSU if they canceled their football program. Here’s your classic recruiting sources war. LSU folks think Vincent is as solid as the day is long and even went to Texas just to help keep LSU on Chaisson’s mind. UT folks are singing a different tune and legitimately believe they might flip the talented DB. He did let the coaches know, on Thursday, that he’d be heading to Austin, so maybe LSU does have the ammo here. Still, these are the type of recruiting stories that will drive you mad if you dive too deeply on them.

Vincent is a good player, and I’d hate for LSU to lose him, but if there’s any position LSU can afford to take hit, it’s certainly at DB.

Chris Allen

Interesting Tweet.

Committed Visitors

Myles Brennan, Saahdiq Charles, and Stephen Guidry joined Patrick Queen as fellow commits in town for the weekend. All are locked in and ready to sign and had a great time this weekend.

The race to signing day continues with just one more official visit weekend ahead. LSU has a lot of spots to fill, so you can expect February 1st to be a very busy day in Baton Rouge.