In the span of one weekend, LSU running backs coach Tommie Robinson went from having zero commits to filling up the cupboard at his position. First, it was the bruising Chris Curry, my personal favorite in this class. The next day, the athletic Tae Provens jumped on board. Then, when everyone thought the camp aftermath was over, the offer Many, La.’s AJ Carter had deeply sought finally came to fruition for him. It didn’t take long at all to jump at that offer, shifting his commitment from UCLA to LSU Monday afternoon.
HOLD THAT TIGER... @LSUfootball #GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/HlAMjBYLX0
— ️J © ️®TE® (@IAMAJCARTER) June 26, 2017
There’s something to be said about a kid that sees what he wants, knows what he needs to do to achieve and does it. To have that sort of mindset at a young age is something that turns good players into great ones. The work ethic and drive to do what it takes and not believe everything should be handed to you, like some recruits these days act.
I don’t care what offense they run, 41 touchdowns in one season is impressive. At 6-feet and 220 pounds, Carter is a stocky bowling bowl that knows to get north and south to find the end zone. Always been a fan of those guys. The ones that have no problem lowering that shoulder, that affinity for contact, making opponents pay for sticking their nose in your business. Carter obviously doesn’t have the top-end speed that most backs have, but Carter is the type you give the ball to for those short yards and is a solid committee-style back. Not one to stand out on his own like the Fournette’s and Guice’s of the world, but Carter is one that can help tire out the defense. And while that’s not really a huge part of Canada’s repertoire, he did recently utilize a big back in the inspirational James Conner, so that possibility is definitely there.
Robinson has been on a roll lately. Not just the three commitments for 2018 over the past few days, but looking to the future with Tyrion Davis. The situation gets a little more cloudy for a guy like Harold Joiner now, and while Provens is more of an athlete, there’s still two big backs in this class now, something Joiner is as well. Either way, Robinson has done a good job to fill the cupboard up with guys that can carry on the tradition of solid backs to come through Baton Rouge.