The lull between National Signing Day and the summer is over when it comes to recruiting in college football. While the Spring Game gives a glimpse into the 2019 recruiting season, it’s these weeks in June that truly give the jump-start that recruiting junkies need to get going. It’s the opportunity for some of the kids that haven’t gotten the press some of the higher-ranked recruits received to make their impression on the coaching staff, earning one of those illustrious camp offers. Finally, it’s another opportunity to host some of the biggest names on their board to get them to commit leading up to the early signing period in the fall.
Unfortunately with these, you don’t get a participants list for each of the events, so this is more of a primer for you fans to see when the camps happen and when you can expect news on the certain positions. With that, get your planner out to mark these down.
June 2-3
Offensive-Defensive Line Camp: Would you be shocked that LSU commit and 2019 class leader Kardell Thomas be there?
In case you were wondering Kardell Thomas is good pic.twitter.com/0bxeS3YOND
— Amos Morale III (@Amos_MoraleIII) June 2, 2018
Of course not, as he, Clay Webb and 2020 recruit Jacobian Guillory were some of the big names in attendance for the first camp of June. The camp features seniors all the way down to freshman to hopefully earn an offer. James Cregg can be a little more selective with Anthony Bradford, Charles Turner and Thomas Perry join Thomas already in the 2019 o-line class, while Joseph Evans is the lone commit on the defensive line.
Although he has impressed some of the attendees, many of whom have seen limited footage of Evans:
Haynesville 2019 DT Joseph Evans with a smooth rep pic.twitter.com/9lpqB6qCaj
— Amos Morale III (@Amos_MoraleIII) June 2, 2018
Kicking Camp: It should be an easy day for special teams coordinator Greg McMahon. With the addition of grad transfer Cole Tracy as a December signee, it appeared he found his kicker for this upcoming season. Then last weekend, McMahon added his kicker of the future in Cade York, who is ranked as the No. 2 kicker for the 2019 class according to Kohl’s Kicking Camps. Josh Growden will only be a junior this coming season, so McMahon still has two years to find someone for that spot.
LSU Tiger Skills Camp: With the trenches and special teams out of the way the day before, the skill positions get their opportunity to shine. New quarterback commitment T.J. Finley was on hand:
Outside of the elite camp later on in the month, this could be one of the most attended camps for LSU of the summer. Don’t be surprised to see a commit or two in the following days after the two days of camps. Guillory, a major 2020 name, could be one to watch.
June 7-8
LSU Youth Camp: When you wonder why teams around the nation are offering seventh and eighth graders, it’s camps like this one that bring that about. While it’s more like the summer camps you remember going to as a kid with kids from THIRD grade to the eighth, it still gives the coaches an opportunity to get an early foot in the door.
June 13
The Boot 2018 Showcase Camp: LSU, along with seven other colleges from around Louisiana converge to Southern in an event that was recently started to give Louisiana recruits a chance to shine in front of most of the big-name colleges in the state. While it’s likely more beneficial for the other schools in attendance, LSU could find them a diamond in the rough type recruit while there, a la DJ Chark a few years back.
June 16
LSU 7-on-7 Team and Lineman Camp: The 7-on-7 circuit makes it’s way to Baton Rouge, as some of the top teams from the region compete, featuring some of the top players at skill positions in Louisiana. The linemen get another chance to showcase their skills two weeks after their first camp on the 2nd.
June 21-22
LSU Elite Camp: The cherry on top for the long month of June is more like the hot fudge on the sundae. The marquee event is sure to draw in most of the top names in the state, along with branching in the Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, etc. to put the top talent in the area in the spotlight. While there could be more smaller events in July, this is the headliner, where you can expect most of, hopefully all, of the big names in the state to show up. You can usually count on at least a few commits to come this way. With only 11 commits in the 2019 class, there’s still plenty of room to reel players in leading up to the early signing period.
Quarterback attendance for Steve Ensminger will also be key — with top target Grant Gunnell still a mystery, names like David Baldwin of IMG Academy, Lance Legendre out of New Orleans, Quad Brown out of Alabama and others could all be in attendance.
Be sure the check back, especially for the LSU Elite Camp as there will likely be a visitors list for that, to catch up on the latest as this staff looks to continue their pursuit of a top class this year.