Recruiting: LSU Tapping into Ohio for Visitors

LSU has taken recruiting efforts national in this cycle, with 11 of 14 current commitments from outside of the state, and only a handful of the remaining slots currently targeting Louisiana kids.

That effort will attempt to extend into Ohio this weekend with a pair of official visitors out of Cincinnati’s Princeton High School: four-star prospects Darrion Henry and Jaheim Thomas.

Henry is a 6-6, 260-pound strong-side defensive end prospect, ranked fourth at the position and 56th overall in the country. He’s a quick, athletic prospect with the frame to continue to add bulk for LSU’s 3-4 defense.

Thomas is the 21st-ranked outside linebacker prospect in the class. At 6-5, 218, he’d have to add bulk but he looks like a player that could also be a more well-rounded linebacker, and not just a pure edge pass-rusher. Both players have offers from the in-state Buckeyes. Georgia and Alabama are also recruiting both players.

Their teammate, offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr., is also a major prize. He’s the No. 1 tackle in the class and a composite five-star, currently committed to Ohio State.

He looks every bit the part of a future All-American and first-round left tackle at 6-7, 295. Johnson isn’t on the visitor list for this weekend, but it is believed he will officially visit LSU in the coming weeks. How open is he to switching his commitment? It’s hard to know, but coming in for an official visit is certainly a good thing.

It’s not easy to get a kid out of Ohio that the Buckeyes really want, but LSU has had success at Princeton in the past, grabbing Spencer Ware in the 2010 recruiting class.

Three-star offensive guard Xavier Hill will also make his official visit to LSU this weekend. He is currently set to commit later this month, although Mississippi State leads his crystal ball predictions.

Speaking of other mega recruits:

Five-star tailback Kendall Milton has set his official visit date with LSU for the second weekend in June. Milton, the No. 3 back in the 2020 class, previously visited LSU on his own dime, so there’s clearly some interest there. Crystal ball predictions still point him towards Oklahoma.

LSU still sits No. 2 in the team rankings behind Clemson, but five top-40 prospects is nothing to shake a stick at, and regardless of whether Orgeron and Co. can land players like Milton or Johnson, there are still plenty of other big timers they have a great chance to close with.