Tigers
Class Analysis:
Top Impact
Player:
Underrated:
Like Saban, Les Miles is a coach who has been in the SEC long enough to know what it takes to succeed in the best conference of college football.
Offensively this is a very solid group. One of LSU’s biggest needs during the cycle were quarterback, running back, and wide receiver. Dual threat quarterback Brandon Harris will help provide depth after Zach Mettenberger’s departure after this past season, as well as potentially pushing Anthony Jennings for the starting role. The Tigers are also given the difficult task of replacing running back Jeremy Hill, but they have Leonard Fournette, who will arrive on campus this summer. As for the receivers, the Tigers have to replace Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry, but to replace them, the Tigers got Malachi Dupre and Trey Quinn.
Defensively LSU had a solid haul, with the headliner being defensive tackle Travonte Valentine. LSU can be a hard team to evaluate on this side of the ball, given their tendency to just reload players they have lost, but one thing is for sure, the school known as DBU (Defensive Back University) got a great safety in early enrollee Edward Paris.
For the offense, it is a close competition between Fournette and Dupre, but in the end Fournette is a shoe in for making an early impact at LSU. While Dupre will surely earn playing time during the year as well, there is less depth at running back for Fournette. Fournette has great speed, as well as a frame that will be ready to play SEC football as soon as he arrives for fall camp.
Opposite Fournette, Edward Paris is the choice to be the impact freshman for the defense. Paris is listed as having a 40 yard dash of 4.53 seconds, and his film shows it. One of his biggest assets is that he has great situational awareness, and knows how to use his body to make a play on the ball. All he does is harass opposing receivers and pretty much anyone touching the ball. The only thing that needs some improvement is his tackling. He doesn’t always wrap up, choosing to just lower his shoulders.
Wide receiver Trey Quinn is the underrated player here. Just like Christian Miller, Quinn was a highly regarded recruit, but is overshadowed by others in his class. Quinn has blazing speed, which goes nicely with his frame. Quinn is an intelligent receiver who knows how to get around his blockers and how to make the big play. Considering that LSU has lost both Landry and Beckham, Quinn will be in a good position to get some early time and prove his worth this fall.