LSU Tigers: LSU Tigers
BATON ROUGE, La. -- GTN writer Gary Laney took your questions, which were so plentiful this week we decided to spread the mailbag over two days. Look for more on Friday.
From Georgia Tiger Fan (from Tuesday's chat): How close is LSU to winning another national championship?
Gary Laney: A nice broad question. LSU is going to be in a position in the next two years where, if it plays well and catches a couple of breaks, it could put itself in position to be in the serious national championship conversation in mid November, which is all anybody can ask for.
From Georgia Tiger Fan (from Tuesday's chat): How close is LSU to winning another national championship?
Gary Laney: A nice broad question. LSU is going to be in a position in the next two years where, if it plays well and catches a couple of breaks, it could put itself in position to be in the serious national championship conversation in mid November, which is all anybody can ask for.
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An offer from an SEC school often makes recruits take a step back and re-evaluate a top group or a commitment.
That's not the case with Jared Wangler (Warren, Mich./De La Salle). LSU offered the 6-foot-2, 218-pound outside linebacker Wednesday, but he remains committed to Penn State.
That's not the case with Jared Wangler (Warren, Mich./De La Salle). LSU offered the 6-foot-2, 218-pound outside linebacker Wednesday, but he remains committed to Penn State.
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- The spring game is back in Louisiana.
Gone for several years because of a change in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association rules, spring games returned this year and provided great evaluation opportunities for coaches. You had matchups like West Monroe (with ESPN 150 offensive tackle Cameron Robinson) against Monroe Neville (ESPN 150 safety Laurence "Hootie" Jones).
You had quarterback Brandon Harris (Bossier City/Parkway) putting up big yards in a spring game. You had Baton Rouge's University Lab, featuring three major prospects in three different classes -- 2014 ESPN 150 offensive lineman Garrett Brumfield (LSU commit), 2015 running back prospect Nick Brossette and 2017 stud Dylan Moses -- taking on rising class 5A power Zachary.
It's May in Louisiana, but around high school campuses, there's a touch of September.
This week's targets: LSU's coaches were spread out at spring games over the weekend.
Gone for several years because of a change in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association rules, spring games returned this year and provided great evaluation opportunities for coaches. You had matchups like West Monroe (with ESPN 150 offensive tackle Cameron Robinson) against Monroe Neville (ESPN 150 safety Laurence "Hootie" Jones).
You had quarterback Brandon Harris (Bossier City/Parkway) putting up big yards in a spring game. You had Baton Rouge's University Lab, featuring three major prospects in three different classes -- 2014 ESPN 150 offensive lineman Garrett Brumfield (LSU commit), 2015 running back prospect Nick Brossette and 2017 stud Dylan Moses -- taking on rising class 5A power Zachary.
It's May in Louisiana, but around high school campuses, there's a touch of September.
This week's targets: LSU's coaches were spread out at spring games over the weekend.
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LSU and Ohio State were the top two for ESPN 150 wide receiver Saeed Blacknall. Now the two are bookends for the Manalapan (N.J.) High School star's top five.
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NEW ORLEANS -- There are probably a lot of kids at St. Augustine High School who can do an impression of Avery Johnson, the former NBA player and coach with the distinctive, high-pitched voice.
They could probably tell you their favorite play by the "Honey Badger," Tyrann Mathieu, and they've seen the exploits of BenJarvus Green-Ellis on NFL Sundays.
Indeed, St. Augustine, New Orleans' historically African-American all-boys Catholic High school, has a rich history of stars including the two mentioned above.
They could probably tell you their favorite play by the "Honey Badger," Tyrann Mathieu, and they've seen the exploits of BenJarvus Green-Ellis on NFL Sundays.
Indeed, St. Augustine, New Orleans' historically African-American all-boys Catholic High school, has a rich history of stars including the two mentioned above.
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- It was just 10 days ago that LSU fans were excited to have landed junior college receiver D'haquille Williams (Reserve, La./Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College).
Not so fast.
Not so fast.
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GeauxTigerNation's Gary Laney talked all things LSU football, from the upcoming season to the 2014 recruiting class, in ESPN.com SportsNation.
Click here for the transcript.
Click here for the transcript.
BATON ROUGE, La. -- In Catholic High's weight room -- a modern, updated facility named for Catholic alum Gayle Hatch, the coach of the 2004 U.S. men's Olympic weightlifting team -- Bears head football coach Dale Weiner created a Wall of Fame of sorts, photos of Bears who have gone on to play college football.
In the middle of the photos of many of the 127 players who have gone on to play college football during Weiner's 26 years as head coach (he'll start year No. 27 this fall) are the words "Tradition Never Graduates."
In the middle of the photos of many of the 127 players who have gone on to play college football during Weiner's 26 years as head coach (he'll start year No. 27 this fall) are the words "Tradition Never Graduates."
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D'Andre Walker (Fairburn, Ga./Langston Hughes) racked up 105 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 21 sacks, two forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles and a blocked punt last season as a junior. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound pass rusher played a huge role in helping his team to a 10-2 record and its first playoff berth in school history and hit the recruiting map late in January, when North Carolina became the first program to offer Walker.
Since that time, 34 other programs have offered Walker. While Walker says all schools are now even, three coaching staffs have been able to connect with him the best so far. The 2015 prospect almost committed to one of them a few months back.
Since that time, 34 other programs have offered Walker. While Walker says all schools are now even, three coaching staffs have been able to connect with him the best so far. The 2015 prospect almost committed to one of them a few months back.
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Q&A: Clark talks favorites, decision date 
May, 21, 2013
May 21
7:30
AM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
CALERA, Ala. -- Spring practice just wrapped up for ESPN 150 athlete Ronnie Clark, and he put an exclamation point on it last week with three rushing touchdowns for Calera High School in the first half of their spring game.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound athlete is playing quarterback this year for the Eagles, but he is being recruited as a defensive player for the next level, either as a linebacker or a safety.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound athlete is playing quarterback this year for the Eagles, but he is being recruited as a defensive player for the next level, either as a linebacker or a safety.
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Kevin Scarbinsky of AL.com recently wrote suggested that an NFL roster comprised exclusively of Alabama and LSU players wouldn’t be a terrible idea.
As he points out, according to a listing on ESPN.com, there are 49 players from LSU in the NFL and 41 players from Alabama.
In reading that piece, I couldn’t help but think back to a conversation I had with former Alabama offensive line coach Joe Pendry just prior to the first Alabama-LSU game in 2011. Pendry retired following the 2010 season and had served as offensive coordinator for both the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans in the NFL before joining Nick Saban at Alabama.
Realizing how much talent would be on the field that night at Bryant-Denny Stadium, especially on defense, I jokingly asked Pendry how anybody would score.
He estimated that somewhere around 18 to 20 of the 22 defensive starters would end up playing in the NFL.
Looking back, he was dead on.
Of the 22 defensive starters that night, 16 were selected in the NFL draft. Six other defensive players who played in the game were also drafted. That’s a total of 22 players. Two other players that went undrafted spent last season on NFL practice squads.
We’re talking high-round draft picks, too. Of the 22 who were drafted, 14 went in the top three rounds.
Moreover, as many as seven other defensive players from that game who are still in school are likely to be drafted in either 2014 or 2015. Among them: Linebackers Adrian Hubbard, C.J. Mosley and Trey DePriest and safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix of Alabama and tackles Anthony Johnson and Ego Ferguson and safety Craig Loston of LSU.
So, the final tally of defensive players from that game (some played on special teams) who were either drafted or have spent some time on an NFL roster will likely end up being 30-plus.
No wonder those two teams played eight quarters that year, and only one touchdown was scored between them.
Here’s a rundown of the draft picks from that game on defense:
ALABAMA
As he points out, according to a listing on ESPN.com, there are 49 players from LSU in the NFL and 41 players from Alabama.
In reading that piece, I couldn’t help but think back to a conversation I had with former Alabama offensive line coach Joe Pendry just prior to the first Alabama-LSU game in 2011. Pendry retired following the 2010 season and had served as offensive coordinator for both the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans in the NFL before joining Nick Saban at Alabama.
Realizing how much talent would be on the field that night at Bryant-Denny Stadium, especially on defense, I jokingly asked Pendry how anybody would score.
He estimated that somewhere around 18 to 20 of the 22 defensive starters would end up playing in the NFL.
Looking back, he was dead on.
Of the 22 defensive starters that night, 16 were selected in the NFL draft. Six other defensive players who played in the game were also drafted. That’s a total of 22 players. Two other players that went undrafted spent last season on NFL practice squads.
We’re talking high-round draft picks, too. Of the 22 who were drafted, 14 went in the top three rounds.
Moreover, as many as seven other defensive players from that game who are still in school are likely to be drafted in either 2014 or 2015. Among them: Linebackers Adrian Hubbard, C.J. Mosley and Trey DePriest and safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix of Alabama and tackles Anthony Johnson and Ego Ferguson and safety Craig Loston of LSU.
So, the final tally of defensive players from that game (some played on special teams) who were either drafted or have spent some time on an NFL roster will likely end up being 30-plus.
No wonder those two teams played eight quarters that year, and only one touchdown was scored between them.
Here’s a rundown of the draft picks from that game on defense:
ALABAMA
- S Mark Barron (1st)
- CB Dre Kirkpatrick (1st)
- LB Dont'a Hightower (1st)
- CB Dee Milliner (1st)
- LB Courtney Upshaw (2nd)
- LB Nico Johnson (4th)
- NG Josh Chapman (5th)
- DE Quinton Dial (5th)
- CB DeQuan Menzie (5th)
- NG Jesse Williams (5th)
- DT Michael Brockers (1st)
- CB Morris Claiborne (1st)
- DE Barkevious Mingo (1st)
- S Eric Reid (1st)
- LB Kevin Minter (2nd)
- DT Bennie Logan (3rd)
- CB Tyrann Mathieu (3rd)
- DE Sam Montgomery (3rd)
- S Brandon Taylor (3rd)
- CB Ron Brooks (4th)
- DE Lavar Edwards (5th)
- CB Tharold Simon (5th)
AUSTIN, Texas -- There was no way Kevin Shorter was going to be a well-kept secret for long.
Especially not after the statistics the Newton (Texas) athlete put up in 2012. His monster junior season has yielded an impressive number of offers this spring. The whole thing is becoming a bit more than he could have imagined.
Especially not after the statistics the Newton (Texas) athlete put up in 2012. His monster junior season has yielded an impressive number of offers this spring. The whole thing is becoming a bit more than he could have imagined.
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Harris on display as spring games flourish
May, 20, 2013
May 20
10:40
AM ET
By
Gary Laney | ESPN.com
BATON ROUGE, La. -- The stage was set for Brandon Harris.
The 2014 quarterback, whose stock has risen steadily throughout the spring, had the stage to himself when his school, Bossier City, La.'s Parkway High, hosted Alexandria, La./Alexandria Senior High for a spring game.
The 2014 quarterback, whose stock has risen steadily throughout the spring, had the stage to himself when his school, Bossier City, La.'s Parkway High, hosted Alexandria, La./Alexandria Senior High for a spring game.
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- GTN writer Gary Laney took your questions, which leaned heavily toward quarterbacks and receivers in the week after LSU took a commitment from junior college wide receiver D'haquille Williams and sent an offer out to quarterback Brandon Harris:
Andy (Portland, Ore.): With Brandon Harris, DeShone Kizer and Mason Rudolph looking like the three main quarterbacks on LSU's wish list, it looks like LSU is going in the direction of the mobile quarterback. Given LSU's history of getting more out of pocket passers (JaMarcus Russell, Matt Flynn) than run-first guys (Jordan Jefferson), should LSU be targeting runners?
Gary Laney: There are two things that jump into my mind that are different now than in the past.
Andy (Portland, Ore.): With Brandon Harris, DeShone Kizer and Mason Rudolph looking like the three main quarterbacks on LSU's wish list, it looks like LSU is going in the direction of the mobile quarterback. Given LSU's history of getting more out of pocket passers (JaMarcus Russell, Matt Flynn) than run-first guys (Jordan Jefferson), should LSU be targeting runners?
Gary Laney: There are two things that jump into my mind that are different now than in the past.
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Kiper: Top five quarterback draft prospects
May, 16, 2013
May 16
1:50
PM ET
By
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. is rolling out his early top five rankings at each position this week.
Here's what he's looked at so far:
Now, we're taking a look at Kiper's top quarterback
and cornerback draft prospects. We'll start with the quarterbacks and look at the corners later today.
Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel ranks third on Kiper's list, while Alabama's AJ McCarron comes in at No. 5. Ole Miss' Bo Wallace made Kiper's "Next up" list, while Georgia's Aaron Murray made his "More I like" list.
Manziel is getting all sorts of draft attention after his record-breaking, Heisman-winning season. He's the most talked about quarterback in the country and while he doesn't have an elite arm, he's extremely athletic and slippery. He's looking to develop more into a passer, but his ability to improv will continue to help him when his arm can't.
McCarron is someone who could have left for the NFL this year, but decided to stay in school. He makes great decisions with the ball (he threw 30 touchdowns to three interceptions last season) and certainly knows how to win. He has two national championship rings and is going for his third straight. He hasn't been asked to do a lot at Alabama, but he's put up some pretty good numbers and is easily the most talented quarterback Saban has had at Alabama.
Wallace has a tremendous amount of athleticism, but he had a lot of decision-making issues last year. He threw for nearly 3,000 yards, but threw 22 touchdowns to 17 interceptions. Fixing his turnover issue is the biggest thing Wallace has to work on this fall. He has good arm strength and can get out of trouble situations with his feet.
Then you have Murray, who isn't getting a lot of draft love. He flirted with heading to the NFL, but also decided to stay in school. Murray's height (listed at 6-1) has hurt his draft status, but he has a solid arm, moves around well with his feet and has really improved his decision making. He had the stigma of not coming up in big games, but showed improvements in 2012 with his second-half effort in the Dawgs' win against Florida and with the way he played against Alabama in the SEC championship game. He'll probably end the 2013 season with a handful of SEC/Georgia records and should become the first SEC quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in four straight seasons.
Other draft-eligible quarterbacks I'm keeping an eye on this fall:
Here's what he's looked at so far:
Now, we're taking a look at Kiper's top quarterback
and cornerback draft prospects. We'll start with the quarterbacks and look at the corners later today.
[+] Enlarge
Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesAlabama's AJ McCarron falls in the top five of Mel Kiper Jr.'s top 2014 NFL draft QB prospects.
Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesAlabama's AJ McCarron falls in the top five of Mel Kiper Jr.'s top 2014 NFL draft QB prospects.Manziel is getting all sorts of draft attention after his record-breaking, Heisman-winning season. He's the most talked about quarterback in the country and while he doesn't have an elite arm, he's extremely athletic and slippery. He's looking to develop more into a passer, but his ability to improv will continue to help him when his arm can't.
McCarron is someone who could have left for the NFL this year, but decided to stay in school. He makes great decisions with the ball (he threw 30 touchdowns to three interceptions last season) and certainly knows how to win. He has two national championship rings and is going for his third straight. He hasn't been asked to do a lot at Alabama, but he's put up some pretty good numbers and is easily the most talented quarterback Saban has had at Alabama.
Wallace has a tremendous amount of athleticism, but he had a lot of decision-making issues last year. He threw for nearly 3,000 yards, but threw 22 touchdowns to 17 interceptions. Fixing his turnover issue is the biggest thing Wallace has to work on this fall. He has good arm strength and can get out of trouble situations with his feet.
Then you have Murray, who isn't getting a lot of draft love. He flirted with heading to the NFL, but also decided to stay in school. Murray's height (listed at 6-1) has hurt his draft status, but he has a solid arm, moves around well with his feet and has really improved his decision making. He had the stigma of not coming up in big games, but showed improvements in 2012 with his second-half effort in the Dawgs' win against Florida and with the way he played against Alabama in the SEC championship game. He'll probably end the 2013 season with a handful of SEC/Georgia records and should become the first SEC quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in four straight seasons.
Other draft-eligible quarterbacks I'm keeping an eye on this fall:
- Jeff Driskel, Florida: He wasn't great last year, but there's no denying Driskel has talent. He's more comfortable with the playbook, and he has a lot more confidence. He must have more command and develop better chemistry with his receivers this fall.
- James Franklin, Missouri: He spent most of last season battling injuries, but finally isn't dealing with excruciating shoulder pain. His confidence was up this spring and that will go a long way this fall.
- Zach Mettenberger, LSU: He really came along in November and has all of his receiving targets back. People at LSU feel like he's much more comfortable with Cam Cameron's guidance.
- Tyler Russell, Mississippi State: He's had an up-and-down career with the Bulldogs, but when he was on last year he was extremely efficient. He lost all of his receivers from last year and can't press like he did late last season.
- Connor Shaw, South Carolina: It's hard to find a tougher quarterback out there. Shaw has dealt with a lot of injuries, but when he's been on the field, he's had a lot of success. Here's a chance for him to really improve his draft stock.
ABOUT GEAUX TIGER NATION
Gary Laney
Gary Laney joined ESPN.com in 2012 after spending a year and a half as online sports editor of the Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate. Before that, he covered LSU sports for the Advocate. He has also been the sports editor at the Beaumont (Texas) Enterprise and covered McNeese State athletics for the Lake Charles (La.) American Press. Laney currently lives in Baton Rouge. Email him at glaneyespn@gmail.com