LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Coming into The Opening, wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee) said he was ready to make a decision. But after the four day event in Beaverton, Ore., the ESPN 150 wide receiver was no closer to committing than he was before.
On the eve of Champion Gridiron Kings, Treadwell said he is going to take a couple visits before selecting a program.
"I am going to take some officials to LSU, Auburn, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State," Treadwell said. "I should be ready to make my decision after I see a couple of schools."
On the eve of Champion Gridiron Kings, Treadwell said he is going to take a couple visits before selecting a program.
"I am going to take some officials to LSU, Auburn, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State," Treadwell said. "I should be ready to make my decision after I see a couple of schools."
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2014 WR draws comparison to Julio Jones 
July, 27, 2012
7/27/12
6:09
PM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
HOOVER, Ala. -- At first glance, it looked like Julio Jones circa 2008 was competing at the National Select 7-on-7 tournament in Hoover on Friday. The guy in the No. 8 jersey for Foley High School was split wide and making catches all over the field. He even had the dreadlocks to go with it.
However, it wasn’t Julio Jones. It was 2014 wide receiver Demarcus Bingham, and it’s the not first time he has heard the comparison.
“When I hear people compare me to Julio, it’s an honor to be compared to him because he’s in the NFL now, of course, and he came out of Foley High School. But I want to be better than him,” Bingham said.
However, it wasn’t Julio Jones. It was 2014 wide receiver Demarcus Bingham, and it’s the not first time he has heard the comparison.
“When I hear people compare me to Julio, it’s an honor to be compared to him because he’s in the NFL now, of course, and he came out of Foley High School. But I want to be better than him,” Bingham said.
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Phillip Deas knows a thing or two about big-time prospect recruiting.
As a quarterback at Evangel Christian (Shreveport, La.) in the mid-1990s, Deas was part of a long line of Evangel quarterbacks who landed at big-time programs over a 12-year span from 1990-2002. He followed Josh Booty (LSU) and was followed by Brent Rawls (Oklahoma), Brock Berlin (Florida) and John David Booty (USC). Deas played at North Carolina before finishing his college career at Louisiana Tech.
Now the head coach at his high school alma mater, Deas is a bit alarmed to see young players, especially quarterbacks, committing to colleges when they are still in junior high. California quarterback Tate Martell committed to Oregon Wednesday, days after Deas' home state flagship school, LSU, offered rising eighth-grade linebacker Dylan Moses.
As a quarterback at Evangel Christian (Shreveport, La.) in the mid-1990s, Deas was part of a long line of Evangel quarterbacks who landed at big-time programs over a 12-year span from 1990-2002. He followed Josh Booty (LSU) and was followed by Brent Rawls (Oklahoma), Brock Berlin (Florida) and John David Booty (USC). Deas played at North Carolina before finishing his college career at Louisiana Tech.
Now the head coach at his high school alma mater, Deas is a bit alarmed to see young players, especially quarterbacks, committing to colleges when they are still in junior high. California quarterback Tate Martell committed to Oregon Wednesday, days after Deas' home state flagship school, LSU, offered rising eighth-grade linebacker Dylan Moses.
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Watch: Robert Nkemdiche interview
July, 27, 2012
7/27/12
3:03
PM ET
By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
The nation’s no. 1 recruit, Robert Nkemdiche (Loganville, Ga./Grayson) talks with TideNation reporter Greg Ostendorf about why he chose Clemson, which schools are still recruiting him, and what the future holds for him.
Robert Nkemdiche's recruitment continues
July, 27, 2012
7/27/12
1:31
PM ET
By
David Helman | ESPN.com
Regardless of his commitment to Clemson, defensive end Robert Nkemdiche (Loganville, Ga./Grayson) says the recruiting process hasn't calmed down -- if anything, it's intensified.
In this story, the No. 1 prospect in the country said that schools have not stopped contacting him since his commitment to Clemson June 14. In many cases schools are trying even harder to woo the 6-foot-5 end.
Nkemdiche listed several schools that have continued to pursue him in the past month and a half, with LSU among them. Regardless of his current status with Clemson, that's bound to be of some interest to LSU fans.
In this story, the No. 1 prospect in the country said that schools have not stopped contacting him since his commitment to Clemson June 14. In many cases schools are trying even harder to woo the 6-foot-5 end.
Nkemdiche listed several schools that have continued to pursue him in the past month and a half, with LSU among them. Regardless of his current status with Clemson, that's bound to be of some interest to LSU fans.
GeauxTigerNation writers David Helman and Gary Laney break down the competitions, issues and talking points of LSU's August camp. Players report to campus Aug. 1 and we'll have a preview segment every weekday in July leading up to the day the players report:
The basics of LSU's secondary are pretty obvious.
Monstrous cornerback Tharold Simon is going to start on one side of the Tigers' defense. Preseason All-SEC safety Eric Reid is going to anchor the last line of defense. If he can keep himself healthy, veteran Craig Loston should hold down the strong safety spot. And fellow All-SEC selection Tyrann Mathieu seems to have an early bead on the other starting corner spot.
The basics of LSU's secondary are pretty obvious.
Monstrous cornerback Tharold Simon is going to start on one side of the Tigers' defense. Preseason All-SEC safety Eric Reid is going to anchor the last line of defense. If he can keep himself healthy, veteran Craig Loston should hold down the strong safety spot. And fellow All-SEC selection Tyrann Mathieu seems to have an early bead on the other starting corner spot.
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Editor's note: ESPN.com’s Summer Shootaround series catches up on the offseason storylines for each conference. For more on SEC, click here.
Alabama: Trevor Releford
The Crimson Tide lost a host of important pieces and will be relying mainly on freshmen and sophomores. Coach Anthony Grant will need Releford to lead the way on the score sheet and in the locker room.
Arkansas: B.J. Young
The highly touted guard had a solid freshman season and could be poised for a major breakout as a sophomore. Guard play, particularly point guard play, is probably the most important part of Mike Anderson's up-tempo attack. Young will have the ball in his hands often and should be a lot of fun to watch.
Auburn: Jordan Price
The top recruit in Tony Barbee's 2012 class, joining a roster decimated by dismissals and offseason transfers, Price should be the best Tigers player from the get-go.
Florida: Kenny Boynton
Once seen as a conscienceless gunner, Boynton quietly submitted a fantastic offensive season for the Gators. With Brad Beal and Erving Walker gone, Boynton should get even more touches. If he maintains his efficiency, look out.
Georgia: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Caldwell-Pope was the gem of Georgia coach Mark Fox's 2011 recruiting class and showed plenty of promise as a freshman, averaging 13.2 points and 5.2 rebounds a game.
Kentucky: Ryan Harrow
Harrow won't be the most talented Wildcat -- he is somewhere around fifth or sixth on the list -- but no position is more important to Calipari teams than point guard. Harrow will be responsible for facilitating a star-studded and athletic lineup. How he handles that role could be the key to Kentucky's season.
LSU: Johnny O'Bryant
LSU made positive strides in Trent Johnson's final season, chief among them the progress made by 6-foot-9 forward Johnny O'Bryant. After notching major minutes as a freshman, O'Bryant could evolve into a star as a sophomore.
Alabama: Trevor Releford
The Crimson Tide lost a host of important pieces and will be relying mainly on freshmen and sophomores. Coach Anthony Grant will need Releford to lead the way on the score sheet and in the locker room.
Arkansas: B.J. Young
The highly touted guard had a solid freshman season and could be poised for a major breakout as a sophomore. Guard play, particularly point guard play, is probably the most important part of Mike Anderson's up-tempo attack. Young will have the ball in his hands often and should be a lot of fun to watch.
Auburn: Jordan Price
The top recruit in Tony Barbee's 2012 class, joining a roster decimated by dismissals and offseason transfers, Price should be the best Tigers player from the get-go.
Florida: Kenny Boynton
Once seen as a conscienceless gunner, Boynton quietly submitted a fantastic offensive season for the Gators. With Brad Beal and Erving Walker gone, Boynton should get even more touches. If he maintains his efficiency, look out.
Georgia: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Caldwell-Pope was the gem of Georgia coach Mark Fox's 2011 recruiting class and showed plenty of promise as a freshman, averaging 13.2 points and 5.2 rebounds a game.
Kentucky: Ryan Harrow
Harrow won't be the most talented Wildcat -- he is somewhere around fifth or sixth on the list -- but no position is more important to Calipari teams than point guard. Harrow will be responsible for facilitating a star-studded and athletic lineup. How he handles that role could be the key to Kentucky's season.
LSU: Johnny O'Bryant
LSU made positive strides in Trent Johnson's final season, chief among them the progress made by 6-foot-9 forward Johnny O'Bryant. After notching major minutes as a freshman, O'Bryant could evolve into a star as a sophomore.
Best-case/Worst-case scenarios for SEC
July, 26, 2012
7/26/12
3:11
PM ET
By
Eamonn Brennan | ESPN.com
Editor's note: ESPN.com’s Summer Shootaround series catches up on the offseason storylines for each conference. For more on SEC, click here.
Alabama
Best-case scenario: The most impressive thing about Alabama's season was not just that Anthony Grant had the onions to suspend his two best players down the stretch but also that Alabama played so well after he did. That bodes well for the upcoming season, in which Grant will incorporate talented freshman small forward Devonta Pollard with essentially the same team that finished 7-3 down the stretch. If Alabama can find some outside shooting to go with its typically stingy defense, it should be in the NCAA tournament yet again.
Worst-case scenario: The Crimson Tide shot 28.9 percent from 3 last season, good for 328th in the country. That was the main cause of Alabama's offensive struggles, and Pollard is unlikely to alleviate it this season. If the defense slips even a bit from its top 10 efficiency perch, Alabama will take a step back.
Arkansas
Best-case scenario: B.J. Young is a highly talented player and a prime candidate for breakout stardom, but he isn't the only talented sophomore on the roster. When Mike Anderson took over at Arkansas, he managed to keep all of John Pelphrey's last-ditch 2011 recruiting class, including guard Rashad Madden and forward Hunter Mickelson. With a season in Anderson's demanding system under its belt, this program appears set to vault itself to NCAA-tournament-bubble relevance once more.
Worst-case scenario: I'm not sure how this team won't improve, given the increase in experience and the time spent learning on the fly last season. But for all that talent, the Razorbacks have to improve on the defensive side of the floor. Anderson's teams are at their best hassling opponents 90 feet from the rim, but the 2011-12 edition was far too permissive to be a consistent winner.
Auburn
Best-case scenario: Tony Barbee has raved about the talent he has accumulated this offseason. That's not exactly a high bar, but he has a point. Auburn brought in two top-100 recruits, four-star shooting guard Brian Greene and two junior college transfers who could contribute right away. This will be a whole new squad, and while an NCAA tournament berth is still a season or two away, the Tigers are almost certain to improve over their ugly, sub-.500 season.
Alabama
Best-case scenario: The most impressive thing about Alabama's season was not just that Anthony Grant had the onions to suspend his two best players down the stretch but also that Alabama played so well after he did. That bodes well for the upcoming season, in which Grant will incorporate talented freshman small forward Devonta Pollard with essentially the same team that finished 7-3 down the stretch. If Alabama can find some outside shooting to go with its typically stingy defense, it should be in the NCAA tournament yet again.
Worst-case scenario: The Crimson Tide shot 28.9 percent from 3 last season, good for 328th in the country. That was the main cause of Alabama's offensive struggles, and Pollard is unlikely to alleviate it this season. If the defense slips even a bit from its top 10 efficiency perch, Alabama will take a step back.
Arkansas
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AP Photo/Brian ChilsonB.J. Young was one of the best freshmen in the SEC last season. What can we expect of him during his second season with Mike Anderson?
AP Photo/Brian ChilsonB.J. Young was one of the best freshmen in the SEC last season. What can we expect of him during his second season with Mike Anderson?Worst-case scenario: I'm not sure how this team won't improve, given the increase in experience and the time spent learning on the fly last season. But for all that talent, the Razorbacks have to improve on the defensive side of the floor. Anderson's teams are at their best hassling opponents 90 feet from the rim, but the 2011-12 edition was far too permissive to be a consistent winner.
Auburn
Best-case scenario: Tony Barbee has raved about the talent he has accumulated this offseason. That's not exactly a high bar, but he has a point. Auburn brought in two top-100 recruits, four-star shooting guard Brian Greene and two junior college transfers who could contribute right away. This will be a whole new squad, and while an NCAA tournament berth is still a season or two away, the Tigers are almost certain to improve over their ugly, sub-.500 season.
Athlete Jamal Carter (Miami/Southridge) is scheduled to announce his commitment Thursday at 3 p.m., the Miami Herald reports. According to the Herald, Carter's favorites are Miami-FL, LSU, Florida State, Florida and Hawaii.
Arkansas, Auburn, Louisville, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Purdue, South Florida, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Virginia and West Virginia also extended scholarship offers to the 6-foot-1, 190-pound four-star talent.
Arkansas, Auburn, Louisville, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Purdue, South Florida, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Virginia and West Virginia also extended scholarship offers to the 6-foot-1, 190-pound four-star talent.
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GTN writers Gary Laney and David Helman discuss issues around LSU football.
Question: ESPNU has been showing both LSU-Alabama games from last season. Looking back at them, what strikes you the most in retrospect?
Gary Laney: Just how badly the LSU offensive line was handled by the Alabama front. The Crimson Tide defense didn't just beat the LSU offensive line, they embarrassed the Tigers' front.
Question: ESPNU has been showing both LSU-Alabama games from last season. Looking back at them, what strikes you the most in retrospect?
Gary Laney: Just how badly the LSU offensive line was handled by the Alabama front. The Crimson Tide defense didn't just beat the LSU offensive line, they embarrassed the Tigers' front.
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GeauxTigerNation writers David Helman and Gary Laney break down the competitions, issues and talking points of LSU's August camp. Players report to campus Aug. 1 and we'll have a preview segment every weekday in July leading up to the day the players report:
The consensus about LSU coach Les Miles for a long time was that he'd always favor experience over youth. For years the argument about the Tigers' head man was that he wouldn't give newcomers a fair shake against established players.
That doesn't hold much water these days -- not after the past two seasons. LSU is 24-3 in the past two seasons, and green players have played a role of their own in setting that mark. In 2010 it was defensive backs Tyrann Mathieu, Tharold Simon and Eric Reid reaching the field early to make an impact.
The consensus about LSU coach Les Miles for a long time was that he'd always favor experience over youth. For years the argument about the Tigers' head man was that he wouldn't give newcomers a fair shake against established players.
That doesn't hold much water these days -- not after the past two seasons. LSU is 24-3 in the past two seasons, and green players have played a role of their own in setting that mark. In 2010 it was defensive backs Tyrann Mathieu, Tharold Simon and Eric Reid reaching the field early to make an impact.
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It's a bit hard to believe, but things are finishing up for LSU's 2013 recruiting class as August approaches.
A team like the Tigers has the pick of the litter, for the most part, when it comes to recruiting. But with 21 current commitments and a dwindling pool of high profile targets, there likely won't be too much more activity in the coming months. The commitment of defensive tackle Scott Pagano (Honolulu, Hawaii/Moanalua) to Clemson on Tuesday night gives the Tigers one fewer prospect to chase, increasing the intrigue around fellow defensive tackle Greg Gilmore (Hope Mills, N.C./South View) and his approaching decision.
In the meantime there are only a few more chances to scout out talent this summer before the 2012 season begins. This weekend's 2012 Champion Gridiron Kings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., promises to be such an occasion.
A team like the Tigers has the pick of the litter, for the most part, when it comes to recruiting. But with 21 current commitments and a dwindling pool of high profile targets, there likely won't be too much more activity in the coming months. The commitment of defensive tackle Scott Pagano (Honolulu, Hawaii/Moanalua) to Clemson on Tuesday night gives the Tigers one fewer prospect to chase, increasing the intrigue around fellow defensive tackle Greg Gilmore (Hope Mills, N.C./South View) and his approaching decision.
In the meantime there are only a few more chances to scout out talent this summer before the 2012 season begins. This weekend's 2012 Champion Gridiron Kings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., promises to be such an occasion.
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Three-star offensive tackle Clay Rhodes (Stilwell, Kan./Blue Valley), the No. 2-ranked player in Kansas, got the offer thousands of high school athletes dream of getting.
And he turned it down.
Rhodes, a Missouri commitment, respectfully declined an offer from LSU on Tuesday. While he said the scholarship was beyond intriguing, his loyalties are to his original commitment as Missouri prepares for its first season in the SEC with LSU.
And he turned it down.
Rhodes, a Missouri commitment, respectfully declined an offer from LSU on Tuesday. While he said the scholarship was beyond intriguing, his loyalties are to his original commitment as Missouri prepares for its first season in the SEC with LSU.
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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