On LSU's star-studded roster, it's easy to find recognizable names.
You start with the "Honey Badger," Heisman Trophy finalist Tyrann Mathieu. You go to Sam Montgomery, Barkevious Mingo, Eric Reid, Odell Beckham, Jr., Spencer Ware ... you can go on and on with recognizable names.
But there are players who have yet to make their name who are on the verge of doing so this year. And this doesn't even count a "known unknown" like quarterback Zach Mettenberger, whose starting debut is so highly anticipated, he's hardly an unknown.
You start with the "Honey Badger," Heisman Trophy finalist Tyrann Mathieu. You go to Sam Montgomery, Barkevious Mingo, Eric Reid, Odell Beckham, Jr., Spencer Ware ... you can go on and on with recognizable names.
But there are players who have yet to make their name who are on the verge of doing so this year. And this doesn't even count a "known unknown" like quarterback Zach Mettenberger, whose starting debut is so highly anticipated, he's hardly an unknown.
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The NCAA released its full academic progress rates Wednesday, and yet again each SEC football program is free from penalties after their academic performances.
The Academic Progress Rate (APR) measures the eligibility, retention and graduation of Division 1 student-athletes. It also serves as a predictor of graduation success. The most recent APR scores are multi-year rates based on the scores from the 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, and 2010-11 academic years.
Teams scoring below 930 out of 1,000 can face penalties, such as scholarship reductions and restrictions on practice and competition.
Vanderbilt led the SEC with a multiyear APR of 978, while Florida and Missouri tied for second (972). Tennessee, which tied Arkansas for last in last year's APR (937), finished last in the SEC with an APR of 931.
The average APR for the SEC is 956, which is up from last year (955.4).
The Academic Progress Rate (APR) measures the eligibility, retention and graduation of Division 1 student-athletes. It also serves as a predictor of graduation success. The most recent APR scores are multi-year rates based on the scores from the 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, and 2010-11 academic years.
Teams scoring below 930 out of 1,000 can face penalties, such as scholarship reductions and restrictions on practice and competition.
Vanderbilt led the SEC with a multiyear APR of 978, while Florida and Missouri tied for second (972). Tennessee, which tied Arkansas for last in last year's APR (937), finished last in the SEC with an APR of 931.
The average APR for the SEC is 956, which is up from last year (955.4).
LSU hires Patrick as men's hoops assistant
June, 20, 2012
6/20/12
12:55
PM ET
By
Gary Laney | ESPN.com
David Patrick, a graduate of the Dunham School in Baton Rouge, La., and a native of Bermuda with extensive international basketball ties, was hired as an assistant men's basketball coach at LSU, it was announced Wednesday in an LSU news release.
Patrick, who was a player personnel scout for the Houston Rockets when he was hired by LSU, replaced Shawn Forrest, who resigned for personal reasons.
"We are definitely excited about the addition of David Patrick to our staff," LSU head coach Johnny Jones said. "He will not only be able to help us with game planning and practice preparation, but we look forward to forward to him helping us raise our level of recruiting at LSU, both regionally, as well as nationally."
Patrick, who was a player personnel scout for the Houston Rockets when he was hired by LSU, replaced Shawn Forrest, who resigned for personal reasons.
"We are definitely excited about the addition of David Patrick to our staff," LSU head coach Johnny Jones said. "He will not only be able to help us with game planning and practice preparation, but we look forward to forward to him helping us raise our level of recruiting at LSU, both regionally, as well as nationally."
GTN Roundtable (June 20) 
June, 20, 2012
6/20/12
8:49
AM ET
By
Gary Laney and
David Helman | ESPN.com
GTN writers Gary Laney and David Helman discuss issues around LSU football.
Today, they talk about the offseason attrition in the Tigers secondary. Since spring football, defensive backs Sam Gibson, David Jenkins and Ronnie Vinson have left the program to transfer to other schools.
Question: Does the offseason attrition in the secondary hurt LSU?:
Today, they talk about the offseason attrition in the Tigers secondary. Since spring football, defensive backs Sam Gibson, David Jenkins and Ronnie Vinson have left the program to transfer to other schools.
Question: Does the offseason attrition in the secondary hurt LSU?:
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Here is the best of the 2012 NFTC one-on-ones featuring some of the nation's top recruits. Included are Reuben Foster, Laremy Tunsil, Alvin Kamara, Torrodney Prevot, Frank Herron, Eddie Vanderdoes, Ahmad Fulwood and Altee Tenpenny.
LSU has lost two young defensive backs from its roster and has lost three since the end of spring practice.
Sophomore safety Sam Gibson and redshirt freshman cornerback David Jenkins have both left the program, LSU sports information confirmed in an e-mail Tuesday. It did not specify where the two players will transfer.
Gibson, a native of Prattville, Ala., played in five games as a redshirt freshman in 2011, making three total tackles. Jenkins, a native of Jena, La., who graduated from high school in Carrolton, Texas, did not play in the 2011 season.
Sophomore safety Sam Gibson and redshirt freshman cornerback David Jenkins have both left the program, LSU sports information confirmed in an e-mail Tuesday. It did not specify where the two players will transfer.
Gibson, a native of Prattville, Ala., played in five games as a redshirt freshman in 2011, making three total tackles. Jenkins, a native of Jena, La., who graduated from high school in Carrolton, Texas, did not play in the 2011 season.
When point guard Corban Collins became LSU's fifth recruit for the 2012 basketball signing class last week, it gave a look of completion for Johnny Jones' first Tigers signing class.
Sort of.
Collins gives LSU two true point guards (along with returning starter Anthony Hickey) to go with four wings (returning starter Andre Stringer and recruits Shavon Coleman, Malik Morgan and Shane Hammink), two "face-up," perimeter-shooting forwards (Eddie Ludwig and Jalen Courtney) and two "true" post players (returning starter Johnny O'Bryant III and recruit Calvin Godfrey).
Sort of.
Collins gives LSU two true point guards (along with returning starter Anthony Hickey) to go with four wings (returning starter Andre Stringer and recruits Shavon Coleman, Malik Morgan and Shane Hammink), two "face-up," perimeter-shooting forwards (Eddie Ludwig and Jalen Courtney) and two "true" post players (returning starter Johnny O'Bryant III and recruit Calvin Godfrey).
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Monday was a busy day for commitments in the West region, but defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes (Auburn, Calif./Placer) isn't exactly ready to jump into the commitment scene. More than half of the top 30 players in the West have already made verbal commitments, but Vanderdoes is taking things slowly. On Monday, the 6-foot-3, 285-pound lineman took to twitter to release a list of his top 15 schools.
Alabama, Baylor, California, Florida, Georgia Tech, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Oregon, Penn State, UCLA, USC and Washington all made the cut. Vanderdoes included in his tweet that he will be cutting that down to a top 10 group soon.
Alabama, Baylor, California, Florida, Georgia Tech, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Oregon, Penn State, UCLA, USC and Washington all made the cut. Vanderdoes included in his tweet that he will be cutting that down to a top 10 group soon.
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Liggins' situation clears up QB recruiting
June, 18, 2012
6/18/12
2:34
PM ET
By
David Helman | ESPN.com
Jeremy Liggins has enrolled for summer courses for Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College, but that doesn't necessarily mean he won't wear purple and gold this fall.
LSU's 2012 quarterback commitment from Lafayette High School in Oxford, Miss., has been the subject of speculation all weekend since word spread he had opted to take the juco route after failing to qualify academically. But Anthony Hart, the athletic director at Lafayette and Liggins' former coach, said that speculation is premature.
Hart said Saturday that while Liggins has not yet met state requirements in Louisiana, he is still in the process of trying to qualify. He reiterated that again Monday morning, saying that the 6-foot-3, 270-pound quarterback can still report to LSU if he meets requirements in the coming weeks.
LSU's 2012 quarterback commitment from Lafayette High School in Oxford, Miss., has been the subject of speculation all weekend since word spread he had opted to take the juco route after failing to qualify academically. But Anthony Hart, the athletic director at Lafayette and Liggins' former coach, said that speculation is premature.
Hart said Saturday that while Liggins has not yet met state requirements in Louisiana, he is still in the process of trying to qualify. He reiterated that again Monday morning, saying that the 6-foot-3, 270-pound quarterback can still report to LSU if he meets requirements in the coming weeks.
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It's never too early for a primer on LSU running backs because there is so much to know.
For most teams, knowing a starter and maybe a key backup is enough.
Not at LSU.
For most teams, knowing a starter and maybe a key backup is enough.
Not at LSU.
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DE Gilmore feels the love at Tide's camp
June, 17, 2012
6/17/12
9:13
PM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
It was about an eight-hour drive for Hope Mills, N.C., defensive end Greg Gilmore to attend the University of Alabama’s OL/DL camp on Saturday, but when camp was over, it was well worth the trip.
“It went really good. I learned so much,” Gilmore said. “I was only going to do the first session and be done with that, but I got to do both sessions and worked on a lot of pass rush stuff and a lot of line stuff. I learned a lot good techniques to help my game.”
Gilmore has the Crimson Tide among his favorites, and with top defensive line prospect Robert Nkemdiche off the board for now, it looks like Alabama has made Gilmore a bigger priority for the 2013 class.
“It went really good. I learned so much,” Gilmore said. “I was only going to do the first session and be done with that, but I got to do both sessions and worked on a lot of pass rush stuff and a lot of line stuff. I learned a lot good techniques to help my game.”
Gilmore has the Crimson Tide among his favorites, and with top defensive line prospect Robert Nkemdiche off the board for now, it looks like Alabama has made Gilmore a bigger priority for the 2013 class.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Five-star offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil (Lake City, Fla./Columbia) visited Alabama, Georgia and Florida over the last week. The 6-foot-6, 295-pound tackle named a top three after his visit to Florida on Sunday.
"I would say they are my top three," Tunsil said of the three schools he visited. "It's a tie right now with all of them."
Tunsil, who camped at Alabama last weekend, visited Georgia on Friday and Saturday before heading to Gainesville on Sunday. The No. 3-ranked player in the country said he was impressed by what Georgia had to offer.
"I would say they are my top three," Tunsil said of the three schools he visited. "It's a tie right now with all of them."
Tunsil, who camped at Alabama last weekend, visited Georgia on Friday and Saturday before heading to Gainesville on Sunday. The No. 3-ranked player in the country said he was impressed by what Georgia had to offer.
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The social media buzz was strong on Friday -- so strong that Kyrion Parker decided to just sit back and read all the hearsay.
If it wasn’t people on Twitter, it was those on Facebook passing on the same message: Kyrion Parker has decommitted from LSU.
Parker confirmed late Friday night the decommitment with ESPN's RecruitingNation. He said he made the decision Thursday and is currently weighing all options.
If it wasn’t people on Twitter, it was those on Facebook passing on the same message: Kyrion Parker has decommitted from LSU.
Parker confirmed late Friday night the decommitment with ESPN's RecruitingNation. He said he made the decision Thursday and is currently weighing all options.
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The University of Alabama will host its one-day offensive line/defensive line camp on Saturday, and prospects from across the southeast are expected to be in town to compete. The camp became even more important for the Crimson Tide after top defensive end prospect Robert Nkemdiche committed to Clemson on Thursday. The UA coaching staff will get a chance to evaluate other potential options at the position. Here’s a look at three key players who will be on campus over the weekend.
Greg Gilmore - Hope Mills, N.C.
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Gators impress 2014 DE Gerald Willis III
June, 15, 2012
6/15/12
6:48
PM ET
By
Derek Tyson | ESPN.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Defensive end prospect Gerald Willis III (New Orleans, La./Edna Karr) will only be a junior this coming year, but he is already familiar with what college football recruiting is all about. Willis is the half-brother of Alabama safety signee Landon Collins, the No. 1 safety in the country last year.
Collins spurned the home-state LSU Tigers and instead signed with the Alabama Crimson Tide. Willis said he wants to follow his brother's lead by not being afraid to get out of Louisiana -- but only if it's the best decision for him when it's time to make his college decision.
"It really don't matter if I go far from home," Willis said. "I just know that I have a home to come home to. My brother proved that he wasn't just going to stay at home. He could have stayed at home, but he thought he could go further if he went to Alabama. So I'm going to follow in my brother's footsteps. I might stay at home or I might go somewhere. I just don't know."
Collins spurned the home-state LSU Tigers and instead signed with the Alabama Crimson Tide. Willis said he wants to follow his brother's lead by not being afraid to get out of Louisiana -- but only if it's the best decision for him when it's time to make his college decision.
"It really don't matter if I go far from home," Willis said. "I just know that I have a home to come home to. My brother proved that he wasn't just going to stay at home. He could have stayed at home, but he thought he could go further if he went to Alabama. So I'm going to follow in my brother's footsteps. I might stay at home or I might go somewhere. I just don't know."
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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