BATON ROUGE -- Robert Nkemdiche will have his pick of any of the nation's elite programs when it comes time for him to commit this year.
That makes perfect sense when one considers Nkemdiche's 6-foot-5, 270-pound frame, and his do-it-all status for Grayson High School in Georgia.
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Loganville (Ga.) Grayson defensive end Robert Nkemdiche, widely considered the top prospect for the class of 2013, will soon make his college decision, according to his high school coach.
Grayson coach Mickey Conn said Monday night that Nkemdiche, an Under Armour All-American, has scheduled to announce his decision on May 18 after the school’s spring game.
“That’s the tentative plan for now,” Conn said. “I don’t think that’s 100 percent for sure but Robert would like to get the decision done and out of the way.”
Nkemdiche, who is 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, is one of the most heavily recruited players to ever come out of the Peach State and has his sights set on five schools – Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU and Ole Miss.
Grayson coach Mickey Conn said Monday night that Nkemdiche, an Under Armour All-American, has scheduled to announce his decision on May 18 after the school’s spring game.
“That’s the tentative plan for now,” Conn said. “I don’t think that’s 100 percent for sure but Robert would like to get the decision done and out of the way.”
Nkemdiche, who is 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, is one of the most heavily recruited players to ever come out of the Peach State and has his sights set on five schools – Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU and Ole Miss.
Lake Charles' Barbe High School has been one of the Louisiana's premier producers of baseball talent, but LSU has not always been able to tap into the best Barbe's had to offer.
Perhaps that's changing.
LSU recently landed a commitment from fast-improving Bucs senior right-hander Taylor Butler, who followed a solid summer with a fast start for a 17-2 Barbe team. Butler committed to LSU March 11 after a couple of recent starts where he's thrown 90 mph fastballs, touched 92 mph on some pitches and displayed an element that he said was his biggest improvement.
Perhaps that's changing.
LSU recently landed a commitment from fast-improving Bucs senior right-hander Taylor Butler, who followed a solid summer with a fast start for a 17-2 Barbe team. Butler committed to LSU March 11 after a couple of recent starts where he's thrown 90 mph fastballs, touched 92 mph on some pitches and displayed an element that he said was his biggest improvement.
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If one had to pick a most glaring weakness for LSU in its recently completed 18-15 men's basketball season, it might be either backcourt size - it's safe to say Andre Stringer was the only 5-foot-9 shooting guard in the SEC - or overall athleticism.
If LSU is able to sign Louisiana native Shavon Coleman in next month's late signing period, the Tigers will able to address both issues.
The 6-foot-6 sophomore from Howard College in Big Springs, Texas, via Thibodaux, La. High School, has both the size and run-and-jump athleticism the Tigers lacked in a season that ended with a trip to the NIT.
If LSU is able to sign Louisiana native Shavon Coleman in next month's late signing period, the Tigers will able to address both issues.
The 6-foot-6 sophomore from Howard College in Big Springs, Texas, via Thibodaux, La. High School, has both the size and run-and-jump athleticism the Tigers lacked in a season that ended with a trip to the NIT.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- ESPNU 150 Watch List defensive tackle Rod Crayton (Dadeville, Ala./Dadeville) was one of several big-time prospects to visit Gainesville on Saturday. The 6-foot-1, 300-pound defensive tackle has offers from LSU, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Michigan and many others, but the Gators have not offered.
Crayton though, believes after his visit to Florida an offer could come soon.
"It was great. I really enjoyed practice," Crayton said. "I really enjoyed talking with coach [Dan] Quinn and coach [Bryant] Young. They haven't offered me yet because they have concerns about my height, but they said they will talk it over as a staff and get back to me. I think they are really interested in me."
Crayton though, believes after his visit to Florida an offer could come soon.
"It was great. I really enjoyed practice," Crayton said. "I really enjoyed talking with coach [Dan] Quinn and coach [Bryant] Young. They haven't offered me yet because they have concerns about my height, but they said they will talk it over as a staff and get back to me. I think they are really interested in me."
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BATON ROUGE -- Juniors were the main beneficiaries of this past weekend's NUC Five-Star Showcase in Zachary, La. The event was an invite-only affair for some of the region's top talent, including plenty of members of the class of 2013 hoping to make an impression ahead of their senior years.
However, some of the day's most impressive performers weren't even upper classmen yet, as several sophomores made quite an impact Saturday.
Among them was a New Orleans product in Archbishop Shaw quarterback Quentin Gibson. Gibson was one of the few quarterbacks at the camp from the class of 2014, but he shined right alongside his elder peers. The sophomore was named the event's quarterback MVP for his efforts in the position workouts, as well as one-on-one scrimmaging with wide receivers and defensive backs.
However, some of the day's most impressive performers weren't even upper classmen yet, as several sophomores made quite an impact Saturday.
Among them was a New Orleans product in Archbishop Shaw quarterback Quentin Gibson. Gibson was one of the few quarterbacks at the camp from the class of 2014, but he shined right alongside his elder peers. The sophomore was named the event's quarterback MVP for his efforts in the position workouts, as well as one-on-one scrimmaging with wide receivers and defensive backs.
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ESPNU 150 Watch List defensive end Torrodney Prevot (Houston, Texas/Taylor) visited LSU over the weekend and left Baton Rouge, La., with a new appreciation for the campus and the program.
Prevot currently is balancing 18 offers, but LSU made enough of an impression this weekend to be considered among his favorites. Prevot, 6-foot-4 and 205, thoroughly enjoyed his trip and had a chance to not only take in the campus experience but also watch a team scrimmage.
“The atmosphere around the whole school, it was beautiful,” Prevot said. “I really saw myself there.”
Prevot currently is balancing 18 offers, but LSU made enough of an impression this weekend to be considered among his favorites. Prevot, 6-foot-4 and 205, thoroughly enjoyed his trip and had a chance to not only take in the campus experience but also watch a team scrimmage.
“The atmosphere around the whole school, it was beautiful,” Prevot said. “I really saw myself there.”
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BATON ROUGE -- John Diarse's commitment to LSU on Saturday afternoon is a big piece of good news for the Tigers, and for obvious reasons.
Diarse, who attends Neville High School in Monroe, La., is considered one of the better recruits in Louisiana for 2013, and he adds to what is already the beginnings of another strong LSU recruiting class.
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- 2013 ATH John Diarse committed to LSU on Saturday, giving the Tigers their sixth commitment for the class.
Diarse, who plays for Neville High School in Monroe, La., was on a visit to Baton Rouge this weekend and made it official.
"I committed and gave Coach (Les) Miles my word, so I'm going to be in Baton Rouge," Diarse said.
Diarse, who plays for Neville High School in Monroe, La., was on a visit to Baton Rouge this weekend and made it official.
"I committed and gave Coach (Les) Miles my word, so I'm going to be in Baton Rouge," Diarse said.
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BATON ROUGE -- LSU learned it had a late addition to its 2012 recruiting class on Thursday night with the commitment of junior college offensive lineman Fehoko Fanaika.
Fanaika pulled the trigger with the Tigers after a two-week waiting period following a visit to Baton Rouge. The 6-foot-6, 340-pound offensive guard didn't make himself available for comment, but Tim Tulloach, his recruiting coordinator at the College of San Mateo (Calif.), was able to shed some light on the big man's decision.
"He was split down the middle with Florida and LSU, as well as looking at Hawaii, but it really came down to Florida and LSU," Tulloch said. "He went away with his family and came back, and he just said LSU was the right fit."
Fanaika pulled the trigger with the Tigers after a two-week waiting period following a visit to Baton Rouge. The 6-foot-6, 340-pound offensive guard didn't make himself available for comment, but Tim Tulloach, his recruiting coordinator at the College of San Mateo (Calif.), was able to shed some light on the big man's decision.
"He was split down the middle with Florida and LSU, as well as looking at Hawaii, but it really came down to Florida and LSU," Tulloch said. "He went away with his family and came back, and he just said LSU was the right fit."
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2012 OL Fanaika picks LSU over Florida 
March, 16, 2012
3/16/12
12:40
AM ET
By
Derek Tyson | ESPN.com
The LSU Tigers added one more player to an already solid 2012 recruiting class on Thursday, as San Mateo (Calif.) College of San Mateo offensive tackle Fehoko Fanaika signed his letter of intent to play for the Tigers next season.
Fanaika's defensive coordinator at San Mateo Tim Tulloch confirmed the decision late on Thursday night via text message.
"Fehoko signed with LSU," Tulloch said. "It was a very hard decision for him. He said he loved coach Muschamp and Jon Halapio, but he met with his family and somehow felt LSU was the right fit. He didn't say much more than that."
Fanaika now becomes the 24th player to sign with LSU for the 2012 class.
Fanaika's defensive coordinator at San Mateo Tim Tulloch confirmed the decision late on Thursday night via text message.
"Fehoko signed with LSU," Tulloch said. "It was a very hard decision for him. He said he loved coach Muschamp and Jon Halapio, but he met with his family and somehow felt LSU was the right fit. He didn't say much more than that."
Fanaika now becomes the 24th player to sign with LSU for the 2012 class.
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BATON ROUGE -- Standing on the LSU practice fields in 86 degree heat on March 15, it's painful to think what's coming for LSU.
It's not even officially spring, and temperatures are soaring for the Tigers. To make matters worse, LSU's spring game at the end of the month is slated for 12:30 p.m. Doesn't sound fun.
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BATON ROUGE -- With All-American Eric Reid locking down the free safety spot, Craig Loston understands why there will be a position change.
The junior, now three years removed from committing to LSU as the nation's top safety, is finally looking at a starting position with the Tigers, although that requires he move across the defensive formation to strong safety.
Disappointing as that might be for most players, halfway through the spring session, Loston is just happy for an opportunity to see the field more often. Although he is the Tigers' most experienced returning safety (apart from Reid), Loston said he isn't taking that chance for granted.
The junior, now three years removed from committing to LSU as the nation's top safety, is finally looking at a starting position with the Tigers, although that requires he move across the defensive formation to strong safety.
Disappointing as that might be for most players, halfway through the spring session, Loston is just happy for an opportunity to see the field more often. Although he is the Tigers' most experienced returning safety (apart from Reid), Loston said he isn't taking that chance for granted.
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BATON ROUGE -- Spring recruiting rolls on for LSU football. As the weather gets warmer, the Tigers continue to send more and more offers to prospective recruits around the country.
But while plenty of prospects both in the state and out of it continue to pick up offers, one name remains off the list to this point.
Edna Karr (New Orleans) cornerback Noel Ellis, one the early watchlist members for this year's ESPNU 150, still sits without an offer from the homestate team after the Tigers' flurry of junior day events and campus invites. But that offer could be coming depending on Ellis' performance in the future.
But while plenty of prospects both in the state and out of it continue to pick up offers, one name remains off the list to this point.
Edna Karr (New Orleans) cornerback Noel Ellis, one the early watchlist members for this year's ESPNU 150, still sits without an offer from the homestate team after the Tigers' flurry of junior day events and campus invites. But that offer could be coming depending on Ellis' performance in the future.
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BATON ROUGE -- With four returning starters and a sixth-year senior making his way back from an injury, it's safe to say LSU's offensive line a strength in 2012.
But at a talent factory like Baton Rouge, don't expect that to produce any complacency in the Tigers' trenches. The offensive line is one of the team's most complete units, and yet there are blue chips prospects pushing for playing time across the board against the incumbents.
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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