LSU passing game buoyed with 2013 class 
January, 30, 2013
Jan 30
8:00
AM ET
By
Gary Laney | ESPN.com
BATON ROUGE, La. -- The last time LSU had anything close to a high-powered passing offense was back in its last national championship season, 2007, with Matt Flynn at quarterback.
Since then, the Tigers have consistently had, at best, mediocre passing numbers, a trend they hope to snap next season in Zach Mettenberger's senior year at quarterback. Whether that happens remains to be seen. One thing that's clear, however, is that the Tigers have invested heavily to try to improve the passing game in the future.
The 2013 class will finish with four receivers, two tight ends and two quarterbacks, nearly a third of the class devoted to an improved ability to pitch and catch.
"It's exciting," said tight end DeSean Smith (Lake Charles, La./Barbe)," the highest-rated of the eight players by ESPN. "When we look at our class, we think we can do a lot with three wide receiver sets and maybe four and we can even get one or two tight ends in as part of that."
Since then, the Tigers have consistently had, at best, mediocre passing numbers, a trend they hope to snap next season in Zach Mettenberger's senior year at quarterback. Whether that happens remains to be seen. One thing that's clear, however, is that the Tigers have invested heavily to try to improve the passing game in the future.
The 2013 class will finish with four receivers, two tight ends and two quarterbacks, nearly a third of the class devoted to an improved ability to pitch and catch.
"It's exciting," said tight end DeSean Smith (Lake Charles, La./Barbe)," the highest-rated of the eight players by ESPN. "When we look at our class, we think we can do a lot with three wide receiver sets and maybe four and we can even get one or two tight ends in as part of that."
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
BATON ROUGE, La. -- GTN's Gary Laney took your questions on a SportsNation chat Tuesday, but ran out of time to get to all of them. Instead, he turned them into a mailbag:
Ricky (New Orleans): How is our offensive line shaping up, since we had problems protecting Zach Mettenberger last year and our running game was not as productive as previous years?
GL: The offensive line could be the strength of the offense next year. With so many young players getting playing time, LSU has a lot of guys coming back. There are two key areas.
Ricky (New Orleans): How is our offensive line shaping up, since we had problems protecting Zach Mettenberger last year and our running game was not as productive as previous years?
GL: The offensive line could be the strength of the offense next year. With so many young players getting playing time, LSU has a lot of guys coming back. There are two key areas.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Four-star athlete Eddie Jackson will announce his college decision on Twitter around 8 a.m. ET Wednesday morning. The Florida native has taken official visits to Alabama, Florida State and LSU and will decide between the Crimson Tide and the Tigers.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Watch List QB Barker looking hard at SEC
January, 29, 2013
Jan 29
8:21
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
It’s normal practice for high school football players to wake up before school starts and get in an early workout. But Watch List quarterback Drew Barker (Hebron, Ky./Conner) is going beyond that. In addition to working out, Barker is also throwing routes before school.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
BATON ROUGE, La. -- As LSU puts the finishing touches on its 2013 recruiting class, one might ask what to expect from the incoming class.
One way to judge is through history.
Looking at the last three classes to complete their eligibility -- and the first three that existed in the RecruitingNation era (starting in 2006) -- one can see some noticeable patterns.
One way to judge is through history.
Looking at the last three classes to complete their eligibility -- and the first three that existed in the RecruitingNation era (starting in 2006) -- one can see some noticeable patterns.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Four-star LB Riley's recruitment taking off
January, 29, 2013
Jan 29
8:00
AM ET
By
Gary Laney | ESPN.com
BATON ROUGE, La. -- For linebacker Duke Riley (River Ridge, La./John Curtis Christian), his days are packed.
So are his nights.
By day, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound four-star prospect is finishing his senior year after leading Curtis to a Class 2A Louisiana state title.
At night, he's entertaining an almost daily barrage of college recruiters in what has become an expedited process for Riley.
So are his nights.
By day, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound four-star prospect is finishing his senior year after leading Curtis to a Class 2A Louisiana state title.
At night, he's entertaining an almost daily barrage of college recruiters in what has become an expedited process for Riley.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
All-important coach-recruit relationships
January, 28, 2013
Jan 28
12:57
PM ET
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
Strained relationship? The all-important recruiter-prospect relationship could be impacted by new recruiting rules, writes Max Olson.
Which teams do the best job of recruiting out-of-state talent? Start with Oklahoma, which finds much of its talent in Texas. A surprise? Try Auburn. The Tigers routinely pull talent out of Georgia. Here
, LaRue Cook ranks the top 10 teams that cross state borders to pull in talent.
Which teams do the best job of recruiting out-of-state talent? Start with Oklahoma, which finds much of its talent in Texas. A surprise? Try Auburn. The Tigers routinely pull talent out of Georgia. Here
, LaRue Cook ranks the top 10 teams that cross state borders to pull in talent.
BATON ROUGE, La. -- At the end of his weekend trip to LSU, Tashawn Bower sent a Tweet that said "1 visit to go." Duke Riley stayed in Baton Rouge an extra day. Eddie Jackson sent out an Instagram photo with a white No. 2 LSU jersey on.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Nkemdiche thinks Ole Miss is sitting pretty
January, 28, 2013
Jan 28
12:17
AM ET
By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
Perhaps no program in the country had more talent on campus for official visits this weekend than the staff at Ole Miss. The Rebels hosted more than 15 prospects, headlined by No. 1 prospect Robert Nkemdiche (Loganville, Ga./Grayson) but also including No. 5 prospect Laremy Tunsil (Lake City, Fla./Columbia) and a surprise in-state visitor.
Nkemdiche said he thinks Ole Miss is sitting pretty as signing day approaches.
Nkemdiche said he thinks Ole Miss is sitting pretty as signing day approaches.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Top recruits Robert Nkemdiche, Kelvin Taylor, Keith Ford, Cooper Bateman and others talk about the one item they'd bring along on an official visit. They thought of everything from a toothbrush to a horse.
LSU makes final push for Tashawn Bower
January, 26, 2013
Jan 26
3:07
PM ET
By
Dave Hooker | ESPN.com
LSU has one good shot to land Tashawn Bower. That time is upon the Tigers.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
SEC shows more interest in Todd Kelly Jr.
January, 25, 2013
Jan 25
11:38
AM ET
By
Dave Hooker | ESPN.com
Despite being one of the top programs in the nation, LSU still has some work to do to land one of the top junior prospects in the south.
Coaches from LSU visited Todd Kelly Jr. this week. However, the Watch List prospect from Knoxville (Tenn.) Webb said he's primarily focusing on his top ten finalists.
Coaches from LSU visited Todd Kelly Jr. this week. However, the Watch List prospect from Knoxville (Tenn.) Webb said he's primarily focusing on his top ten finalists.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
BATON ROUGE, La. -- With signing day looming, LSU is looking to sway some heavily recruited defensive talent this weekend as three players holding multiple SEC offers are scheduled to visit.
ESPN 150 defensive end Tashawn Bower (Somerville, N.J./Immaculata), an Auburn commit who has been taking visits to other schools, highlights a trio of uncommitted defensive players coming to Baton Rouge.
ESPN 150 defensive end Tashawn Bower (Somerville, N.J./Immaculata), an Auburn commit who has been taking visits to other schools, highlights a trio of uncommitted defensive players coming to Baton Rouge.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
OTL: Former LSU CB Tyrann Mathieu
January, 24, 2013
Jan 24
4:40
PM ET
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
Former LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu hopes to play in the NFL despite personal troubles that have included a drug arrest and dismissal from LSU’s football program for failing a drug test.
LSU coach Les Miles is getting a pay raise
January, 24, 2013
Jan 24
2:05
PM ET
By
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
Les Miles will be staying at LSU a little longer and will be collecting a little more cash in the process.
LSU athletic director Joe Alleva announced on Thursday that an amendment to extend the Tigers’ head coach’s contract and increase his annual salary will be presented to the LSU Board of Supervisors on Feb. 1.
Under the terms of the new contract amendment, Miles will receive $4.3 million per year for seven years, which is an increase from the $3.751 million he was making annually in his contract that was set to expire in December 2017. The amendment would be effective on Jan. 1, 2013 and extend to Dec. 31, 2019.
Here are some other proposals in the new amendment to Miles’ contract:
- LSU will pay $150,000 each year of the agreement into an account owned and controlled by LSU.
- Miles can collect the funds in the account totaling $750,000 after serving the first five years of the contract.
- He can then collect the final $300,000 in the account if he serves the final two years of the contract.
[+] Enlarge
John HuetLSU is awarding Les Miles a pay raise following the coach's third straight year with 10 or more wins.
John HuetLSU is awarding Les Miles a pay raise following the coach's third straight year with 10 or more wins.So even though he snacks on grass, has set clock management back at times and has left LSU fans confused by some of his actions, he still has a very impressive resume at LSU and has helped keep that program going after Nick Saban left.
With 10 more wins in 2012, Miles reached the double-digit win mark for the third straight year and the sixth time in his eight seasons with the Tigers. Plenty of fan bases would take that. Actually, every SEC fan base would love to have that kind of success.
People talk about Miles only winning one national championship during his tenure at LSU, but since he's been in the SEC only Alabama and Florida have more national championships than he does and Auburn is the only other SEC school with a national title. Really, he's one of just five coaches to win the national championship since 2005 and only Saban has been to more national championships (three) during that span.
Miles might be a little peculiar at times, but LSU should be very happy its keeping him in Baton Rouge even longer.
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