2014 safety Bonney on Texas junior day 
February, 10, 2013
Feb 10
8:15
PM ET
By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
Houston Lamar safety John Bonney's trip to Texas for its first junior day of the year started out well.
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This week’s Friday notebook includes a look at LSU signee Jarrell Martin’s dominant senior season, how LSU may have opened a pipeline to Australia, the latest word on best-available point guard Rysheed Jordan and a look back at re-ranking the top five in the Class of 2012.
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- If there's any doubt why LSU will continue to land top-notch talent in recruiting, Thursday gave an answer.
LSU had 13 players invited to the NFL draft combine Feb. 20-26 in Indianapolis, Ind., the most of any school in the nation. Among the 13, which includes ex-Tiger Tyrann Mathieu, only two were seniors. The other 11 left college with eligibility remaining.
It's one more than the total mustered by Florida State.
LSU set a record when 11 players opted to leave school a year early to enter the draft. That all 11 were invited to the combine affirms that the departures were legitimate. The combine only takes the players it deems most likely to have a chance to get drafted or make a team.
The 11 underclassmen invited were: defensive ends Barkevious Mingo, safety Eric Reid, linebacker Kevin Minter, defensive end Sam Montgomery, defensive tackle Bennie Logan, cornerbacks Mathieu and Tharold Simon, offensive tackle Chris Faulk, running backs Michael Ford and Spencer Ware and punter Brad Wing.
The two seniors were defensive end Lavar Edwards and center P.J. Lonergan.
There were 333 players on the list, 79 from the SEC. LSU was one of four SEC schools to have double-digits invited to the combine. Georgia had 11 players invited and Alabama and Georgia each had 10 invited.
LSU had 13 players invited to the NFL draft combine Feb. 20-26 in Indianapolis, Ind., the most of any school in the nation. Among the 13, which includes ex-Tiger Tyrann Mathieu, only two were seniors. The other 11 left college with eligibility remaining.
It's one more than the total mustered by Florida State.
LSU set a record when 11 players opted to leave school a year early to enter the draft. That all 11 were invited to the combine affirms that the departures were legitimate. The combine only takes the players it deems most likely to have a chance to get drafted or make a team.
The 11 underclassmen invited were: defensive ends Barkevious Mingo, safety Eric Reid, linebacker Kevin Minter, defensive end Sam Montgomery, defensive tackle Bennie Logan, cornerbacks Mathieu and Tharold Simon, offensive tackle Chris Faulk, running backs Michael Ford and Spencer Ware and punter Brad Wing.
The two seniors were defensive end Lavar Edwards and center P.J. Lonergan.
There were 333 players on the list, 79 from the SEC. LSU was one of four SEC schools to have double-digits invited to the combine. Georgia had 11 players invited and Alabama and Georgia each had 10 invited.
BATON ROUGE, La. -- With signing day 2013 wrapped up, it's time to turn our attention to 2014. Here are five players LSU will be pursuing for the 2014 class:
RB Leonard Fournette (New Orleans/St. Augustine)
Fournette is one of the top players and top running backs in the 2014 class, and he is already being mentioned as one of the great running backs to come out of Louisiana, a bold statement considered the state's storied history. At 6-foot-1 and 232 pounds with blinding speed and tremendous feel for the game, Fournette's talent was a big reason why LSU did not take a running back in 2013.
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- The night before signing day, Frank Wilson slept on an air mattress in his office
But only for a few hours.
LSU's recruiting coordinator doesn't have much time for that during the height of the recruiting season, especially with LSU's frantic recruiting cycle.
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- When ESPN 150 defensive end Tashawn Bower gave LSU its only signing day drama Wednesday by picking the Tigers over Florida and Auburn, he filled the last spot in the signing class.
That’s true literally -- after Bower’s letter of intent arrived, LSU coach Les Miles said the Tigers are done signing players for the 2013 class -- but also in a geographical sense.
Bower, from just outside of New York in Somerville, N.J., gave the Tigers’ class a northeast presence, filling the one region of the country that was previously missing from what Miles described as the “most geographically diverse class in school history.”
That’s true literally -- after Bower’s letter of intent arrived, LSU coach Les Miles said the Tigers are done signing players for the 2013 class -- but also in a geographical sense.
Bower, from just outside of New York in Somerville, N.J., gave the Tigers’ class a northeast presence, filling the one region of the country that was previously missing from what Miles described as the “most geographically diverse class in school history.”
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU’s 26-player recruiting class is signed, sealed and delivered.
Well, maybe.
We’ve yet to see where Priest Willis will go or whether Tevin Lawson will accept LSU’s grayshirt offer instead of choosing a conventional scholarship offer elsewhere. And, for that matter, there still might be a scholarship awaiting defensive back Jeremy Cutrer, who did not sign Wednesday because it was unclear whether he will qualify academically.
Well, maybe.
We’ve yet to see where Priest Willis will go or whether Tevin Lawson will accept LSU’s grayshirt offer instead of choosing a conventional scholarship offer elsewhere. And, for that matter, there still might be a scholarship awaiting defensive back Jeremy Cutrer, who did not sign Wednesday because it was unclear whether he will qualify academically.
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU got its signing day surprise.
ESPN 150 defensive end Tashawn Bower flipped from Auburn, to Florida then LSU, sending his letter of intent to LSU late Wednesday morning.
Bower, the lone surprise in an LSU class that looked completed before lunch, capping a banner defensive line class for the Tigers, who are looking to replenish the position after losing two likely first-round NFL draft picks at defensive end (Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery) and possibly another at defensive tackle (Bennie Logan). It was an adventure with Bower, who was an Auburn commit, appeared to lean to Florida Wednesday morning, then ultimately picked LSU.
What is the impact of Bower’s decision?
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LSU landed the No. 7 class in the nation on signing day. Here's a look at each signing as the LOIs rolled into Baton Rouge.
11:50 a.m. CT -- DE Tashawn Bower 
Somerville, N.J./Immaculata
Visit recap
A highly regarded defensive end who could fit right in with LSU. Made a signing-day decision after considering Auburn, Florida and Florida State, among others.
10:42 a.m. CT -- DT Maquedius Bain
Fort Lauderdale, Fla./University New School of Nova South
Profile
Part of a deep defensive tackle class, Bain has raw athleticism and size. During his prep career, he also showed a willingness as a team player, taking on the offensive line to fill a team need as a senior.
11:50 a.m. CT -- DE Tashawn Bower
Somerville, N.J./Immaculata
Visit recap
A highly regarded defensive end who could fit right in with LSU. Made a signing-day decision after considering Auburn, Florida and Florida State, among others.
10:42 a.m. CT -- DT Maquedius Bain
Fort Lauderdale, Fla./University New School of Nova South
Profile
Part of a deep defensive tackle class, Bain has raw athleticism and size. During his prep career, he also showed a willingness as a team player, taking on the offensive line to fill a team need as a senior.
Watch: LSU staff erupts with Bower news
February, 6, 2013
Feb 6
12:35
PM ET
By GeauxTigerNation | ESPN.com
The LSU coaching staff erupts when No. 11 defensive end Tashawn Bower of Immaculata (Somerville, N.J.) faxes in his Letter of Intent. Holly Rowe then talks with Les Miles about Bower and the Tigers' recruiting class.
ESPN RecruitingNation has signing day covered. Follow ESPNU’s coverage, chat with analysts and get breaking news on our Signing Day Live page beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET through 7 p.m. ET. For more on what to expect on signing day, check out the SEC conference breakdown 
.
Bold Prediction for the SEC:
Ole Miss' class will eventually be ranked in the top five nationally with the addition of No. 1 overall prospect Robert Nkemdiche from Loganville (Ga.) Grayson and possibly ESPN 150 prospects Chris Jones from Houston (Miss.) High and Antonio Conner from Batesville (Miss.) South Panola.
SEC East
Florida
Biggest need: Florida wants immediate help at defensive tackle. Jarran Reed from Scooba (Miss.) East should be able to provide that if he decides to sign with the Gators on national signing day.
Biggest recruit: The Gators have two five-star commitments: cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III from Tampa (Fla.) Wharton and running back Kelvin Taylor from Belle Glade (Fla.) Glades. No other school in the country can say that.
Georgia
Biggest need: The Bulldogs would like to pick up another top offensive lineman. They looked destined to land Laremy Tunsil from Lake City (Fla.), but the competition has heated up for him lately.
Biggest recruit: With 12 ESPN 300 commitments, Georgia has plenty of star power. However, it's impossible to overvalue the commitment of Brice Ramsey from Kingsland (Ga.) Camden, a quarterback the Bulldogs can build around.
.
Bold Prediction for the SEC:
Ole Miss' class will eventually be ranked in the top five nationally with the addition of No. 1 overall prospect Robert Nkemdiche from Loganville (Ga.) Grayson and possibly ESPN 150 prospects Chris Jones from Houston (Miss.) High and Antonio Conner from Batesville (Miss.) South Panola.
SEC East
Florida
Biggest need: Florida wants immediate help at defensive tackle. Jarran Reed from Scooba (Miss.) East should be able to provide that if he decides to sign with the Gators on national signing day.
Biggest recruit: The Gators have two five-star commitments: cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III from Tampa (Fla.) Wharton and running back Kelvin Taylor from Belle Glade (Fla.) Glades. No other school in the country can say that.
Georgia
Biggest need: The Bulldogs would like to pick up another top offensive lineman. They looked destined to land Laremy Tunsil from Lake City (Fla.), but the competition has heated up for him lately.
Biggest recruit: With 12 ESPN 300 commitments, Georgia has plenty of star power. However, it's impossible to overvalue the commitment of Brice Ramsey from Kingsland (Ga.) Camden, a quarterback the Bulldogs can build around.
It looked as though the UCLA Bruins were on track to close the gap on the USC Trojans for the top recruiting class in the Pac-12, thanks to some late verbal commitments. But now it appears Jim Mora's program might need to do so without its top-rated commitment.
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Many think of national signing day as the end of the recruiting process.
But Denham Springs, La. High head coach Dru Nettles notes that Wednesday is just the start nearly a two-month window.
"People think of it as signing day, but it's really a signing period," he said. "It's just the beginning."
But Denham Springs, La. High head coach Dru Nettles notes that Wednesday is just the start nearly a two-month window.
"People think of it as signing day, but it's really a signing period," he said. "It's just the beginning."
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Born and raised in the Pelican State, wide receiver Jermaine Antoine (Loreauville, La./Loreauville) always has had an admiration of and respect for LSU. Some of his friends, from football and otherwise, are either there now or will be attending the school.
When Aug. 31 rolls around, Antoine will be doing everything in his power to sink the school he has always rooted for. It’s part of the game, part of recruiting and, for him, part of his new life. Antoine verbally committed to TCU on Monday and is looking forward to being at Cowboys Stadium for the Horned Frogs’ season opener against LSU.
“When you live down [in Louisiana], who’s not an LSU fan?” Antoine said. “But if I go to TCU and start as a slot receiver against them, man ... ”
When Aug. 31 rolls around, Antoine will be doing everything in his power to sink the school he has always rooted for. It’s part of the game, part of recruiting and, for him, part of his new life. Antoine verbally committed to TCU on Monday and is looking forward to being at Cowboys Stadium for the Horned Frogs’ season opener against LSU.
“When you live down [in Louisiana], who’s not an LSU fan?” Antoine said. “But if I go to TCU and start as a slot receiver against them, man ... ”
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No. 1 prospect Robert Nkemdiche (Loganville, Ga./Grayson) is one day away from announcing his college decision live on ESPNU at 7:35 a.m ET. Nkemdiche took an official visit to LSU last weekend, after previous officials to Florida and Ole Miss. Nkemdiche says all schools are even. On Monday night, we solicited questions on Twitter using #AskNkemdiche, and the nation's top player answered a bunch of them for us. You can follow him at @Aceboogie_001.
@RebCody: #AskNkemdiche How fun and stressful has the recruiting process been?
Robert Nkemdiche: Everybody knows it has been stressful. Everybody knows. The part that was fun is the fans, going on visits and just experiencing new and different things.
@RebCody: #AskNkemdiche How fun and stressful has the recruiting process been?
Robert Nkemdiche: Everybody knows it has been stressful. Everybody knows. The part that was fun is the fans, going on visits and just experiencing new and different things.
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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