LSU Tigers: Donnie Alexander
BATON ROUGE, La. -- It's been since Jordan Jefferson in 2008 that one could find a Louisiana quarterback who met the four-star threshold.
Back then, before RecruitingNation issued stars, Jefferson was given an 80 score, which translates to four stars.
Brandon Harris (Bossier City, La./Parkway) broke that drought this year. And now he's done something no Louisiana quarterback has done in the RecruitingNation era.
Back then, before RecruitingNation issued stars, Jefferson was given an 80 score, which translates to four stars.
Brandon Harris (Bossier City, La./Parkway) broke that drought this year. And now he's done something no Louisiana quarterback has done in the RecruitingNation era.
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- When players like Tyrann Mathieu, Anthony Johnson and Odell Beckham star for LSU football teams, you better believe LSU fans don't take it for granted.
All three are from New Orleans, which, as a metropolitan area, has not been the most loyal Louisiana city to the Tigers.
All three are from New Orleans, which, as a metropolitan area, has not been the most loyal Louisiana city to the Tigers.
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Every Wednesday, GeauxTigerNation will take a look at LSU's week in recruiting in Tales From The Road.
BATON ROUGE, La. -- It almost felt like football season over the weekend in Baton Rouge.
Fans surrounded Tiger Stadium, tailgating in adjacent parking lots. Then, when the time was right, they poured into the stadium for the main event.
Only this weekend, it wasn't football, but the annual Bayou Country Superfest, featuring Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, the Zac Brown Band and Luke Bryan, who headlined the stadium for Memorial Day weekend.
But it sure did feel like a football weekend, and it just so happened there were football players on campus. Some of the state's top recruits were on hand for LSU's Bayou Picnic event, getting a little taste of a game day.
Happy accident? We think not.
This week's targets: LSU recruiting coordinator Frank Wilson and wide receiver coach Adam Henry were at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans for the New Orleans Karr/New Orleans Brother Martin spring scrimmage.
BATON ROUGE, La. -- It almost felt like football season over the weekend in Baton Rouge.
Fans surrounded Tiger Stadium, tailgating in adjacent parking lots. Then, when the time was right, they poured into the stadium for the main event.
Only this weekend, it wasn't football, but the annual Bayou Country Superfest, featuring Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, the Zac Brown Band and Luke Bryan, who headlined the stadium for Memorial Day weekend.
But it sure did feel like a football weekend, and it just so happened there were football players on campus. Some of the state's top recruits were on hand for LSU's Bayou Picnic event, getting a little taste of a game day.
Happy accident? We think not.
This week's targets: LSU recruiting coordinator Frank Wilson and wide receiver coach Adam Henry were at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans for the New Orleans Karr/New Orleans Brother Martin spring scrimmage.
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NEW ORLEANS -- Tad Gormley Stadium once hosted the 1992 U.S. Olympic Track and Field trials, a meet so fast the great Carl Lewis finished sixth in the 100 meters.
It was in that same venue on Thursday where Speedy Noil was, quite simply, fast, even in the context of the world class speed the venerable, 76-year-old New Orleans City Park icon has seen gallop up and down its turf and track.
It was in that same venue on Thursday where Speedy Noil was, quite simply, fast, even in the context of the world class speed the venerable, 76-year-old New Orleans City Park icon has seen gallop up and down its turf and track.
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- Sometimes a picnic is just a picnic.
LSU hosted its annual Bayou Picnic recruiting day Saturday, an invitation-only event targeting select high-profile recruiting targets. And while some recruits were on "commitment alert," the Tigers had not landed any new commitments by the time Memorial Day weekend ended.
That's not to say it wasn't a significant event in the recruiting process.
LSU hosted its annual Bayou Picnic recruiting day Saturday, an invitation-only event targeting select high-profile recruiting targets. And while some recruits were on "commitment alert," the Tigers had not landed any new commitments by the time Memorial Day weekend ended.
That's not to say it wasn't a significant event in the recruiting process.
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Harris on display as spring games flourish 
May, 20, 2013
May 20
10:40
AM ET
By
Gary Laney | ESPN.com
BATON ROUGE, La. -- The stage was set for Brandon Harris.
The 2014 quarterback, whose stock has risen steadily throughout the spring, had the stage to himself when his school, Bossier City, La.'s Parkway High, hosted Alexandria, La./Alexandria Senior High for a spring game.
The 2014 quarterback, whose stock has risen steadily throughout the spring, had the stage to himself when his school, Bossier City, La.'s Parkway High, hosted Alexandria, La./Alexandria Senior High for a spring game.
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Louisiana deep with potential LSU targets
April, 24, 2013
Apr 24
10:00
AM ET
By
Gary Laney | ESPN.com
BATON ROUGE, La. -- We all know LSU's top targets.
Louisiana has nine ESPN 150 prospects, nine which have LSU ofers and two who have already committed to the Tigers.
Who else might the Tigers target in state? Here's a look at some dark horses outside the ESPN 150, excluding already committed players such as William Clapp and Donnie Alexander:
Louisiana has nine ESPN 150 prospects, nine which have LSU ofers and two who have already committed to the Tigers.
Who else might the Tigers target in state? Here's a look at some dark horses outside the ESPN 150, excluding already committed players such as William Clapp and Donnie Alexander:
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU's spring game is usually a big recruiting weekend, and the 2013 version did not disappoint.
LSU hosted some of the biggest names in the country, landed an ESPN 150 commitment and continued to lay the foundation for 2015 by extending an offer to one of Louisiana's top players.
Here's a rundown of the day's highlights, from a recruiting standpoint.
LSU hosted some of the biggest names in the country, landed an ESPN 150 commitment and continued to lay the foundation for 2015 by extending an offer to one of Louisiana's top players.
Here's a rundown of the day's highlights, from a recruiting standpoint.
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- GeauxTigerNation writer Gary Laney takes your questions:
Joe (Denham Springs, La.): Who are the big-name prospects coming to LSU's spring game?
Gary Laney: The spring game (2 p.m. Saturday) is always a big draw and we are working on figuring out the guest list.
Joe (Denham Springs, La.): Who are the big-name prospects coming to LSU's spring game?
Gary Laney: The spring game (2 p.m. Saturday) is always a big draw and we are working on figuring out the guest list.
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Most states would be happy to have eight players among the top 300 in the nation.
In Louisiana, that's just one metro area this year.
Here are the eight New Orleans-area players on the ESPN 2014 Watch List, plus a few more to keep an eye on:
In Louisiana, that's just one metro area this year.
Here are the eight New Orleans-area players on the ESPN 2014 Watch List, plus a few more to keep an eye on:
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- It might seem strange to say, but LSU has a rare luxury of knowing it will lose at least two linebackers after the 2013 season with both Lamin Barrow and Tahj Jones entering their senior seasons.
What's so weird about that? It's becoming more rare for contributors such as Barrow to make it to a senior season as the Tigers have adapted to players leaving after their junior or redshirt sophomore seasons.
With Barrow and Jones departing after this season, we can look at candidates to replace them in the 2014 recruiting class.
What's so weird about that? It's becoming more rare for contributors such as Barrow to make it to a senior season as the Tigers have adapted to players leaving after their junior or redshirt sophomore seasons.
With Barrow and Jones departing after this season, we can look at candidates to replace them in the 2014 recruiting class.
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This is the fourth in a series looking at players LSU might target in the 2014 recruiting class. Previously, we looked at wide receivers and tight ends, running backs and quarterbacks, offensive linemen and defensive linemen.
BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU loaded up with linebackers in 2012, so 2013 was supposed to be a light year for linebacker recruiting.
But Melvin Jones, a hulking natural middle linebacker, was too good to pass up, Kendell Beckwith was one of the best players in the state and, at the end, the staff fell in love with Duke Riley's versatility. So in what was supposed to be a light year for linebacker recruiting, the Tigers wound up with three.
And there will be room for more for the Tigers, who will lose seniors Tahj Jones and Lamin Barrow after this season. Here are some candidates:
BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU loaded up with linebackers in 2012, so 2013 was supposed to be a light year for linebacker recruiting.
But Melvin Jones, a hulking natural middle linebacker, was too good to pass up, Kendell Beckwith was one of the best players in the state and, at the end, the staff fell in love with Duke Riley's versatility. So in what was supposed to be a light year for linebacker recruiting, the Tigers wound up with three.
And there will be room for more for the Tigers, who will lose seniors Tahj Jones and Lamin Barrow after this season. Here are some candidates:
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Paris commit good sign for LSU's future
February, 25, 2013
Feb 25
7:54
PM ET
By
Gary Laney | ESPN.com
There was no big junior day at LSU this weekend. Spring practice? Doesn't start for another couple of weeks.
Yet recruiting news poured out of the LSU campus in the last weekend of February. ESPN 2014 Watch List defensive back Ed Paris (Mansfield,Texas/Timberview) committed Monday via Twitter, joining linebacker Donnie Alexander (New Orleans/Karr), who committed Sunday.
Yet recruiting news poured out of the LSU campus in the last weekend of February. ESPN 2014 Watch List defensive back Ed Paris (Mansfield,Texas/Timberview) committed Monday via Twitter, joining linebacker Donnie Alexander (New Orleans/Karr), who committed Sunday.
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- Donnie Alexander is used to being surrounded by high-end college talent.
Playing for Louisiana Class 4A state champion New Orleans Edna Karr, Alexander played on the same team as 2013 ESPN 300 prospects Standish Dobard (Miami (Fla) signee) and Noel Ellis (Texas A&M) and 2014 watch list prospects Gerald Willis III and Speedy Noil.
Count Alexander among the high-end Karr prospects.
The 2014 linebacker was offered by LSU on a weekend trip to Baton Rouge. After returning home and talking it over with his mother, he decided to pull the trigger and commit.
"LSU's the school I always wanted to go to since I was small," he said. "I didn't really want to wait."
The name may be an unknown to fans, who were perhaps expecting one of the 12 Louisiana players on the ESPN Watch List to be the next to commit.
Truth be told, Alexander was surprised, too.
"I was (surprised)," he said. "I really wasn't expecting it. They like my speed. They like that I'm a good tackler. They like that I make plays."
In that regard, he is perhaps comparable to 2013 signee Duke Riley, who share's Alexander's smaller build, but speed that will allow him to be versatile in areas like pass coverage.
"I think I do have good coverage skills," he said. "I get good drops and I'll come up and stick a slot receiver."
And he knows how to win. Karr went unbeaten in 2014, beating a talented Monroe Neville team for the 4A title.
"At Karr, we strive toward winning and being successful young men," he said. "That's what our coaches preach to us. Now that we've won, we have to maintain, don't let it get to our head."
Playing for Louisiana Class 4A state champion New Orleans Edna Karr, Alexander played on the same team as 2013 ESPN 300 prospects Standish Dobard (Miami (Fla) signee) and Noel Ellis (Texas A&M) and 2014 watch list prospects Gerald Willis III and Speedy Noil.
Count Alexander among the high-end Karr prospects.
Tom Hauck for ESPN.comNew Orleans linebacker Donnie Alexander committed to LSU on Sunday, becoming the fifth 2014 commit for the Tigers.
"LSU's the school I always wanted to go to since I was small," he said. "I didn't really want to wait."
The name may be an unknown to fans, who were perhaps expecting one of the 12 Louisiana players on the ESPN Watch List to be the next to commit.
Truth be told, Alexander was surprised, too.
"I was (surprised)," he said. "I really wasn't expecting it. They like my speed. They like that I'm a good tackler. They like that I make plays."
In that regard, he is perhaps comparable to 2013 signee Duke Riley, who share's Alexander's smaller build, but speed that will allow him to be versatile in areas like pass coverage.
"I think I do have good coverage skills," he said. "I get good drops and I'll come up and stick a slot receiver."
And he knows how to win. Karr went unbeaten in 2014, beating a talented Monroe Neville team for the 4A title.
"At Karr, we strive toward winning and being successful young men," he said. "That's what our coaches preach to us. Now that we've won, we have to maintain, don't let it get to our head."
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