LSU Tigers: Gerald Willis
BATON ROUGE, La. -- With the ESPN 300 released Monday, here's a look at the top targets on LSU's board, ranked from most likely to commit to the Tigers to least likely.
1. WR Malachi Dupre (River Ridge, La./John Curtis)
6-foot-3, 187 pounds
ESPN 300 Rank: 28
Why they want him: LSU has stockpiled its receiving corps with shorter, quicker slot types. Dupre marks a return to bigger downfield threats in the mold of past Tigers like Rueben Randle.
Who else wants him: Dupre has been quiet on his suitors, but UCLA, Michigan, Alabama and Florida State lead the list of contenders.
Odds they get him: 65 percent
1. WR Malachi Dupre (River Ridge, La./John Curtis)
6-foot-3, 187 pounds
ESPN 300 Rank: 28
Why they want him: LSU has stockpiled its receiving corps with shorter, quicker slot types. Dupre marks a return to bigger downfield threats in the mold of past Tigers like Rueben Randle.
Who else wants him: Dupre has been quiet on his suitors, but UCLA, Michigan, Alabama and Florida State lead the list of contenders.
Odds they get him: 65 percent
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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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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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BATON ROUGE, La. -- GeauxTigerNation writer Gary Laney took your questions:
From: Hunter Johnson: Do you think LSU would rather sign Racean Thomas or Darrel Williams at running back with Leonard Fournette, and does Kwon Alexander being from the same high school as Thomas helps us? Also any update on the situation at kicker?
From: Hunter Johnson: Do you think LSU would rather sign Racean Thomas or Darrel Williams at running back with Leonard Fournette, and does Kwon Alexander being from the same high school as Thomas helps us? Also any update on the situation at kicker?
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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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Now that spring ball has started, ESPN 150 defensive tackle Gerald Willis III has been inundated with interest from college recruiters visiting New Orleans Edna Karr High School. He expected that.
That’s why, even if he’s comfortable with naming his top four schools, his list remains a fluid one. New schools are working hard to get in the mix, and Willis is ready to hit the road for more visits this summer.
That’s why, even if he’s comfortable with naming his top four schools, his list remains a fluid one. New schools are working hard to get in the mix, and Willis is ready to hit the road for more visits this summer.
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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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How about this for a tailor-made banner recruiting class.
Of LSU's 10 most prominent recruiting targets, eight are from Louisiana and all 10 are in the top 100 of the ESPN 150. The other two? One is already committed to the Tigers and the other, while out of state, lives about 15 minutes from the Louisiana state line.
So yeah, LSU has a chance at a pretty good recruiting class if the Tigers can close the deal on these 10 targets:
1. RB Leonard Fournette (New Orleans/St. Augustine) 6-foot-1, 232 pounds
(ESPN 150 Rank: 1
Why they want him: Whether or not Cam Cameron opens up LSU's offense, the Tigers will still build around a power running game. And when Louisiana produces a talent like Fournette, there's no way LSU doesn't move mountains to bring him aboard. LSU clearly put its eggs in the Fournette basket by not signing a single RB in the 2012 class.
Who else wants him: Everybody, headlined by Alabama.
Odds they get him: 70 percent. Alabama leads the pack of out-of-state suitors, but we like LSU's chances given its history of using running backs and recruiting coordinator Frank Wilson's long relationship with Fournette's family.
Of LSU's 10 most prominent recruiting targets, eight are from Louisiana and all 10 are in the top 100 of the ESPN 150. The other two? One is already committed to the Tigers and the other, while out of state, lives about 15 minutes from the Louisiana state line.
So yeah, LSU has a chance at a pretty good recruiting class if the Tigers can close the deal on these 10 targets:
1. RB Leonard Fournette (New Orleans/St. Augustine) 6-foot-1, 232 pounds
(ESPN 150 Rank: 1
Why they want him: Whether or not Cam Cameron opens up LSU's offense, the Tigers will still build around a power running game. And when Louisiana produces a talent like Fournette, there's no way LSU doesn't move mountains to bring him aboard. LSU clearly put its eggs in the Fournette basket by not signing a single RB in the 2012 class.
Who else wants him: Everybody, headlined by Alabama.
Odds they get him: 70 percent. Alabama leads the pack of out-of-state suitors, but we like LSU's chances given its history of using running backs and recruiting coordinator Frank Wilson's long relationship with Fournette's family.
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- On the weekend before RecruitingNation reveals its first ESPN 150 for the Class of 2014, two players sure to be near the top of the list, Leonard Fournette and Jabrill Peppers, were in the same place.
Fournette, the highly touted running back from New Orleans' St. Augustine High, and Peppers, the talented cornerback from Paramus (N.J.) Catholic were on LSU's campus taking in the Tigers' final scrimmage before Saturday's spring game.
Here is some of the feedback and some notes on players who were on campus:
Fournette, the highly touted running back from New Orleans' St. Augustine High, and Peppers, the talented cornerback from Paramus (N.J.) Catholic were on LSU's campus taking in the Tigers' final scrimmage before Saturday's spring game.
Here is some of the feedback and some notes on players who were on campus:
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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. -- GTN writer Gary Laney took your questions on Twitter (@glaneyespn) and email (glaneyespn@gmail.com):
From Ryan (Denver, Colo.): There are a lot of Louisiana kids in the Under Armour Game. Is this surprising?
Gary Laney: Not at all.
From Ryan (Denver, Colo.): There are a lot of Louisiana kids in the Under Armour Game. Is this surprising?
Gary Laney: Not at all.
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This is the fourth in a series of players that LSU might target in the 2014 recruiting class. Previously, we looked at wide receivers and tight ends, running backs and quarterbacks and offensive linemen.
BATON ROUGE, La. -- By signing day, defensive line coach Brick Haley had to feel like the star of the show for LSU.
When the Tigers got Tashawn Bower to flip from Auburn to LSU on signing day, it wrapped up a banner recruiting season for LSU on the defensive line, with seven new faces signed to help replenish an area hit hard by the NFL draft.
With the Tigers needing at least four more defensive linemen in the 2014 class, who might they target?
BATON ROUGE, La. -- By signing day, defensive line coach Brick Haley had to feel like the star of the show for LSU.
When the Tigers got Tashawn Bower to flip from Auburn to LSU on signing day, it wrapped up a banner recruiting season for LSU on the defensive line, with seven new faces signed to help replenish an area hit hard by the NFL draft.
With the Tigers needing at least four more defensive linemen in the 2014 class, who might they target?
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Fournette compares to Louisiana's best
February, 14, 2013
Feb 14
8:00
AM ET
By
Gary Laney | ESPN.com
Wayne Reese knows what a good running back looks like.
He was the coach at New Orleans' Carver High School when a shifty little back named Marshall Faulk passed through his program en route to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
So when Reese, now the head coach at New Orleans' McDonogh 35 High, sees Leonard Fournette play, he recognizes the talent.
He was the coach at New Orleans' Carver High School when a shifty little back named Marshall Faulk passed through his program en route to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
So when Reese, now the head coach at New Orleans' McDonogh 35 High, sees Leonard Fournette play, he recognizes the talent.
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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