LSU Tigers: Melvin Jones
BATON ROUGE, La. -- With the 2012-2013 school year winding down, the members of the LSU signing class of 2013 should be arriving on campus soon for summer workouts. The Tigers brought in eight early enrollees in the spring and 19 more will come this summer.
Here's how we see them fitting in.
Here's how we see them fitting in.
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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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Louisiana represented well on signing day 
February, 25, 2013
Feb 25
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Gary Laney | ESPN.com
BATON ROUGE, La. -- How deep is the football talent in Louisiana?
Consider this: Every football bowl subdivision (FBS) conference in the nation has had a least two Louisiana players sign letters of intent with its member schools for the 2013 recruiting cycle, according to the ESPN database of recruits.
Louisiana high schools sent 92 players to 29 FBS programs, the data shows. Players will spread from coast to coast, with players at Stanford (wide receiver Taijuan Thomas) and Miami (tight end Standish Dobard). And they will play as far north as Kent State and as far south as Hawaii.
Consider this: Every football bowl subdivision (FBS) conference in the nation has had a least two Louisiana players sign letters of intent with its member schools for the 2013 recruiting cycle, according to the ESPN database of recruits.
Louisiana high schools sent 92 players to 29 FBS programs, the data shows. Players will spread from coast to coast, with players at Stanford (wide receiver Taijuan Thomas) and Miami (tight end Standish Dobard). And they will play as far north as Kent State and as far south as Hawaii.
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To gear up for 2013 national signing day, GeauxTigerNation's Gary Laney will break down every commitment in the Tigers' 2013 recruiting class.
Vitals: ATH Melvin Jones, Lake Charles, La./Washington-Marion, 6-foot-3, 245 pounds
Committed: June 29, 2012
ESPN Grade: 78, Three-star prospect
Picked LSU over: Offers from, among others, Alabama and Texas A&M
Vitals: ATH Melvin Jones, Lake Charles, La./Washington-Marion, 6-foot-3, 245 pounds
Committed: June 29, 2012
ESPN Grade: 78, Three-star prospect
Picked LSU over: Offers from, among others, Alabama and Texas A&M
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- The commitment of Maquedius Bain to LSU on Wednesday made perfect sense.
Bain, the No. 6 defensive tackle in the ESPN 150 and the highest-rated of the Tigers' 24 commitments, figures to play at LSU early. And he'll play a position where the Tigers have a tremendous recent track record for getting players to the NFL. Part of the reason there is a need for defensive tackles in this LSU class (Bain is one of four DT commitments in the class) is the presumed early departure of junior Bennie Logan to the NFL.
If Bain does play immediately, it will continue an LSU trend: Tiger freshmen should come ready to play because many of them will play. LSU used 15 true freshmen in the 2012 season, including four who started and a fifth who was a special-teams starter.
Bain, the No. 6 defensive tackle in the ESPN 150 and the highest-rated of the Tigers' 24 commitments, figures to play at LSU early. And he'll play a position where the Tigers have a tremendous recent track record for getting players to the NFL. Part of the reason there is a need for defensive tackles in this LSU class (Bain is one of four DT commitments in the class) is the presumed early departure of junior Bennie Logan to the NFL.
If Bain does play immediately, it will continue an LSU trend: Tiger freshmen should come ready to play because many of them will play. LSU used 15 true freshmen in the 2012 season, including four who started and a fifth who was a special-teams starter.
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Louisiana's stars still alive in prep playoffs
November, 14, 2012
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Gary Laney | ESPN.com
As Louisiana's high school football playoffs reach their second week, the matchups get better in the five classes, each whittled down to a field of 16 remaining teams, many who feature some of the state's top prospects. In Class 5A, West Monroe and Scott/Acadiana meet in a matchup of traditional powers. In 4A, Neville meets Breaux Bridge in a rematch of an epic semifinal matchup last year. Here are the top games involving major prospects this week:
Class 5A
No. 16 Geismar/Dutchtown (8-2) at No. 1 Metairie/Rummel (10-0): Dutchtown has plenty of talent, including Mississippi State commit Shelby Christy at wide reciever. It was surprising to see the Griffons slip to the No. 16 seed. It's a tough draw for the top-seeded Raiders, led by dual-threat quarterback Damian Williams, who sports a Kansas State offer.
No. 9 Monroe/Ouachita Parish (9-2) at No. 25 Ruston (6-5): The Monroe area, which won three of last year's five state championships last season, showed its toughness again last week when Ruston upset No. 8 seed South Lafourche, creating an all-Northeast Louisiana second-round match. Ouachita features three-star receiver and Washington commit Caleb Tucker at linebacker and Taijuan Thomas and 2014 ESPN Watch List member Cameron Sims at wide receiver.
No. 16 Geismar/Dutchtown (8-2) at No. 1 Metairie/Rummel (10-0): Dutchtown has plenty of talent, including Mississippi State commit Shelby Christy at wide reciever. It was surprising to see the Griffons slip to the No. 16 seed. It's a tough draw for the top-seeded Raiders, led by dual-threat quarterback Damian Williams, who sports a Kansas State offer.
No. 9 Monroe/Ouachita Parish (9-2) at No. 25 Ruston (6-5): The Monroe area, which won three of last year's five state championships last season, showed its toughness again last week when Ruston upset No. 8 seed South Lafourche, creating an all-Northeast Louisiana second-round match. Ouachita features three-star receiver and Washington commit Caleb Tucker at linebacker and Taijuan Thomas and 2014 ESPN Watch List member Cameron Sims at wide receiver.
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Games to watch for Louisiana recruits
November, 1, 2012
11/01/12
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By
Gary Laney | ESPN.com
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Saturday will be a who's who of Louisiana's top prospects in one place when LSU hosts Alabama at Tiger Stadium.
The night before, the state's best high school players will be scattered throughout the state, closing their regular seasons, many playing games with strong district-championship and postseason ramifications. Here are the best games involving players headed for major college programs:
Geismar Dutchtown (7-1) vs. Baton Rouge Catholic (6-2): The championship will be on the line in District 5-5A, which includes the largest city and suburban schools on the south side of Baton Rouge. Dutchtown, the alma mater of LSU's Eric Reid and Alabama's Eddie Lacy and Landon Collins, has another SEC-level recruit in Mississippi State commit Shelby Christy.
The night before, the state's best high school players will be scattered throughout the state, closing their regular seasons, many playing games with strong district-championship and postseason ramifications. Here are the best games involving players headed for major college programs:
Geismar Dutchtown (7-1) vs. Baton Rouge Catholic (6-2): The championship will be on the line in District 5-5A, which includes the largest city and suburban schools on the south side of Baton Rouge. Dutchtown, the alma mater of LSU's Eric Reid and Alabama's Eddie Lacy and Landon Collins, has another SEC-level recruit in Mississippi State commit Shelby Christy.
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LSU commit Jeryl Brazil gets jersey, win
October, 15, 2012
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David Helman | ESPN.com
ESPN 150 member and LSU commit Jeryl Brazil (Loranger, La./Loranger) celebrated his inclusion in the 2013 Under Armour All-America Game in style this past Friday.
After he received his jersey for those proceedings, he got back to work in his Loranger jersey. Brazil continued his big season as the Wolves' quarterback in a 42-18 win against Bogalusa, but he showed off the skills that make him dangerous in several spots: he rushed for touchdowns of 1 and 7 yards, and he added a pick-six from the cornerback spot. Loranger is 6-0 with Brazil at the helm and is set for a serious push at the Class 3A state title.
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With a recent trio of signing class additions, LSU bumped up four spots to No. 11 in the ESPN recruiting class rankings.
The Tigers have had three commitments since Friday, including ESPN150 tight end DeSean Smith (Lake Charles, La./Barbe). LSU also brought in four-star defensive end Lewis Neal (Wilson, N.C./Hunt) and three-star athlete Melvin Jones (Lake Charles, La./Washington-Marion).
LSU was not the only big mover Friday. Florida State jumped from No. 9 to No. 5. USC bumped up to No. 6 from No. 8. Georgia dropped to No. 8 from No. 5 and Washington debuted at No. 21.
The Tigers have had three commitments since Friday, including ESPN150 tight end DeSean Smith (Lake Charles, La./Barbe). LSU also brought in four-star defensive end Lewis Neal (Wilson, N.C./Hunt) and three-star athlete Melvin Jones (Lake Charles, La./Washington-Marion).
LSU was not the only big mover Friday. Florida State jumped from No. 9 to No. 5. USC bumped up to No. 6 from No. 8. Georgia dropped to No. 8 from No. 5 and Washington debuted at No. 21.
Lake Charles, La. has been kind to LSU in recent days.
DeSean Smith, a tight end from Lake Charles' Barbe High School and the No. 143 player on the ESPN 150, committed to LSU coach Les Miles on Monday. He became LSU's 18th commitment and second in four days from Lake Charles, the southwestern Louisiana town of about 70,000 people.
On Friday, linebacker Melvin Jones of Washington-Marion High committed.
"Me and Melvin have been best friends since we were real little," Smith said. "But I really wasn't thinking of that at all. I've been thinking of it for about a month now."
He said his comfort level with LSU shot up when he visited campus for LSU's spring game and watched new Tigers quarterback Zach Mettenberger air it out, showing a more potent passing offense than the Tigers have had in recent seasons. Smith comes from a high school program that runs a wide-open offense that often utilizes the multi-talented Smith at wide receiver.
"That was very impressive," Smith said of the LSU pass attack that day. "It put a big smile on my face."
Smith, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound pass-catching tight end, said he wanted to make his pick at the U.S. Army All-American game after the season. Lately, however, he said he started feeling like he was ready to make the choice much sooner. Over the weekend, he said Florida and LSU were his leaders.
"But I talked it over with my dad, and after going over things, we felt more at home at LSU," he said.
DeSean Smith, a tight end from Lake Charles' Barbe High School and the No. 143 player on the ESPN 150, committed to LSU coach Les Miles on Monday. He became LSU's 18th commitment and second in four days from Lake Charles, the southwestern Louisiana town of about 70,000 people.
On Friday, linebacker Melvin Jones of Washington-Marion High committed.
"Me and Melvin have been best friends since we were real little," Smith said. "But I really wasn't thinking of that at all. I've been thinking of it for about a month now."
He said his comfort level with LSU shot up when he visited campus for LSU's spring game and watched new Tigers quarterback Zach Mettenberger air it out, showing a more potent passing offense than the Tigers have had in recent seasons. Smith comes from a high school program that runs a wide-open offense that often utilizes the multi-talented Smith at wide receiver.
"That was very impressive," Smith said of the LSU pass attack that day. "It put a big smile on my face."
Smith, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound pass-catching tight end, said he wanted to make his pick at the U.S. Army All-American game after the season. Lately, however, he said he started feeling like he was ready to make the choice much sooner. Over the weekend, he said Florida and LSU were his leaders.
"But I talked it over with my dad, and after going over things, we felt more at home at LSU," he said.
By this point in the summer, Melvin Jones said he was just tired of dealing with the recruiting cycle.
That's why it must have come as some relief when the Lake Charles, La., native put an end to the process on Friday morning and committed to LSU.
"He was just so confused with all the phone calls, and people calling him and everything," said Troy Jones, Melvin's father. "It was just a burden off his chest. He was just stressed, and I could see it."
That's why it must have come as some relief when the Lake Charles, La., native put an end to the process on Friday morning and committed to LSU.
"He was just so confused with all the phone calls, and people calling him and everything," said Troy Jones, Melvin's father. "It was just a burden off his chest. He was just stressed, and I could see it."
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The Tigers added their 17th commitment of 2013 and their eighth pickup in the last two months on Friday with a verbal pledge from linebacker Melvin Jones (Lake Charles, La./Washington-Marion Magnet).
Jones, who is listed at 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, has been a coveted target for many Tigers fans and is the first linebacker taken in this class after LSU stocked the position in 2012. LSU beat Alabama and TCU for Jones' services.
Melvin's father, Troy Jones, who played running back for both Texas A&M and McNeese State, said the decision was ultimately up to his son.
Jones, who is listed at 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, has been a coveted target for many Tigers fans and is the first linebacker taken in this class after LSU stocked the position in 2012. LSU beat Alabama and TCU for Jones' services.
Melvin's father, Troy Jones, who played running back for both Texas A&M and McNeese State, said the decision was ultimately up to his son.
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GeauxTigerNation writers David Helman and Gary Laney discuss hot topics involving LSU athletics:
1) With three commitments in the last two weeks, what else should LSU be looking at for 2013?
Gary Laney: If the last couple of weeks showed us anything, it's that you can address missed needs later. By getting commitments from a junior college wide receiver and a juco tight end, LSU was able to fill a void from past recruiting classes. LSU's also shown it can recruit nationally, bringing in a quarterback from California and a tackle from Illinois.
1) With three commitments in the last two weeks, what else should LSU be looking at for 2013?
Gary Laney: If the last couple of weeks showed us anything, it's that you can address missed needs later. By getting commitments from a junior college wide receiver and a juco tight end, LSU was able to fill a void from past recruiting classes. LSU's also shown it can recruit nationally, bringing in a quarterback from California and a tackle from Illinois.
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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