LSU Tigers: Speedy Noil
BATON ROUGE, La. -- The spring game is back in Louisiana.
Gone for several years because of a change in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association rules, spring games returned this year and provided great evaluation opportunities for coaches. You had matchups like West Monroe (with ESPN 150 offensive tackle Cameron Robinson) against Monroe Neville (ESPN 150 safety Laurence "Hootie" Jones).
You had quarterback Brandon Harris (Bossier City/Parkway) putting up big yards in a spring game. You had Baton Rouge's University Lab, featuring three major prospects in three different classes -- 2014 ESPN 150 offensive lineman Garrett Brumfield (LSU commit), 2015 running back prospect Nick Brossette and 2017 stud Dylan Moses -- taking on rising class 5A power Zachary.
It's May in Louisiana, but around high school campuses, there's a touch of September.
This week's targets: LSU's coaches were spread out at spring games over the weekend.
Gone for several years because of a change in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association rules, spring games returned this year and provided great evaluation opportunities for coaches. You had matchups like West Monroe (with ESPN 150 offensive tackle Cameron Robinson) against Monroe Neville (ESPN 150 safety Laurence "Hootie" Jones).
You had quarterback Brandon Harris (Bossier City/Parkway) putting up big yards in a spring game. You had Baton Rouge's University Lab, featuring three major prospects in three different classes -- 2014 ESPN 150 offensive lineman Garrett Brumfield (LSU commit), 2015 running back prospect Nick Brossette and 2017 stud Dylan Moses -- taking on rising class 5A power Zachary.
It's May in Louisiana, but around high school campuses, there's a touch of September.
This week's targets: LSU's coaches were spread out at spring games over the weekend.
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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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BATON ROUGE, La. -- GTN writer Gary Laney took your questions, which leaned heavily toward quarterbacks and receivers in the week after LSU took a commitment from junior college wide receiver D'haquille Williams and sent an offer out to quarterback Brandon Harris:
Andy (Portland, Ore.): With Brandon Harris, DeShone Kizer and Mason Rudolph looking like the three main quarterbacks on LSU's wish list, it looks like LSU is going in the direction of the mobile quarterback. Given LSU's history of getting more out of pocket passers (JaMarcus Russell, Matt Flynn) than run-first guys (Jordan Jefferson), should LSU be targeting runners?
Gary Laney: There are two things that jump into my mind that are different now than in the past.
Andy (Portland, Ore.): With Brandon Harris, DeShone Kizer and Mason Rudolph looking like the three main quarterbacks on LSU's wish list, it looks like LSU is going in the direction of the mobile quarterback. Given LSU's history of getting more out of pocket passers (JaMarcus Russell, Matt Flynn) than run-first guys (Jordan Jefferson), should LSU be targeting runners?
Gary Laney: There are two things that jump into my mind that are different now than in the past.
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- In the last couple of weeks, GeauxTigerNation has spent plenty of time in New Orleans metro, visiting with coaches and players from River Ridge John Curtis, Metairie Archbishop Rummel (to watch practice) and New Orleans St. Augustine.
That's just the tip of the iceberg. New Orleans is loaded, so we'll be back. We haven't even hit loaded Karr, or prospect-laden programs such as Brother Martin, Marrero Archbishop Shaw and Marrero John Ehret yet.
Meanwhile, LSU spread its wings well away from Louisiana on the recruiting trail:
That's just the tip of the iceberg. New Orleans is loaded, so we'll be back. We haven't even hit loaded Karr, or prospect-laden programs such as Brother Martin, Marrero Archbishop Shaw and Marrero John Ehret yet.
Meanwhile, LSU spread its wings well away from Louisiana on the recruiting trail:
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- How does a pass from Brandon Harris to D'haquille Williams sound?
There's still a long way to go, but after last weekend, that combination became more of a possibility in LSU's future.
There's still a long way to go, but after last weekend, that combination became more of a possibility in LSU's future.
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- One thing you can say about the track performances of Louisiana's top prospects in football this season is: Well, they had good football seasons.
The Louisiana state high school track and field meet at LSU's Bernie Moore Stadium wasn't kind to many of the state's top football players, who struggled with either injuries or "off" weekends.
The big exception was Malachi Dupre, who swept the Class 2A jump events -- the long jump, triple jump and high jump -- and was named outstanding field performer. He was joined by several players off the Patriots football team who dominated the 2A meet.
For others, it was a painful weekend. The nation's top Class of 2014 football prospect, Leonard Fournette, had to withdraw from several events after pulling up injured in the Class 4A 4x200 relay. Jeryl Brazil won the 3A 100, but pulled up injured in the 200.
Here are the Louisiana football prospects who placed in the Louisiana state meet:
Long jump: Donald Gage (Houston signee), Zachary, 24-1 3/4 (5A champion); Speedy Noil, Karr, 23-6 (third in 4A); Malachi Dupre, River Ridge John Curtis, 23-5 3/4 (2A champion); D'Vante Dotson, Baton Rouge University, 22-6 1/4 (Second in 2A); Jazz Ferguson, Bains West Feliciana, 21-81/2 (fifth in 3A)
Triple jump: Dupre, 44-2 1/4 (2A champion)
High jump: Dupre, 6-6 (2A champion)
Shot put: Anthony Taylor (Tulane signee), River Ridge John Curtis, 60-4 (2A champion); David Elias (UL-Monroe signee), Geismar Dutchtown, 56-10 1/4 (5A champion); Eric Thomas (Tulane signee), River Ridge John Curtis, 56-0 (third in 2A); Hakim Gray, 54-6 (Louisiana Tech signee), North DeSoto, 54-6 (3A champion); Darian Claiborne (Texas A&M signee), Port Allen, 52-11 1/4 (third in 3A); RaeJuan Marbley, Destrehan, 50-8 1/4 (fifth in 5A)
Discus: Anthony Taylor (Tulane signee), River Ridge John Curtis, 16-1 (2A champion); Duke Riley (LSU signee), River Ridge John Curtis, 150-8 (Second in 2A)
Javelin: Darian Claiborne (Texas A&M signee), Port Allen, 180-0 (second in 3A)
100: Sherman Badie (Tulane signee), River Ridge John Curtis, 10.59 (second in 2A); Richard Allen (Tulane signee), River Ridge John Curtis, 10.63 (third in 2A); Jeryl Brazil (LSU signee), Loranger, 10.64 (3A champion); Rashid Bonnette, Loreauville, 10.92 (fourth in 2A)
200: Richard Allen (Tulane signee), River Ridge John Curtis, 21.76 (second in 2A); Terrence Alexander, River Ridge John Curtis, 21.92 (third in 2A); D'Vante Dotson, Baton Rouge University, 22.56 (fifth in 2A); Eugene Brazley (Ole Miss signee), New Orleans Carver, 22.64 (sixth in 2A)
110 high hurdles: Duke Riley (LSU signee), River Ridge John Curtis, 14.70 (second in 2A)
The Louisiana state high school track and field meet at LSU's Bernie Moore Stadium wasn't kind to many of the state's top football players, who struggled with either injuries or "off" weekends.
For others, it was a painful weekend. The nation's top Class of 2014 football prospect, Leonard Fournette, had to withdraw from several events after pulling up injured in the Class 4A 4x200 relay. Jeryl Brazil won the 3A 100, but pulled up injured in the 200.
Here are the Louisiana football prospects who placed in the Louisiana state meet:
Long jump: Donald Gage (Houston signee), Zachary, 24-1 3/4 (5A champion); Speedy Noil, Karr, 23-6 (third in 4A); Malachi Dupre, River Ridge John Curtis, 23-5 3/4 (2A champion); D'Vante Dotson, Baton Rouge University, 22-6 1/4 (Second in 2A); Jazz Ferguson, Bains West Feliciana, 21-81/2 (fifth in 3A)
Triple jump: Dupre, 44-2 1/4 (2A champion)
High jump: Dupre, 6-6 (2A champion)
Shot put: Anthony Taylor (Tulane signee), River Ridge John Curtis, 60-4 (2A champion); David Elias (UL-Monroe signee), Geismar Dutchtown, 56-10 1/4 (5A champion); Eric Thomas (Tulane signee), River Ridge John Curtis, 56-0 (third in 2A); Hakim Gray, 54-6 (Louisiana Tech signee), North DeSoto, 54-6 (3A champion); Darian Claiborne (Texas A&M signee), Port Allen, 52-11 1/4 (third in 3A); RaeJuan Marbley, Destrehan, 50-8 1/4 (fifth in 5A)
Discus: Anthony Taylor (Tulane signee), River Ridge John Curtis, 16-1 (2A champion); Duke Riley (LSU signee), River Ridge John Curtis, 150-8 (Second in 2A)
Javelin: Darian Claiborne (Texas A&M signee), Port Allen, 180-0 (second in 3A)
100: Sherman Badie (Tulane signee), River Ridge John Curtis, 10.59 (second in 2A); Richard Allen (Tulane signee), River Ridge John Curtis, 10.63 (third in 2A); Jeryl Brazil (LSU signee), Loranger, 10.64 (3A champion); Rashid Bonnette, Loreauville, 10.92 (fourth in 2A)
200: Richard Allen (Tulane signee), River Ridge John Curtis, 21.76 (second in 2A); Terrence Alexander, River Ridge John Curtis, 21.92 (third in 2A); D'Vante Dotson, Baton Rouge University, 22.56 (fifth in 2A); Eugene Brazley (Ole Miss signee), New Orleans Carver, 22.64 (sixth in 2A)
110 high hurdles: Duke Riley (LSU signee), River Ridge John Curtis, 14.70 (second in 2A)
BATON ROUGE, La. -- GeauxTigerNation writer Gary Laney took your questions:
From Joseph (Pacific Northwest): It seems that the (LSU) strategy to employ a no huddle offense is designed to keep dangerous defensive personnel groups off the field, or mitigate the pass rush through exhaustion, on passing downs. As a northwesterner now, I have had to live through the incessant touting by Oregon fans of the invincibility of their vaunted high-speed offense. Needless to say, a defense with equal speed and superior size has been Oregon's undoing (OSU, Auburn, LSU, Stanford); there are several defenses like these in the SEC, and on LSU's 2013 schedule. Is trouble brewing?
From Joseph (Pacific Northwest): It seems that the (LSU) strategy to employ a no huddle offense is designed to keep dangerous defensive personnel groups off the field, or mitigate the pass rush through exhaustion, on passing downs. As a northwesterner now, I have had to live through the incessant touting by Oregon fans of the invincibility of their vaunted high-speed offense. Needless to say, a defense with equal speed and superior size has been Oregon's undoing (OSU, Auburn, LSU, Stanford); there are several defenses like these in the SEC, and on LSU's 2013 schedule. Is trouble brewing?
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In this edition of Throwback Thursday, Tom Luginbill takes three ESPN 150 athletes and looks at which former college standouts the prospects remind him of.
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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#BlueChipBattles: ESPN 150 release edition
April, 19, 2013
Apr 19
12:49
PM ET
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
Student Sports, ESPN, ESPNSpeedy Noil, Adoree Jackson and Da'Shawn Hand are three of the most coveted recruits in the Class of 2014.
: RecruitingNation summoned its writers from around the country to outline the recruiting battles for the ESPN 150's top 10 prospects.
Plus, rank the battles in SportsNation.
#TopFBMixtapes: Athlete mixtapes are all the rage in this highlight-crazed era of sports. We reached out to our Twitter followers to find out which 2014 football stars had the best highlight reels on YouTube, then had our staff rank and comment on the top submissions.
Tom Luginbill writes
: After talking to many coaches across the country and hearing their frustrations, here are their five biggest complaints about homemade highlight videos.BATON ROUGE, La. -- The offers keep coming in for 2014 defensive end Davon Godchaux.
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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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ATH Speedy Noil breaks down his top four
April, 16, 2013
Apr 16
3:21
PM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
BUFORD, Ga. -- ESPN Watch List athlete Speedy Noil (New Orleans/Edna Karr) earned his invitation to The Opening back in February at the New Orleans SPARQ Combine. That didn’t stop him from attending the Atlanta NFTC on Saturday.
Noil didn’t go to participate in the camp. He went to support his teammate, defensive end Gerald Willis III. After a strong performance in Atlanta, Willis will be joining Noil in Oregon for The Opening. He received his invite on Saturday.
Although he didn’t work out, Noil did talk about recruiting and his top four -- LSU, Texas A&M, Florida and USC.
Noil didn’t go to participate in the camp. He went to support his teammate, defensive end Gerald Willis III. After a strong performance in Atlanta, Willis will be joining Noil in Oregon for The Opening. He received his invite on Saturday.
Although he didn’t work out, Noil did talk about recruiting and his top four -- LSU, Texas A&M, Florida and USC.
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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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BUFORD, Ga. -- The Southeast, in particular Georgia, prides itself on its football talent. When the 2013 Nike Football Training Camp tour made a stop outside of Atlanta on Saturday, the recruits who participated did not disappoint. After a competitive Saturday, dominated for the most part by the defensive line, six players earned invitations to The Opening.
Recruiting Nation’s Greg Ostendorf attended the camp. Here’s what he learned:
Headed to Oregon
Recruiting Nation’s Greg Ostendorf attended the camp. Here’s what he learned:
Headed to Oregon
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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