LSU snares key commitment from JUCO offensive guard Damien Lewis

The LSU staff vowed to target offensive linemen for the 2018 recruiting class. Those efforts paid dividends this past weekend with the commitment of highly-regarded JUCO guard Damien Lewis.

The 6-foot-3, 320 pounder from Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia visited LSU for the Texas A&M matchup. He took in the sights and sounds of West Virginia the previous weekend and stopped by Oxford to take a look at Ole Miss on October 21.

Lewis represents the 19th overall pledge for the Purple and Gold’s upcoming signing class. He will be eligible to participate in spring drills when he signs.

Offensive tackle Badara Traore (6-8, 315), top ranked at the position in the JUCO ranks, has LSU atop of his current list ahead of Auburn, Oklahoma, Texas and Ole Miss. The Brooklyn, NY native is playing at Nassau Community College.

A dominating blocker, Traore is mean and nasty. He finishes his blocks, moves well and possesses tremendous reach. Traore pancakes blocks many of his opponents and displays great effort as a pass blocker. He has been rated as a “must get” for the Tigers.

Like Lewis, Traore can enroll in the school of his choice for spring drills.

I feel that one or two of the committed defensive linemen for the 2018 class will get a long look on the offensive line once they arrive as well.

Meanwhile, 4 star outside linebacker Merlin Robertson (6-3, 241) from Gardena, Calif. was also on campus this past weekend. His top four heading into this weekend were USC, Oklahoma, BYU and California. Yet, LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda sold him on a visit to Tigertown, which seems to have gone well.

A pair of Parkway teammates, quarterback Justin Rogers and wide receiver Terrace Marshall, took a visit for the A&M game. Rogers is currently committed to TCU while Marshall, the top rated receiver in the state, slightly favors LSU with Alabama, Florida State, Texas A&M and Texas giving chase. Steve Ensminger is giving the sales pitch for the Tigers.

Top ranked cornerback Justin Watkins (5-11, 172) out of Clermont, Florida is being courted by Corey Raymond by the Tigers. It is sizing up to be an LSU-Alabama dual.