Recruiting: LSU targets narrow as 2019 class nears full capacity

One of the major dominoes fell Wednesday in LSU’s favor on the recruiting trail when 4 star wide receiver Trey Palmer from Kentwood became LSU’s 19th verbal for the 2019 class.

The 6-foot, 180 pounder has been an LSU lean for some time, but considered Alabama, Mississippi State, Florida and Arizona State. The development moves the Tigers to the No. 4 slot nationally on the 24/7 Sports recruiting board.

With the addition of Palmer, LSU has six spots remaining so the coaching staff will have to be very selective with who will fill those vacancies.

Where does LSU have to target and who will be in their sights?

At running back, the recent loss of John Emery from Destrehan to Georgia really stings. It has been made clear that he fully intended to leave the state. But with the glaring need LSU could be facing in ’19 at that position, it just can’t happen. The top running backs in Louisiana should never cross the state border to play college football. Emery is one that got away who could prove costly to the staff.

Moving forward, LSU has two running back at the top of the 2019 board.

IMG’s Noah Cain and A’Montae Spivey are a pair that the Tigers are working hard to away their way. LSU needs at least one, if not both.

Cain, (5-11, 209), a 4 star Baton Rouge native, is considering LSU, Texas, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Penn State.

Spivey (6-1, 205), a 3 star talent, is being hounded by Tigers’ assistant Tommie Robinson. He has paired his list to include LSU and Arkansas. Purdue, UL Lafayette and Missouri are on the next tier.

A pair of 4 star receivers, Amite product Devonta Lee (6-3, 212) and Houston prepster Jalen Curry (6-3, 195), are also high on LSU’s priority list.

The newly committed Palmer has taken it upon himself to sell Lee on joining him in Tigertown. Lee is considering LSU, Alabama and Texas A&M.

Curry has Auburn as his current leader with LSU, Tennessee and Arizona trailing.

Two 4 star offensive linemen are prominent on LSU’s big board – Ruston’s Ray Parker (6-4, 280) and Deyavie Hammond (6-3, 340), a IMG Academy prospect.

Parker, a tackle, has LSU as his clear leader while the Tigers are competing with Florida State, Georgia and Miami for the massive guard Hammond.

Defensively, Amite’s Ismael Sopsher (6-4, 334) is a vital target for the Purple and Gold. The staff must do whatever necessary to secure the 5 star defensive tackle.

LSU has made up lots of ground with Sopsher and leads Alabama slightly in the sweepstakes. He represents a position of need and a player of enormous proportions.

With three linebackers already committed, the Tigers need to look closely at what is the best move at the position. A pair from the state of Alabama might make sense.

Ke’Shun Brown (6-0, 215), 3 star outside linebacker from Montgomery visited Baton Rouge on June 22. He favors LSU, Pittsburgh, Alabama and Florida right now.

Ja’Len Sims (6-1, 210) from Birmingham has narrowed his list down to LSU and Ole Miss.

With five cornerback pledges already, you would expect the Tigers to back off this spot. But with the way recruiting goes, I expect this situation to change at some point before the class is signed.

Two possibilities to join the fray include 4 star Joey Porter (6’2-185) from Wexford, Penn. LSU defensive backs coach Corey Raymond is making his case but faces stiff competition from Pitt Miami, Penn State and Nebraska. Porter, the son of the former great Steelers linebacker, has recently expressed his interest in the Tigers.

Raydarious Jones (6-2-168), a 4 star with 4.4 speed from Horn Lake has in-state Ole Miss as his favorite, but he also has interest in LSU, Alabama, Auburn and Mississippi State.

A one-time LSU target, Karr cornerback Devin Bush (6-0, 195). is no longer a possibility. Both parties decided to part ways, leaving Clemson and Tennessee as favorites to secure his signature.