Update on LSU’s 2019 recruiting push

LSU sits at 19 pledges for the ’19 signing class. There are four cornerbacks included in that tally. There were five prior to the decommittment of 4 star cornerback Marcus Banks on October 16th.

Effort has intensified to get the number back to five.

This past weekend, Jay Ward from Moutrie, Ga. was a visitor to the Baton Rouge campus for the Alabama game. Mutual interest ramped up. The 3 star recruit was once committed to Kentucky where he had pledged June 22. The 6-foot-1, 175 pounder also has offers from West Virginia, Marshall, Appalachian State, Chattanooga, USF, UCF, Indiana, Georgia State and Western Kentucky.

Ward flies around, not afraid of contact. He is fluid out of breaks and reacts to the ball with anticipation. He shadows the receiver stride-for-stride. Chances have increased that he could be a commitment in the near future.

In general, LSU must be very selective with the remaining slots. That means the main goal is reeling in elite unpledged talent.

Two players who are highly coveted by the Tigers are running backs, a position of need. John Emery, Jr. out of Destrehan and IMG Academy’s Noah Cain are both on the radar.

Amite wide receiver Devonta Lee is a player that LSU feels is an important target.

Nose tackle Siaki Ika (6-3, 351) from Salt Lake City has LSU, Alabama, Oregon, USC and Utah among his top five. Alabama may be the team to beat.

Defensive tackle Kristian Williams (6-4, 280) from Memphis would also fill an position of need. The Tigers are trying to fend off Memphis, Tennessee, Indiana, Missouri and Minnesota.

Amite’s Ishmael Sopsher is going to be a major challenge for LSU to secure. Alabama looks to have the inside track.

Nakobe Dean, the nation’s top middle linebacker, has LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Auburn and Georgia as his top choices. The Horn Lake, Mississippi native is being bird-dogged by LSU assistants Dave Aranda and Dennis Johnson.