Video: LSU signs 18 for football on first day of early signing period

2018 LSU Football – Early Signees

Name                                        Pos.    Ht.      Wt.     Cl.-Exp.     Hometown (High School/Previous School)

Micah Baskerville                 LB       6-2      215     Fr.-HS        Shreveport, La. (Evangel Christian Academy)
Damone Clark                       LB       6-3      218     Fr.-HS        Baton Rouge, La. (Southern Lab)
Davin Cotton                          DT      6-1      262     Fr.-HS        Shreveport, La. (Evangel Christian Academy)
Chris Curry                             RB      5-11    200     Fr.-HS        Lehigh Acres, Fla. (Lehigh High School)
Chasen Hines                         DT      6-3      335     Fr.-HS        Marshall, Texas (Marshall High School)
Jaray Jenkins                          WR     6-1      175     Fr.-HS        Jena, La. (Jena High School)
Nelson Jenkins                       DT      6-3      290     Fr.-HS        Plaquemine, La. (Plaquemine High School)
Kenan Jones                            WR     6-3      205     Fr.-HS        Berwick, La. (Berwick High School)
Damien Lewis                        OG     6-3      320     Jr.-JC          Canton, Miss. (Northwest Mississippi CC)
Dominic Livingston             DT      6-3      340     Fr.-HS        Houston, Texas (Aldine Davis High School)
Travez Moore                         DE      6-6      250     Jr.-JC          Bastrop, La. (Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) CC)
Dare Rosenthal                      DT      6-7      327     Fr.-HS        Ferriday, La. (Ferriday High School)
Dantrieze Scott                      ATH  6-5      245     Fr.-HS        Ferriday, La. (Ferriday High School)
Zach Sheffer                            TE       6-3      230     Fr.-HS        Ponte Vedra, Fla. (Nease High School)
Cole Smith                              C         6-4      275     Fr.-HS        Pontotoc, Miss. (Pontotoc High School)
Cole Tracy                               K         6-0      185     Sr.-Trf.       Camarillo, Calif. (Assumption College)
Badara Traore                        OT      6-6      310     Jr.-JC          Boston, Mass. (ASA College – Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Cameron Wire                       OT      6-6      270     Fr.-HS        Gonzales, La. (East Ascension High School)

Micah Baskerville * LB
Fr. • 6-2 • 215 • HS
Shreveport, La. • Evangel Christian Academy

Possesses great downhill instincts, while having the skill to navigate the gaps to make plays against the run … Scheduled to graduate early and enroll at LSU in January … A four-year starter for Evangel Christian Academy …  Led team in tackles as a senior … Helped his team reach the Division I state semifinals in 2017 … Ended his senior campaign with 80 tackles and four sacks, which garnered him a bid to the 2018 U.S. Army All-American Bowl … A four-star prospect per 247Sports and Rivals … Three-star recruit by Scout and ESPN … Ranked as the top inside linebacker in the state of Louisiana and No. 6 in the nation by 247Sports … Ranked No. 138 overall by 247Sports … Notched the 46^th spot on the 2018 top outside linebacker list by ESPN … Claimed the 24^th ranking in the 2018 Louisiana Top-55 list and the No. 240 spot in the 2018 prospect ranking list on Rivals … Earned a spot showcasing his athletic abilities in Nike’s The Opening Finals in Oregon … Coached by former LSU standout Byron Dawson, who played defensive tackle for the Tigers from 1999-2002 … Parents are Michael and Rene Baskerville.

Damone Clark * LB
Fr • 6-3 • 218 • HS
Baton Rouge, La. • Southern Lab

Hard-hitting linebacker that was part of two state title teams during his prep career … Tremendous speed that allows him to makes plays from sideline to sideline … Great range … Rated as a four-star prospect by 247sports and Rivals… Rated as the No. 7 player in the state of Louisiana and No. 18 inside linebacker nationally by Rivals…  Nominated to participate in the Army All-American Bowl Game… Selected to participate in the 2017 Offense-Defense All-American Bowl… Coached by former LSU quarterback Marcus Randall.

Davin Cotton * DT
Fr. • 6-1 • 262• HS
Shreveport, La. • Evangel Christian Academy

Explosive first step with the ability to shed blockers with tremendous upper body strength … Missed all of senior season with an injury … Still managed to record 17 sacks during career … Expected to graduate early and enroll at LSU in January … Rated as a unanimous four-star prospect… Regarded as the No. 9 player overall in Louisiana by 247sports … Listed as the nation’s No. 21 defensive tackle prospect by ESPN … Nominated to play in the All-America Bowl … Coached by former LSU defensive lineman Byron Dawson.

Chris Curry * RB
Fr. • 5-11 • 200 • HS
Lehigh Acres, Fla. • Lehigh High School

Bruising runner with the speed to turn a corner and outrace defenders, but it also physical enough to run between the tackles … Piled up 764 yards and five touchdowns in nine games as a senior in 2017 … Listed as the ninth-best running back in the nation by recruiting publications … Four-star prospect by both 247sports and ESPN … For career, racked up 2,984 yards on 364 carries, rushing for 28 touchdowns as a four-year letter winner… Coached by James Chaney.

Chasen Hines * DT
Fr. • 6-3 • 335 • HS
Marshall, Texas • Marshall High School

Transitioned from offensive line to defensive tackle as a senior and made an immediate impact … Will be a January enrollee at LSU as he continues to develop as a defensive lineman … Possesses the size and strength necessary to play in the heart of the defensive line… Has shown the ability to get off the line of scrimmage quickly and make big hits… A consensus four-star prospect… Before switching to the defensive line, was listed as the No. 1 offensive guard in the state of Texas and No. 6 nationally… Ranked by 247sports as the No. 22 defensive tackle in the nation… Nominated to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl …Selected to participate in the 2017 Offense-Defense All-American Bowl… Coached by Claude Mathis.

Jaray Jenkins * WR
Fr. • 6’1 • 175 • HS
Jena, La. • Jena High School

A smooth route runner with sure hands … Doubles as an scoring threat in the return game as well, returning both punts and kickoffs for touchdowns during his career … Rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN and is a member of the ESPN300 … Caught 111 passes for 1,960 yards and 27 touchdowns while adding 448 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns in his first three years of high school … Fractured his tibia in the first game of his senior season … Played on both sides of the ball, earning all-district honors at three different positions during his prep career.

Nelson Jenkins * DT
Fr. • 6’3 • 290 • HS
Plaquemine, La. • Plaquemine High School

Standout defensive tackle that has made an impact both rushing the quarterback and defending the run … Possesses tremendous technique … Listed as a four-star prospect by ESPN and garnered three stars from 247Sports … Member of the ESPN 300 … Considered one of the top defensive line prospects in Louisiana … Versatile enough to play defensive end at the collegiate level … From same high school as former LSU standout and current Miami Dolphin defensive lineman Davon Godchaux.

Kenan Jones * WR
Fr. • 6’3 • 205 • HS
Berwick, La. • Berwick High School

Explosive wide receiver considered one of the top players in Louisiana … Four stars from ESPN and listed as the No. 11 overall prospect in Louisiana by 247Sports … Tallied 48 receptions for 934 yards and 10 TDs as a junior at Berwick High School … Excelled on the track as well, winning the Louisiana state title in the long jump and triple jump during his prep career, while also finishing second in the state meet in the high jump … Invited to participate in the Offense/Defense All-American Game.

Damien Lewis * OG
Jr. * 6-3 * 320 * JC
Canton, Miss. * Northwest Mississippi CC

One of the nation’s top junior college offensive lineman in 2016 … Rated as a three-star recruit by both 247Sports and Rivals … Attended Northwest Mississippi Community College prior to LSU … Named the 2017 Capital One Academic All-District Football First Team … Named to the 2016-17 MACJC All- Academic Team … 2016-17 NJCAA All-Academic Third Team … Chosen as the MACJC’s Offensive Line MVP for the north division … Started all 22 games of his Northwest career at right guard … The No. 109 overall prospect by 247Sports … The No. 3 offensive guard by 247Sports … Ranked No. 25 on the top recruits out of Mississippi by 247Sports … Coached by Benjy Parker.

Dominic Livingston * DT
Fr. * 6-3 * 340 * HS
Houston, Texas * Benjamin Davis High School

A consensus three-star prospect by all major sites … Ranked as high as the No. 34 defensive tackle in the country and No. 62 prospect out of the state of Texas by 247Sports … A top-100 prospect in the region by Scout … A unanimous selection to the 16-6A all-district team for his performance during his senior season … Garnered all-district honors during the 2016 season … Named the District 16-6A Defensive Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore … Competed in the 2017 The Opening Regional in Houston.

Travez Moore * DE
Jr. • 6-6 •250 • JC
Bastrop, La. • Copiah Lincoln Community College

The top weakside defensive end prospect in all of junior college this year … Rated as a four star prospect by the junior college recruiting sites … Ranked No. 1 weakside defensive end by 247sports … The No. 1 junior college weakside defensive end and the No. 6 overall prospect on ESPN’s JC 50 … Can play with his hand in the dirt or standing up … Prepped at Bastrop High School … Coached at Bastrop High School by Brad Bradshaw and at Copiah Lincoln by Glenn Davis.

Dare Rosenthal * DT
Fr. • 6-7 • 327 • HS
Ferriday, La. • Ferriday High School

The top-rated defensive tackle prospect in Louisiana … Dominated at the prep level … Helped his team to the semifinals of the 2A state playoffs as a senior in 2017 … Four stars from ESPN, Rivals and Scout … Listed as the nation’s No. 18 overall defensive tackle and ranked as the seventh-best defensive tackle in the south region … Ranked No. 193 overall by Scout …  Built on his tremendous junior campaign by recording  60 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, six sacks, five quarterback hurries, recovered four fumbles (two for TDs), blocked a field goal and registered an interception as a senior … Had 56 tackles, including 19 for losses, as a junior in 2016 … Added seven sacks in 2016 … Participated in the New Orleans Regional for The Opening in both 2016 and 2017 … Played on both the offensive and defensive lines under Ferriday High School coach Stanley Smith.

Dantrieze Scott * ATH
Fr. • 6-5 • 245 • HS
Ferriday, La. • Ferriday High School

Tremendous prospect that starred on both sides of the ball for Ferriday High School … Given three stars from all major recruiting sites … Ranked as high as the No. 33 athlete in the state of Louisiana by Rivals and as the No. 95 best-athlete in the country by ESPN 300 … Played both tight end and defensive end in high school and is listed as a “athlete” among LSU’s signees … Caught 19 passes for 441 yards and eight touchdowns from his tight end position in 2017 … Also rushed for 48 yards and a pair of TDs on eight carries … Defensively, the all-around athlete notched 101 total tackles (69 solo and 32 assisted) with 49 tackles for loss, 10 sacks for a loss of 41 yards, and 21 quarterback hurries … Also forced four fumbles, recovered three fumbles and blocked one punt … Dual-sport athlete at Ferriday High School where he also played forward for the basketball team … Coached by Stanley Smith.

Zach Sheffer * TE
Fr. * 6-3 * 230 * HS
Ponte Vedra, Fla. * Nease High School

A consensus three-star prospect on 247Sports and ESPN … Ranked as the No. 26 tight end in the nation and top-100 prospect in the state of Florida by 247Sports … Finished his senior season with 45 receptions for 607 yards and five touchdowns … Named to his high school area’s All-District Team … Coached in high school by Tim Krause.

Cole Smith * C
Fr. * 6-4 * 275 * HS
Ponotoc, Miss. * Ponotoc High School

Played on both sides of the ball at offensive tackle and defensive end during his time at Pontotoc High School in Mississippi … A three-star prospect according to 247Sports … Did not allow a sack between his junior and senior seasons … During his senior season, totaled 62 pancakes and led Panotoc High School to an 11-2 record and the 2-4A regional title … Showed off his versatility by playing tackle, guard and center while in high school … Coached in high school by Jeff Carter.

Cole Tracy * K
Sr. * 6-0 * 185 * Trf.
Camarillo, Calif. (Assumption College)

Graduate transfer that will join the Tigers for the spring semester … Will have one year of eligibility remaining … One of the top kickers in NCAA Division II football … Named the winner of the 2017 Fred Mitchell Award which is given annually to the top placekicker in FCS, Division II, Division III and NJCAA for excellence on the field and in the community … Led NCAA Division II in field goals (27) and field goal percentage (.931) in 2017 … In 2017, connected on 27-of-29 field goals and made all 67 of extra-point attempts to finish with a school record 148 points … Nailed a career-long 53 yard field goal in 2017 … Helped Assumption College to an 11-3 overall mark and reach the quarterfinals of the Division II playoffs … Kicked three field goals in the 2017 Division II quarterfinal game … Connected on 68-of-84 field goals in his three years at Assumption College … Is the only player in NCAA Division II history to kick six field goals in a game twice … Converted 19-of-29 field goals as in 2016 and was 22-of-26 in 2015 …  Kicked a 52-yard field goal for his longest in 2015 and followed that with a long of 49 yards in 2016 … Prepped at Newbury Park High School where he played both football and soccer … Set seven school records in high school … Parents are Kent and Pam Tracy … Has a sister that plays soccer at Monmouth University.

Badera Traore * OT
Jr. * 6-6 * 310 *  JC
Boston, Mass. • ASA College

Rated by 247Sports as the No. 1 offensive line junior college prospect and the No. 6 overall JUCO player … A four-star recruit according to ESPN and Scout.com ranked No. 17 in ESPN’s JUCO Top 50 … Named to the First Team All-Offense for the Northeast Football Conference while at ASA College in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Cameron Wire * OT
Fr. * 6-6 * 270 * HS
Gonzales, La. * East Ascension High School

Four-star prospect according to ESPN and three-start prospect by 247Sports … Rated as the No. 40 offensive tackle in the class and the No. 23 overall player in the state of Louisiana by ESPN … The No. 15 player in Louisiana No. 31 offensive tackle in the nation by 247Sports … Coached in high school by Darnell Lee.