LSU legacy is a target for the Tigers
THE LATEST: It is looking to be a strong class in Alabama when talking 2020, especially in the Mobile (Ala.) area and St. Paul's Episcopal offensive tackle Brady Ward could be one of the best.
The 6-foot-6, 295 pound sophomore has pulled in offers from LSU, Memphis, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oregon and Tennessee. The last school to offer was LSU, a school he has real ties to and a program he has had his eye since he was a baby.
The Tigers offered
IN HIS OWN WORDS: "I was at LSU for the Auburn game and it was my first visit as a recruit," said Ward. "My dad played at LSU, so we have always had tickets and been going to games there my whole life.
"When they offered me at the game, I was surprised. I did not expect it to come at the game. Coach Grimes told me they wanted to offer me and that he had a spot for me in the 2020 class. Then Coach Robinson and Coach Raymond, who played with my Dad came over and congratulated me and talked about how they didn't want me to leave that weekend without an offer.
"It's a big offer because LSU is a national program and they recruit top classes every year. Any time you get an SEC offer, it's huge.
"What stood out the most during that visit were the fans and the atmosphere. LSU has crazy and loud fans, and traveling around the SEC, it's one of the loudest stadiums I have heard.
"When they came back against Auburn, that place was loud. The food is as good as it gets too. When I got there, we went to go see the new tiger, then the recruiting room, then we met with the coaches, and then they took us out on the field for pregame.
"After the game, we went into the locker room and I hung out with Will Clapp a good bit and then back to the recruiting room to meet with coaches again. I was amazed at the way the wives and families were close with each other and how they played with kids and grandkids of other coaches. It's a very close family atmosphere there from players to coaches to the coaches families. The atmosphere was exactly what I was expecting when LSU and Auburn play.
"This offer hasn't changed my interest in LSU because I have always had interest in them. Right now, I am treating all of the schools that offer me equally and looking at what each one has to offer. They are different in personalities and I need to find the one that fits me.
"I also want to evaluate systems and numbers. For instance, LSU is playing three freshman on the offensive line. They will be seniors when I am a true freshman, so those are things I am looking at in schools along with guys teams put in the NFL.
"LSU has done a good job with tackles like Andrew Whitworth and La'el Collins to name a couple. So, I have an interest in LSU along with some other schools that have offered."
RIVALS REACTION: This was a very big offer for Ward being that he grew up in purple and gold. His father, Brian Ward signed with LSU in 1991 and graduated in 1996. The younger Ward has been watching LSU since he can remember. With those ties to LSU, the Tigers are being strongly considered, but so are all the other schools. At this time, no school has the edge. Ward knows there is still a long way for him to go in the recruiting process, so he is taking his time, evaluating each program as they are evaluating him. He is set to visit Alabama this weekend to see the Crimson Tide host LSU.
