LSU has momentum in Mississippi
The state of Mississippi is as strong and deep as it has been in the modern recruiting era. There are 10 prospects that are four-stars on Rivals.com right now and there could be another half a dozen added to that list before all is said and done.
Over the weekend, LSU had quite a few of those guys in Baton Rouge (La.). Before Saturday night ended, Jaren Handy and Zach Edwards committed to the Tigers.
Not once, but twice did LSU head coach Ed Orgeron tweet out Hold that Tiger!.
When he tweets that out, those that follow LSU or recruiting in general know what that means — a new Tiger commitment.
Handy is a 6-foot-4, 260 pound defensive end out of New Augusta (Miss.) Perry Central and many thought just a few days prior to his visit to LSU that he was on the verge of committing to Ole Miss. He was in Oxford a week before he pledged to Orgeron.
His commitment was a surprise, but maybe not as much as the one that came from the No. 10-ranked prospect in Mississippi, Starkville linebacker Edwards.
Shortly after announcing his decision, Edwards said, “I had a top six coming into the LSU visit and I was not planning to commit, but it was in the back of my head. The visit just confirmed everything for me, so I did it.”
Both Handy and Edwards, like many recruits these days will continue to communicate with other schools and take other visits.
Orgeron hopes he can tweet out a few more “Hold that Tiger” after receiving the word from talent in Mississippi.
Nathan Pickering is a top three prospect in the state, and like Handy, he is a versatile defensive lineman. The star out of Seminary is leaning towards the Tigers according to some of his colleagues as you can read here.
Byron Young is another four-star defensive lineman out of West Jones and he was in Baton Rouge over the weekend too. Young has been following Tiger football for years.
What about Jarrian Jones? The Northwest Rankin athlete picked up an offer from LSU during his visit Saturday and the Tigers instantly shot up his list to the top. Auburn and the in-state schools will be strong competition for LSU here.
Enough defense. Lets move over to offense.
LSU is a school Sumrall wide receiver Dannis Jackson has had his eye on for some time. He got the offer from the Tigers very early in the process, he took in a game there last fall and he returned over the weekend. They are right in the thick of the race for Jackson and he is taking the recruiting process slow, so look for him to return to Baton Rouge.
How about a Mississippi State commitment?
Charles Moore is a defensive end out of Louisville that has been committed to the in-state Bulldogs since August. He is taking a look at LSU too and he posted a tweet that opened some eyes on Monday.
There is more.
Nakobe Dean, Raydarious Jones, De’Monte Russell and LaKenith Thompson hold offers from LSU, so they are ones to watch too. The state of Mississippi is strong, it is deep and LSU hopes to make a dent in it this cycle.
It is off to a good start with two verbal commitments early in March.
