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Reports of LSU dismissing head coach Les Miles and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron hit the web on Sunday night. And while Miles had been on rocky footing with the LSU athletic department for some time, the timing created a bit of surprise. The Tigers’ 2-2 start and dramatic loss to Auburn over the weekend created buzz that reached a crescendo with Miles’ Sunday dismissal.
Below, Rivals.com takes a look at what effect the move could have on recruiting and checks in with a number of prospects that are committed to or considering LSU.
MORE: Recruits react | Miles out at LSU
THE RECRUITING EFFECT
This could be bad. If LSU waits to make a hire until after the season, it better make a splash with the announcement. Waiting until after the season will create more than three months of recruiting uncertainty at an awful time. In-season visits without a permanent coaching staff in place can be awkward, and recruiting against the Tigers will be easy as long as the widespread uncertainty exists.
Overcoming these factors is as simple as making a splash hire with gravitas and existing connections to class of 2017 prospects. If LSU has a coach in mind, which it likely does, waiting until after the season only to fail in getting their top candidate would likely be disastrous.
The Tigers will have an easier time holding on to current commitments than it will landing new ones.
WHO COULD BENEFIT
Texas and Texas A&M aren’t likely to be upset by the news. LSU loves to recruit Texas and Texas-based schools love to dip into Louisiana. Pulling top players out of Louisiana is difficult, but there’s no better time than now to make this happen. Ole Miss and Auburn could also see upticks in recruiting.
Five-star Mississippi-based running back Cam Akers was seriously considering attending LSU, and this has to be seen as a major blow to the Tigers’ chances to land his pledge. Florida State, Ole Miss and Alabama could reap the rewards when it comes to Akers.
It’s difficult to imagine many top-flight players choosing a school without a coaching staff, so the next three months or so will likely feature the Tigers doing everything they can recruiting-wise with limited results. If LSU is to sign the type of class it has gotten used to signing, it will likely need to make a late surge under a new coach this January.
RECRUIT REACTION
“At the end of the day, Coach Miles is a very, very cool person and coach that I have much love and respect for, but I am committed to the Tigers. With that being said, I will not be decommitting at this moment. We still have coaches in places there that I am very comfortable with.”
--LSU commit Nadab Joseph (2018) via text
“I just really don't know [about a de-commitment] at this point. Alabama, Michigan, USC and Florida State are the schools I’m gonna check out [in case].”
-- LSU commit Neil Farrell via text
“I am still committed to LSU and I wish Coach Miles and coach Cameron all the best.”
-- LSU commit Grant Delpit via text
Rivals.com southeast recruting analyst Woody Wommack contributed to this report
