NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans stop of the Rivals Camp Series this past weekend at East Jefferson High School featured several of the top players from states such as Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Florida — and even a top prospect from Germany. To no surprise, some of the top college football programs in America was popular topics of discussion. Here are three that were generating buzz.
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1. LSU
Coach Ed Orergon and national champion LSU held a big junior day on the Saturday prior to the Rivals camp stop in New Orleans, so the Tigers were very much on the mind of several prospects in attendance. The headliner, of course, was five-star defensive lineman Maason Smith, who was in Baton Rouge on Saturday getting a first-hand look at the spring practice and the academics. Smith recently visited Ole Miss and has trips to Georgia, Florida and Florida State on deck, and they will all have to compete with the Tigers.
Another big name in the 2022 class is Will Campbell, the OL MVP of Sunday’s camp. LSU was the first Power 5 team to offer the North Louisiana tackle and they had Campbell on campus this weekend. Campbell was joined by fellow 2022 standout Walker Howard, a quarterback from Lafayette, and the two are both very high on the Tigers entering their junior campaigns.
A pair of 2022 defensive tackles from New Orleans were both raving about LSU on Sunday. Warren Easton’s Shone Washington was re-offered by the staff during his visit and a favorite may be emerging in his recruitment. Edna Karr’s Tygee Hill went public with his LSU offer a few days prior and is planning a visit back to Baton Rouge for the weekend’s scrimmage.
2. ALABAMA
Rivals100 safety Kaine Williams punched his ticket to the 2020 Five-Star Challenge on Sunday, but spent Saturday in Tuscaloosa for what he counted as his fourth visit. Williams was on hand in T-Town with fellow top-100 defensive back Sage Ryan and fellow safety Jardin Gilbert. Pete Golding and Nick Saban gave Williams the red-carpet treatment as they look to add such a versatile piece to the Tide’s defense.
Freshman edge-rusher Keldric Faulk out of Highland Home, Ala., picked up an offer from Alabama on Saturday, then demonstrated why during Sunday’s camp. The 2023 defensive end is long and already well-built with some excellent twist to him and long arms. He’s going to be a name to remember in his cycle.
New Orleans 2022 athlete Leroy Paige is a prospect creating some buzz around the city this offseason after a breakout campaign at John F. Kennedy. Paige has the attention of Golding, a Louisiana native and Alabama defensive coordinator, who is courting Paige to play either receiver and defensive back. Expect the Louisiana standout to make a visit in the near future.
3. FLORIDA STATE
Wide receiver MVP Destyn Pazon showed up to Rivals camp a day removed from a second visit back to Tallahassee. After the visit, the ‘Noles jumped to the top of the Rivals250 prospect’s list. Pazon has a relationship with David Johnson dating back to Tennessee and Mike Norvell from Memphis. Florida State will have to hold off Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma, USC and LSU.
Jaylin White is a 2022 running back out of Alabama who entered the weekend with Tennessee on top of his list, but after visiting Tallahassee Saturday, the Seminoles took over that spot. He was offered early by Memphis, so he knows a lot about Norvell, and that only helps Florida State.
Lucas Taylor is a 2022 offensive lineman and he is high on the Seminoles. It is still early in his recruitment, but a school he talks a lot about is Florida State.
