Take Two: Did Aranda put LSU over the top in Sopsher's recruitment?

CLASS OF 2019 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position | Team

CLASS OF 2020 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position

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Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling a handful of issues in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and a local expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.

SEC recruiting battles are legendary and another one for the books happened this weekend when LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda sat with Ishmael Sopsher’s father all day at the Superdome as Sopsher played in his title game.

The Amite, La., standout is a five-star defensive tackle who still has a group of top schools but this feels like an LSU/Alabama battle once again. Aranda knows this and spent the entire day with Sopsher’s dad in an attempt to convince the five-star’s family that playing for the Tigers would be the best thing for his future.

LSU’s coaches made a brilliant move over the weekend. But Alabama is almost impossible to beat in recruiting battles - especially when the Crimson Tide really want a top player - and Sopsher is high on the list.

Was Aranda’s recruiting tactic something to put LSU over the top in Sopsher’s recruitment or will Alabama still be tough to beat for the five-star defensive tackle?

“It was absolutely huge, a true statement for the entire state and country -- that LSU is squarely in it for the five-star defensive tackle. Aranda and defensive line coach Dennis Johnson shadowed Ishmael's father in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome for Sopsher's Class 2A state title game appearance. As Sopsher dominated on the field, Aranda was in his father's ear about how he could be making plays in his defense in Tiger Stadium.

"Sopsher maintains his recruitment is open for his lucky seven schools, though it remains to be largely an LSU-Alabama battle into National Signing Day in February. Having Aranda scheme up ways to utilize the All-American defensive lineman and converse with his father for a three-hour game is a unique pitch that resonated well with the family. Alabama is far from out of it for the five-star, but this was LSU's big move that got the whole country's attention, including Sopsher's.”

“Alabama is right there. You can’t count them out at at all especially for big-time kids in Louisiana. They do such a great job recruiting that state. I always thought Sopsher would end up going to LSU, but the fan base and a lot of people don’t think he’s going to choose LSU and he’s going to go to Alabama. That’s because they’re a little triggered by Nick Saban and they’re used to losing some big-time recruiting battles.

"This one is really close. The job they did recruiting him and sitting with the family will probably go a long way and this one will come down to a 50-50 decision between the two.”