LSU Trend Meter: 5-star Colin Simmons and more
The LSU football staff has been hot on the recruiting trail in recent weeks, reeling in five commitments in two weeks while jumping into the Top 10 of the On3 Industry Recruiting Rankings.
On Thursday, two 2024 targets will announce a college decision in Duncanville teammates Colin Simmons and Caden Durham.
Louisiana five-star Dominick McKinley is set to announce a college decision in less than a month, while another target in the trenches is holding out until closer to National Signing Day.
Here’s the latest on some of LSU’s top targets a week into August’s NCAA Dead Period.
The LSU Trend Meter
Caden Durham … I continue to feel very good about where things stand with LSU and the push for Duncanville four-star running back Caden Durham. Oklahoma made a big splash early and were the clear team to beat out of the gates, but from speaking with multiple sources close to Durham’s recruitment, LSU passed up the Sooners and have continued to build momentum after getting his final campus visit in June and his only campus visit in July. LSU running backs coach Frank Wilson went with a “Durham or Bust” approach when it came to prioritizing a prospect in the 2024 class, and I expect it to pay off with a commitment from one of the Top 10 running backs in America. I’ve moved the confidence on my On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM) pick from 80% to 90% in favor of the Tigers.
Colin Simmons … I’ve said from the start that Simmons would be a battle all the way up until his announcement, and that’s certainly the case behind the scenes right now. LSU has reasons to feel good based off both the five-star’s actions and words. Texas also has reasons to feel confident based off the work they’ve done for the state’s No. 1 overall prospect. While a decision date has been set, there’s still a reality that both LSU and Texas are jockeying daily for Simmons. The hope for the out-of-state team, LSU in this instance, is to not be in a spot where it’s back-and-forth with an in-state program in the final 48 hours before a decision. For that reason, I am lowering my On3 RPM pick’s confidence level on Simmons from 60% to 55%. Simmons’ actions speak to his sincere interest in LSU, but I’m still not confident in saying it’s a done deal for the Tigers. LSU could pull this off when he announces on Thursday at 2 p.m., but I’m not going to be surprised at all if the Longhorns make enough moves to get it done. My ear remains to the ground over the next 48 hours. Let’s see if one side’s confidence wanes in that stretch. As of now, Simmons hasn’t told either team that they’re not the school he’s picking, sources close to both programs confirmed.
Dominick McKinley … We’ve maintained that after four official visits to out-of-state schools in June, LSU was going to have to work from behind the lead group to land McKinley. One month later, the Tigers are climbing back into the race. LSU was the lone school to host McKinley for a visit in July, and the Bayou Splash trip – coupled with conversations since – have the Tigers feeling better about ultimately signing Louisiana’s No. 1 overall prospect. For me, the question comes down to whether that means LSU lands McKinley when he announces on Sep. 1, or do the Tigers come away with a potential flip closer to National Signing Day? Texas and Oklahoma have been the two teams talked up the most, but for the second day in a row, I’ve heard Ohio State mentioned as the sleeper to watch. LSU is hoping to be the choice when he announces at the start of Acadiana’s season, but regardless of when a potential commitment to the Tigers might come, I am feeling a lot better now about LSU’s chances of signing McKinley than I did coming out of the month of June.
Elyjah Thurmon … LSU offensive line coach Brad Davis already has four offensive linemen committed for the 2024 class, which would be a solid class if the Tigers stopped there. That’s not the case, though. Davis continues to try to flip Texas A&M commitment Weston Davis, who has been one of LSU’s top targets this cycle. The Tigers are also still in contact with four-star Blake Ivy, who gave LSU and Texas A&M official visits in June followed by campus visits at the end of July. But keep an eye on Georgia’s Elyjah Thurmon. He was one of the top performers at LSU’s summer camp, and he’s landed an offer from not just the Tigers, but also programs like Clemson, South Carolina and Florida. He’s yet to make any official visits, and even with four offensive linemen already in the boat, multiple sources tell The Bengal Tiger staff that LSU is quietly the team to beat going forward. Thurmon won’t announce until after he makes official visits and gets a better feel for each program, but it’s great news for the Tigers as they continue to work towards a five-man offensive line haul this cycle.
Terry Bussey … There was some buzz behind the scenes in late-July that the Texas five-star was about to pop for Texas A&M. As of August 8, that hasn’t happened. And over the past few weeks, a number of schools have still been in talks with Bussey – LSU included. If Bussey holds off and makes official visits, there could be a window here for the Tigers to truly get into the mix. Bussey told On3 that his summer visits were about seeing which other programs beyond Texas A&M might be a fit, and he called his trip to Baton Rouge one of his best. “I have a big family that’s full of LSU fans, so when they saw I was there, they went crazy,” he told On3. “It was a great visit and played a huge step in my recruitment.” LSU is currently working towards locking in an official visit date, which could come early in the season. The Aggies are the team to beat, and it’s evident the Tigers are high enough on the nation’s No. 1 athlete to keep swinging away here.
The post LSU Trend Meter: 5-star Colin Simmons and more appeared first on On3.
