Tiger Recruiting From Dandy Don

LSU losing out on quarterback E. J. Manuel from Virginia who committed to FSU caused quite a stir from many Tiger fans. I do not believe it was a case of FSU out-recruiting LSU as much as it was a case of FSU really needing a top quarterback. LSU is in great shape at quarterback with Matt Flynn, Ryan Perrilloux and Jarrett Lee who is the real deal and has been very impressive in the Summer 7 on 7 drills. I have also been told that Jordan Jefferson (6'3", 210) from Destrehan and James Landry (6'5", 210) from Assumption have moved up on LSU's list and are expected to attend the July 27 - August 01 Summer camp. Below are interviews I did with Jefferson and Landry earlier this year.

Jordan Jefferson is a 6'4", 200, 4.6, QB. He missed the first six games of his junior season but finished the season having completed 46 of 78 passes for 1,600 yards and 20 touchdowns. Jefferson attended the USA Army junior camp in San Antonio and competed with close to 200 other high school quarterbacks and was picked as the sixth best quarterback at the camp. Jefferson will attend Summer camp at LSU this Summer and the Peyton Manning passing camp. He has a 3.0 GPA in and has not taken the ACT yet. The rifle-armed quarterback told me that he was receiving mail from schools nationwide, especially LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Miami, Stanford, Tennessee, FSU, Purdue and Southern Mississippi. Jefferson told me that he would like to take official visits to Tennessee, LSU, FSU and Alabama.

Thursday, March 02 I spoke to quarterback James Landry of Assumption high school in Napoleonville. Landry has all the tools to be a highly recruited quarterback if he can bring his GPA up to a 2.5 and make a passing grade on his ACT. Landry told me that he is 6'5", 207 and runs a 4.6 forty and has a 2.3 GPA. He has not taken the ACT yet, but plans to take the test in April. The rifle-arm quarterback told me that he is receiving mail from over 20 schools and named LSU, Ole Miss, Auburn, Alabama, GA Tech, Toledo and North Carolina State. He is planning on attending Summer camps at LSU, Ole Miss and Alabama. Landry said that he would like to take official visits to those three schools plus Auburn and GA Tech. In 2006, Landry completed 177 of 265 passes for 67 percent for 2,100 yards and 18 touchdowns. Landry's goals for 2007 are to improve his stats, to make All-State and to lead his team to the class 5-A state title. Landry's hobby is sports, especially pick-up basketball games. Landry attended Junior Day at LSU last weekend. (A late update on James Landry. I have learned that Landry made a 15 on the ACT the only time he has taken the test.)

I urge Tiger fans not to be overly concerned yet about the quarterback situation. I believe LSU will sign Jordan Jefferson and might sign James Landry and hope for the best. Mikie Mahtook from STM and Josh Jordan of ST Amant are also two outstanding in-state quarterback prospects.

In my Wednesday morning update I said that unconfirmed reports had defensive lineman Chris Martin from FT Walton Beach, Florida committing to LSU. According to reports Martin wanted to commit to LSU but Les Miles was not ready to accept his commitment at this time. Martin attended the first LSU Summer camp and was "offered", but not officially offered. I mentioned a few weeks ago in one of my updates that offers are not official until they are received in the mail. I sure hope that Martin will be extended an official offer soon because it appears that he would like to play for LSU.

In other LSU news, Advocate sports writer Will Weather did a great interview with Bastrop high school coach Brad Bradshaw concerning LSU signee DeAngelo Benton who is still working toward being eligible to play as a true freshman at LSU. Benton still needs to pass two Summer classes and receive a passing grade on the ACT that he took two weeks ago. The article also mentions that Demetrius Byrd is still working hard to become eligible to play this coming season. Carl Dubois also did a super interview with Les Miles concerning the status of Ryan Perrilloux and Ricky Jean Francois. Miles said there is no time table for allowing the two players to return to the team but did say that everything he hears about the two is very positive. Miles said he is making sure the two are staying in shape and doing the things they are supposed to do.

Below are a few very important dates for Tiger fans to remember:

Friday July 27 SEC Football Media Days (Hoover, Ala.) 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. LSU will be represented by head coach Les Miles, wide receiver Early Doucet and defensive tackle Glen Dorsey.

Fri., Aug. 3 Team reports to campus

Sat., Aug. 4 First day of practice

Wed., Aug. 8 First day in full pads

Sun., Aug 12 LSU Media Day and Fan Day * Time TBA

Mon., 27 First Day of Class on LSU Campus; First Les Miles Weekly Press Luncheon * 11:30 a.m.

Wed., 29 Depart for Starkville, Miss.

Thurs., 30 LSU season opener at Mississippi State * 7 p.m. (ESPN)

In other LSU football news: All tickets allotted to LSU for the Tigersí away games have been sold, with the exception of a September 29 engagement with Tulane in the Superdome. Tickets to that game are on sale at the LSU Athletic Ticket Office. LSU has a unique agreement with Tulane in which LSU is allotted 40,000 tickets to the game and retains all revenue from those ticket sales. Tickets to the LSU-Tulane game range in price from $40 to $55. LSU season ticket holder requests claimed 22,300 of the 40,000 tickets for the LSU-Tulane game. The remaining are on sale at the LSU Athletic Ticket Office, online at LSUsports.net and by phone at (225) 578-2184.