With Arden Key -- ESPN’s No. 24 overall prospect and No. 6 defensive end -- verbally committing to LSU on Monday night, the Tigers are in position to wrap up national signing day in fine fashion.
The big day arrives tomorrow, so here are some players and positions to watch as Les Miles’ staff attempts to put the finishing touches on another top-10 class:
Toby Weathersby and the offensive line: Onetime Texas commit Weathersby made recent visits to Arkansas and LSU, and the big offensive lineman would be another feather in position coach Jeff Grimes' cap if he picks the Tigers on Wednesday.
Offensive line was LSU’s biggest position of need this year and Weathersby (ESPN’s No. 149 overall prospect and No. 9 guard) could be another strong late pickup for Grimes, who last week got a surprise commitment from Chidi Valentine-Okeke, ESPN’s No. 87 overall prospect and No. 6 tackle.
The biggest name in the class thus far is Maea Teuhema, who appears set on signing with LSU after taking a recent visit to UCLA. The younger brother of LSU defensive end Sione Teuhema is ESPN’s No. 71 overall prospect and No. 2 guard. Adding line depth was a priority for this class, and with additional verbal pledges from tackles Adrian Magee and George Brown Jr., Grimes appears to be on the verge of addressing that need nicely.
Leo Lewis: As we mentioned in Monday’s LSU linebacker breakdown, positional depth might be a concern if the Tigers whiff on Lewis. They currently do not have a linebacker committed in this class and will lose at least two (seniors Lamar Louis and Deion Jones) and maybe three (draft-eligible junior Kendell Beckwith) linebackers after the 2015 season.
Signing Lewis could help ease that transition. ESPN’s No. 60 overall prospect and No. 2 inside linebacker decommitted from Ole Miss while visiting LSU over the weekend. It appears that his decision will come down to LSU and Mississippi State.
Derrick Dillon: There had been some recent chatter about Daylon Charlot picking LSU over Alabama, but the more likely possibility might be that the Tigers flip Dillon from Florida on signing day. ESPN’s No. 119 overall prospect and No. 8 athlete, Dillon initially bristled at the notion of playing cornerback in college and could become a slot receiver should he sign with LSU.
As the No. 5 prospect in Louisiana, Dillon appears to be the highest-rated in-state player who might become a late addition to LSU’s class. The Tigers already have the state's No. 1 (receiver Tyron Johnson), No. 3 (running back Derrius Guice), No. 6 (running back Nick Brossette), No. 8 (cornerback Xavier Lewis) and No. 9 (athlete Donte Jackson) prospects committed.
Will running backs stick to pledges?: Keep an eye on what happens with Brossette and Guice on Wednesday. With Leonard Fournette -- last year’s No. 1 overall prospect -- on LSU’s roster for at least two more seasons, Guice and Brossette have apparently been tempted by offers of better playing time elsewhere.
Brossette recently visited Texas and Guice re-opened his recruitment last fall before eventually recommitting to LSU. Both running backs remain on LSU’s commitment list, but they have other options. Losing either of them would be a blow for running backs coach Frank Wilson, who has only Fournette and Darrel Williams among his scholarship tailbacks after losing seniors Terrence Magee and Kenny Hilliard.
Other possibilities: LSU picked up a commitment from Australian punter Josh Growden on Monday, and a few other possible (but unlikely) late additions include quarterback Torrance Gibson, an Ohio State commit who is considering other options, and safety Justin Reid, the brother of former LSU star Eric Reid.
The most intriguing possibility, however, might be adding a signature from 6-foot-8 defensive end Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. The native Nigerian generated a ton of recruiting interest in his lone season playing high school football and officially visited LSU in mid-January.
He recently learned that he could sign in 2015, not 2016, so Wanogho seems likely to explore the possibilities and sign well after national signing day. Nearby Auburn might be the favorite to land Wanogho, but LSU will continue its pursuit until he makes his decision.