LSU will officially remove the interim title from coach Ed Orgeron. Strictly from a recruiting standpoint this was just the right hire LSU needed to galvanize the Tigers’ 2017 class.
The Tigers have the fourth-ranked recruiting class in the country with 18 commitments, including 11 ranked in the ESPN 300. But as the search continued, recruits began to waver.
While LSU did lose two wide receiver commits, Stephen Guidry and Jhamon Ausbon, with the head-coaching position in limbo, Orgeron was able to keep top prospects such as offensive tackle Austin Deculus, defensive back Kary Vincent and quarterback Myles Brennan from leaving the class.
Deculus, LSU’s top-ranked commit, had recently been considering other schools, but it sounds as if the 14th-ranked prospect in the ESPN 300 is very happy that LSU kept Orgeron.
What a way to end the thanksgiving break🐯💜💛 GEAUX TIGERS...beyond thankful that we kept coach O
— I'm ReDeculus (@austindeculus76) November 26, 2016
LSU ESPN 300 quarterback commit Myles Brennan, who is the all-time leading passer in the state of Mississippi, was clearly excited to hear of the coaching news.
One happy tiger! See you soon Coach O.. 💜💛
— Myles Brennan (@mylesbrennan12) November 26, 2016
Vincent, the second-ranked cornerback in the ESPN 300, said he thinks Orgeron has proved he has the right intangibles to move LSU in the right direction.
“I’m super excited for us and believe he has proved that he is totally capable of bettering the program,” Vincent said.
Todd Harris, an uncommitted ESPN 300 defensive back who is considering LSU and Alabama, said the hiring of Orgeron didn’t come as a surprise.
“I kind of knew he would keep the job,” Harris said. “Everybody was supporting him. He has the program going in the right direction.”
ESPN 300 offensive guard Saahdiq Charles, another LSU commit, was also happy that Orgeron was named coach. Several teams have been coming after Charles in recent weeks including Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
“I’m glad he got the job,” Charles said in a text message. “That's what I was wanting. I’m very happy for him.”
From his time at Ole Miss and stints at USC and eventually to LSU, Orgeron has proved to be one of the top recruiters in the country. Time will tell how successful of a head coach Orgeron will be at LSU, but from a recruiting standpoint, this was a great hire for the Tigers.