Top Six Uncommitted Class of 2016 Recruits in Louisiana
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
Any college football team wishing to have a successful program, especially in the Deep South, must recruit the state of Louisiana, or at least attempt the difficult task. For good reason, LSU has routinely signed a great majority of the top talent in-state pulling six of the Top 10 players out of the 2015 class to Baton Rouge; WR Tyron Johnson, RB Derrius Guice, RD David Ducre, DE Isaiah Washington, CB Donte Jackson, and CB Xavier Lewis. Occasionally teams like Alabama, Notre Dame, Texas, Texas A&M, and this year Arkansas, Arizona State, and Florida State have come into the Bayou State pulling a couple of highly ranked prospects.
When the thrill of National Signing Day 2015 had calmed, LSU had claimed 13 in-state recruits leaving a plethora of high-end talent to be had for all other Division-I programs. Of the 19 verbal commitments attached to the Tigers 2016 class, 11 are from Louisiana high schools with LSU working the angles in an attempt to persuade a few more 5- and 4-star recruits to head to Baton Rouge for their college ball.
The 2016 Louisiana recruiting class has already seen a few changes and flips with former Calvary Baptist 5-star quarterback Shea Patterson (Ole Miss) transferring to IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) and 4-star Kentwood cornerback Shyheim Carter decommitting from Alabama. Part of the excitement of following the recruiting process is seeing where the top players land and how the top programs sell their experience, university, and campus life to high performing high school seniors.
The following is a list of the Top 10 remaining players from the state of Louisiana who are still undecided. The list includes their schools, the programs they hold offers from, and public perception on which school they may be leaning towards along with stats as accessible.
Top 6 Louisiana Uncommitted Class of 2016 Players
DT Rashard Lawrence – Neville High School, Monroe
This 6’3”, 305 pound, 5-star is seemingly on every college recruiting board. Over 20 schools have offered including UCLA, Auburn, Arkansas, Oregon, Florida State, Georgia, USC, Texas A&M, Washington, Cal, Oklahoma State, Louisville, and Tennessee. The top teams that appear to be in the running are LSU, UCLA, and Ohio State. Each program has received an official visit from the dominating big man. Alabama is recruiting Lawrence hard as well.
Lawrence has helped guide the Tigers to a 10-0 record in 2016 and has earned an invite to the Under Armour All-American Game.
RB/LB Devin White – North Webster High School, Springhill
Every college football team in the U.S. wants Devin White on their team, either at running back or linebacker. The 6’0.5”, 230 pound, two-way star could play any number of positions at the collegiate level, and do it well. He could line up at running back, fullback, outside linebacker, and even safety if he dropped a couple of pounds. If he adds an inch or two to his frame he could be a defensive end, middle linebacker, a tight end, or even an H-back. The proof is in the stat line after he picked up 2,287 yards on 270 carries with 30 touchdowns and also came up with 93 tackles as a junior.
Over 30 schools have offered White but unless he is a silent commitment or he has whispered his decision to a friend or family member, no one will find out where he is going to play his college ball until National Signing Day. LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Arkansas, and Florida State have pushed hard
White attended Tennessee’s Junior Day, visited Ole Miss and Alabama in April and then headed back to Tuscaloosa in early June for a camp. The Springhill area native officially visited Florida State on Oct. 10 and had a visit from Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema in mid-October. White unofficially visited Tuscaloosa on Nov. 7 for the LSU game.
CB Kristian Fulton – Archbishop Rummel, Metairie
Fulton also has over 20 offers from every other school in the SEC, Big 12 and beyond. Michigan, Nebraska, Louisville, and Notre Dame have all made plays for this cover corner’s skill set.
The New Orleans area native has been diligent during recruiting visiting several schools looking for the right fit. He has reported unofficial visits to Arkansas, Mississippi State, LSU, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M. Many feel that LSU is the team to beat given they are the top team in-state and their track record of putting defensive backs into the NFL. As of late, Arkansas has pushed hard for Fulton. Having secured a commitment from defensive lineman teammate Briston Guidry does not hurt the Hogs chances. In LSU’s favor, St. Augustine tight end Jamal Pettigrew, a LSU commitment, and Fulton are friends. Florida has been rumored to be pushing hard as well.
CB Shyheim Carter – Kentwood High School, Kentwood
Getting a read on Kentwood’s star cornerback Shyheim Carter is like playing a seasoned gambler who never moves a facial muscle. Carter was committed to Alabama but on Aug. 10 decommitted opening his recruiting process back up. Although he is one of the more sought after players in the nation by skill, he has limited his recruiting to about 11 teams.
The 6’0”, 190 pound, speedster (4.33) has twice been on unofficial visits to Baylor, Alabama, and twice to Oxford to meet with Ole Miss coaches.
OT Willie Allen – John Curtis High School, New Orleans
Allen is a 6’7.5”, 300 pound, behemoth that could seemingly roll off the high school field in 2015 and contribute immediately as a true freshman in 2016. He has the size and athleticism to be a cornerstone bookend tackle at the next level. A year or two in the weight room plus some heavy drills on footwork and technique and Allen could be an All-Conference caliber player by his junior and senior seasons.
The John Curtis standout is another Under Armour All-American Game invite. With nearly 30 scholarship offers on the table, the front-runners appear to be LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, and Ole Miss.
WR Clyde Leflore-Chriss – Warren Easton, New Orleans
The state of Louisiana always turns out guys with great speed and Clyde Leflore fits the bill. The 6’0”, 170 pound, slot receiver could make a difference on offense and on special teams as a punt returner Day 1 with any given college program.
After turning in a 33 reception season with 821 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior, all the usual cast of SEC characters came with offers including Pac-12 teams like UCLA, Arizona, and Utah. Big 12 teams like TCU, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech have also come calling. Earning Leflore’s signature on NSD could come down to Texas A&M and LSU.
Leflore-Chriss released a Top 6 at the end of August listing LSU, Ole Miss, Nebraska, Texas Tech, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Texas A&M with most believing the Aggies are the team to beat on NSD.
Photo credit: press-herald.com; No. 40 Devin White