Bastrop’s Rueben Randle, the nation’s No. 1 receiver, announced he will sign with LSU, solidifying the Tigers’ top-ranked recruiting class. Randle was the last of five Bastrop players to make their college choice during an assembly this afternoon at the high school. The (Monroe) News-Star reported Randle—a 6-foot-3, 195-pounder often compared to Randy Moss because of his size, speed and sure hands—pulled a cap from behind the podium; it was gray, so none of the crowd could see the name of the school he had chosen. Randle then turned the cap, confirming he would sign with LSU. Bastrop defensive lineman Josh Downs also announced he was signing with the Tigers.
LSU has 24 signees as of 3 p.m., a list that includes two quarterbacks, two running backs, three defensive backs, four linebackers, five offensive linemen and five defensive linemen. The Tigers are waiting on Janzen Jackson, a defensive back from Lake Charles who could sign late today or Thursday; he is awaiting the arrival of his mother from California.
LSU remains in the hunt for running back Trent Richardson, an Alabama commitment from Pensacola, Fla., who is scheduled to announce his college choice later this afternoon. But the Tigers lost out on several other recruits. Former Bastrop receiver DeAngelo Benton signed with Auburn after telling The News-Star on Tuesday he would sign with LSU; receiver Kenny Bell of Rayville chose Alabama after committing to the Tigers in August; safety Darren Hayes, a New Orleans native who now lives in Atlanta, picked Tennessee over LSU and Alabama; offensive lineman Xavier Su’a Filo of Provo, Utah, selected UCLA over LSU, Brigham Young, Southern California and Utah; and receiver Kendall Kelly, a receiver from Gadsden, Ala., chose Alabama over LSU and Tennessee.
The Tigers’ class continues to rank No. 1 by ESPN as well as Rivals.com. LSU’s 2003 recruiting class, which included JaMarcus Russell, Dwayne Bowe, Craig Davis and LaRon Landry, ranked No. 1 by Rivals.com. The Tigers had the consensus No. 2 class in 2001 with a group that included Joseph Addai, Michael Clayton, Marquise Hill, Rudy Niswanger, Andrew Whitworth and Ben Wilkerson.
LSU is updating its list of signees when the LSU Football Office has received an official, signed NCAA National Letter of Intent that has been verified by the LSU Athletics Compliance Office. To see LSU’s list, click here.
