National Signing Day is two weeks away.
On that first Wednesday in February, LSU is on track to finish with either the No.1 or No. 2 recruiting class in the nation. February seems to be a good month for the Tigers.
From a roster standpoint, the month of January is turning out to be a prosperous one for coach Les Miles’ football program. The deadline for underclassmen declaring themselves eligible for the NFL draft passed Monday. LSU came through that day in excellent shape.
Going back to the middle of the 2015 football season, there were five Tigers players who were realistic candidates to leave early for the NFL – wide receiver Travin Dural, offensive linemen Jerald Hawkins and Ethan Pocic, linebacker Kendell Beckwith and cornerback Tre’Davious White.
There was talk about defensive linemen Christian LaCouture and Lewis Neal also giving up their senior season for professional football. As everyone knows by now, Hawkins is the only LSU player who put his name in the NFL draft.
There is no way that Miles could have asked for any better results. Hawkins, who was eligible as a redshirt sophomore a year ago, nearly left for the NFL then. There was not going to be any way that Hawkins would bypass the NFL for a second year.
Injuries certainly played a factor in the decisions by Dural and Pocic. Dural had surgery for a hamstring injury and will not be healthy for the NFL combine next month. Pocic also had hip surgery and will miss spring practice. By returning to school, Pocic could shift to tackle – a more profitable position.
Beckwith and White didn’t reveal their decisions until Monday. Beckwith’s going to the NFL was always a 50-50 proposition. By his own admission, Beckwith is not passionate about the NFL. He enjoys being with his horses on Sunday afternoons than watching NFL games on television.
On more than one occasion, White has expressed how important it is to his family and himself about graduating from college. White is a respected leader on the Tigers team as signified by his wearing of jersey No. 18 as a junior. White also was given some advice from Morris Claiborne to stay in school.
With Hawkins being the only underclassman heading to the NFL, LSU will lose just four starters from the 2015 team – Hawkins, offensive tackle Vadal Alexander, linebacker Deion Jones and safety/nickel back Jalen Mills.
The return of both Dural and Pocic will certainly bolster the offense. John Diarse, the No. 3 receiver last season, has transferred to TCU. The Tigers’ top two receivers will be back – Dural and Malachi Dupre. Tyron Johnson will certainly get the opportunity to be the slot receiver in 2016.
With Pocic not leaving for the NFL, offensive line coach Jeff Grimes must find just one starter for the upcoming season. Four projected starters are Pocic, Will Clapp, Maea Teuhema and Toby Weathersby. The big question involves Pocic’s positon in 2016 – center or tackle.
Beckwith’s decision fills a major hole on the defense. LSU will line up primarily in the nickel which means there is a need for just two linebackers on the field. However, the Tigers have nothing but linebacker backups on the roster. Now, LSU must find only one linebacker to go along with Beckwith.
White will take care of one cornerback position, so secondary coach Corey Raymond can use some type of platoon on the other corner with sophomores Kevin Toliver and Donte Jackson. The Tigers would have had some depth issues at cornerback if White had departed for the NFL.
LSU was not the only Southeastern Conference team to escape the NFL draft in pretty good shape. Alabama had five NFL-eligible underclassmen earn All-SEC honors. The Crimson Tide kept three – defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, safety Eddie Jackson and kicker Adam Griffith.
The Tigers retained two All-SEC draft-eligible underclassmen – Pocic and White. Three other SEC schools kept two all-league draft-eligible underclassmen – Arkansas, Ole Miss and Tennessee. Not surprisingly, four of these teams are expected to be the top SEC title contenders in 2016 – all but the Razorbacks.
Here is a breakdown by school of the underclassmen declaring for the NFL draft.
ALABAMA
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen returning: DL Jonathan Allen, K Adam Griffith, DB Eddie Jackson
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen leaving: RB Derrick Henry, DL A’Shawn Robinson
Other underclassmen leaving: None
ARKANSAS
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen returning: WR Drew Morgan, OL Dan Skipper
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen leaving: RB Alex Collins, TE Hunter Henry
Other underclassmen leaving: OL Denver Kirkland, RB Jonathan Williams
AUBURN
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen returning: None
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen leaving: OL Shon Coleman
Other underclassmen leaving: RB Peyton Barber, OL Avery Young
FLORIDA
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen returning: None
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen leaving: DB Vernon Hargreaves
Other underclassmen leaving: DL Alex McCalister, DB Keanu Neal, WR Demarcus Robinson, RB Kelvin Taylor
GEORGIA
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen returning: OL Brandon Kublanow
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen leaving: LB Leonard Floyd
Other underclassmen leaving: RB Keith Marshall
KENTUCKY
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen returning: None
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen leaving: None
Other underclassmen leaving: None
LSU
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen returning: OL Ethan Pocic, DB Tre’Davious White
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen leaving: None
Other underclassmen leaving: OL Jerald Hawkins
OLE MISS
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen returning: TE Evan Engram, QB Chad Kelly
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen leaving: DL Robert Nkemdiche, WR Laquon Treadwell
Other underclassmen leaving: OL Laremy Tunsil
MISSISSIPPI STATE
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen returning: Fred Ross, De’Runnya Wilson
Other underclassmen leaving: LB Beniquez Brown, DL Chris Jones
MISSOURI
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen returning: None
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen leaving: None
Other underclassmen leaving: None
SOUTH CAROLINA
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen returning: LB Skai Moore
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen leaving: WR Pharoh Cooper
Other underclassmen leaving: None
TENNESSEE
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen returning: LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, OL Dylan Wiesman
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen leaving: None
Other underclassmen leaving: WR Marquez North
TEXAS A&M
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen returning: None
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen leaving: OL Germain Ifedi
Other underclassmen leaving: None
VANDERBILT
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen returning: None
All-SEC NFL draft-eligible underclassmen leaving: None
Other underclassmen leaving: LB Stephen Weatherly
