By Ryan Rogers
LSUsports.net
By now every LSU fan’s enthusiasm has hit the roof with the news of LSU’s impressive football recruiting class. Ranked No. 1 by some publications, and no lower than No. 3 by others, LSU fans are already envisioning a bright future at LSU.
Just to make it clear, don’t get overexcited about the recruiting class rankings. They’re not always accurate and often don’t transcribe into meeting high expectations. However, if you’re going to recruit you might as well go out and get the best talent available.
So how did Nick Saban do it? How did he and his staff lure in such an impressive class. Well let’s look at it from a different perspective.
Here’s a story about the long, tireless journey across the country looking for great student-athletes. A journey that Saban embarked on with high expectations and when he reached his destinations, he wasn’t disappointed in the results.
Saban and his staff’s journey across America for top-quality talent can be stemmed from good ‘ol Interstate-10 for the most part. They rode in a mythical bus colored in purple-n-gold and preached with the promise of a good education, a fun time and being part of a football program that is on the verge of exploding.
Their long journey began right here in Baton Rouge. Two of the biggest prospects in America were home grown. They were wide receiver Michael Clayton (6-4 200 4.4) and tight end Marcus Spears (6-5 275 4.7). Both were regarded as the best players at their respective positions in America and both were on everyone’s All-America team.
The two super-athletes are also major basketball prospects. Clayton, a shooting guard, and Spears, a small forward, would be excellent additions to anyone’s basketball team. With the help of John Brady, Saban made Clayton and Spears his first passengers on the “Ole War Skule Bus” that has a date with destiny. Before heading out of town, Saban added another Baton Rouge native in OL prospect Jonathan Banks (6-6 385 5.3). Banks a very large player will add beef to the offensive line.
Saban and staff then went west on I-10, crossed the Mississippi River and pulled over in Port Allen, La. There they added linebackers/strong safety Brandon Williams (6-2 209 lbs, 4.4). Williams is one of the most talented defensive players in the nation and a member of the Advocate Super Dozen. He is has a great stocky build and flashy speed. Continuing down I-10 west they road across the Achafalaya Basin to Lafayette, La., and they added tight end Kory Hebert (6-5 230 4.7). Hebert is a good-looking prospect joining a team that utilizes its tight ends better than anyone.
A little further down I-10 brought them to Houston, Texas. There they added wide receiver Bennie Brazell (6-2 180 4.4). Brazell a tall receiver with blazing speed was happy to come aboard. A ride around Houston and Saban and staff saw a blue-chip running back named Joseph Addai. Addai one of the best runners in the country was looking for a team to run for.
Then the bus took Highway 96 up to Hemphill, Texas. There they saw a guy who was not a commoner, but instead a celebrity. His name was OL Ben Wilkerson (6-4 275 4.8). Wilkerson had drawn the attention of every coach in the land. All had come to the little town of Hemphill to see the phenomenon. Ranked as the best offensive lineman in the country by many, he was a marvel for spectators. He was an offensive lineman who blocked like no other lineman. He also was head of his class graduating as valedictorian. It wasn’t easy, but “Big Ben” soon realized LSU was the place for him.
Then a long drive down I-10 to California left some passengers wary about driving through uncharted territory for LSU football recruiting. But Saban promised that at the end of that highway waited a bright young signal caller that went by the name Clausen. And when they arrived as promised, quarterback Rick Clausen (6-3 190 4.8) was waiting for them and anxious to take his skills to the SEC.
Clausen, the younger brother of Tennessee starting quarterback Casey Clausen, possesses many of the same traits and intangibles. He is a very intelligent quarterback with advanced awareness of the game at his age.
The bus turned around and headed east on I-10. There the made a detour to I-20 to Dallas and added one of the states best athletes in running back/athlete Ryan Gilbert (5-11 185 4.4). Gilbert is a man of many trades. He can run, catch, throw, tackle, cover and return kicks. He brought his entire duffel bag filled with repertoire with him and the bus kept rolling.
The bus kept driving on I-20 from Dallas right to Shreveport, La. where tales had been told of a kid who once ran a 4.2 in the 40-yard dash. His name was wide receiver Ronnie Prude (6-0 190 4.3). Prude was an excellent athlete who could return kicks and run well. He has drawn many comparisons to former LSU great Eddie Kennison. A winner named linebacker Phillip Maxwell (6-1 220 4.6) from one of the state’s most prestigious football programs got an invitation as well. Maxwell, a tough nosed linebacker from Evangel Christian saw the opportunity and never looked back.
The two hopped on the bus and it kept driving to familiar grounds in Monroe, La.
There they picked up three mammoth offensive linemen in offensive linemen Andrew Whitworth (6-7 300 4.8), Rudy Niswanger (6-6 275 4.9) and Brandon Hurley (6-3 265 4.8).
Whitworth and Niswanger are ranked as All-Americans by many publications. The three also had one thing in common. They left their hometowns as heroes. All three had played for 2000 state champion high school football teams. Whitworth played for 5A champ West Monroe and Niswanger and Hurley played for 2A champ Ouachita Christian.
The bus then pulled into Baton Rouge to tank up, but no one departed. All wanted to assist Saban and staff as they got back on I-10 and headed east.
First stop, the Big Easy. New Orleans has long been known as a hot bed for big-time talent. This year was no different. The city boasted a jewel of a defensive lineman in defensive lineman Marquise Hill (6-8 300 4.8). Hill was voted by ESPN as the National Prep defensive player of the year. A tenacious 6-8 defensive tackle, he can do it all. He can pressure the quarterback and play solid run defense. He hopped aboard and his friend linebacker Donovan Grayson (6-5 235 4.7) was looking for a ride as well.
Next stop, ALABAMA!! There, LSU picked up two players with great potential. The first defensive lineman Melvin Oliver (6-4 240 4.7), a kid that went by the name “Sack Master” in his hometown of Opelika, Ala., after accumulating 14 sacks and 55 pressures his senior year.
Brandon Washington DE, from Tuscaloosa is an extremely strong player with a very muscular physique. He was rated as one of the top players in Alabama. He will be a nice addition to that “Chinese Bandit” defense of old.
Then the bus strolled down I-10 into a haven for high school talent, Florida. There, picking up passengers wasn’t easy. There were many intruders to compete with and three really big bullies (Florida, Florida St., Miami) who don’t take kindly to tourists looking to take something home with them.
Coach Saban and his staff flexed their muscles and escaped Florida with four big-time prospects. Linebacker Tim Pope (6-3 225 4.5), a vicious hitter with size and a sleek 4.5 40 jumped on the bus. He comes from a powerhouse Florida school in Rutherford High. That school has produced NFL players Kevin Carter (Rams), Larry Coffee (Steelers) and Bobby Butler (Falcons).
Pope was named first team All-State 5A and is noted as being the best middle linebacker in Florida.
Next to hop along was wide receiver/defensive back Travis Daniels. This talented athlete was known for his aggressive style of play and comes from a state loaded with talent at the position. Soon after Junior college linebacker Dave Peterson (6-2 245 4.7) jumped aboard. Not to be left out, offensive lineman Steve Arflin (6-4 320 5.1) grabbed a seat on the Saban Express. Arflin, a powerful blocker who is a highly touted thrower in track and field circles as well, made himself at home.
Then LSU went looking for another devastating defensive tackle. The found Junior College transfer, Torran Williams (6-4 295 5.0). Williams a native of Florida, was at one time a Florida commit. However, this run stopping force changed his mind and jumped on the LSU Tiger bandwagon.
The bus then took a sharp turn north in search of a guy known as “Mr. Maryland Football.” David Jones TE/DE, the biggest prospect in the state of Maryland liked what he saw and purchased his ticket to paradise. Along with the talented athlete came promise of a very bright future at LSU.
Then the bus headed back for Baton Rouge. Once it arrived, all the players who had taken the perilous journey took a walk with Saban and his staff into Tiger Stadium. Awestruck at is magnificent glimmer, they now realized that this was the “Field of Dreams” that they had gotten on the bus to see and one day play in.