Just when you thought the Tigers were finished at the EDGE position, Sterling Lucas and Lane Kiffin pulled off another surprise.
Late Friday afternoon, Shea Dixon of On3 reported that Anthony Sweeney had made his way to Baton Rouge for an official visit with the Tigers. Sweeney is a 5-star prospect and the No. 2 overall EDGE rusher in the class according to the Rivals Industry Rankings.
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Sweeney fits the prototypical mold that Lucas has targeted at the EDGE position. He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 230 pounds and is from Baltimore, Maryland. Sweeney is currently committed to Texas Tech.
After committing to Texas Tech, Sweeney mentioned that his recruitment had settled down, with the exception of Sterling Lucas and LSU, along with his hometown Maryland Terrapins, continuing to pursue him.
What stands out when watching Sweeney’s film? He plays the position with excellent technique. His get-off is elite and explosive. He knows how to use his length without playing too high and has a great understanding of hand usage. Even more impressive is that this level of skill and athleticism is being displayed by a young player who has not yet fully grown into his frame.
It’s easy to understand why Lucas is willing to pull out all the stops to land his commitment.
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LSU recently secured commitments from Chris Whitehead and KJ Green. Having as many elite EDGE rushers as possible is a positive because it can help prevent the Tigers from having to rely on the transfer portal for players such as Jordan Ross and Princewill Umanmielen in the future.
The best news surrounding this surprise visit came from Zack Nagy of 247Sports, who reported that recent LSU commit KJ Green actually returned to campus to help recruit Sweeney.
This is where building a dynamic duo truly begins.
The Tigers were hosting their annual Friday Night Lights showcase, the final elite camp of the summer, so several talented prospects made their way back to campus. However, for Green to return specifically to help close on Sweeney shows just how bought-in he already is. It also demonstrates how effectively the staff has communicated the vision for this recruiting class and why they believe Sweeney should be a part of it.
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More importantly, it shows that strong relationships and communication between Lucas and his prospects are already being established long before they ever sign with the program.
Now the question becomes: Can LSU do something unprecedented?
The Tigers remain firmly in contention for the No. 1 overall player in the nation, Jalen Brewster, who is also committed to Texas Tech.
Can LSU pull off flipping two of the best prospects in the country from the same school during the same recruiting cycle? Or will they land one and not the other?
If LSU can’t get both, which prospect would you rather see the Tigers flip—Anthony Sweeney or Jalen Brewster?
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Share your thoughts in the comments below.
