2021 Football Commitments

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Who could be LSU's first 2021 commit?

BySHEA DIXON 7 hours ago 

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The LSU football staff signed 25 recruits in the 2019 class, wrapping up the cycle on National Signing Day in February.

Now, the focus is on building up the current 2020 class, and the Tigers already hold double-digit commitments and one of the top-ranked classes in the country, putting them off to another great start after finishing with a top five class on 247Sports last month.

But when will the ball start rolling for the 2021 class?

LSU has yet to land a commitment for the 2021 class, but with more unofficial visits coming this spring, plus camp inching closer this summer, we're likely to see the first name pop sooner than later.

Only seven college football teams currently have a pledge for the 2021 class, with the lone SEC program being Florida. The GayTurds have just one commitment. The lone school among the seven with more than one commitment is Miami, who hold two commitments from current sophomores in high school.

Here's a look at 10 names from the 2021 class who could become the first to commit to LSU.

QB: GARRETT NUSSMEIER

 

(Photo: 247Sports)

The Tigers proved in the 2020 cycle that they were willing to add quarterbacks early if they liked the fit, adding TJ Finley last summer before Max Johnson got on board in November. But when will the first domino drop at quarterback in the 2021 cycle? One of the earliest offers went out to Texas sophomore Garrett Nussmeier, and he's already camped in Baton Rouge, visited for a game and taken in the program's Elite Junior Day. If there's a name to watch this early on, it's likely Nussmeier. 

RB: IVERSON CELESTINE

 

Louisiana's top-ranked running back at this stage is Iverson Celestine, a sophomore at Fontainebleau (Mandeville, La.) who debuted in the initial Top 100 for 247Sports, checking in as the No. 7 running back in the country and one of the top prospects in Louisiana. He turned in another strong showing as a sophomore after eclipsing the 1,000-yard rushing mark as a freshman in 2017. Tulane, Utah and Virginia have extended early scholarship offers, but it won't be a shock to see LSU jump into the race at some point. 

WR: CHRIS HILTON

 

(Photo: Sonny Shipp, 247Sports)

When the rankings shuffle again for the 2021 class, don't be surprised to see Zachary's Chris Hilton jump into the No. 1 spot for Louisiana. He had the game-winning touchdown in the state title game, is a standout basketball player and already holds top marks in the state in the high jump. As a three-sport athlete with good size at wide receiver, college teams from all over the country have already jumped in with an offer - LSU included. Could the Tigers get him to pop early in his recruitment process? It will certainly be on their minds moving into the spring and summer months. 

WR: LATRELL NEVILLE

 

(Photo: Brian Perroni, 247Sports)

Latrell Neville, a 6-foot-3 wide receiver out of Texas, already holds an offer from LSU and many other colleges, but he has a lead group of the Tigers, Ohio State and Oklahoma and wants to announce his college decision ahead of his senior season. But could the pick come even sooner than that? Texas A&M insider Brian Peronni put in a Crystal Ball prediction for LSU, which was followed up by picks for Ohio State. But the most recent predictions went "foggy", meaning it's tough to peg where Neville might wind up for college - or when the announcement will come. But early on, he's firmly on LSU's radar as one of the top wideouts in the 2021 class.

WR: THEODORE KNOX

 

(Photo: Shea Dixon, 247Sports)

LSU has added plenty of Southern Lab talent in recent years, from four-star linebacker Damone Clark in the 2018 class to four-stars Kardell Thomas and Tyrion Davis in the 2019 class. Can they do it again early on in the 2021 class? A name to watch will be Theodore Knox, who is already ranked by 247Sports as one of the Top 15 wide receivers in the country. Tennessee and five other programs have already offered Knox a scholarship, but could LSU follow suit once they see him in spring ball and he camps again in June? Knox will certainly be a name to know in Louisiana's 2021 class.

WDE: TRAVION FORD

 

(Photo: Allen Trieu, 247Sports)

LSU has made a point to get out early on some offers in the Midwest, and one of the sophomores who got good news from the Tigers was Missouri edge rusher Travion Ford. He landed his offer from the Tigers in November, and then came offers from Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Oklahoma and more. When he landed his LSU offer, Ford said he had heavy interest in the Tigers and wanted to visit campus this spring or summer. With no predictions made yet on his 247Sports Crystal Ball, Ford's recruitment appears to be wide open, which is good news for LSU. 

WDE: JEREMIAH WILLIAMS

 

The Birmingham (Ala.) edge rusher was the first person to arrive at LSU's Elite Junior Day last month, and head coach Ed Orgeron offered him a scholarship on the spot. Williams told the Geaux247 staff that the visit and offer opened his eyes to the Tigers in a big way, and they are now squarely in the mix as one of only six teams (and one of only two SEC programs) to offer him a scholarship. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, expect Jeremiah Williams to be a name that plenty of colleges warm up to in the 2021 class. 

DT: TIM KEENAN

 

(Photo: @Tim_Keenan3)

Speaking of Alabama prospects, defensive tackle Tim Keenan is another name to keep an eye on. He's made multiple visits to LSU and was back on campus last month for the team's Elite Junior Day, making him one of their top targets in the trenches early on for the 2021 class. Like Williams, Keenan attends Ramsay High in Birmingham, and his six early offers include the likes of LSU, Alabama and South Carolina. Keenan debuted in the initial Top 100 as a top five defensive tackle prospect in the 2021 class, and with no predictions made yet on his 247Sports Crystal Ball, the Tigers have to like the progress they have made recruiting the out-of-state target so far. 

DT: MAASON SMITH

 

(Photo: 247Sports)

At 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds, sophomore Maason Smith is one of the big men to watch in Louisiana's 2021 class. He's teammates with 2020 wide receiver Ja'Khi Douglas, which should bring plenty of college coaches around the high school to see them both. More than 15 schools have already offered him a scholarship, including SEC programs like Alabama, Auburn and Florida. But LSU jumped into the mix with an offer last month at the team's Elite Junior Day, and both predictions on his 247Sports Crystal Ball are in for the Tigers. Expect Smith to climb up the rankings once the 2021 class is reshuffled again. 

LB: KENDRICK BLACKSHIRE

 

(Photo: Gabe Brooks, 247Sports)

 

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This would be music to the ears of all LSU fans. Kendrick Blackshire is not only one of the best players in Texas, but he's ranked as the No. 1 middle linebacker in the country and well within striking distance to become a five-star. He's also made a handful of trips to LSU already, and he was back on campus last month for the team's Elite Junior Day. As part of the True Buzz group out of the Lone Star State, Blackshire could follow in the footsteps of current LSU outside linebacker Jarell Cherry and current 2020 commitment Courtland Ford, who both came out of Texas and picked the Tigers. Blackshire is someone LSU's staff is heavily focused on for the 2021 class.