LSU trending for multiple top-200 defensive backs, according to On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine
In its first year under head coach Brian Kelly, LSU has clinched a berth in the SEC Championship. The Tigers are also succeeding on the recruiting trail, with the No. 5 recruiting class in the 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings.
The Tigers’ class — which also ranks No. 3 in the SEC — contains 12 top-200 prospects, including Baton Rouge (La.) Catholic five-star wide receiver Shelton Sampson Jr. According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, a few more may be joining the Tigers.
RPM was released to the public in December. The On3 engineering group teamed up with Spiny.ai to create the industry’s first algorithm and machine learning-based product to predict where athletes will attend college.
It factors in machine learning, social sentiment, visits and historical trends. However, expert predictions are still a big piece of the RPM equation.
For more LSU recruiting intel, check out The Bengal Tiger.
5-star CB Desmond Ricks
On3 Consensus: No. 15
School: Chesapeake (Va.) IMG Academy
On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine: LSU 84.5%, Alabama 6%, Florida 3.3%
On3 NIL Valuation: $241K
The Skinny: Ricks is announcing his commitment on Dec. 23 and choosing between the Crimson Tide, Gators and Tigers. He is taking an official visit to each program in December. However, On3’s Chad Simmons believes LSU is “the team to beat.” According to Simmons, Ricks has connected with cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples and likes the system run by defensive coordinator Matt House. While Simmons said that the Tigers have “the momentum heading into these official visits,” he believes Ricks’ recruitment may be a close one.
4-star S Javien Toviano
On3 Consensus: No. 53
School: Arlington (Texas) Martin
On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine: LSU 95%, Texas 1.5%
On3 NIL Valuation: $156K
The Skinny: LSU has been the leader for Toviano for multiple weeks. He took an official visit to Baton Rouge on Sept. 10 and was back for the Tigers’ win over Alabama on Nov. 5. Meanwhile, Toviano visited the Longhorns on Nov. 12. Toviano does not share much about his recruitment, but his constant presence on the Tigers’ campus may be a very telling sign of where he is leaning. Toviano spent time with Ricks during his trip to Baton Rouge earlier this month.
4-star S Isaac Smith
On3 Consensus: No. 173
School: Fulton (Miss.) Itawamba Agricultural
On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine: LSU 89.1%, Ole Miss 3.9%, Texas A&M 2.3%, Vanderbilt 1.5%
On3 NIL Valuation: $16.6K
The Skinny: Smith’s recruitment has heated up in the last couple months. Right now, LSU seems to be in the driver’s seat for his commitment. Sources told On3’s Sam Spiegelman on Oct. 26 that LSU is a “dream school” for the Mississippi native. Spiegelman also said that the Tigers are a “team to watch” in his recruitment. Smith was in Baton Rouge on Oct. 22 for LSU’s upset win over then-undefeated Ole Miss. However, the four-star has made two visits to the Rebels within the last two weeks.