LSU recruiting under Miles: The ones who got away
LSU has been involved in its share of recruiting battles over the years, going head-to-head with some of the nation’s top programs in an effort to secure elite recruits. And while former head coach Les Miles won plenty of those battles, he also saw some prospects slip away that might have been able to help save his job in Baton Rouge.
Today we take a look back at the big fish that got away.
The backstory: Robinson was one of the top offensive linemen in the class of 2011 and everyone assumed he would stay close to home and play for LSU. But Auburn worked its way into the picture and after officially visiting both schools, he shocked many in the recruiting world by choosing the out-of-state Tigers over his in-state option.
The result: Robinson redshirted his first year at Auburn but then became a full-time starter at left tackle during his second year on campus. In 2013 he helped the Tigers capture not only an SEC Championship, but a berth in the final BCS National Championship Game. He went on to be the No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
The backstory: Robinson is from West Monroe, La. and was one of the Tigers' top priorities in the 2014 class. But that didn’t stop Nick Saban and company from swooping into the state and catching Robinson’s eye earlier. He committed to the Tide in September of his senior year and despite LSU’s best effort, enrolled in Jan. 2014.
The result: Robinson wasted no time living up to his five-star ranking and walked right into the starting lineup for the Tide as a true freshman. Three years into his career in Tuscaloosa and Robinson has already won a national championship and has likely set himself up to leave school early and enter the NFL Draft
The backstory: Collins’ decision to spurn LSU for Alabama is one of the most notable recruiting announcement reveals in recruiting history. During the Under Armour All-America Game in 2012, Collins announced his commitment to the Tide, much to the chagrin of his mother April Justin, who voiced her displeasure on live TV. With a month between the announcement and Signing Day, many thought he would flip his commitment to LSU and honor his mother’s wishes, but it never happened.
The result: Collins saw the field early as a backup for Alabama and by his sophomore year was one of the stars of the Alabama defense. Following his junior season he earned unanimous All-American honors and left early to enter the 2015 NFL Draft. He went on to be a second round draft pick by the New York Giants.
The backstory: Noil hailed from New Orleans and made no qualms about how much he loved his home city and home state. But when it came time to announce a college decision at the Under Armour All-America Game, Noil shocked many by picking Texas A&M. Miles and his staff was enamored with tall wide receivers and while they wanted Noil, perhaps the extra attention put the Aggies over the top.
The result: Noil has had an up-and-down college career in College Station, mainly because of problems away from the field. Either way, the 583 yards and 46 catches he had as a true freshman in 2014 would have been second best on LSU’s team that season.
The backstory: Carter burst onto the recruiting scene early in his high school career, netting several major offers and committing to Alabama as an underclassman. Just prior to the start of his senior year, Carter re-opened his commitment and it was assumed that he would eventually land at LSU. Instead, Alabama got back in the mix and ended up landing his signature on National Signing Day.
The result: It’s still very early in Carter’s college career, but he’s already on the field and making plays for the No. 1 team in the nation. He’s played in all four of Alabama’s games this season and has recorded five tackles. While LSU is never short for talent in the defensive backfield, letting Carter slip to Tuscaloosa hurts.