Top local football recruits watching LSU progress

    The arrow for LSU football is pointing up.
    “We have a lot of momentum in our program,” said LSU head coach Les Miles. “We have guys who are very motivated.”
    If subliminal man from Saturday Night Live was standing alongside, he would do the immediate translation. What Miles was really saying is, if our quarterback and our offense continue to perform at a high level, we have a chance to compete for an SEC and a BCS championship.
    The offensive transformation under new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has been stunning. In 2013, it took quarterback Zach Mettenberger two games to throw his sixth touchdown pass. Last season, Mettenberger had six touchdown passes after seven games.
    In 2012, Mettenberger had a three-game stretch of SEC games where he completed 44 percent (vs. Florida), 48 percent (vs. South Carolina) and 37.9 percent (vs. Texas A&M) of his passes. Somehow, LSU won two of those three games.
    In 2012, receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr., combined, had three 100-yard receiving games. This season, in two games, the pair have combined for three 100-yard receiving games. All of this was done with little contribution from LSU’s No. 1 tailback Jeremy Hill.
    LSU’s offensive turnaround could not have come at a better time. Three of the top prospects in the class of 2014 have yet to make their decisions. John Curtis receiver Malachi Dupre, Karr quarterback/wide receiver Speedy Noil, and St. Aug running back Leonard Fournette all plan to announce their college choices shortly after Jan. 1.
    Those three, along with Karr defensive end Gerald Willis, are the remaining uncommitted gems in Louisiana’s class of 2014. That class could be the most talented in the history of Louisiana high school football.
    The sales pitch from LSU to the three standouts has now been enhanced. It goes something like – come to LSU and be coached by an NFL offensive coordinator, someone who can get you ready to play in the league. That pitch would not be a reach.
    Gone are the endless parade of bubble screens and quick throws. Distant are the memories of the final games of last season. Remember when LSU had nine first downs in a Chick Fil-A Bowl loss to Clemson? Or when the Tigers somehow won at Arkansas despite having 16 first downs?
    This was supposed to be the year that Alabama and Texas A&M would decide the SEC West, and Georgia, led by quarterback Aaron Murray, would threaten again for the league crown. All of that could still happen.
    “I like us.”
    Les Miles said that more than once in fall camp. In the media business, we call it coach speak. But the LSU head coach said it with conviction. Maybe he knew something.
    Ed Daniels is sports director of ABC26 WGNO. He can be reached at [email protected].