I don't know why, but I was just thinking that it's been a while since we've landed a prospect from the state of Louisiana.
Memory brings to mind bruising RB Johnathan Wells, (Coach Cooper brought him in, in the late 90s), since then though - I can't really think of anybody.
Lot of talent in that state, (obviously along with GA & FLA) ... have a feeling Urban may sign a guy from Louisiana soon. Just a hunch.
The defensive lineman with an arabic name played in the loss to LSU
Nader Abdallah
Good trivia answer lol
Ralph!
I always laugh to myself when someone says, "sorry bro, I just 'fat-fingered' ya. My apologies."
I actually accidentally fingered Sauce Bauss. My bad. First time I've done that.
"Here officer, hold my beer while I find my license."
Solid dude. He works with me.
Yes, forgot about him.
Abdullah went to Archbishop Rummel in Metairie, LA.
Wells went to John Curtis Christian Academy in River Ridge, LA, (which is the same school blue chip recruit Joe McKnight went to)...I keep thinking Cam Heyward is from LA, but he's from near Atlanta, GA. Just like Ro-Ro.
It seems like LA is one of those states that yields a high level of talent, but it's not the deepest state. What you end up with is a very regionally focused attitude from the LA kids, who basically won't consider schools outside of the LA, AK, MS, AL, region.
Weird those kids would mostly stay close to home and some would travel all the way to Alaska.
Ahh, the 3,000 mile difference between AK and AR.
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
I should drink less
not necessarily
REALLLLY difficult to pull recruits out of Louisiana and Alabama, especially top recruits. I just looked at the Rivals Rankings by State from 2013, very interesting results.
Of the top 15 recruits from the state of Louisiana in 2013, only 3 went somewhere other than LSU or Bama (a 4th is still undecided). Of the top 15 recruits from the state of Alabama last year, only 3 left the state (a 4th is still undecided). Compare that to Georgia, where only 2 of the top 15 recruits from 2013 are staying in Georgia! If it's not for Bama, top Louisiana kids don't look interested in playing out of state. Hopefully OSU can buck that trend eventually.
To be fair, its a pretty easy sell for those kids. Play on an Elite team, in the SEC, where its warm, close to home. While OSU might be able to pull a player or two out, it will need to win a couple national titles, and ge these players from the SEC is so dominant mentality.
Absolutely. I don't blame them a bit for staying if they have an offer (which top 15 generally do) from Bama or LSU. Bama is a legitimate title contender every year, LSU is typically top 3 or so every year. I'd definitely like to see us get in the mix though some of those #5-15 kids in those states, though, if we can pull out another excellent season or two. But that goes for every state in the south. You can see by those trends that Georgia is the most ripe for the plucking (might be part of the reason why OSU is so offer-heavy in that state in 2014, aside from the obviously high levels of talent there). 9 of the top 15 in Florida last year stayed in Florida, 9 out of the top 15 in SC stayed in SC, and 7 of the top 15 in Tenn stayed in Tenn (for those curious about some of the other southern states). Georgia by far loses the most recruits to out of state schools.
The truth is we don't need to get recruits from Bama, Louisiana, Mississipi, Arkansas. We have a large footprint in Ohio, Michigan, the Midwest, plus we have the SEC East footprint (GA, FL.,N.C., Tenn., VA.) as well as the East coast and Texas to draw upon for our 'finishing touches'. The National Championships are coming our way and the days when we wished we had Bama's and LSU's players are over.
"Get him a body bag, Yeah!"
Let's face it, Louisiana is a unique state and the players almost come off like country kids as very few places compare, geographically or culturally, to the bayou. Baton Rouge, by comparison, is the big city. I think recruiters from LSU (naturally) and Bama (craftilly) play this up as if to suggest that the adjustment to anywhere else would be awkward. They seem to buy it.
Ed Reed is one that always stood out to me. As a Hurricane I think so many people just assumed he was from Florida given the talent they produce.
Dustin Fox was our leading tackler as a corner.... because his guy always caught the ball.
The only kid we have a shot at this year from Louisiana is safety Laurence Jones.
He has an offer and is rumored to have rooted for OSU growing up. A lot of LSU fans are more worried about him chosing OSU over LSU then Bama of LSU.
However, he has a very strong and close relationship with his mom (a momma's boy if you will) so it will be very difficult to get him to move this far north for 3 or 4 years.
I really hope we can land this kid.
I think we have a better chance than most people think. Kid seems to really like OSU, but it will be hard to pull him out of LA. LSU is probably very intriguing to him, but hopefully Meyer can work some magic.
#Buckeyes
Wasn't Bobby Boucher from Baton Rouge, La.? You know, the LB that played for SCLSU? He was one of the best LBs in the history of Louisiana.
I wonder if Urban offered him when he was at Florida?
"Here officer, hold my beer while I find my license."
"Sherman ran an option play right through the south" - Greatest.Civil.War.Analogy.Ever
Bobby Boucher's mom told Urban there are too many hot girls in Florida and girls are the devil, so goes the story.
"Get him a body bag, Yeah!"
Living in Lousiana, if you sign outside the SEC you are a leper (besides UT)... at least that's the idea I get from talking with the football refs I ref lacrosse with.
Cause I couldn't go for three
Click here for 247Sports list of top Lousiana recruits for 2014.
Just to pull one would be well worth it.
Nothing like dancing on the field in 02...
I believe Laurence "Hootie" Jones grew up a Buckeye fan.
You might get a hoops star from Louisiana, but not a football player. They must give these kids SEC koolaid at every lunch. Urban will get some interest, but it's going to take him hoisting the crystal football make a recruit take notice.
An angry fan...rooting for an angry team...led by angry coaches
I'd love to take Leonard Fournette off their hands.
"YOLO" = I'm about to do something extremely ignorant/stupid & I need an excuse to do it.
I'm curious what the role of available direct flights has in landing recruits from a particular area. With Atlanta being a Delta hub and most mid sized to large cities having direct flights, long distances can seem much more managable than having to swing a 3-4 flight connection to get from Birmingham to Eugene or Geauxville to Omaha.
I agree with Evanston. LA is a very different culture, particularly the bayou region, and it feels like a different country.
The top recruits rarely leave Louisiana because LSU has no competition when it comes to in state sports. Here is the ranking of the top ranked / followed sports teams for the state.
1. LSU
2. LSU
3. LSU
4. LSU
5. Alabama
6. SEC
7. LSU
8. Texas
9. SEC
10. New Orleans Saints
If you can't tell, LSU is the passion of this state. The devotion to LSU football in the state is cult like and the brain washing is everywhere. As an example, every time I take my son to the dentist, he comes back home chanting "Geaux Tigers" and "LSU". Generally it takes about a week of deprogramming and throwing a cold bucket of water on him to correct, and then additional time for me to rebrainwash him to my team. Let me tell you, it is exhausting, but Im keeping up the good fight and not ready to give up just yet.
I'm not sure what part of the state your living in BLUE, but putting the Saints behind Abalama will get you an old fashioned ass whuppin where I live.
An angry fan...rooting for an angry team...led by angry coaches
I'll give you that one Cajun, but you have to admit that Bama is making some inroads with the kids in Louisiana. My son says more and more Bama gear is popping up in his high school. I guess my major point is that when it comes to the people of Louisiana, nothing else comes close. To make inroads, you probably have to makeup the largest deficit anywhere in the country to land one of these kids.
I've got three nephews in school down here; 9th,8th, and 7th. It is burned into their psyche that the SEC is the "be all and end all" of college football. It drives me insane. Right now, I don't have a leg to stand on,but I think things are about to change.
An angry fan...rooting for an angry team...led by angry coaches
those saints defenders will put a bounty on your ass sssshhhhheeeee, don't say shit like that
knucklehead
careful badmouthing the Saints D. There are 2 Buckeye starters there.
I've got a crisp $5 for anyone that blatantly cheap shots Puff.
An angry fan...rooting for an angry team...led by angry coaches
What about the
charlotteHornets?"Get him a body bag, Yeah!"
Pelicans*
Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS!
~Bo Schembechler
Guaranteed to strike fear in the hearts of all opponents....the pelican????
An angry fan...rooting for an angry team...led by angry coaches