re: Class of 2016 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Waiting On Demetris Robertson Edition

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Neville DT Lawrence among nation's elite recruits
Adam Hunsucker, ahunsucker@thenewsstar.com 7:54 p.m. CDT May 6, 2015

There's no doubt Rashard Lawrence's future lies on the football field. One look at the sheer number of scholarship offers he has — and who they're from — will confirm that.

The only thing the five-star defensive tackle prospect loves more than football is competing. With that in mind, Lawrence put his recruiting on hold for the winter to focus on basketball — where he manned one of the forward spots for Neville.

Basketball ended two months ago.

Now college coaches across the country are licking their chops to talk to the 6-3, 305-pound man-child that some recruiting services have tabbed as the top overall prospect in Louisiana.

"It's good and bad at the same time," said Lawrence, who doesn't turn 17 until the fall. "I'm pretty fortunate to have some of the top coaches in the country contacting me but it wears on you after a while. I'm getting used to it and I'm having fun with it."

Orgeron and LSU special teams coordinator Bradley Dale Peveto stopped by Neville to see Lawrence on the first day of the spring recruiting period.

At this point it might be easier for Lawrence to answer what schools haven't offered him instead of who has. Lawrence has nine offers from the SEC, eight from the Pac-12, four from the Big 12 and three from ACC programs.

John Chavis — sporting a maroon polo as the new defensive coordinator at Texas A&M — and Florida State defensive tackles coach Odell Haggins were in Monroe on Monday for the first day of Neville spring practice.

When the 2015 LSU Coaches Caravan came to Monroe in April, defensive line coach Ed Orgeron and special teams coordinator Bradley Dale Peveto made a special stop at the Charlie Brown Field House to visit with Lawrence.

"Rashard and Coach O had a good visit, it's hard not to like Coach O," Neville head coach Mickey McCarty said. "I've gotten to know him over the years and I'm sure they'll certainly be paying attention to us thanks to Rashard."

Lawrence started picking up offers after hitting the camp circuit last summer and turned even more heads with a monster three-sack performance in Neville's 28-27 win over Warren Easton in the Class 4A state championship game.

Even other recruits are working on Lawrence. Ole Miss commit Shea Patterson — a five-star quarterback from Shreveport's Calvary Baptist — listed Lawrence as one of his own recruiting wants.

Lawrence doesn't plan on releasing his top-10 list until after spring football, but the first two schools out of his mouth are already LSU and Alabama, where he's already taken unofficial visits.

"Going to Tuscaloosa and seeing their facilities was great and any visit to LSU is always a good time. Those are the two that stand out the most," Lawrence said.

The Neville program is represented in both places.

Former Neville quarterback John Diarse — a four-star athlete and Louisiana's Mr. Football in 2012 — signed with LSU to play receiver. Four-star safety Laurence 'Hootie' Jones — Lawrence's teammate during his sophomore year — opted for Alabama.

Diarse and Jones both graduated a semester early, something Lawrence isn't opposed to.

Rashard's uncle Oliver Lawrence played linebacker at LSU alongside Toby Caston in the 1980s. Both the elder Lawrence and Caston are Neville products.

Lawrence has LSU legacy status, but also as some connections with the Crimson Tide through 'Uncle Oliver.'

"People think that I'm just going to go to LSU but my uncle actually played with [Alabama defensive line coach] Bo Davis too," Lawrence said. "I know those two are going to be on my list but I'm open to hearing what other schools have to say.

"Right now it's about finding the best fit for me wherever it is in the country."

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