re: Class of 2019 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: That's a Wrap Edition

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George Pickens, WR, Hoover (Ala.), 2019

Pickens was a go-to receiver in the 7-on-7 tournament and made catch after catch. He was able to consistently get open and when he didn’t get open he made contested catches. The Alabama receiver has interest in LSU and is very interested in seeing how the Tigers perform on offense this season.

He’s committed to Auburn but is going to be highly sought after by several programs following his performance at The Opening.

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FRISCO, Texas — The Opening came to an end Tuesday with a 7-on-7 championship game that had a very heavy Louisiana presence. Seven prospects with ties to the state played in the final game impressed while doing so.

Over the four-day event LSU commitments and Louisiana prospects were consistently among some of the top performers.

Here's a quick look at how they did.

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Trey Palmer, WR, Kentwood, 2019

Palmer made a couple nice grabs in the 7-on-7s and ran one of the faster 40 times at The Opening.

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Dean not being in the list is not great but Mississippi kids always make me nervous anyway. It also still leaves room for a number of prospects like Lee, Leal, Bogle, Dent, Stevenson amongst others.

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As far as LSU’s out-of-state targets go, perhaps the best wide receiver in attendance was Hoover (Ala.) High School receiver George Pickens. Pickens, an Auburn commitment, was the most popular target of the week bar none. He has incredible size at about 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds with extremely strong hands and a great ability to run crisp routes. Pickens shines in multiple parts of the field -- in the red zone, as a possession receiver and making big plays. LSU is quietly trying to lure this 4-star prospect to campus, but Auburn is hopeful to hold onto Pickens while Alabama has also entered the race for the in-state target.

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Finally, the new quarterback on LSU fans’ minds is none other than Taulia Tagovaulia. Tua’s younger brother won the longest pass competition, but his game is not about arm strength. He’s a smart, accurate passer with the ability to throw on the run. Perhaps more than anything, the Alabama verbal methodically tears apart defenses, then strikes when he sees opportunities open up downfield. He throws with good velocity and even better accuracy, which makes you forget than he is 5-foot-11. Thomas mentioned that LSU is in a strong position to flip Tagovaulia away from the rival Tide. All eyes are on Tagovaulia to see if he visits Baton Rouge this fall.

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USC fans were disappointed to hear that the Trojans’ coaching staff were not recruiting the five-star Oaks Christian defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux last weekend, although it is something we have reported on in the War Room for more than a month now. Thibodeaux stated that USC is not recruiting him, but that statement needs to be put into context. USC remains in contact with Thibodeaux, but it’s clear he does not feel he is being treated like the priority he should be.

Thibodeaux had a very good showing at The Opening Finals last weekend, earning a spot on the 247Sports Opening Dream Team. However, fit wise, Thibodeaux excels as a weakside defensive end in a 4-3 seven-technique, rather than a hybrid outside linebacker. But that’s not the only or even main reason he has not been valued higher by USC. For the past few months, the circle around Thibodeaux has grown and an uneasiness as to who has his ear has settled in. Schools in the South, particularly, have seized this opportunity to make his recruitment more… complicated. However, according to the sources we’ve spoken with, there is pressure on the USC staff to land Thibodeaux just for perception sake.

No matter how you cut it, when a top-rated player from Los Angeles, who grew up a fan of the school and has been on campus numerous times, heads outside the state, it gives college football fans as a whole the perception that USC is a weakened program. That perception, true or untrue, feeds into the negative recruiting narrative of other schools. So, to reiterate, USC is still recruiting Thibodeaux. He still lists USC among his favorite schools. But how hard Thibodeaux is recruited going forward by USC isn’t going to be completely up to the Trojans’ coaching staff. Thibodeaux is going to have to clear the air to some extent and provide a clear line of communication.

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I really, really want Sopsher, Dean and Sanders. I mean I want them all, but I think those 3 guys are game-changers. The kind of guys that make a good team a championship team. Hope we can land them. 

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