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

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Now another BOL insider has chimed in.

He says he'd be surprised if we sign another WR.

ETA: That's a good thing IMO. We need to load up on DL in this class so I'm fine with using a WR spot on someone like Ika or Ty Robinson.

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...I guess I'd rather have an extra elite DL/OL than a pretty good WR that we likely recruit over in 20.

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Genuinely asking: what's prompting the confidence on Sopsher?

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The 2018 LHSAA state playoff are kicking off this week and, naturally, several of the state's top prospects will be suiting up to help their teams earn a trip to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Here's the prospects in each bracket that should prove to make a big impact for their teams.

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John Emery, RB, Destrehan, 2019

One of the nation’s top-ranked running backs, Destrehan’s Emery has been shredding defenses all season. He recently decommitted from Georgia and has repeated since then that he’s focused on getting a championship ring. He's played like it, scoring five touchdowns in the season’s final two weeks. His Wildcats are the second-seed in the Class 5A bracket and open up against Hammond on Friday. Expect a motivated Emery to pad his senior season highlight tape with even more big plays. The pressure from programs like Alabama, Tennessee and of course LSU, who are all vying to land his signature on National Signing Day, is only likely to intensify.

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Kayvon Thibodeaux of Thousand Oaks (Calif.) Oaks Christian is the No. 1 overall recruit in the 247Sports Composite rankings, and the defensive end finds himself in the headlines again this week.

Thibodeaux has often been in the news as an elite prospect, and Oregon picked up serious momentum after hosting him on a recent visit. With Oregon cleaning up elsewhere in California during the recruiting cycle, the Ducks are trending for Thibodeaux. As the standout defender heads to Florida today for an official visit, 247Sports expert Luke Stampini breaks down where things stand.

“I don’t think it’s a done deal to Oregon, but looking at the big picture of everyone’s recruiting boards, I felt like Oregon is going to be the school for him at the end,” Stampini said on the 247Sports Recruiting Podcast. “Bama has two players committed at the Jack linebacker position with Kevin Harris and King Mwikuta. Then they’re also chasing Nolan Smith, chasing Khris Bogle as well as Kayvon Thibodeaux at that Jack linebacker position. It just seems like there’s a lot going on there at Alabama with that position. And I just feel like, in the end, Oregon is going to be the team to beat. They certainly impressed him on his visit back in October. He’s from California. I just kind of think sometimes they want to stay on the West Coast, and that obviously favors the Ducks. I think the relationship he has with the coaches is going to also factor in. I think Mario Cristobal and his staff have done a really good job of making him a priority and making him feel at home.”

The 247Sports Crystal Ball favors Oregon with 59 percent of the vote as we sit one month away from a planned verbal commitment. USC sits at 18 percent with Florida State at 14 percent.

Thibodeaux will be in the Swamp tomorrow for an official visit. Does Florida have a real shot at the nation’s top recruit?

“I think Florida is definitely running at least fourth in that race, don’t think they’re third don’t think they’re second,” Stampini said. “They’re going to have to knock this visit out of the park this weekend for them to jump up in the race. The interesting team that we need to look out for is, perhaps, USC. If there’s a coaching change at USC, I could potentially see a new coach impressive Kayvon enough, getting maybe a last-minute switch.”

At the same time, Alabama is always a recruiting threat and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi is the right man to lead the way with this one.

“He’s a great recruiter,” Stampini said. “He has strong ties to the West. While my prediction is to Oregon right now, I’m not by any means saying that Alabama is out of this race at all.”

Whomever lands Thibodeaux on Dec. 15 has the No. 1 247Sports Composite recruit in 2019 committed, but what exactly are they getting?

“His upside is probably as big as anyone’s,” said 247Sports national recruiting analyst Greg Biggins. “He’s a long 6-foot-4, 6-foot-5, 245-pound athlete, natural pass rusher, long arms, quick first step. He’s a high-level athlete. If there’s a knock or something you want to see him do better, it’s probably his motor. There’s times in the game where it’s almost too easy for him so he’ll maybe take a few plays off. When his motor is going and he’s ready to go and he’s ready to play and he’s motivated, he’s a very talented kid. You see a lot of NFL upside, for sure, with Mr. Kayvon Thibodeaux.”

Where does Biggins, who has known Thibodeaux since middle school, see the top recruit taking his talents?

“Oregon was probably a distant fourth going into that visit,” Biggins said. “He had a great trip. Everyone knew he would. Oregon does a phenomenal job on their official trips. I think this was, hey great trip, big impression, but let’s let the post-visit buzz go away and we’ll get back to you in a couple of weeks, right? That was the thinking.l It’s been a couple of weeks iand the buzz is gone and yet you’re still left with the fact that this kid loved Oregon. I think there is a real shot now for Oregon, and I think everyone is seeing that here’s a kid who loves the staff. He loves the opportunity to play early there. He likes the opportunity from an academic standpoint. He wants to go into broadcasting. Oregon offers a great opportunity from a major standpoint. … I think we’re seeing that Kayvon now believes that no matter where he goes, Bama, Florida State, Oregon or Idaho State, he’s going to bring all of that buzz with him. … Because of all of that, I think Oregon is trending in a positive direction.”

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