LSU football might’ve found a “hidden gem” in 2021 recruiting class

LSU football might’ve found a hidden gem in the 2021 recruiting class.

LSU football extended an offer last week to 2021 three-star offensive tackle Maklyan Pounders, 6-foot-5/277 lbs from Byhalia, MS.

Pounders isn’t a highly touted recruit. He’s rated in 247Sports’ composite rankings as the No. 795 overall 2021 recruit in the nation, and his offer sheet isn’t very long.

Currently, Pounders has four reported offers: Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

The Tigers offered the relatively unknown offensive lineman last week after offensive line coach James Cregg watched Pounders’ film.

Pounders told Rivals that he was simply expecting to check out the facilities at LSU with his high school coach. He wasn’t expecting to walk away with an offer.

Cregg, according to Pounders (via Rivals), was so impressed that he offered the Mississippi native on the spot.

LSU is recruiting at such a high level right now that they can pretty much focus on mostly higher rated players. But it’s obvious they see something special in Pounders that the recruiting services don’t see.

This is why we shouldn’t put such a high importance on recruiting rankings. Sure, recruiting rankings can be a good guide. And they’re generally pretty close. But there are always a few good players that slip through the cracks. And there are typically some highly rated players that never live up to the hype.

College coaches don’t rely on the rankings at all. They simply rely on what they see on film. And what they can glean from talking to recruits.

As for Pounders, he told Rivals that LSU is “very high” on his list, adding “”I will for sure be back in Baton Rouge this summer.”