LSU Football: 247Sports predicts Tigers will land 5-star recruit

A 247Sports writer is predicting that LSU football will land a 2021 five-star recruit.

LSU football doesn’t currently have a five-star recruit committed to its 2021 recruiting class, but that could be changing soon.

Shea Dixon, who covers the Tigers for 247Sports, predicted this week that LSU will land five-star defensive lineman Maason Smith, 6-foot-5/316 lbs from Houma, LA.

“Smith is being recruited by nearly every big college in America, but no staff has made him a priority for as long as LSU,” wrote Dixon.

The 247Sports writer added “the feeling is that he will remain in Louisiana for college as one of the cornerstone pieces to the class in Baton Rouge”.

Dixon’s prediction is similar to a recent prediction from Rivals recruiting analyst Mike Farrell, who said “LSU is in the driver’s seat for Smith’s commitment”.

Alabama, Georgia, and USC are also reportedly in the mix for Smith, who is rated in 247Sports’ composite rankings as the No. 1 player in the state of Louisiana and the No. 2 defensive tackle in the nation.

Smith is a must-get for LSU football

Smith is a player the Tigers absolutely have to land for several reasons.

For one, he’s an elite in-state player. LSU can’t let those guys get away.

And then there’s the recruit that Smith could bring with him to Baton Rouge.

The Tigers are also pursuing five-star defensive end Korey Foreman, a California native who has mentioned that he’d like to play with Smith in college.

Foreman was previously committed to Clemson, and he’s expressed strong interest in USC.

LSU is also in the mix, though. And with Smith appearing destined for Baton Rouge, the only way the duo will likely play together is if Foreman signs with LSU.

For that to happen, LSU will need to wow Foreman on an official visit.

Unfortunately, we have no idea when that visit might happen. The NCAA announced on Thursday that the recruiting dead period has been extended through August 31.

However, even if the Tigers miss on Foreman, landing Smith would still be a huge get for Ed Orgeron and his staff.