LSU Football: Tigers out of the mix for elite 2021 5-star recruit
By Zach Ragan
LSU football appears to be out of the mix for one of the nation’s top recruits.
2021 five-star defensive tackle Leonard Taylor released a top five earlier this year that included LSU football, along with Auburn, Florida, Miami, and Tennessee.
On Monday, however, the Tigers were eliminated from the mix (as was Auburn and Tennessee).
The elite defensive lineman told 247Sports that he’s down to Florida and Miami.
Taylor, 6-foot-4/255 lbs from Miami, FL (Miami Palmetto), is rated in 247Sports’ composite rankings as the No. 6 player in the state of Florida and the No. 3 defensive tackle in the nation. He’s also rated as the No. 29 overall 2021 recruit in the nation.
The Florida native told 247Sports that he plans to commit either during the early signing period in December or just before it begins (which means there’s still time for LSU to possibly get back in the mix…..maybe).
Why this is such bad news for LSU football
It’s never fun to miss on a five-star recruit. Taylor has the potential to be a game-changing defensive lineman in Bo Pelini’s defense.
247Sports national writer Charles Power describes Tayor as a player who “finds multiple ways to disrupt the offensive game plan”.
Power also notes that Taylor “looks like one of the top overall prospects nationally in the 2021 cycle and among the better defensive linemen to come out of South Florida in years”.
The really bad news, however, isn’t that LSU will likely miss on the talented defensive tackle, it’s that Florida will likely land him.
The Gators were mentioned earlier this year as the team to beat for Taylor. Rivals recruiting analyst Rob Cassidy said in early May that Florida had a “large lead” for Taylor.
LSU among top schools for elite DL. dark. Next
Missing on Taylor is one thing, but having to play against him for the next several years is what really hurts for LSU.