LSU Football: Tigers fading for 2022 5-star defensive tackle

LSU football is putting together one of the top 2022 recruiting classes in the country.

But unfortunately for the Tigers, it likely won’t include the nation’s No. 1 defensive tackle.

LSU is one of many programs pursuing Walter Nolen, 6-foot-4/300 lbs from Cordova, TN (St. Benedict at Auburndale).

Nolen is ranked as the No. 2 overall player in the 2022 recruiting class.

LSU Football is fading for the five-star defensive tackle

There’s been optimism that LSU has a legitimate chance to land Nolen.

The five-star defensive lineman was high school teammates with LSU offensive lineman Xavier Hill and tight end Jalen Shead.

Those connections, however, apparently won’t be enough to lure Nolen to Baton Rouge.

247Sports’ Billy Embody reported this week that Alabama and Ohio State hold the “positive momentum” in the pursuit for Nolen.

“When you dig deeper, it seems like Nolen will be a tough pull for LSU when you ask around about how some key decision makers feel about the Tigers,” writes Embody. “Right now, LSU is playing catch up to the other schools.”

Embody added that Nolen is currently “trending away” from LSU.

Obviously, this could all change in the coming months as visits will finally be allowed to resume this summer.

But for now, LSU hasn’t secured an official visit from Nolen (Florida and Michigan are the only ones he has scheduled so far).

If the Tigers don’t get an official visit from Nolen, then it’s fair to assume that LSU won’t be among his finalists.

Of course, even if the Tigers miss on Nolen, it doesn’t change that LSU’s 2022 recruiting class is poised to be among the best in the nation.