Les Miles unveils highly-touted 2016 signing class

National Signing Day didn’t turn out to be the triumphant romp to a consensus No. 1 class many at LSU had hoped it’d be, but the 2016 class Les Miles unveiled Wednesday afternoon proved historic nonetheless.

While losing five-star linebacker Erick Fowler to Texas and uncommitted Florida cornerback Trayvon Mullen to Clemson dropped the Tigers down the class rankings.

The 23-man haul still finished top-four nationally according to the ESPN (No. 3), 247Sports (No. 4) and Scout (No. 4) rankings. Rivals pegged the class at No. 6.

“It’s certainly a class you can compete for national championships with,” Miles said. “The signing class, again, if it’s No. 1 or No. 3, the key piece is you answer needs. You get the guys to fill the holes you need. It’s about answering needs more than a national ranking.”

The final piece added to the talented puzzle Wednesday proved one of the biggest as five-star Rummel HS cornerback Kristian Fulton committed to LSU late Wednesday morning.

With Fulton’s pledge, LSU tied the record for most ESPN300 signees in a single cycle (19) and finished an incredible run of in-state dominance that saw Miles and Co. sign nine of the state’s top-10 players.

“We need to keep the best players in Louisiana home,” Miles said. “For those young men who are looking to continue their football career in this state. It tells them they can stay home.”

LSU also landed a surprise commitment from Dutchtown High offensive guard Lloyd Cushenberry III, who flipped from South Carolina. The other 16 signees — plus the five early enrollees — were already committed heading into Wednesday.

With the ability to sign up to 27 scholarship players, there are still two names to watch in the coming days. On is wide receiver Da’Monte Coxie, who de-committed from and promptly re-committed to LSU Tuesday night but isn’t expected to sign Wednesday. Another target, defensive end Sci Martin, postponed his decision.

2016 LSU Football – Signees

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School)

Edwin Alexander DT 6-2 333 Hammond, La. (St. Thomas Aquinas HS)

Willie Allen OL 6-6 303 River Ridge, La. (John Curtis Christian HS)

Dee Anderson WR 6-5 194 DeSoto, Texas (DeSoto HS)

Andre Anthony DE 6-4 219 New Orleans, La. (Edna Karr HS)

Donavaughn Campbell OL 6-5 349 Ponchatoula, La. (Ponchatoula HS)

Connor Culp K 5-10 195 Phoenix, Ariz. (Dester Vista HS)

Lloyd Cushenberry III OL 6-4 310 Geismar, La. (Dutchtown HS)

Drake Davis WR 6-3 212 Baton Rouge, La. (IMG Academy)

Michael Divinity Jr. LB 6-3 224 Marrero, La. (John Ehret HS)

Kristian Fulton DB 6-0 178 Metairie, La. (Archbishop Rummel HS)

Rashard Lawrence DT 6-3 310 Monroe, La. (Neville HS)

Cameron Lewis DB 6-1 190 Monroe, La. (Wossman HS)

Glen Logan DE 6-4 284 Destrehan, La. (Destrehan HS)

Eric Monroe DB 6-0 185 Houston, Texas (North Shore HS

Jamal Pettigrew TE 6-6 218 New Orleans, La. (St. Augustine HS)

Caleb Roddy DE 6-5 259 Denham Springs, La. (Denham Springs HS)

Jakori Savage OL 6-5 289 Bay Minette, Ala. (Baldwin County HS)

Lindsey Scott Jr. QB 5-11 205 Zachary, La. (Zachary HS)

Saivion Smith DB 6-3 191 St. Petersburg, Fla. (IMG Academy)

Stephen Sullivan WR 6-6 228 Donaldsonville, La. (Donaldsonville HS)

Rahssan Thornton LB 6-2 211 Killeen Texas (Shoemaker HS)

Devin White RB 6-1 255 Springhill, La. (North Webster HS)

Andraez Williams DB 6-2 165 Shreveport, La. (Calvary Baptist Academy)

Overall Class Ranking:

(Based on Enrolled and Committed Players)

ESPN.com No. 3 overall (19 4-stars, 4 3-stars)

(19 in ESPN 300)

247sports.com No. 4 overall (2 5-star, 16 4-stars, 5 3-stars)

(17 in 247sports Top 247)

Scout.com No. 4 overall (2 5-stars, 15 4-stars, 6 3-stars)

(7 in Top Scout Top 100)

Rivals.com No. 6 overall (15 4-stars, 6 3-stars)

(12 in Rivals Top 250)

Breakdown (Based on Enrolled and Committed Players)

By State (23):

Louisiana 17

Texas 3

Alabama 1

Arizona 1

Florida 1

By Position:

Offense (10)

Offensive Line 4

Wide Receiver 3

Quarterback 1

Running Back 1

Tight End 1

Defense (12)

Defensive Line 5

Defensive Back 5

Linebacker 2

Special Teams (1)

Kicker 1

By Stars:

5-Stars (3) Kristian Fulton (DB)

Rashard Lawrence (DT)

Saivion Smith (DB)

4-Stars (16) Edwin Alexander (DL)

Willie Allen (OL)

Dee Anderson (WR)

Andre Anthony (DE)

Donavaughn Campbell (OL)

Drake Davis (WR)

Michael Divinity (LB)

Cameron Lewis (DB)

Glen Logan (DE)

Eric Monroe (DB)

Jamal Pettigrew (TE)

Caleb Roddy (DE)

Rahssan Thornton (LB)

Stephen Sullivan (WR)

Devin White (RB)

Andraez Williams (DB)

3-Stars (4) Connor Culp (PK)

Lloyd Cushenberry III (OL)

Lindsey Scott Jr. (QB)

Jakori Savage (OL)