LSU football signing class 2022: What to expect from Brian Kelly's new signings
Brian Kelly and the new-look Tigers added two players to their 2022 recruiting class on National Signing Day on Wednesday, including five-star linebacker Harold Perkins.
In December, LSU signed 13 players, including four-star recruits in quarterback Walker Howard and offensive lineman Will Campbell.
Here's a look at who LSU signed Wednesday and what to expect from each player:
Here's a look at the prospects LSU has added in both signing periods and what to expect from each one in 2022.
More: LSU football roster tracker for 2022: Who is suiting up for Tigers, Brian Kelly next season?
More: Here's a list of players LSU football has added from the transfer portal
LB Harold Perkins (6-2, 210)
Cy Park (Cypress, Texas)
247 Sports Composite: 5-star, No. 2 LB
What to expect: LSU lost its top tackler and the heart of the defense in Damone Clark, who declared for the NFL Draft. But starter Micah Baskerville will be back and LSU added Virginia transfer West Weeks to go along with Greg Penn III and Mike Jones Jr, both returners. The Tigers have plenty of depth, but Perkins is also the sort of talent who can shoot through it.
CB Jaelyn Davis-Robinson (5-11, 175)
Waxahachie High (Waxahachie, Texas)
247Sports Composite: 3-star, No. 47 CB
What to expect: Despite LSU losing all of its starters at cornerback, Davis-Robinson will have trouble finding any playing time as a freshman. The Tigers brought in three cornerbacks from the transfer portal, and safeties Sage Ryan and Jay Ward can also play the position in a pinch.
December signings
OL Will Campbell (6-6, 300)
Neville High (Monroe, La.)
247Sports Composite: 4-star, No. 4 OT
What to expect: LSU does play lots of offensive linemen, and Campbell, Louisiana’s No. 1 recruit according to the 247Sports Composite, could contribute right away, especially with starting tackle Austin Deculus moving on. Coming from a fundamentally sound program like Neville helps, as does the fact Kelly retained offensive line coach Brad Davis.
QB Walker Howard (6-1, 195)
St. Thomas More High (Lafayette, La.)
247Sports Composite: 4-star, No. 5 QB
What to expect: The Tigers must figure out its quarterback situation with Max Johnson in the transfer portal, but redshirting might make sense for former LSU QB Jamie Howard’s son. Starting as a freshman quarterback isn’t easy, especially in the SEC, and it doesn’t help that leg and ankle fractures interrupted Howard’s senior season.
OL Emery Jones (6-4, 341)
Catholic High (Baton Rouge, La.)
247Sports Composite: 4-star, No. 5 interior OL
What to expect: LSU has no returning starters at guard after Chasen Hines and Ed Ingram have declared for the NFL Draft. Jones is the only interior lineman in LSU's class and the Tigers haven't added any guards in the transfer portal, so he has a unique opportunity to earn early playing time next season.
LB DeMario Tolan (6-3, 215)
Dr. Phillips High (Orlando, Fla.)
247Sports Composite: 4-star, No. 20 LB
What to expect: Tolan will be walking into a linebackers room already ripe with talent and experience. And given the addition of Perkins, he likely isn't even LSU's top freshman linebacker of choice. Before contributing significantly, Tolan – pursued by Georgia and Auburn – may also have to fill out his frame.
CB Laterrance Welch (6-1, 180)
Acadiana High (Lafayette, La.)
247Sports Composite: 4-star, No. 16 CB
What to expect: LSU held off a late push from Arkansas and held onto Welch, who is skilled enough to contribute right away in a cornerbacks room that lost Eli Ricks to Alabama, Dwight McGlothern to the portal and Derek Stingley Jr. and Cordale Flott to the NFL draft. But three additions from the transfer portal and significant injuries —which have shortened his last two seasons likely
DL Quency Wiggins (6-6, 265)
Madison Prep (Baton Rouge, La.)
247Sports Composite: 4-star, No. 12 DL
What to expect: Alabama and Florida both were in the fray for Wiggins, who also received a December offer from Nebraska. Long and athletic, he’s a basketball player who didn’t dabble with football until 2020. But the ceiling is sky-high for Wiggins, whose stock soared soon after he hit the field last year.
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DB Jordan Allen (5-11, 182)
Lafayette Christian Academy (Lafayette, La.)
247Sports Composite: 3-star, No. 38 Safety
What to expect: Allen, nicknamed “Lockdown,” is a high school cornerback despite 247Sports labeling him as a safety. The former Penn State commit who also showed interest in Ole Miss did not get offered until after Kelly replaced Orgeron. He could be a candidate to redshirt while taking time to develop.
OL Bo Bordelon (6-6, 280)
Isidore Newman School (New Orleans, La.)
247Sports Composite: 3-star, No. 55 OT
What to expect: With LSU adding two tackles from the portal in Tre'Mond Shorts and Miles Frazier. And behind those two the Tigers have options, with Xavier Hill, Garrett Dellinger and Cam Wire — all of whom played at least somewhat last season — are coming back. Bordelon — who protected Newman quarterback Arch Manning — perhaps can take time to develop.
K Nathan Dibert (5-10, 205)
Hartland High (Hartland, Mich.)
247Sports Composite: 3-star, No. 6 K
What to expect: With starter Cade York declaring for early entry into the NFL draft and Peyton Badyrka in the transfer portal, the door’s open for left-footed Dibert to perhaps play right away if he can beat out backup Preston Stafford and impress new special teams coordinator Brian Polian.
DL Tygee Hill (6-2, 280)
Edna Karr High (New Orleans)
247Sports Composite: 3-star, No. 76 DL
What to expect: Big enough to plug a gap but athletic enough to shed blocks, Hill could help at the nose or defensive tackle. LSU loses quality tackles Glen Logan and Neil Farrell. Backups Jacobian Guillory and Jaquelin Roy remain, but the addition of Mekhi Wingo from Missouri at the transfer portal and freshman Maason Smith's ability to play inside likely means Hill will take 2022 as a development year.
WR Landon Ibieta (6-0, 185)
Mandeville High (Mandeville, La.)
247Sports Composite: 3-star, No. 74 WR
What to expect: LSU hasn’t been shy about playing capable freshmen receivers in the past, and Ibieta — a longtime Miami commit flipped by Kelly after a Hurricanes coaching change — may be no exception. He’s quick, a candidate to perhaps play out of the slot and potentially could help as a return man too.
TE Mason Taylor (6-5, 230)
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
247Sports Composite: 3-star, No. 24 TE
What to expect: After playing on two 7A state-championship winners Taylor, former NFL star Jason Taylor's son, could crack LSU’s 2022 depth chart, perhaps joining returnees Jack Mashburn and Kole Taylor if Jack Bech is used full-time at receiver. That’s especially so after Jake Johnson, 247Sports Composite’s No. 1 tight end, decommitted.
OL Fitzgerald West Jr. (6-2, 325)
Lafayette Christian Academy (Lafayette, La.)
247Sports Composite: 3-star, No. 126 DL
What to expect: West is rated by 247Sports as a defensive lineman, but with his size, he projects to center in college. Orgeron offered him at that position last summer. Assuming the new staff agrees, West could play quickly, especially since starting center Liam Shanahan is no longer eligible and help is needed across the line.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU football signing class 2022: Analysis of Brian Kelly signees
