As defending national champion, LSU experienced a subpar season on the football field in 2008. Southeastern Conference rival Alabama lost a chance to play for the national title by dropping the SEC championship game. The two SEC West Division foes were winners Wednesday, however, on the first day high school seniors could sign letters of intent with college programs.
The Tigers, 8-5 in 2008, received commitments from three of the nation's elite players in dual-threat quarterback Russell Shepard and his cousin, defensive back Craig Loston, both of Houston, and wide receiver Rueben Randle of Bastrop, La.
Shepard has devastating quickness to get to the corner,
said recruiting analyst Allen Wallace of SuperPrep magazine. Loston is a terrific prospect. Six of their recruits were in our top 10 nationally at their positions.
Alabama, which lost to eventual national champion Florida for the SEC title, had the nation's top class a year ago and followed up this year with running back Trent Richardson of Pensacola, Fla., linebacker Nico Johnson of Andalusia, Ala., and quarterback A.J. McCarron of Mobile, Ala.
They got everybody they wanted in the state of Alabama,
analyst Tom Lemming said.
After a disastrous 3-9 start to his tenure at Michigan, coach Rich Rodriguez finished the recruiting season strong with a class that includes defensive end Craig Roh and offensive lineman Taylor Lewan, both of Scottsdale, Ariz., and running back-receiver Jeremy Gallon of Apopka, Fla.
Florida, which returns many of its key players, landed standout linebacker Jelani Jenkins of Olney, Md., among others. It's a competent group but not like what we've seen lately,
Wallace said of Florida's signees.
Notre Dame scored with linebacker Manti Te'o of Honolulu. He could be a momentum-changer for them,
Wallace said.
