Tag: Ethan Calloway

Analysis: LSU’s Lance Heard enters the transfer portal

Here’s what LSU is losing with offensive tackle Lance Heard hitting the transfer portal.

The transfer portal window is now closed, but LSU took one of its biggest hits at the buzzer this week.

Offensive linemen [autotag]Lance Heard[/autotag] entered the portal. It was no surprise after Heard didn’t travel for the bowl game as head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said Heard was evaluating his role with the program.

The writing was on the wall here.

Out of all the Tigers to hit the portal, Heard is the most talented. There’s no getting around that. He was a five-star recruit in 2023 and according to PFF, he was the top-graded freshman offensive lineman. This is a guy that’s ready to play now.

Where does this leave LSU?

The offensive line will be fine. [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] and [autotag]Emery Jones[/autotag] are two of the best in the SEC, and there are enough pieces that the interior will work itself out.

But if Heard was on the roster, that would allow LSU to play him at right tackle and bump Jones to guard. The bottom line is with Campbell, Jones and Heard, LSU had three tackles that are capable of playing at an All-SEC level.

That’s something you usually don’t find and an incredible luxury.

Now, LSU doesn’t have that luxury. It’ll be counting on Campbell and Jones to stay healthy, which they’ve done so far, and another young lineman to make a jump.

LSU signed two more blue-chip tackles in the 2023 class, [autotag]Tyree Adams[/autotag] and [autotag]DJ Chester[/autotag]. Adams played just three offensive snaps this year and Chester has a bright future, but it’s at the center position.

LSU doesn’t have an immediate answer to solve its depth issue at tackle now. And again, every team in the country has depth issues on the offensive line. That’s what made LSU having Campbell, Jones and Heard so special.

[autotag]Brad Davis[/autotag] is one of the best offensive line coaches in the business and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he had Adams ready to compete on the two-deep next year. [autotag]Bo Bordelon[/autotag] and [autotag]Paul Mubenga[/autotag] were three-star recruits who could pan out too.

Or maybe it’s one of the 2024 signees like [autotag]Weston Davis[/autotag] or [autotag]Ethan Calloway[/autotag], two more blue-chip tackle recruits set to join that room.

Regardless, LSU needs an answer now. Heard was projected as an All-American level player. That’s now one less player of that caliber on LSU’s roster.

It’s on Davis to develop another one of these guys to fill that gap.

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BREAKING: LSU flips five-star offensive tackle Weston Davis from Texas A&M

Weston Davis committed to the Aggies over the Tigers in June, but LSU won out in the end.

LSU pulled off a major recruiting coup on Thursday night, flipping five-star offensive tackle [autotag]Weston Davis[/autotag] from Texas A&M.

The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Beaumont (Tex.) United product committed to the Aggies over the Tigers on June 26 following an official visit to Baton Rouge, but coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] landed him in the end.

Davis ranks as a four-star prospect according to both the On3 and 247Sports industry rankings, but On3 itself ranks him as a five-star and the No. 18 player (No. 3 offensive tackle) in the nation.

Recruiting offensive tackles certainly hasn’t been a problem for LSU under Kelly, who has landed [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag], [autotag]Emery Jones[/autotag], [autotag]Lance Heard[/autotag]cmt and now Davis.

With Davis’ addition, LSU’s 2024 class moves into the top-10 nationally and now ranks No. 7 in the country. He’s the third offensive tackle to join the 2024 class alongside [autotag]Ethan Calloway[/autotag] and [autotag]Ory Williams[/autotag].

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BREAKING: 2024 3-star offensive tackle commits to LSU

Ory Williams pledged to LSU after attending Bayou Splash over the weekend.

LSU just landed its 21st commitment of the 2024 recruiting class as four-star offensive tackle [autotag]Ory Williams[/autotag] has announced his commitment to play for the Tigers next fall.

Williams is a mountain of a man measuring, 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds. He’s from Buda, Texas, where he plays for San Marcos High School. The San Marcos Rattlers finished the 2022 season 4-7 with a loss to Brandeis in the first round of the playoffs.

LSU was a 98% favorite to land Williams per On3 and he received crystal ball projections to LSU on 247Sports. He chose LSU over Florida, Texas, Texas A&M, Georgia and more.

Williams is the second offensive tackle commit in the class. The other tackle is three-star [autotag]Ethan Calloway[/autotag] from Mooresville, North Carolina.

LSU’s class was ranked as the No. 11 class in the country before this commitment. This could move the Tigers into the top 10 as [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] continues to recruit well on the bayou.

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LSU quarterback commit Colin Hurley to attend Bayou Splash next weekend

Colin Hurley will put on his recruiting hat once again this weekend.

With the dead period coming to an end this week, next weekend is set to be a huge recruiting opportunity for LSU with many of its commits and top targets on hand for Bayou Splash.

Included in the former group will be quarterback commit [autotag]Colin Hurley[/autotag]. The Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity Christian Academy four-star has had a busy summer already as he competed in the Elite 11 in Oregon back in June.

He’s also taken multiple trips to Baton Rouge, and he was on a June trip with then-offensive tackle prospect [autotag]Ethan Calloway[/autotag], who has since committed.

“I’ve built a relationship with a bunch of the current players,” Hurley said earlier this summer, according to On3’s Billy Embody. “They’re working hard, lifting and it really looks like things are going well within the team. As far as recruiting, you’ll see a few things come from this weekend. We had two great dinners, too — one at Tiger Stadium and another at coach Kelly’s house.”

LSU will hope Hurley’s visit pays off on the recruiting front once again.

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LSU becoming the heavy favorite for three-star Texas offensive lineman

LSU received yet another prediction to land Texas prospect Ory Williams.

LSU has been seen as the team to beat for three-star offensive lineman [autotag]Ory Williams[/autotag] since he took an official visit last month.

The San Marcos, Texas, prospect ranks as the No. 513 player nationally in the 2024 class, and the Tigers became the favorite on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine following a successful trip to Baton Rouge.

His recruitment is likely winding to a close. He tweeted on Friday that he will be committing soon, and following that post, On3’s Shea Dixon updated the confidence of his prediction for LSU to 75%. Now, the Tigers are a 79% favorite overall to land Williams.

LSU also holds a Crystal Ball projection from 247Sports.

The Tigers are looking to add just their second offensive tackle commit in the cycle. Williams would join North Carolina three-star prospect [autotag]Ethan Calloway[/autotag].

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Where ESPN ranks LSU’s 2024 recruiting class at start of July

The Tigers added four commits in June, but they also lost three.

At the start of the month of July, LSU is in a pretty good spot as far as recruiting for the 2024 class.

The Tigers have 18 players committed after adding four pledges in the month of June. Two of them, cornerback [autotag]Ondre Evans[/autotag] and offensive tackle [autotag]Ethan Calloway[/autotag], are the third and fourth-highest-rated prospects in the class by 247Sports.

It hasn’t all been good news for LSU on the trail, though. It suffered its first three decommitments of the cycle this month in [autotag]Tayvion Galloway[/autotag], [autotag]Maurice Williams Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Zion Ferguson[/autotag].

With these changes, LSU’s class now ranks 10th nationally in ESPN’s rankings, dropping three spots since the last update.

ESPN 300 commits: 9 | Previous ranking: 7

SEC rank: 3 of 14
Top offensive commit: TE Trey’Dez Green (No. 99)
Top defensive commit: S Dashawn McBryde (No. 124)

Coach Brian Kelly’s first full class at the helm was among the best in the country. He has the Tigers recruiting at a high level again for 2024, securing his QB last fall in Colin Hurley, a passer with a strong arm who can create on the move and make off-platform throws. Several key pickups are from the important in-state recruiting pool. TE Trey’Dez Green is a big receiving target with elite length, fluidity and a frame to further develop as a red zone threat. Dashawn McBryde has the tools to be one of the Tigers’ next impact defensive backs, as he can be a versatile defender. He has the speed and agility to be a factor in coverage and can also support the run with an aggressive downhill style. LB Kolaj Cobbins and safety Joel Rogers are also among the top five prospects in Louisiana.

The Tigers currently only have two prospects that rank in the top 200 of the 247Sports Composite, though they remain in the mix for a few big-time targets and could improve the class despite it sitting at 18 commits.

For now, however, there’s some work to be done if this team wants to get back closer to the top five in the current cycle.

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Florida misses out on 4-star offensive lineman target

Florida had eyes on four-star offensive tackle Ethan Calloway, but he committed to a different SEC program on Saturday.

Florida added a ton of names to the class of 2024 in June, but one official visitor that won’t be headed to the Swamp is four-star Lake Norman (Mooresville, North Carolina) offensive tackle Ethan Calloway.

The LSU Tigers earned a commitment from Calloway on Friday, June 30, sending Florida back to the market for an offensive tackle from the class of 2024.

The Gators have two three-star tackles under verbal commitment, Marcus Mascoll and Mike Williams. Both show signs of potential, but Billy Napier and Co. are looking to add a blue-chip prospect that will compete for early playing time.

Calloway is ranked No. 210 overall and No. 18 among offensive tackles on the 247Sports composite. Nine of the top 20 tackles in the class are still uncommitted, but most are connecting four-star Tuscarora (Leesburg, Virginia) big man Fletcher Westphal to the Gators instead.

Westphal is committing on July 10, so Florida fans won’t have to wait long for a decision

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4-star OT Ethan Calloway makes commitment

Four-star offensive tackle Ethan Calloway has committed to LSU over Georgia.

Four-star offensive tackle recruit Ethan Calloway has committed to the LSU Tigers. The 6-foot-7, 300-pound offensive tackle committed to LSU over Georgia, Penn State, and Florida.

The class of 2024 recruit plays high school football for Lake Norman High School in Mooresville, North Carolina. Ethan Calloway is the No. 18 offensive tackle and the No. 210 recruit overall in the 2024 class, per 247Sports. Calloway is the fifth-ranked player in North Carolina. He primarily plays left tackle for Lake Norman.

Ethan Calloway, who has more than a dozen scholarship offers, gets after it in the weight room. He recently squatted 500 pounds.

Brian Kelly and LSU have 18 commitments in the class of 2024. Ethan Calloway is LSU’s highest rated commitment along the offensive line.

Kirby Smart and Georgia have several upcoming key decisions from four-star class of 2024 offensive linemen. The Bulldogs are looking to solidify their 2024 offensive line, but will have to go in another direction after Ethan Calloway’s recent decision.

The talented offensive tackle committed to the LSU Tigers via Twitter:

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4-star OT Ethan Calloway commits to LSU

The Tigers now have 18 commitments in the 2024 class with Ethan Calloway’s commitment.

LSU coach Brian Kelly ended the month of June by adding another blue-chip prospect to the 2024 class, this time four-star offensive tackle [autotag]Ethan Calloway[/autotag].

The Mooresville, North Carolina, native stands at 6-foot-7 and weighs 300 pounds. Calloway ranks as the No. 210 player in the nation, per the 247Sports Composite.

The Tigers hosted Calloway on campus for an official visit last weekend, and he received multiple Crystal Ball projections for the Tigers in the leadup to his commitment on Friday night. Calloway also took official visits earlier this month to Florida, Georgia and Penn State.

Calloway is the first offensive tackle commit in the class for LSU, which also signed multiple blue-chip players at the position in 2023.

Calloway’s commitment gives LSU 18 pledges in the 2024 recruiting class. The Tigers’ group ranks eighth nationally.

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Decision date coming for 4-star OT Ethan Calloway

Ethan Calloway is approaching his decision date

Four-star offensive tackle Ethan Calloway will announce his college decision on Friday, June 30.

The nation’s No. 210 ranked recruit, Calloway plays high school football for Lake Norman High School in Mooresville, North Carolina.

The 6-foot-7, 300-pound offensive tackle recently placed Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Penn State, Auburn, LSU, Florida and Florida State in his top schools.

Calloway is the fifth-ranked player in North Carolina. He primarily plays left tackle for his high school. Calloway has more than a dozen scholarship offers. The four-star has recently taken official visits to Florida, Georgia, Penn State and LSU.

Georgia currently has two players committed on the offensive line right now in its top ranked 2024 recruiting class. There’s reportedly a silent commit as well on the o-line. According to the recruiting experts at 247Sports, Georgia’s plan is to take five signees on the offensive line, meaning there’s only room for two more.