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LSU Football: Patrick Surtain Jr. deals massive blow to Ed Orgeron on National Signing Day

By Matthew Bartlett

TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 04: Head coach Ed Orgeron of the LSU Tigers looks on during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 04: Head coach Ed Orgeron of the LSU Tigers looks on during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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2018 National Signing Day produced plenty of drama. It all got under way with the commitment of No. 1 CB Patrick Surtain Jr. to Alabama over LSU football.

Patrick Surtain Jr., the son of an 11-year NFL veteran, is the No. 1 cornerback in the 2018 recruiting class. He’s had his pick between every major program in the country. Surtain Jr. held 32 offers including all four of last season’s College Football Playoff teams but the LSU Tigers led his recruitment from the start.

247 Crystal Ball projections have LSU a 100 percent chance of signing Surtain Jr. as early as August 2017. Although in-state Florida and defending champion Alabama had made their overtures, the Tigers looked to be in good position to close this one out on National Signing Day. Then everything went south.

With uncertainty surrounding the rest of head coach Ed Orgeron’s National Signing Day targets, Surtain Jr. was supposed to be the guy that the Tigers could hang their hat on. On the morning of signing day LSU lost their top target to their rival, Alabama.

Surtain’s choice, combined with misses on Mario Goodrich III (Clemson) and poor early reports on quarterback James Foster have set LSU up for what could be a National Signing Day disaster. LSU had a fringe top 15 class entering Wednesday, fourth best in the SEC. These major misses are going to cause the class to tumble and the momentum in Baton Rouge to grind to a halt.

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If Orgeron bungles National Signing Day, and it’s not looking good so far, he might not get another chance. Texas A&M and Jimbo Fisher are surging and the Tigers are moving in the opposite direction. Patience is low for Orgeron. Surtain Jr. might have kicked off the beginning of the end for his LSU tenure.

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