Notable Louisiana performers from LSU’s first lineman camp

Approximately 1,400 student athletes visited LSU for the program’s first summer camps since winning the 2019 national championship Jan. 13, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic scrapped the typical 2020 offseason and limited coaches and players to fully virtual recruitments. So both the recruiters and recruits have opened the summer as enthusiastic and hungry as ever to make their mark. And the lineman camp and skills camp the first weekend of the month — each held by the Tigers in conjunction with staffs from all their fellow in-state programs — produced a slew of good performances. Here are a couple notes on seven of the best. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/njaTUDu3uFE" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136573" first="Quency" last="Wiggins"] — 6-7, 270 DL — Madison Prep (2022)</strong> The continually rising star seemed to be the biggest talk of the day with a dominant performance in which he beat everyone lined up across from him. Wiggins is up to 6-foot-7, 270 pounds and strong enough to overpower most of his peers, but still scary-quick off the edge or spinning back inside. And the driven, eager learner only continues to get better with his technique and his mental game within the game just a year back into the sport after previously just playing basketball. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DLlY9P4M9EY" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136546" first="Will" last="Campbell"] — 6-6, 290 — Neville (2022)</strong> The LSU commit may have been the best offensive lineman on the day despite being frustrated at times by Wiggins in one-on-ones. Campbell was the only tackle with even success staying in front of the big pass-rusher in their handful or half-dozen reps against one another and kept other defensive players away from the quarterback dummy even in a drill that often favors the rushers. Campbell looked the part of a left tackle expected to be a cornerstone of the Tigers’ and eventually NFL lines for years to come. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7usb1JRIgYI" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136581" first="Fitzgerald" last="West"] Jr. — 6-2, 300 — Lafayette Christian (2022)</strong> Both Wiggins and Campbell entered the week with LSU offers already in hand, but West’s long wait for his own finally ended Saturday after a dominant two-way performance. He worked back and forth between the defensive and offensive line groups, won all but one of his reps at defensive tackle and about half as an interior offensive lineman. At one point, he sprung completely free of his blocker on another well-maneuvered spin move, exploded toward the quarterback dummy and punctuated the rep by shouting, "They can’t do nothin’ with me!" And he was right. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t-fOrhfcHnc" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136584" first="Kells" last="Bush"] — 6-3, 265 DL — Edna Karr (2022)</strong> The Cougars’ versatile defensive lineman worked more from an inside position Saturday and was able to utilize his speed against interior blockers to consistently get to the quarterback. Bush even looked a bit like Karr teammate [player_tooltip player_id="136577" first="Tygee" last="Hill"], an LSU commit, at times with his spin. Memphis, Southeastern Louisiana and Akron have been among his first scholarship offers with more not likely far behind as he hits the camp circuit this summer. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136558" first="Greg" last="Knox"] — 6-5, 270 OL — Peabody (2022)</strong> One more under-the-radar prospect to generate some buzz at the lineman camp was Peabody offensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id="136558" first="Greg" last="Knox"] III, who performed well in front of some of the better competition he’s faced and likely in front of more cameras than ever before. Texas Southern, Louisiana College and Southern University have been the first three programs to extend scholarships to the big, strong right tackle prospect. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138414" first="Ethan" last="Fields"] — 6-4, 315 OL— Dutchtown (2023)</strong> At the end of the morning’s one-on-one session, coaches pulled five prospects from each side of the line to compete for one final rep each, with the losing side having to do push-ups. And Fields was excited to be chosen among a group of predominantly rising seniors — and then rose to the occasion by keeping Bush away from the quarterback dummy to even the score back at 2-2. He worked at right guard during one-on-ones and, particularly with a big body that looks primed to maul or down-block open running lanes, showed the quickness to win multiple reps against the active defensive lineman across from him. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138412" first="Caden" last="Jones"] — 6-7, 255 OL — De La Salle (2023)</strong> Another rising junior to start generating some buzz on the first weekend of on-campus recruiting opportunities was a big tackle prospect out of New Orleans. Also a standout basketball player for his high school, Jones possesses better feet and mobility than most athletes his size and was among his Cavaliers’ standouts in their Division II state championship appearance in December. The De La Salle big man is still developing more fully into his frame and went through some ups and downs against some of the event’s top edge-rushers. But Jones appears on his way as an up-and-coming name to know on at least a regional, if not national, level.