LSU’s most recent in-state offers: Khai Prean, Lance Heard
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New LSU coach Brian Kelly has shared his recognition early and often of the opportunity provided by Louisiana’s recruiting base. The Tigers are the lone Power Five program in one of the country’s most talent-rich states. That dynamic intrigues coaches…
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Continue ReadingNew LSU coach Brian Kelly has shared his recognition early and often of the opportunity provided by Louisiana’s recruiting base.
The Tigers are the lone Power Five program in one of the country’s most talent-rich states.
That dynamic intrigues coaches like Kelly, who see three different coaches (Nick Saban, Les Miles and Ed Orgeron) leading national championship runs, and also makes a purple-and-gold scholarship offer a coveted benchmark for elite in-state prospects.
LSU extended new offers to a pair of talented Louisiana athletes this past week.
Take a closer look at the Tigers’ latest in-state 2023 targets, who they join on that list and who could be some of the top candidates to join them next.
Khai Prean Khai Prean 6'1" | 190 lbs | ATH St. James | 2023 State LA — 6-1, 190 ATH — St. James
One of Louisiana’s most versatile and explosive rising seniors had felt like one of its next athletes due and offer sooner than later since at least last summer when he put on one of the top camp performances at LSU in the NCAA’s first weeks of in-person recruiting in more than a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prean enjoyed a breakout sophomore season in 2020 at Ascension Catholic in which big numbers at running back began opening eyes, but his dynamic play on the other side of the ball at safety appeared to show an even higher next-level ceiling. The offseason that followed put his pass-catching prowess at the forefront during the 7-on-7 and camp circuits, and one Power Five after another began piling up. Shelton Sampson Shelton Sampson 6'4" | 185 lbs | WR Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2023 State LA Jr. of Catholic (Baton Rouge) and Omarion Miller Omarion Miller 6'2" | 195 lbs | WR North Caddo | 2023 State LA of North Caddo have led headlined Louisiana’s 2023 pass-catching crop, but Prean shouldn’t be considered far behind with his combination of size, track speed, explosiveness and sure hands.
Zalance Heard Zalance Heard 6'6" | 300 lbs | OL Neville | 2023 State LA — 6-6, 300 OL — Neville
The Tigers’ other recent in-state offer bears some similarities to Prean. Heard began garnering attention as a big, versatile defensive lineman at Bastrop before moving to Neville as a junior and focusing predominantly on the offensive side of the ball and pairing with eventual 2022 LSU signee Will Campbell Will Campbell 6'6" | 290 lbs | OL Neville | 2022 State LA to make up arguably the top tackle duo in the state. And while Lance isn’t winning any footraces with Prean, the big man is remarkably quick, explosive and athletic for his size. Heard’s impressive combination of footwork, hands and overall strength, aggressiveness and reflexes make his difficult to beat from his fast first step to his block-finishing mentality and anywhere in between. And much like an attribute for which Campbell came to be known, he has a nastiness to him that helps set and keep a tone for the line, team and game.
Previous LSU offers
Prean and Heard join a list of 19 fellow rising seniors around the state to hold LSU offers.
The quarterback trio of Arch Manning Arch Manning 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Newman | 2023 State LA of Newman, Eli Holstein Eli Holstein 6'3" | 215 lbs | QB Zachary | 2023 State LA of Zachary and Rickie Collins Rickie Collins 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) | 2023 State LA of Woodlawn (Baton Rouge), the aforementioned wide receiver duo of Sampson and Miller and the running back duo of Trey Holly Trey Holly 5'8" | 190 lbs | RB Union Parish | 2023 State LA (Union Parish) and Kaleb Jackson Kaleb Jackson 5'11" | 205 lbs | RB Liberty Magnet | 2023 State LA (Liberty Magnet) headline the way.
Caden Jones Caden Jones 6'7" | 255 lbs | OL De La Salle | 2023 State LA of De La Salle and Tyree Adams Tyree Adams 6'5" | 275 lbs | OL St. Augustine | 2023 State LA of St. Augustine are Louisiana’s first offensive linemen with offers from the SEC program, and Newman tight end Will Randle Will Randle 6'4" | 220 lbs | TE Newman | 2023 State LA is also a long-standing Tigers target.
Two of the state’s best defensive prospects, linebackers Tackett Curtis Tackett Curtis 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Many | 2023 State LA (Many) and Jaiden Ausberry Jaiden Ausberry 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB University Lab | 2023 State LA (University Lab) are among the most notable in-state offers on the other side of the ball, where defensive linemen Jameian Buxton Jameian Buxton 6'3" | 270 lbs | DL Warren Easton | 2023 State LA (Warren Easton) and Tyler Bailey Tyler Bailey 6'2" | 290 lbs | DL Ponchatoula | 2023 State LA (Ponchatoula) each garnered early attention from the previous staff.
But the bulk of the defensive offers belong to defensive backs: Derek Williams Jr. Derek Williams Jr. 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB Westgate | 2023 State LA Jr. of Westgate, Kylin Jackson Kylin Jackson 6'3" | 195 lbs | DB Zachary | 2023 State LA of Zachary, Kam Franklin Kam Franklin 6'3" | 185 lbs | DB Oak Grove | 2023 State LA of Oak Grove, Curley Reed Curley Reed 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB Lake Charles College Prep | 2023 State LA of Lake Charles College Prep, Jordan Matthews Jordan Matthews 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) | 2023 State LA of Woodlawn (Baton Rouge)