Football recruiting: Big week for LSU

LSU coach Les Miles is at SEC Media Days for his annual appearance, and if he's walking around with a giant smile, we now know why. The Tigers picked up three commitments Wednesday: Morton Ranch (Katy, Texas) defensive end Dan Hunter, DeSoto (De Soto, Texas) cornerback Jalen Mills and Karr (New Orleans, La.) offensive tackle Derek Edinburgh.

"I was getting close to making a decision," Hunter told TigerBait.com. "They were in my top three. I was trying to wait until the season started and get my visit set, but it just happened today."

The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Hunter held offers from Arkansas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma, among others. He'll line up against Edinburgh on a daily basis once both get to Baton Rouge, but the two already have a few reps against each other since they both participated in the Tigers' summer camp on Wednesday before committing.

Edingburgh was a MaxPreps first-team junior All-American last season.



"I knew with the camp I would be able to talk to Coach Miles and (running backs) coach Frank (Wilson)," Edinburgh said. "I'm all about returning the favor, and he offered me a scholarship with my parents in the office, so I wanted to make sure I returned the favor and told him I wanted to be a Tiger."

Mills won the Texas state 7-on-7 championship the weekend before. With the stop at LSU for camp and eventual offer and commitment, it was an eventful week for the 6-foot, 180-pounder.

"I went to the camp, I worked out with Coach (Ron) Cooper and Coach Miles came out and saw me during the one-on-ones, then today Coach Cooper said he liked the way I competed and that he wanted to offer me a scholarship."

The trio gives LSU 18 commitments for the class of 2012. Mills is the fourth defensive back who has verbally pledged to the program.

DOOLEY NOTED: Tennessee was looking for a little momentum a few days ago on the recruiting trail. It looks like they found it.

Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio) defensive end Latroy Lewis became the latest to commit to Tennessee Thursday afternoon, part of an impressive little run by Derek Dooley and staff.



"They like the way I play, and they think I can come in and be a pretty good rush player for them right away," Lewis told GVX247.com. "They want me to get in. They want me to learn the system. ... The only thing is getting acclimated to the system, and (Dooley) wants me to get in and understand what's going on at first and go from there."

The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder held scholarship offers from Ohio State, Michigan and Boston College among others. He's the latest in a nice run by the Vols, becoming the sixth commitment since Sunday to join the recruiting class and mostly thanks to linebackers coach Peter Sirmon.

"It's pretty laid-back. It's pretty good," Lewis said. "We talk from time to time, see how things are going with each other."

Lewis gives the program eight verbal pledges for the class of 2012. He had 70 tackles, eight for a loss, and 13 sacks last season as a junior.

With film so readily available nowadays, the evaluation process coaches go through is steadily getting earlier and earlier. As a result, scholarship offers or commitments from recruiting classes beyond the upcoming one aren't all that uncommon.

TIDE SECURES GEORGIA JUNIOR: Alabama has been known for their talent at evaluating under Nick Saban, but he wasn't the only one to recognize that Troup County (LaGrange, Ga.) linebacker Reuben Foster was a talent, so Saban locked the rising-junior up on Monday with a commitment at the Crimson Tide's summer camp.



"I come up here and it's like family to me," Foster told BamaOnLine.com. "I didn't want to wait any longer, so I told Coach today I was coming. It was the right fit for me, and I wanted to go ahead and start focusing on other stuff besides recruiting. The thing is, I fit in here. It's simple for me because I know I can come in and play and Alabama is going to compete every year for a national championship. That, and the way the coaches and players treat me is all I was looking for in a school. It's the perfect fit."

The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder is regarded by some to be one of the best players in the class of 2013, and Georgia recruiting analyst Kipp Adams says Foster could be the best linebacker to come out of Georgia the past five years.

"Coach Saban sat me down and laid out his plans for me, and I loved everything I heard," Foster said. "It's a great system for me, and they know how to get guys ready for life after football. I look at the great players that have played at Alabama and I want to be part of that. We have a great tradition and history, and I'm honored to have the chance to maybe someday add to that."

Foster is the third commit for Alabama's 2013 class and is the first of the group on defense.

HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE: One of the top 2013 running backs, Altee Tenpenny, has picked up offers from Alabama and Auburn but is staying grounded.

* Defensive end Tyriq McCord received an invite to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.



* Does Michigan have a spot for running back Dennis Norfleet?

* Receiver D’Arthur Cowan made his second trip to Arkansas.

* Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt is focused on recruiting, not what Mississippi State is doing with billboards.

* Florida State commit Marvin Bracy ran a very impressive 10.09 100-meter dash.

* Pretty cool video from Florida's famous summer camp, Friday Night Lights:

* A mid-July Minnesota recruiting update.



* Derrick Henry's commitment to Georgia is surprising to all, even his high-school coach.

* Michigan State commit Tyler O'Connor is one of the players in the Elite 11.

* Mississippi State's Dan Mullen spoke out about recruiting services.

* Wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo committed to Maryland.

* Nice pick up for Missouri in offensive lineman Simon Goines.

* Offensive lineman Chester Brown is a big body for Georgia.



*  Nose guard Shelldon Lewinson committed to Wake Forrest.

See all posts on CBSSports' Eye on Recruiting.