RECRUITING: Randle, Mingo Remain Quiet

State’s top remaining uncommitted prospects keeping quiet as teams make playoff runs

by Matt Deville
Tiger Rag Senior Editor

(At left) Rueben Randle (Photo by Matt Deville)

CLICK HERE to read Daniel Mingea’s recruiting blog at NOLA.com.

You can tell it’s nearing the end of the recruiting season – especially for the LSU Tigers.

And considering there are only a few sports left on the board for coach Les Miles and his staff, it’s pretty easy to figure out who the coaching staff is waiting to hear from.

And the players that still have yet to make a decision usually are some of the nation’s most elite targets.

For LSU, those targets include Houston safety Craig Loston and Sanford, Fla. Wide receiver Andre Debose.

However, the two biggest names remaining, ones that Miles and his staff know they need to secure, are within the state of Louisiana. As a matter of fact, they reside within 20 miles from one another in the northeast corner of the state of Louisiana.

Bastrop wide receiver Rueben Randle and West Monroe linebacker Barkevious Mingo are tagged must-haves by the LSU coaching staff. The only problem is, Randle and Mingo are holding off on their decision until early next year, likely for National Signing Day on Feb. 4.

In the meantime, both Randle and Mingo are playing it close to the vest, not tipping their hand to anyone.

(At left) Barkevious Mingo

Also, they aren’t talking much either.

Both Randle and Mingo have long since stopped answering the phone and both players have actually changed their personal cell phone numbers more than once to avoid calls from the media and coaches alike.

Randle, the nation’s No. 1 wide receiver, is currently playing quarterback for his high school team. And while Randle has been mum on the topic of where he’s going, it’s no secret who remains squarely in the race for the 6-3, 195-pound senior. LSU and Alabama will duke likely duke it out for the services of the most decorated prospect to come through the Bastrop program.

For Mingo, the nation’s No. 10 rated linebacker by Rivals.com, it seems to be a two to three team race as well with LSU, Alabama and Ole Miss still competing for his services.

While the players are shying away from questions about their future, TigerRag.com caught up with some guys who keep pretty close tabs on these elite prospects – the coaches.

West Monroe coach Don Shows spoke to TigerRag.com this morning from the team bus. The Rebels (10-0) are headed south today for a second round matchup in Lafayette with St. Thomas More.

Shows, who is in his 18th season at West Monroe, is no stranger to having one of the nation’s top prospects on his team. In leading the Rebels to six state titles in his tenure, Shows has coached the likes of former LSU stars such as Tommy Banks, Bradie James, Rodney Reed and Andrew Whitworth.

And while Mingo ranks as one of the nation’s top prospects, Shows said it has been relatively quiet in terms of the blitz of college coaches coming to the school.

“We really haven’t had many (coaches) to come through here,” Shows said Friday morning from his cell phone. “He stays in contact with them pretty much over the phone and through the mail. I think they know his decision isn’t going to come until afterwards (the high school season).”

(At left) West Monroe coach Don Shows (Photo courtesy of RebelMania.com)

Sometimes when a recruit is being courted by major colleges, the attention can sometimes affect their play on the field. Shows has had some issues with that in the past.

“Absolutely it can be a distraction,” Shows said. “When some kids get to be seniors, they don’t play as well as they did when they were juniors. They get caught up in all of that stuff and start thinking more of themselves than the team.

“That happened two years ago with Luther (Davis) and Will (Blackwell).”

The Luther Davis saga was well-documented. The former Rebel linebacker originally committed to LSU, but his offer was revoked when he visited Alabama. His recruitment turned into a soap opera and he eventually landed in Tuscaloosa. Blackwell signed with LSU.

“Barkevious has handled it all well,” Shows said. “He is playing as good as he did last year. The only problem is more teams are aware of him this year and they are scheming more for him.”

No doubt, St. Thomas More has Mingo’s number circled on its game plan.

“You can call him a weakside defensive end or an outside linebacker,” STM offensive coordinator Shane Savoie told the Lafayette Advertiser.”He’s all over the field. He’s just a tremendous pass rusher.”

As for Randle, his intentions might be even more of a mystery.

A very cerebral individual, Randle, who carries a 3.97 grade point average, doesn’t say much anyway – especially now as he ponders his future.

According to Bastrop coach Brad Bradshaw, Randle’s recruitment is very much a family affair.

“Rueben’s family is handling everything,” Bradshaw said Friday morning.

(At left) Bastrop coach Brad Bradshaw (Photo courtesy of the Bastrop Daily Enterprise)

The Rams (9-1) gear up for a second round playoff game tonight at home versus Helen Cox (7-3). Bastrop, which has won three straight Class 4A state titles, is four wins away from No. 4.

Bradshaw said the hoopla surrounding Randle’s recruitment can sometimes put a strain on things.

“It can be a distraction to the team,” Bradshaw said. “I think it can be a distraction to the kid, if he doesn’t handle it right. Obviously, there is always jealousy involved with people around the situation.”

There have been other schools mentioned as possible destinations for Randle, including Texas Tech and Ole Miss. However, it’s quite obvious the race will come down to Alabama and LSU. LSU is the in-state school and Alabama coach Nick Saban is trying to make in-roads back into Louisiana, there are a lot of outside factors creating the situation even more stressful.

“In situations where a player of this caliber is involved, when schools do it the right way, there usually isn’t a problem,” Bradshaw said. “But the thing that makes things tough is when you have all of the outside unknowns affecting the situation. That makes it difficult.”

Randle is the biggest prospect to have come through Bastrop in Bradshaw’s tenure. However, the Rams have produced plenty of elite talent including former LSU players Solomon Lee and Claude Wroten. Current LSU defensive lineman Kentravis Aubrey hails also played for Bradshaw. Also, current Bastrop defensive tackle Josh Downs is committed to LSU.

What makes Randle unique is the fact he is the complete package, both on the field and in the classroom. Bradshaw has had two premiere players whose recruitment was diminished by academic issues – that being wide receiver DeAngelo Benton and quarterback Randall Mackey.

“He (Randle) is the first big recruit we have had with grades,” Bradshaw said.

Mackey is currently excelling at East Mississippi Junior College while Benton is again trying to become eligible to possibly report to LSU in the spring.

Rumors have been circulating about the possibility of a Saturday visit to Oklahoma by Randle, Downs and DeQuinta Jones, another Bastrop defensive tackle who is committed to Michigan. SoonerScoop.com of the Rivals.com Network reported the trio would be visiting this weekend.

Bradshaw could rather confirm nor deny these rumors, but another unnamed Bastrop source confirmed Randle (alone) will be attending Saturday’s Oklahoma-Texas Tech game. Downs and Jones, who remains committed to the Wolverines, will not be making the trip to Norman.