Gunner Kiel commits to LSU
According to multiple sources on Twitter, top-rated QB Gunner Kiel has committed to the LSU Tigers. Best of the luck to the former reported Michigan lean, and former Indiana commit.
December 27th, 2011 at 6:30 PM ^
be fun to see what Les can do with a legit big time Qb under center. Hasn't had one yet at LSU except for maybe Russell.
December 27th, 2011 at 8:40 PM ^
Whoa...that seems like a pretty unsubstantiated statement. Miles and LSU have wasted PLENTY of QB talent since he's been the coach. Let's not let him off the hook that easily...
In 2003, Jamarcus Russell and Matt Flynn were both 4-star QBs, ranked #6 and #16, respectively. Russell is arguably the only LSU QB in Miles' tenure that actually helped the team win rather than LSU winning despite their QB. And Miles wasn't the coach that recruited these guys.
In Miles' first year, Russell's stats were 2443 yards and 15 TDs (couldn't find INTs). Russell's stats in his junior year (2006 season, after beating out Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux in camp) were 3129 yards passing for 28 TDs and 8 interceptions. A great year, no argument. He had around -200 rushing yards. He was then drafted by crazy Al Davis with the #1 pick (although in fairness, many draft experts agreed with the pick).
No QBs taken in 2004.
In 2005, Ryan Perrilloux was an undisputed 5-star QB and the #1 QB in the class.
No QBs taken in 2006. Matt Flynn did pilot the Tigers to the BCS championship, although he wasn't burning up the record books with 2403 yards and a 21/11 TD/INT ratio.
In 2007, Jarrett Lee was the #7 QB and 4-stars.
In 2008, Jordan Jefferson was the #8 QB and 4-stars.
In 2009, Russell Shepard was a 5-star QB and the #1 QB in the class. Chris Garrett, a 3-star, also committed.
In 2010, Zach Lee was the #9 QB and 4-stars.
Now he has Gunner Kiel, the #1 5-star QB for 2011.
I don't think it's a lack of talent at all, but rather a lack of development that sounds like lack of talent because LSU's QBs always seem to suck under Les Miles. Maybe that's on Gary Crowton or maybe just the style of play under Les Miles (and sounds a lot like Michigan's QB statistics under Bo's teams with great D), but with Crowton kicked out to Maryland, Miles is the common denominator.
Recruiting services and star ranking caveats apply, but LSU still chose to recruit these guys that were generally regarded as very talented. Seriously, 2 #1 QBs (and a third this year), 5 other 4-stars, and a 3 star on top and they haven't had a stud college QB outside of Russell.
Les Miles (or his OC, or his system, or whatever they have down there in the swamp) destroys QB talent.
December 28th, 2011 at 1:14 AM ^
Yeah I must say that Kiel's recruitment has been pretty strange to me, seeing as he always played it pretty close to the vest and seemed to really be thinking things through. With all that careful consideration he manages to completely botch the decision initially with Indiana and then not Indiana, and then finally settle on the qb graveyard you just described. What the hell is he basing these decisions on?
December 28th, 2011 at 6:28 AM ^
Well he said "The SEC is like the NFL of college football", so maybe he's either A.) getting paid or B.) expecting to be unceremoniously cut from the team after they oversign their next three classes.
December 27th, 2011 at 6:30 PM ^
http://twitter.com/DanWetzel/statuses/151806053695242241
"No idea if Kiel can play right away, but LSU was already stacked for next season. Really shows Tigers national reach"
Good get for LSU
December 27th, 2011 at 6:41 PM ^
Sparty scoffs in the general direction of LSU's "national reach"
December 27th, 2011 at 6:31 PM ^
3.....2.....1.....
December 27th, 2011 at 6:31 PM ^
He was a Michigan lean? Never heard that!
December 27th, 2011 at 6:55 PM ^
If you believe the rumors, he was a lean to half the BCS schools in the nation at some time or another.
December 27th, 2011 at 6:34 PM ^
The biggest story in IU football history just went poof!
December 27th, 2011 at 6:34 PM ^
It seems that usually LSU goes with a QB that is more on the mobile side. I'm sure that Les will find a way to use Gunner's talents though. Best of luck to him . . .
December 27th, 2011 at 6:39 PM ^
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
December 28th, 2011 at 12:07 PM ^
PHEW!!
I didn't want to see Kiel in a domer helmet. They've taken us to the wire 3 years with 3 crappy QBs. Yes two were highly regarded, but on Clausen was supposed to be what they're claiming Kiel to be.
I'd rather take my chances with someone else, I don't care how good we'll be...
With that said, back to the regular scheduled program. I've already stopped caring.
December 27th, 2011 at 6:39 PM ^
How hard were we really recruiting him? QB was definitely not a pressing need in this class.
Also, there were rampant rumors of him being a silent ND commit. Just goes to show that the prevailing sentiment about a recruit's leanings isn't always correct.
December 27th, 2011 at 6:42 PM ^
We were going after him in spring/summer after we whiffed on Zeke Pike. WOTS seemed to be that Kiel lost interest in Michigan after Shane outperformed him in a camp. Who knows if that's true.
Don't think we were ever a favourite or close to landing him though despite some reports to the contrary months ago.
December 27th, 2011 at 6:51 PM ^
Shane didn't outperform him at the Nike Camp. Both had strong showings, but most observers said Kiel looked like the more polished product (which is, of course, understandable).
December 28th, 2011 at 6:22 AM ^
Shane won MVP at that aforementioned camp.
December 28th, 2011 at 11:54 AM ^
That's just not true. I think you're thinking of another camp.
December 27th, 2011 at 9:15 PM ^
I'd rather Gunner go to LSU than ND that's for sure.
December 27th, 2011 at 6:40 PM ^
I was kind of looking forward to another 5 star qb underachieving at Notre Dame. Seriously though, I wish he would have stayed at Indiana, it might have made them relevant (a little bit) for the first time since Randall El was their qb. Regardless, a good addition to LSU and Les Miles's recruiting class.
December 27th, 2011 at 6:50 PM ^
a perennial
One player will not make much difference. As much as I would like to see teams like IU and Minnesota being a bit more competitive, it ain't going to happen, not even with a 5-star QB. It would take $$$, a solid coaching staff and several recruiting classes with a solid number of top recruits to lift these teams out of the abyss.
December 28th, 2011 at 11:10 AM ^
I'll have to find one of these for my hiking boots
December 27th, 2011 at 6:40 PM ^
He really needed a QB to come in and make a difference next season. I'm betting that next season will be his last at ND.
December 27th, 2011 at 6:47 PM ^
was looking forward to benching Kiel halfway through the season. Kelly really needs to consider signing 3 quarterbacks per class!
December 27th, 2011 at 6:47 PM ^
I think they are high on Hendrix, but they keep saying that Tommy Reese is just a winner.
December 27th, 2011 at 6:53 PM ^
Charlie Weis was easier to sympathize with than Brian Kelly, and that's saying a lot. Since Bob Davie, each Notre Dame coach has been more unlikeable than his predecessor. I wonder who they will hire next.
December 27th, 2011 at 6:57 PM ^
Urban Meyer
It's his dream job, you know.
December 27th, 2011 at 8:07 PM ^
It's not hard to see anyone getting more sympathy than Kelly, especially since Kelly turns plaid screaming at QBs about 3 times a week, and then had a hand in the kid getting killed filming practice. I'm still somewhat surprised BK managed to emerge from that with his job.
December 27th, 2011 at 9:26 PM ^
I have total faith in ND's ability to outdo itself in finding the most arrogant, unpleasant, and unlikeable coaches to hire.
December 28th, 2011 at 7:51 AM ^
will be ready to move on by next year!!
December 27th, 2011 at 9:09 PM ^
Joe Paterno ... he was the only one that was coaching the last time ND was relevant.
December 28th, 2011 at 12:53 PM ^
So are Sadam and Osoma that only leave Mark D.......
December 27th, 2011 at 6:50 PM ^
This is LSU first big time qb since russell, since then they've just had game manager types in Flynn, Jefferson, Lee.. With the way they recruit defense they are going to be even better in the future. Scary.
December 27th, 2011 at 7:11 PM ^
Maybe Les Miles told Kiel that Brian Kelly's outbursts were caused by a brain disease and that Kelly won't be around much longer.
December 27th, 2011 at 8:16 PM ^
That Twitter doctor he found is really paying dividends.
December 27th, 2011 at 6:53 PM ^
I think I said this before, but I'm sort of disappointed that Kiel is heading South. I don't like seeing the best players in Big Ten states going to the SEC. Best of luck to Kiel though. He'll have a lot of fun playing under Les Miles.
December 27th, 2011 at 7:04 PM ^
I thought there was chatter for a couple weeks that he was probably going to end up at LSU, but now that it is official, best of luck to him in the SEC West.
So, how does this affect Indiana's QB picture? Do they, in fact, have a QB?
December 27th, 2011 at 7:11 PM ^
They didn't sign one last year, and it looks like they didn't have a real backup plan for Kiel this year. Sort of curious, since most new coaches want to have 'their guy' at QB. This Kevin Wilson era sure hasn't started out nicely
December 27th, 2011 at 7:20 PM ^
Indiana's QB of the future is "The Shadow" then, right?
"What quarterbacks lurk in the minds of coaches.....the Shadow knows!"
December 27th, 2011 at 8:22 PM ^
December 27th, 2011 at 7:13 PM ^
I dont like the top midwest talent filling the SEC coffers, but his college success will be based in large part to successful coaching. Florida went from spread to pro style with Charlie Wies as the OC and only came in 3rd in the meek SEC East this year. Hope the mad hatter can maintain some coaching continuity on offense for him.
December 27th, 2011 at 7:14 PM ^
I'm not sure if I dreamt this or not, but I thought like a week or two ago I read a thread that he committed to LSU, but then the other day I checked scout and he wasn't committed anywhere. Can I see the future?
December 27th, 2011 at 8:21 PM ^
I remember it, something about how he comitted but wasn't announcing until today
December 27th, 2011 at 7:15 PM ^
This pleases me so much because my ND friend is so incredibly disappointed. :D
December 27th, 2011 at 7:16 PM ^
It was only a matter of time before he committed to a bigger football program.
December 27th, 2011 at 7:19 PM ^
It will be fun to see what Kiel can do with all those receivers LSU has.
December 27th, 2011 at 7:23 PM ^
Is this for real this time?
December 27th, 2011 at 7:29 PM ^
Sounds like there's more to the story about why we decommited from Indiana. Anyone know the background. The ESPN article mentions some issues with the coaches and the family?