Les Miles (image via NFL.com)
LSU fired head coach Les Miles after a tough loss to Auburn. The LSU Tigers are now 2-2 with wins over Jacksonville State and Mississippi State, while the losses have been to Wisconsin and the aforementioned Auburn.
Here’s a look at if and how the situation in Baton Rouge might affect Michigan:
2017 commits with Michigan offers: WR Jhamon Ausbon, FB Tory Carter, OT Austin Deculus, S Grant Delpit, DT Neil Farrell, S JaCoby Stevens, CB Kary Vincent
2018 commits with Michigan offers: None
Scoop: Michigan has been in contact for a while with a couple of Tigers commits, including Carter and Deculus. Carter has already made plans to visit Michigan, and the coaching staff had hoped to get Deculus on campus this fall. The Wolverines want a true fullback or two in this class, and there are rumors that Chase Lasater may not end up as a part of Michigan’s class. With Ben Mason potentially figuring in as an inside linebacker, the staff could go hard after Carter, a battering ram who also plays defensive line. As for Deculus, he was listening to pitches from other schools because of Les Miles’ job insecurity. Michigan needs offensive linemen who are ready to play, and the staff has shown that they’re willing to play true freshmen.
If I had to rank the above players in order of Michigan’s best chances, here’s how I would rank them:
- Tory Carter
- Austin Deculus
- Neil Farrell
- Jhamon Ausbon
- JaCoby Stevens
- Grant Delpit
- Kary Vincent
Interim head coach Ed Orgeron is known as an excellent recruiter, but he’s unlikely to get the permanent job. That means LSU will probably be naming a new coach in December or January, which leaves little time for recovery. That being said, a home run hire at a place like LSU could result in some renewed optimism. I think someone like Houston’s Tom Herman could re-energize that program and that fan base, and his ties to Texas could be very helpful in recruiting.
As for Les Miles himself, he’s 62 years old and has had head coaching jobs at Oklahoma State (2001-2004) and LSU (2005-2016). He won a national championship with LSU in 2007. I don’t think he’ll get another high-profile coaching job, but he could certainly get hired at a lower level FBS job if he wants it. The former Michigan lineman and Bo Schembechler protege had some good years. It’s too bad he had to go out this way, but it’s the way a lot of coaches’ careers go.
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Always thought that he was a bit nutty, and a so-so coach in a talent-rich area where LSU dominates the in-state recruiting and had some of the best players in the country. He just wasn’t that great and I don’t think Michigan would’ve been well-off had he come in 2008.
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