LSU reaped the benefits of a strong crop of high school prospects in the state by getting 17 players from Louisiana high schools among the class of 22 signees.

"Not every year has there been a number of defensive or offensive linemen in the state," said coach Les Miles, who picked off two of the best in Anthony Johnson on the defensive side and La'el Collins on offense.

Both are from New Orleans.

"It is nice that both exist in the state this year because this is really the two highest-ranked prospects on the offensive and defensive line," Miles said. "Behind those guys are a number of highly ranked guys that are capable who are in our class."

Johnson will have the advantage of getting the jump on his classmates because he is already enrolled in school and will take part in spring practice.

The class, restricted to no more than 23 signees because of self-imposed penalties stemming from the recruitment of former Tiger Akiem Hicks and impermissible phone call issues, gained a consensus Top 10 ranking.

"I don't really care if it's ranked in the Top 10 or not," Miles said. "It really just kind of fits what we need, and you won't know for some time how good a class this really is.

"But coming in behind last year's class and really fitting the needs that this team has, we think that this will allow us to compete for conference honors, and certainly if we are fortunate to win our conference, it will be an opportunity to compete for national honors as well."

Miles noted there were no defections among the commitments, but he may have lost a top defensive back prospect in T.K. Fleming.

Fleming, a safety from Benton, La., who was kicked off his team last August after his fourth arrest in six months, was arrested again the day before signing day and charged with unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, according to a report in the Shreveport Times. He was placed in the Bossier Maximum Security Facility on $50,000 bond.

TOP OF THE CLASS

DT Anthony Johnson (O.P. Walker High, New Orleans) -- At 6-3, 294, Johnson got a five-star rating from both Scout.com and Rivals.com and was considered the No. 1 prospect at his position in the country. He was Louisiana's Gatorade Player of the Year for 2010, only the third defensive player to be named to the honor in the 16 years the award has been handed out.

WR Jarvis Landry (Lutcher High, Lutcher, La.) -- A five-star prospect as rated by major recruiting services, Landry, 5-11, 190, could be immediate help at his position as the Tigers look to upgrade their passing game. He had 51 receptions for 716 yards and 11 touchdowns last year.

OT La'el Collins (Redemptorist High, Baton Rouge, La.) -- A local product, Collins has received notice as the best offensive lineman the state of Louisiana has ever produced. According to LSU publicists, he has been compared to former Ole Miss offensive tackle Michael Oher, now with the Baltimore Ravens and the subject of the movie "The Blind Side."

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