Lowell Narcisse to LSU: Tigers Land 4-Star QB Prospect

Credit: 247Sports

LSU potentially found its quarterback of the future Monday, securing the commitment of Lowell Narcisse:

According to 247Sports’ composite rankings, Narcisse is the No. 5 dual-threat quarterback in the 2017 recruiting class and the No. 108 overall prospect. He’s also the fifth-best player in the state of Louisiana.

The St. James, Louisiana, native had a junior year to forget. He suffered not one but two knee injuries, which limited him to just three games. Based on his numbers as a freshman and sophomore, per MaxPreps, it’s easy to see why Narcisse has attracted interest from a number of top schools:

Lowell Narcisse—High School Stats
Year Games Pass Yards Comp. % Pass TDs INT Carries Rush Yards Rush TDs
Freshman 13 2,013 51.9 27 9 159 637 12
Sophomore 13 3,124 57.3 31 13 195 1,402 18
Junior 3 296 63.9 6 0 50 305 4

Source: MaxPreps

As is the case with many mobile quarterbacks, Narcisse’s accuracy is an issue at this stage of his career. He received a 6-of-10 grade from 247Sports in that category, but he did earn an 8-of-10 for arm strength. His throwing motion, captured by ESPN.com’s Derek Tyson, is reminiscent of Michael Vick’s or Tim Tebow’s:

Like Vick was in his days at Virginia Tech, Narcisse is capable of wreaking havoc in the open field when he tucks the ball and starts scrambling:

Narcisse originally committed to Auburn but backed out in January. In his statement to the media, per Andrew Lopez of NOLA.com, he cited a desire to weigh all of his options before making his final decision:

Dual-threat quarterbacks Cam Newton and Nick Marshall both thrived under Gus Malzahn at Auburn. The former won a Heisman Trophy and a national title, and the latter led the team to the title game, where it lost to Florida State in the closing seconds.

Narcisse will hope to recreate similar success at LSU. The Tigers offense is tailor-made for him.

He could make an immediate impact on the Tigers, but redshirting might be the best strategy since it would allow him to work on his mechanics in a pressure-free atmosphere. Both Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston benefited from taking a year off before stepping foot on the field for meaningful game action.

The St. James High School standout will be able to get far at the next level based on his supreme athleticism. Improving as a passer will help him become a special player in the FBS.

LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron runs a pro-style system, which may actually be best for Narcisse’s football future and can maximize his potential if he can polish up as a passer.