Scout's Take: What LSU is getting in On3 5-star OT Zalance Heard

Brian Kelly‘s first-year recruiting tear at LSU continued on Thursday, with Monroe (La.) Neville offensive tackle Zalance Heard committing to the Tigers over Florida, Nebraska, Houston and a long list of other programs.

Heard is the fourth top-60 prospect to pledge to Kelly this cycle, joining Baton Rouge (La.) five-star wide receiver Shelton Sampson, Miami (Fla.) wideout Jalen Brown, and Baltimore (Md.) EDGE Dashawn Womack. The hulking 6-foot-5, 305-pounder also pushes the Tigers up one spot in to No. 6 in the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings. He is also the second On3 five-star prospect to commit to the Tigers, joining Sampson, who ranks as the No. 21 prospect in the On300.

More than that though, Heard is another bookend offensive tackle from inside the state of Louisiana staying home with LSU. Kelly and his staff held onto fellow Neville stud tackle Will Campbell in last year’s cycle after the coaching change, and he has blossomed into the Tigers’ starter at left tackle heading into this weekend’s season opener against Florida State.

Heard is in just his second year playing the position full-time, having transferred in to Neville as a defensive tackle. In a short amount of time, he’s exploded as a recruit. On3 remains higher on him than any of the other major recruiting services, and Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power believes all of Heard’s best football is in front of him.

“His frame and stature are as good as you’ll see at offensive tackle in this cycle,” Power said. “He’s 6-foot-5.5, and a pretty lean-looking 305 pounds. He still has room to add mass in his lower body. Exceptional length, 36-plus inch arms verified on college visits. From that standpoint, he’s just how you draw it up as an offensive tackle.”

Toughness, physicality make Zalance Heard stand out

The physical attributes are a major component, but Heard has also taken the mentality of playing along the defensive line and brought it to the tackle position.

“You watch him play, and he’s extremely nasty,” Power added. He plays with a physical edge, works to finish his blocks and just dominates in his first year playing offensive line at the high school level. … I was watching a high school game in Louisiana last year that featured a bunch of top-end talent, and immediately one of the offensive linemen jumped out. And I thought, ‘he’s huge, he’s long and he moves really well.’ And it was him.”

Heard joins Marrero (La.) St. Augustine offensive tackle Tyree Adams, another prospect On3 is very high on, and Buford (Ga.) interior lineman Paul Mubenga in the Tigers’ class.