Mac Markway is officially an LSU Tiger. The 4-star tight end signed his letter of intent to LSU and will enroll early.
An exceptional prospect, Markway fills a position of need for the Tigers with such thin tight end room right now. With Mason Taylor being the only tight end on the roster, Markway’s signing is huge for the unit going forward.
Along with Markway, LSU has a commitment from 2023 3-star Jackson McGohan and is looking to replace 4-star Ka’Morreun Pimpton.
Here’s our scouting report on Markway and what LSU is getting at tight end:
frame
He is a broad-shouldered, big-bodied, backward-looking player. Hello. This is the first noticeable feature of Markway. He would have been right at home in the SEC circa 2010 with the Tigers running downhill and playing multiple tight ends.
Game style
He drags and pins a lot of runs, and he does it as an offensive lineman. Markway has the ability to be a dominant blocker for the Tigers. He’s big enough to hammer a safety in space, or a linebacker, as well as help advance the defensive end on the outside zone play. Regardless of what he does, he is physical.
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Markway usually hits opponents as well as those around them. He likes contact.
How LSU can use Markway’s skills
Look for the Tigers coaching staff to slot him at H-back, tight end and even as a pass protector in the backfield. These are the basic situations. Markway can also be a good receiver as he catches the football away from his body and tries to run north-south once the football is in his hands. Whether he’ll develop into the flexible tight end that LSU consistently throws in space remains to be seen, but he can also be a blocker on screen runs that LSU runs for wide receivers.
He’s also a prime target near the goal line or on short yardage because he’s such a good blocker that teams will drop to him. If the linebacker or safety negates Markway’s pass coverage responsibility, there is a chance for a strike. That would leave plenty of play-action passing situations for Markway and the Tigers.
Overall, he is a great addition to the LSU Football program as he is very talented and plays a position of need in the 2023 recruiting class. Markway is even good enough that he could come in and contribute in the fall of 2023.
Brian Kelly’s Recruiting Message:
“We’re going to bring the best prospects from around the country and you’ll see that in the signing class. We’ll have players from the Northeast, the Midwest, the West Coast. But our base will be Louisiana and the South,” Kelly said. “When you’re LSU and you have such a recognizable brand, you can’t have a blinder. Our scope and vision is national, but not in a way that we can pull four guys from every state. We will have a strong influence in the state of Louisiana, as we should. “
“I think we could be looking to award 70 scholarships in a calendar year,” Kelly said. “I certainly don’t think it’s going to be in the mid to high 30s [as the norm]. I think it’s out of bounds. I believe the high 20s will be the norm. I remember the years when I was 18, I think those days are over.
“You don’t want to go through the transfer window every year when it comes to the cornerback position. We did this year because there was such a need to create a representative group. I think the freshmen will have a big impact and that’s the way we want to build,” Kelly said. Does this mean we will not consider transfers? No, this does not mean that we will close the door, but last year they were for a year and it was over. We do not look at this. The corners will have more than one season of competition left if we go this route.