LSU fans are not overly thrilled with the 2012 recruiting class, but Coach Les Miles says the players entering the program are exactly what they needed.

Many Tiger fans will notice the class doesn't contain any Parade All-Americans or five-star recruits. But when you get past that fact, you'll notice six linebackers make up the 22 players that are coming to LSU.

The highest rated linebacker is Kwon Alexander from Oxford, Alabama. He chose LSU on national signing day, by-passing Alabama and Auburn. He missed his senior season with a knee injury, but Miles is impressed with his speed and athleticism.

Miles believes Alexander and two linebackers from Louisiana could see significant playing time next season, Patterson's Lorenzo Phillips and Breaux Bridge's Lamar Louis. Louis is already on campus, as he enrolled in January.

So why sign so many linebackers? Before national signing day, there were just six linebackers on scholarship. The other reason is that Miles believes this was the best linebacker class the state has ever seen.

Miles said another top priority was signing a quarterback. The Tigers didn't get an ordinary QB, even though he's only rated with three-stars. Jeremy Liggins is listed at 6-3, 270 pounds, but many believe he's closer to 280.

Liggins is a red-shirt candidate, as he'll need a year to get in better playing shape. But once he gets on the field, Miles pointed out it may take more than one defensive lineman to bring him down.

The mad hatter also liked how the Oxford, Mississippi native announced his intentions to sign at LSU. He made the announcement at a restaurant near the Ole Miss campus.

The class contains only one running back, but many LSU fans are familiar with Jeremy Hill. He had a standout career at Redemptorist High School in Baton Rouge, but he was arrested on charges of oral sexual battery in January of 2011. The charges were eventually reduced to a misdemeanor and he's currently enrolled at LSU.

Miles mentioned if Hill was part of the 2011 class, he would have been considered as the top running back, ahead of Kenny Hilliard.

Many of the recruiting websites don't include Hill as part of their ranking for this year, which is one reason why LSU is not ranked in the Top 10.

That doesn't bother Miles. He uses the 2008 recruiting class as an example. The head coach said that class was not considered as one of the best, but as seniors they went 13-and-1 last season and played in the BCS National Championship.

But that 2008 class featured Patrick Peterson. The 2012 class on paper doesn't have someone of that caliber. Dutchtown's Landon Collins would fit that bill, but he chose Alabama.

The Tigers almost landed one of the top quarterbacks in the country. But Gunner Kiel decided to play in his home state and selected Notre Dame the weekend before he was set to enroll at LSU.

The Tigers also missed out on a couple of players on national signing day. Five-star wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson of Hutchinson Community College in Kansas chose Tennessee instead of LSU.

And finally outside linebacker Torshiro Davis of Shreveport selected Texas instead of LSU. Davis committed to LSU on national signing day in 2011, but when it came to signing a letter of intent, he sent his paperwork to Austin. Davis told a Shreveport television station that he chose Texas, after hearing from some LSU players who were not happy with how they were treated.

The last month hasn't been the best for LSU when it comes to public perception. But the Tigers can bring back the good vibes with spring football starting in a month and the spring game in two months.

The work on the 2013 recruiting class is already underway. Miles said defensive linemen will be a priority. The top player in the state is arguably Neville athlete John Diarse, who has already received an offer from LSU and Alabama. So let the games begin.