• By SCOTT HOTARD
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Dec 26, 2009 - Page: 1C

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Frank Wilson and Billy Gonzales, the newest members of the LSU football coaching staff, have been at practice with the Tigers learning names and numbers and getting acclimated to offensive schemes.

Both will be on the sideline New Year’s Day, when LSU faces Penn State in the Capital One Bowl.

But the impact of each man looks to be felt far beyond the sideline or practice field.

Wilson replaces Larry Porter, the 2009 Rivals.com National Recruiter of the Year. Gonzales replaces D.J. McCarthy, who signed five-star prospects Chris Davenport and Rueben Randle.

“They lost their best two recruiters — no question about it,” said Sonny Shipp, editor of TigerSportsDigest.com. “Those two could recruit as well as any two assistant coaches in the nation.”

LSU lost the first of those coaches when Porter, a former Memphis running back, became the head man at his alma mater. It lost the other when McCarthy, the subject of an ongoing investigation into alleged recruiting improprieties, resigned Dec. 9 after three years on the staff.

Enter Wilson, whose title includes recruiting coordinator. Enter Gonzales, the recruiting coordinator at Florida his last two seasons.

“That’s the lifeline to any program is being able to have an opportunity to get the recruits in,” Gonzales said after a recent practice. “We’ve got to attack it and be strong and make sure we get the right guys in here who have a chance to compete right away.”

Wilson steps in for Porter as the running backs coach. Gonzales is the wide receivers coach, like McCarthy, but also serves as the passing game coordinator.

Each new hire has already hit the recruiting trail.

As far as the 2010 class goes, little work remains. LSU has 24 commitments. Under new Southeastern Conference rules, no school may sign more than 28 prospects.

In the distance, though, a storm brews.

LSU always puts an emphasis on homegrown prospects. But the state’s 2011 pool has the makings of the most talented Louisiana crop in at least a decade. The Tigers, who have only 10 commitments from Louisiana players in the 2010 class, have already offered scholarships to more than a dozen in-state juniors.