A little more than two months ago LSU's Les Miles was, in coaching terms, a dead man walking. He took the field at Tiger Stadium for the regular season finale against Texas A&M with some boosters and administrators set to buy out his contract.

Only they didn't, or couldn't, fire him. Their plan was outflanked by politics and popularity. After that night's victory, Miles' players carried him off the field, as fans cheered and chanted his name. He was then officially given a reprieve – a 12th season (at least) in Baton Rouge.

As satisfying as it all was, it was also bizarre and stressful and a sign of anything but a solid future. Historically, that kind of drama and speculation swirling around a coach and a program tends to scare off recruits. A public move on a headman usually becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Except, this is Les Miles. And this is LSU. So nothing is normal.

Here we are, inside a week to National Signing Day and the Tigers are expected to land, if not the No. 1 class in America, then something in the top 3-5. Rivals.com currently ranks them No. 2, yet with a chance for a very strong close.

Even in the middle of a maelstrom, LSU and Les find a way to win.

"Even after the shaky situation with Coach Miles, I told my mother and father I wanted to be an LSU Tiger," four-star linebacker Michael Divinity of Marrero (La.) John Ehret High told The Advocate in early January.

It's worth noting that LSU's potential recruiting bonanza is not a complete surprise. It had Rivals.com's No. 1 class at the time Miles was nearly fired. Indeed, the fact he was bringing in such a highly touted group was an argument to keep him.

View photos Les Miles was carried off the field by his players after LSU's win over Texas A&M. (AP) More

And it's further worth noting that recruiting well is commonplace here. Since Miles arrived on campus in 2005, LSU has averaged about the eighth best class in America, per Rivals. Twice (2014, 2009), it finished as high as second.

That's what may make the LSU-Les combo recession proof.

LSU enjoys a unique advantage of being the only Power 5 school in a state that regularly produces tons of talent. Most instate kids dream of playing in the electric atmosphere of Tiger Stadium. It's even stronger in Baton Rouge, which is particularly recruiting rich for a mid-sized city – and it isn't your typical small college town that may only occasionally produce a recruit.

Moreover, LSU actually sits closer to virtually all of Southern Mississippi and even parts of East Texas than any major program in those states.

Factor in tradition, facilities, conference and campus and it's a great situation. LSU wants for nothing.

"LSU's home state advantage is one that can't be rivaled by any other school in the country," Rivals.com national recruiting director Mike Farrell said. "LSU is the only game in town in Louisiana and even with a coach on life support, they are reeling in top prospect after top prospect in state."

Still, proximity to talent isn't everything. This says something about Les Miles too, namely the reputation he's built during his 11 seasons with the Tigers. It's not just going 112–32 or winning one national title (2007) or playing for another (2011). It's not just churning out NFL talent.

It's that people still believe in him, especially people who have dealt with him on a daily basis for a long time. Young players he's recruited for years have shown a rare loyalty to him. High school coaches who know him as a friend as much as a recruiter saw what was attempted as an affront to what and who they believe in, a good man (almost) getting done bad.

Story continues