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The LSU Tigers picked up a big commitment over the weekend when four-star safety Derrick Davis Jr. picked the defending champions.
The 6-foot-1, 194-pound safety from Gateway High School in Monroeville, Pa., picked LSU over Penn State, Ohio State, Georgia and Penn State.
His choice of LSU surprised some as many expected his recruitment to be a battle between Big Ten powers Ohio State and Penn State.
However, a visit to Baton Rouge recently changed everything for Davis, as he told Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
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“I just loved the diversity of the college, really,” Davis said.
Davis recently visited LSU’s campus with his mother and his aunt, and while he couldn’t meet with coaches or any staff members due to the NCAA dead period, he spent plenty of time on FaceTime with the staff.
Davis explained why seeing the campus mattered the most in his decision.
It’s real important to see the campus,” said Davis. “Don’t go to a school just looking at the facilities. Actually, go out and see the campus. That’s what won it for LSU with me.”
Davis has a strong relationship with LSU safeties coach Bill Busch who compared him to LSU great Tyrann Mathieu.
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“That’s a guy I just really looked up to,” Davis said. “Busch told me I could be the next Honey Badger. I took that as I will be the next Honey Badger.”
Davis is the No. 2 safety in the 2021 class, behind Sage Ryan — who committed to the Tigers just one week before Davis. He is also the No. 53 player in 2021, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
Davis is expected to enroll at LSU in the spring.
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