BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
Chidi Valentine-Okeke, a four-star lineman from Ludowici, Ga., verbally committed to LSU over Alabama and Auburn on Thursday.
The 6-foot-6, 310-pound offensive tackle had an in-home visit with LSU head coach Les Miles and offensive line coach Jeff Grimes on Wednesday night. He had also recently taken an official visit to the Baton Rouge school.
"I just love everything about LSU," Valentine-Okeke told Scout.com. "Coach Miles was very, very happy when I gave him the news. I am happy too, to have my decision.
The commitment surprised many in the industry, especially after he postponed a planned television announcement on Monday. He was expected to make his commitment on Fox Sports South, but called it off that afternoon after visits from college coaches. He admitted it was difficult to decide between three schools that all indicated they very much wanted him to join their program.
"Everybody who has been in my shoes as a 5-star player goes through this process," Valentine-Okeke said on the show. "Every school is telling you they need you. 'Come to our school, we love you,' stuff like that. It's hard. I know I'm not the first person who ever felt this.
"I'm a big recruit and get all these phone calls all the time. Sometimes I wish I was a 1-star."
At one point in the recruiting process Valentine-Okeke said Alabama and Auburn were the two schools to beat, but LSU remained in contention the whole way. He told Scout.com Thursday that Auburn was the school that finished second in his recruitment.
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The 6-foot-6, 310-pound offensive tackle had an in-home visit with LSU head coach Les Miles and offensive line coach Jeff Grimes on Wednesday night. He had also recently taken an official visit to the Baton Rouge school.
"I just love everything about LSU," Valentine-Okeke told Scout.com. "Coach Miles was very, very happy when I gave him the news. I am happy too, to have my decision.
The commitment surprised many in the industry, especially after he postponed a planned television announcement on Monday. He was expected to make his commitment on Fox Sports South, but called it off that afternoon after visits from college coaches. He admitted it was difficult to decide between three schools that all indicated they very much wanted him to join their program.
"Everybody who has been in my shoes as a 5-star player goes through this process," Valentine-Okeke said on the show. "Every school is telling you they need you. 'Come to our school, we love you,' stuff like that. It's hard. I know I'm not the first person who ever felt this.
"I'm a big recruit and get all these phone calls all the time. Sometimes I wish I was a 1-star."
At one point in the recruiting process Valentine-Okeke said Alabama and Auburn were the two schools to beat, but LSU remained in contention the whole way. He told Scout.com Thursday that Auburn was the school that finished second in his recruitment.
Continue reading...
