Willie Allen, the second-ranked player in Louisiana and the No. 16 player in the ESPN 300, is staying home.
Allen, who also ranks as the second-best offensive tackle in the nation, announced he would be signing with LSU on Thursday at a news conference at River Ridge (La.) John Curtis High School. Allen will make his commitment to the Tigers official on national signing day, which is less than two weeks away on Feb. 3.
The recruiting victory is a big one for LSU, because Allen was heavily courted by TCU, Georgia, Auburn and Ole Miss and had offers from more than 30 other programs. Allen said he had been leaning toward LSU for several months, but that didn't stop him from taking official visit to TCU and Georgia in December. Yet, it was a visit to Baton Rouge last weekend that convinced him to stay in state to play for the Tigers.
"LSU is home," Allen said. "I had been asking God to give me little signs about the place I need to be, and that's what he did. All the signs pointed me to LSU. I already went to the schools I was really considering more than once. I knew everything I needed to know. The time was right. LSU is the place for me."
Allen cited relationships with the coaching staff like offensive line coach Jeff Grimes, the opportunity for playing time and the overall educational opportunity as key reasons why he selected the Tigers, but he also stressed the importance of being near his guardians, Jerry Godfrey and Lindsi Godfrey. LSU is only a 70-minute drive from his home just outside of New Orleans.
"Playing at LSU, you will always have your family and support system around all the time in case you need it," Allen said.
Allen's pledge is also significant because it will impact in who finishes with the nation's top recruiting class. After years of Alabama already having the top spot locked up by mid-January, nobody has a stranglehold on the top class and as many as 11 schools have a path that could see them finishing at No. 1. But the team that has the clearest course to the top is LSU.
Along with the addition of Allen, the Tigers are awaiting a Friday decision from 12th-ranked Rashard Lawrence, the No. 1 player in Louisiana and sixth-best defensive tackle. Lawrence is expected to pick between Ohio State and LSU, but if Lawrence joins Allen on the LSU commitment list, then the Tigers are expected to have a solid enough class to move to the top of the class rankings.