Brian Kelly, LSU, keep 4-star LB Demario Tolan in this class

On3 imageby:Chad Simmons12/15/21

ChadSimmons_

Going into the official visit to LSU last weekend, Demario Tolan was leaning towards signing with another school. The four-star linebacker out of Orlando Dr. Phillips has been committed to LSU since early July. But once Ed Orgeron was fired, schools like Auburn, Georgia, and Tennessee got back in the race.

The No. 207 prospect in the On3 Consensus went into Baton Rouge with an open mind and he came out feeling good about his future as a Tiger.

“I didn’t know much about coach Kelly, I wasn’t sure about LSU, but the visit changed all that,” Tolan told On3. “Coach Kelly made a big impression on me. I knew I loved LSU, so once I met coach Kelly, and learned more about him, I knew I was staying.

“He spent a lot of time with me, he was honest with me, and my time with coach Kelly was great. I saw him as honest, approachable, and smart.”

It didn’t take 24 hours for Tolan to be on campus to realize he wanted to stay with the Tigers. Auburn and Tennessee were the biggest threats, but their shot at flipping the star defender in Florida were gone Saturday.

“Early Saturday morning is when it hit me. I had just spent about an hour with coach Kelly in his office, and it was over.

“We talked about football, LSU, family, and I told him I was staying. I had a great feeling about him.”

To sign Wednesday, and make it official, is what Tolan has been dreaming about.

“I believe in coach Kelly, I believe in LSU, and this is a dream come true for me,” Tolan said.