LSU goes into California to land 4-star cornerback Daylen Austin

On3 imageby:Chad Simmons05/16/22

ChadSimmons_

Long Beach (Calif.) Poly cornerback Daylen Austin has committed to LSU. The 6-foot, 176-pound four-star took his first visit to Baton Rouge last month and he left a Tiger commitment.

At the end of that visit, Austin committed to Brian Kelly. He was not sure when he wanted to make his commitment public, but after thinking about it, he felt there was no reason to wait.

“There was no reason to wait anymore,” Austin told On3. “I didn’t expect to put it out this early, but I just felt it was time. I knew I was a commitment, LSU is my top school, and I am to let everyone know.”

Austin knows it will surprise many.

He is a top recruit with numerous programs on the west coast in pursuit, but the No. 154 prospect in the On3 Consensus is heading east to play in the SEC.

“I think I have shocked the world a little bit. I am a Cali guy going to play football in Louisiana. Who would have thought that? It is exciting to let that part out.”

The first visit to LSU pushed the Tigers to the top for Austin

Kelly, Robert Steeples, and the LSU staff are excited too. On the visits, Austin spent a full day, over 10 hours, with LSU coaches. He saw the campus, a practice, he met with the staff, and he knew it was different.

“I just felt it. LSU is the right school. That visit changed everything for me. I knew I liked LSU, but I had that feeling on the visit.”

The attention he received meant a lot. He was there on a weekday and the staff was very busy with spring practice. From 9am-8pm, LSU was in some way by his side. That made him feel like a top priority.

Then what he saw on the visit pushed him to his commitment.

“I learned a lot more about coach Kelly. He is a cool guy with a lot of energy. Coach Steeples spent a lot of time with me. He brought his wife and kids to dinner with me and that showed me a lot. He is a family guy like me, so that stood out.

“Then, I saw practice and how they go hard. What they do as a team is impressive. The whole visit made a big impact on my decision.”

Coach Steeples was a big part of this decision. The two have connected, and with Steeples’ resume, and that, combined with LSU’s history, made this right.

“LSU is DBU,” Austin said. “Coach Steeples played in the NFL and then he coaches in the NFL, so he has a great experience. He and coach House are two guys with NFL experience.

“That is where I want to play, so why not play for them at a school that has produced the most corners in the last five years? It is just right.”

Austin still plans to take all five official visits. Schools like Oregon, Penn State, and USC are expected to stay in this race.