LSU lands another coveted pass rusher in DeAnthony Lafayette

One of the top pass rusher recruits in the state of Florida, DeAnthony Lafayette has long wanted to play SEC football.

On Thursday, he went public with the pick between new conference rivals in committing to the LSU Tigers over Oklahoma.

“I’m going to LSU!” Lafayette told Rivals. “Coach (Kevin) Peoples showed love since they offered me and his coaching style is a style I would love to be coached by.

“LSU football is something you can’t find anywhere else. It was hard between OU and LSU but they won me over.”

The Orlando (Fla.) Lake Nona standout says the official visit to Baton Rouge played the role of separator between SEC foes.

“It was just the feeling on the official visits,” he said. “LSU felt more like home for me. Baton Rouge — from the energy, the people, and the love for LSU football — hit different. From the moment I stepped on campus, it felt like home.

“You can tell the city breathes football, and being part of that means everything.”

After a breakout junior campaign, in which Lafayette notched 17.5 sacks and more than 40 quarterback pressures, he starred in the offseason camp circuit in addition to registering a top-10 finish in discus at the state track meet.

The new Tiger pledge is a versatile defender

Lafayette stands about 6-foot-1, 240 pounds and sits as one of the most polished pass rushers in the Sunshine State. Still, he knows the chances to see the field early may coincide with his versatility.

The three-star has cross-trained at off-ball linebacker, something almost exclusively in preparation for college football.

“They see me as a boundary side end, using the versatility in the pass rush and even dropping me in coverage sometimes as well,” Lafayette said.

The plan has been communicated up the chain, even to head coach Brian Kelly.

“He is great,” he said. “His coaching style is something new for me and I think I can thrive under it.”

The latest member of LSU’s top-10 recruiting class doesn’t expect to wait very long to make an impact in Tiger country.

“I’m doing this for my late mother so y’all gonna feel me,” Lafayette said. “Y’all are getting a dog off the edge.

“1000% locked in Geaux Tigers!”