After a late push by Auburn and Florida State, Lane LSU holds on 4-star EDGE Trenton Henderson

With LSU navigating a head-coaching change and uncertainty surrounding the defensive staff under newly hired Lane Kiffin, Trenton Henderson chose not to sign on Wednesday. The four-star defensive standout from Pensacola (Fla.) Pine Forest kept in steady contact with LSU, but he also fielded strong interest from Auburn and Florida State, even visiting the Plains for the Iron Bowl and making multiple trips to Tallahassee.

Ultimately, LSU held firm.

“I had some restless nights,” Henderson told Rivals. “I really talked a lot with my family to make the final decision. LSU and I talked some, and I listened to other schools, but I just had to make a decision on what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be. That was LSU.”

The past 48 hours included extensive family conversations, along with input from his agent. What kept Henderson locked in was the same thing that sold him back in the summer.

“I picked LSU for the culture. There is no other culture like the one at LSU. It fit me. That was why I committed to them, and that is not going to change. LSU has great fans, great culture, and a history of developing guys and putting them in the NFL. I had to think a lot about it, but I knew where I wanted to be.”

Ranked No. 77 in the Rivals Industry Ranking, Henderson has also begun building a relationship with Kiffin, and early impressions are strong.

“He is a player’s coach, and I think that is what LSU needs. Coach Kiffin has made a great first impression. I’ve talked to him, my agent has talked to him, and what I’ve heard from him and about him, I like a lot.”

Auburn made things interesting during his Iron Bowl visit, and Florida State pushed hard to flip him. How close did it get?

“It is hard to say, but I stayed committed to LSU,” he said. “Auburn really gave me a lot to think about, and it is a great school, but no school ever changed my mind. With coaching changes, you have those thoughts as a commitment, but I took more time and made sure of where I wanted to be.”

Now, the decision is made, and the stress is gone.

“I am sleeping well again now. My decision was made Thursday night and it feels great to be a Tiger.”

Henderson will enroll at LSU in January.