BREAKING: 4-star DB Daylen Austin commits to LSU

2023 Long Beach Poly (Calif.) cornerback Daylen Austin made his college commitment on Monday, he told On3 director of recruiting Chad Simmons. The four-star defensive back is now committed to LSU, giving the Tigers their second pledge in two days.

“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,” Austin told Simmons when breaking down his decision. “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.”

He took an unofficial visit to LSU earlier this spring and the trip stood out to the 6-0, 176-pound defensive back. Cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples made him a priority and he has a long-standing relationship with new LSU head coach Brian Kelly.

“Coach Steeples and I have a good relationship. He coaches in the NFL, he has great knowledge, and it is about more than football with him,” Austin told Simmons earlier this year when he cut his list down. “Coach Kelly recruited me when he was at Notre Dame too.”

Alabama, Georgia, Michigan State, Nebraska, Oregon, Penn State, and USC were the finalists for Austin. The California prospect wanted to take official visits, but instead announced his commitment to the Tigers.

Daylen Austin committing adds to LSU’s momentum

Austin ranks on the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, as the No. 154 overall prospect in the country, No. 18 cornerback in the nation and No. 10 prospect in California. On3 ranks him as the No. 223 overall prospect, No. 24 cornerback and No. 16 prospect in California.

Daylen Austin joins four-star Farmerville (La.) Union Parish running back Trey Holly, four-star Vivian (La.) North Caddo wide receiver Omarion Miller, four-star Saint Louis (Mo.) DeSmet tight end Mac Markway, four-star Denton (Tex.) Guyer safety Ryan Yaites and four-star Loganville (Ga.) Grayson safety Michael Daugherty in the 2023 recruiting class for LSU.

Austin has an On3 NIL Valuation of $21,000, ranking him No. 402 overall in the On3 High School Football NIL rankings. The On3 NIL Valuation is an index that looks to set the standard market value for both high school and college-level athletes. The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.