5-Star Arizona Kicker Connor Culp Discusses Commitment to LSU

Written by Ryan Wright

Over the years many of the bigger recruiting services have made a point to go out of their way to downgrade the importance of special team players when ranking recruits. Despite the fact that every coach separates the game into three phases and talks about the need to win all three phases, when looking up Connor Culp on various websites one may not understand the significance of his future role at the next level, but luckily one of the best coaches in college football does, Les Miles.

On Tuesday Connor Culp made his verbal commitment to LSU public but he had been a silent commitment for nearly two weeks leading up to the announcement.

Miles saw Culp kick in person during one of the Tigers’ camps in late July offering him a scholarship the same day. The “established” recruiting services devaluation of the kicker position aside, Culp is a 5-star kicker as valued by someone who knows best, kicking guru Chris Sailer.

Sailer has Culp ranked as the No. 4 kicker in the nation after Culp booted 29 of 32 kickoffs for touchbacks and hit 2 of 3 field goals as a junior missing a 57-yard attempt. Yes, the 5’10”, 180 pound, Desert Vista High School talent has a canon for a leg. The 57-yard attempt is well within his range having nailed a 70-yard attempt in practice, just for fun.

Participating in Chris Sailer kicking camps across the nation Culp has earned a wall full of honors that include:
2015 Vegas XXV Class of 2016 Kickoff Champion
2015 Vegas XXVI Prep Camp Overall Champion
2015 Vegas XXVI Prep Camp Field Goal Champion
2015 Vegas XXVI Prep Camp Kickoff Champion
2015 Vegas XXVI Class of 2016 Field Goal Champion
2015 Vegas XXVI Field Goal Finalist (Final 2)
2015 “TOP 12” & “Event Elite” Kickoff Champion

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview I sat down with the Phoenix area talent to get the background story on his commitment to LSU and his thoughts on becoming a future Tiger as part of the 2016 recruiting class.

Interview
Connor, congratulations on your commitment to LSU.

“Thank you.”

I know you participated in a camp at LSU before you committed. Walk me through how that visit went and how the offer came about.

“I actually went to their kicking camp, I believe it was 28th of July, it was a Saturday. The day before that I was in Ohio for the Top Gun Camp for the U.S. Army All-American Game. Unfortunately I got third and lost two times for the opportunity to kick in the game, but that’s okay.

“I flew into Baton Rouge on Sunday morning, which was the day of the camp. We got there late because our flight was delayed and we missed our connecting flight to camp. I was pretty tired but I still did well. I kicked in front of Coach Miles really well, not as well as I was doing earlier but pretty well under the circumstances that I was under.

“He (Coach Miles) brought about six kickers and two long snappers into the waiting room and he called us in one at a time. He started with the long snappers then the kickers, and I was the second kicker to get called in and that’s when he offered me the scholarship.

“I didn’t take it right away because I wanted to talk things through with my parents and get some other opinions. I told him I’ll get back to you soon. Later that day I called a few people and they said you gotta go for it. It’ll be the best decision of your life. I loved everything about it too. I just needed to find a little more information about it because I didn’t have a whole lot of information about the school.

“Later that day I committed in the airport over the phone. The reason why I announced it on Tuesday was because they told me to keep it on the down low for a little bit. On Tuesday he called me and said you can announce it today and let everyone know. That’s how it went.”

Who did you commit to?

“I called Coach (Bradely) Peveto, he’s the special teams coach. I tried calling Coach Miles, but never got in contact with him until Tuesday morning but when I did it went really well. I committed to Coach Peveto and he said great. It was hard keeping it a secret for two weeks but its well worth it.”

What was Coach Peveto’s reaction when you committed?

“He was very excited. I’m looking forward to working with him and the whole team. He seemed very excited and I’m very excited as well. I know I’ll be happy there.”

When you took a little time before you committed what research did you do about the school or the program? What did you need to find out before you verbally committed?

“I got all of my information, or most of my information, from one of my family friends who was a LSU quarterback in the 80’s. He kind of explained to me that the academics, never let them down, you’re going to get a great education. He said the football is top notch. There’s not a whole lot better than LSU football.

“I didn’t pay attention to the record I just know that I’m going to a great school with great academics and a great football program that I want to compete for and be a part of it. Those were the main things, not really how they did last season. That’s just one season. Look at the course of history and see how well they have done. The fact that they’re Top 3 in recruiting almost every year, that’s something special to be a part of as well.”

Since you had a couple of weeks in between when you verbally committed and when it went public, have you set an official visit date to Baton Rouge yet?

“I’ve not set an official visit time yet. I’m still waiting to see what my schedule is like. I know I do want to go watch a game with my family during the bye week (Oct. 17) for our football team. I think we might go that weekend (Florida vs. LSU).

Did you do anything special to celebrate your verbal commitment to LSU?

“Just the same thing everyday, actually really nothing. I just kind of stayed quiet and let social media do its work. I just kept it on the down low. Obviously my family and I were extremely happy. We celebrated it that way a little bit but nothing too big or anything like that. My mom made dinner, it was really good, I forgot what she made but it was good.”

Here’s the most important question about your commitment to LSU, do you like either BBQ or Cajun food?

“Oh jeez, they’re both my favorite. I mean they’re both fantastic.”

LSU 2016 Commitment List

QB Feleipe Franks, 6’6”, 203 lbs, Wakulla High School, Crawfordville, FL

OL Donavaughn Campbell, 6’5”, 340 lbs, Ponchatoula H.S., Ponchatoula, LA

OL Jakori Savage, 6’5”, 276 lbs, Baldwin County, Bay Minette, AL

TE Jamal Pettigrew, 6’5”, 216 lbs, St. Augustine, New Orleans, LA

WR Dee Anderson, 6’3”, 173 lbs, West Mesquite, Mesquite, TX

WR Damonte Coxie, 6’3”, 185 lbs, East St. John HS, Reserve, LA

WR Stephen Sullivan, 6’6”, 210 lbs, Donaldsville, Donaldsville, LA

LB Clifford Chattman, 6’5”, 185 lbs, McDonogh 35, New Orleans, LA

LB Erick Fowler, 6’3”, 235 lbs, Manor HS, Manor, TX

DB Cameron Lewis, 6’1”, 195 lbs, Wossman HS, Monroe, LA

DB Eric Monroe, 6’0”, 180 lbs, North Shore HS, Houston, TX

CB Savion Smith, 6’1”, 183 lbs, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL

CB Andraez Williams, 6’1”, 160 lbs, Calvary Baptist, Shreveport, LA

DE Andre Anthony, 6’3”, 225 lbs, Edna Karr HS, New Orleans, LA

DE Caleb Roddy, 6’5”, 245 lbs, Denham Spring HS, Denham Springs, LA

DE Rahssan Thorton, 6’4”, 220 lbs, Shoemaker HS, Killeen, TX

DT Edwin Alexander, 6’3”, 325 lbs, St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Hammond, LA

DT Glen Logan, 6’4”, 290 lbs, Destrehan HS, Destrehan, LA

K Connor Culp, 5’10”, 195 lbs, Desert Vista HS, Phoenix, AZ

Photo credit: Connor Culp; Connor with Les Miles