Alabama 3-Star LB Monty Rice Verbally Commits to LSU
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The Tigers pushed their 2017 recruiting class back to 18 players with Monday’s commitment from Alabama three-star linebacker Monty Rice.
Despite his three-star rating, Rice was a linebacker just about every SEC team wanted on their roster next season. The 6-1, 227 pound, hard hitting linebacker helped guide James Clemens High School to an 8-4 record in 2016 picking up nearly 20 scholarship offers along the way. Among the many hoping to sign him included Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Outside of the SEC, schools like Florida State, Louisville, Iowa State, Cincinnati, and Michigan dropped offers as well.
Rice made his announcement in front of his classmates at James Clemens.
The Tigers now have at least eight commits slated to play defense once on campus with Patrick Queen capable of playing running back or linebacker.
LSU and in-state four-star dual-threat quarterback Lowell Narcisse parted ways on Monday. 247Sports now rates the Tigers’ 2017 class No. 5 in the nation, No. 3 in the SEC, while Rivals has the lot at No. 6 in the country with two five-star recruits, Tyler Shelvin and JaCoby Stevens, and eight four-star talents.
LSU 2017 Verbal Commitment List (18)
SS Grant Delpit, 6-3.5, 181, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
SS JaCoby Stevens, 6-2, 200, Oakland HS, Murfreesboro, TN
CB Kary Vincent, 5-11, 170, Memorial HS, Port Arthur, TX
LB Monty Rice, 6-1, 227, James Clemens HS, Madison, AL
DE Aaron Moffitt, 6-4, 255, Catholic HS, Baton Rouge, LA
DE Justin Thomas, 6-5, 255, Spanish Fort HS, Spanish Fort, AL
DT Neil Farrell, 6-4, 295, Murphy HS, Mobile AL
DT Tyler Shelvin, 6-3, 300, Northside HS, Lafayette, LA
OG Saahdiq Charles, 6-5, 314, Madison-Ridgeland HS, Madison, MS
OG Edward Ingram, 6-4, 325, DeSoto HS, DeSoto, TX
OT Austin Deculus, 6-6, 323, Cy-Fair HS, Cypress, TX
OT Seth Steward, 6-8, 320, Point Pleasant HS, Point Pleasant, WV
FB Tory Carter, 6-2, 255, Lee County HS, Leesburg, GA
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, 5-8, 196, Catholic HS, Baton Rouge, LA
RB/LB Patrick Queen, 6-1, 205 Livonia HS, Livonia, LA
QB Myles Brennan, 6-3, 180, St. Stanislaus HS, Bay Saint Louis, MS
WR Mannie Netherly, 6-2, 183, Crosby HS, Crosby, TX
ATH Jontre Kirklin, 5-11.5, 166, Lutcher HS, Lutcher, LA
Photo credit: al.com; Monty Rice at James Clemens.