LSU adds to “DBU” Label with Tennessee 5-Star 2017 safety JaCoby Stevens
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
LSU went a long way to help reaffirm their “Defensive Backs University” label on Monday when five-star Tennessee safety JaCoby Stevens recommitted to the Tigers.
Stevens helped push Oakland High School (Murfreesboro) to a 12-2 mark in 2015 with a run to Tennessee’s Class 6A semifinals before falling to Maryville. Along the way, the 6’2”, 200 pound, playmaker helped solidify his spot as one of the top safeties in the nation coming up with 84 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and six passes defended along with six interceptions.
The Tigers initially landed Stevens on Sept. 23, 2015 after offering him during the spring of his sophomore year but lost his commitment by Nov. 24. The up-and-down nature of LSU’s coaching staff and rocky positioning caused concern for Stevens. LSU head coach Les Miles was able to overcome the loss of two different defensive coordinators and his own potential dismissal to bring Stevens back into the fold.
By the time Stevens committed to LSU a second time, he had secured over 30 scholarship offers from teams like Tennessee, Clemson, Alabama, USC, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Georgia, Cal, and Florida. Stevens made a quick post on Twitter going public with his decision, “Officially Committed [sic] Back To My Dream School. LSU LSU LSU #GeauxTigers.”
LSU’s 2017 recruiting class continues to be one of the top in the nation, currently ranked No. 3 (247Sports) behind No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Alabama. Of the Tigers 19 commits, two are considered five-star prospects (Austin Deculus and Stevens) and eight are rated as four-star players.
LSU 2017 Verbal Commitment List (19)
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
DE Aaron Moffitt, 6-4, 255, Catholic HS, Baton Rouge, LA
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/ATH Patrick Queen, 6-1, 205 Livonia HS, Livonia, LA
QB Myles Brennan, 6-3, 180, St. Stanislaus HS, Bay Saint Louis, MS
QB Lowell Narcisse, 6-2.5, 224, St. James HS, St. James, LA
WR Jhamon Ausbon, 6-2.5, 217, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
WR Stephen Guidry, 6-4, 190, Hinds C.C., Raymond, MS
WR Mannie Netherly, 6-2, 183, Crosby HS, Crosby, TX
ATH Jontre Kirklin, 5-11.5, 166, Lutcher HS, Lutcher, LA
Photo credit: andthevalleyshook.com; JaCoby Stevens at LSU.