Commitment Analysis: Four-star DE Alec Bryant commits to LSU over Oklahoma
Alec Bryant is one of the best pass-rushers in all of Texas, but he’ll be playing his college football outside the state.
The four-star edge-rusher capped a junior day visit to LSU with a commitment to the Tigers. It comes on the heels of recent stops in Norman and nearly pledging to Oklahoma. Bryant instead will play in the SEC and is the newest piece in Ed Orgeron’s impressive defensive line class.
WHY IT'S GOOD FOR LSU
LSU managed some impressive defensive linemen its 2019 signing, most notably on the interior with four-star Siaki Ika and three-star Joseph Evans. It swung and missed on its priority target Ishmael Sopsher earlier this month.
Orgeron’s team managed a late defensive line addition in the form of Alabama’s Desmond Little, a developmental pass-rusher for LSU to coach up. It already found another piece in its 2020 class in Bryant.
The Shadow Creek (Texas) High School edge-rusher often plays with his hand in the dirt and plays with a tremendous initial burst. He’s relentless in his pursuit of opposing quarterbacks and possesses a great motor and fantastic closing speed. Bryant bends well, which helps to get around the edge. He can generate a pass rush from interior defensive line spots and at defensive end, which is likely where he’ll fit into LSU’s three-man defensive front.
Orgeron is quickly piecing together an impressive class from the trenches on out in 2020. The Tigers hold early commitments from Baton Rouge four-star tackle Jaquelin Roy and three-stars CamRon Jackson and Jordan Berry, who committed on Saturday. They are another highly rated defensive end in Bryant, who should help LSU fans forget about the signing day miss just two weeks ago.
WHY IT HURTS OKLAHOMA
Bryant’s early commitment looms large for the Tigers, but stings Oklahoma, who nearly added the Texas defensive end to its class over the summer. That’s right -- Bryant admitted that he nearly pledged to the Sooners after making his trek to Norman over the summer.
The Sooners were certainly the early favorite in this race with neither Texas nor Texas A&M extending an offer to the Houston-area product. Bryant’s attention was on Big 12 programs such as Oklahoma and TCU, and was eyeing a trip to Nebraska.
Much like LSU, Oklahoma is quickly building up an elite 2020 class. However, the strength of it is on the offensive side of the ball, primarily at wide receiver and more weapons for Lincoln Riley to cater an offense around. A miss on a priority defensive line target like Bryant will force the Sooners to look elsewhere for help in the trenches.