Corley talks LSU commitment
Rivals100 defensive end Sidell Corley made a surprise decision when he gave a verbal commitment to LSU during the weekend.
"I committed to LSU this morning," Corley said. "I liked the coaches. (Tigers head coach) Les Miles has always been a straight shooter with me. The defensive line coach, Earl Lane also is a good defensive line coach and he sends his guys to the next level."
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There also was a comfort level that the former Florida commitment felt in Baton Rouge.
"I felt at home as soon as I stepped on campus," he said.
The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Corley, the state of Alabama's third-ranked overall prospect, also had considered Alabama and Tennessee. The Crimson Tide were thought to have been in driver's seat after he de-committed from the Gators on Jan. 26.
"Alabama is a great school," Corley said. "They have a great coaching staff with Nick Saban, but the defensive package that LSU has and the way LSU is going to play me, I think it's a better fit for me because Alabama is going to run a 3-4.
"LSU runs a 4-3 and some times they are going to shift me to linebacker and stuff like that."
Corley's high school teammate, Rivals250 athlete Phelon Jones, also is a Tigers commit. Like Corley, Jones previously was committed to a Florida school (Miami) before switching to the Bayou Bengals.
"(Phelon) didn't pressure me to go to LSU," Corley said. "I've always heard good things about LSU from him. We've been playing together since middle school, though, and now we are going to play together in college, so that will be nice."
Josh Henson was Corley's recruiter of record for LSU.
This marks the third time in five years that the Tigers have signed at least one prospect from the Mobile area. Jones and Corley join quarterback JaMarcus Russell (2003) and defensive backs Chevis Jackson (2004) as prospect who have headed west on I-10 to Baton Rouge for college.
Corley is a high (6.0) four-star rated prospect according to Rivals.com. He is the fourth-ranked strongside defensive end prospect and the No. 58 overall prospect nationally.