Lawrence sticking with USM for now

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. - With Larry Fedora leaving Southern Miss to become head coach at North Carolina this week, longtime Golden Eagles commit De'Ante Lawrence of Prattville (Ala.) is taking his time to sort things out.

But he admitted the news was disappointing.

"A big reason I committed to Southern Miss was Coach Fedora," Lawrence said after practice for this week's Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic. "I liked him a lot. He was a good guy. I still like Southern Miss, but I'm just going to wait and see. I'm still committed, but it's going to depend on what kind of coach they get."

With Southern Miss going through a change at the top, Minnesota could be the Golden Eagles' biggest threat in the race to sign the 6-feet-2, 207-pounder, who likely will play either running back or outside linebacker in college.

"I'd say Minnesota is looking good," Lawrence said. "That was the last offer I got. They offered like two weeks ago. The coach showed me a couple pictures and videos of the campus, and told me a lot of things about it - and I like it."

Lawrence plans to make officials to both Minnesota and Southern Miss. Dates haven't been set, but they'll probably be taken in January, he said.

According to Lawrence, distance isn't a big factor. And neither is the weather in Minnesota.

"I could get used to it," he said.

Keith Niebuhr can be reached at kneebs01@aol.com. You can follow him on Twitter @KeithRIVALS.

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