Rivals100 ATH backs off LSU after Miles reports

When Class of 2017 Rivals100 athlete JaCoby Stevens committed to LSU earlier this fall, he assumed he would be locked into the Tigers for good. But the recent drama surrounding coach Les Miles turned out to be too much for Stevens to handle.

"I decided to re-open my recruiting process," Stevens said Tuesday night. "I let the staff know today that with everything going on I just wanted to take a step back. I also want to get the full recruiting experience. I shortened things early and I think I should go back and reevaluate things not only with LSU but with other schools."

Stevens said the thought of looking around again crossed his mind, but it wasn't until this week's news surrounding Miles that things really changed.

"It has been crazy and I've been hearing a lot of things," Stevens said. "It's not a secret that LSU is trying to buy him out and stuff like that. Of course LSU is a great school but with not knowing if the coach is going to come back to the school plays a big part."

Stevens relationship with Miles and members of his staff played a major role in his decision and now he plans on taking a wait-and-see approach.

"When I did pick LSU I pictured myself playing for Les Mils and Corey Ramond and not knowing if he's going to be there players a big part," Stevens said. "So now with me opening things back up I can sit back and evaluate what's going on, not only in Baton Rouge but elsewhere."

Stevens had narrowed his list to seven schools before choosing the Tigers but now he said he's open to all comers. Several schools stayed active in his recruitment even after he committed.

"Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Stanford, Alabama and everybody that was recruiting me before has kept calling and talking to me," he said. "Committing to LSU didn't stop the recruiting process for me at all."

Stevens and his Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Oakland team plays in the Tennessee State on semifinals on Friday night and he said he doesn't have any intentions of taking visits this weekend.

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