Sting factor: Kenyon Jackson's decommitment from LSU

LSU head coach Ed Orgeron has made it clear that wide receiver is a priority position for the Tigers in the 2018 recruiting class and beyond, but earlier this month the school received some bad news when 2019 four-star Loganville (Ga.) Grayson wide receiver Kenyon Jackson backed off his pledge to the school. Jackson had been committed to the Tigers for months but has steadily collected new offers and received increased interest from other programs. Now that he’s made his decision to reevaluate his options, we take a look at how big of a blow his loss is to LSU.

STING FACTORS: James Cook | Chris Steele | Cameron Latu | Ronald Thompkins

“The sting factor for Jackson wholly depends on how LSU finishes its 2019 class with wide receivers. On one hand it’s hard to imagine where losing an out-of-state receiver is going to hurt with what the state produces but Orgeron and staff need to seal the deal with those home kids first. If LSU finishes the 2018 class with Terrace Marshall and flips Ja’Marr Chase combined with the underrated Kenan Jones, I put the sting factor at six, but if they don’t then it could go as high as an eight.” – Mike Scarborough, TigerBait.com

Sting score: 6

“LSU’s evaluation on Jackson was all about his upside and the Tigers deserve credit for getting on him early, but in a year where the state of Louisiana is loaded with talent at the wide receiver position and considering how early it is in the cycle for the 2019 class, I don’t consider this a major loss for the program. Jackson has often referred to the Tigers as his dream school so the door might not be completely shut, but I would be surprised if he ends up signing with LSU.” - Woody Wommack, Southeast Recruiting Analyst, Rivals.com

Sting score: 2

“I'll give Jackson's decommitment a six. It's not too bad because he's a 2019 but also not so great since he's from Georgia and the momentum LSU had in that state is quickly fading away. Jackson is a big-time playmaker and we all know that offense needs help, but it's a medium impact because he so far away from signing.” – Mike Farrell, National Recruiting Director, Rivals.com

Sting score: 6

What happens now: When Jackson decommitted most people immediately turned their attention to Florida State, a school he has spoken highly of and where three of his high school teammates are also committed. But the ‘Noles are off to a slow start in 2017 and recently lost a commitment from another one of Jackson’s teammates, running back Ronald Thompkins. Either way, expect Florida State to be involved and other programs like Oregon, Georgia and Tennessee might also factor in before it’s all said and done.