LSU Football: Tigers among top schools for elite 2022 safety

LSU football is one of the programs to beat for one of the nation’s top 2022 safeties.

LSU football, unsurprisingly, is one of the top schools for 2022 four-star safety Jacoby Matthews.

Matthews told 247Sports this week that LSU, along with Mississippi State and Oklahoma are the programs giving him the most attention right now.

“Those three are showing me that they want me. They show me that I’m the top priority,” said Matthews.

Matthews, 6-foot-1/210 lbs from Ponchatoula, LA (Ponchatoula), is rated in 247Sports’ composite rankings as the No. 6 safety in the nation and the No. 4 player in the state of Louisiana. He’s also rated as the No. 74 overall 2022 player in the nation.

LSU football is battling several top programs for Matthews

While Matthews singled out LSU, Mississippi State, and Oklahoma this week as the programs recruiting him the hardest, those aren’t the only schools the elite safety is considering.

Matthews revealed a top-seven earlier this year that included LSU, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas, Georgia, and Michigan State.

The Louisiana native also mentioned to 247Sports this week that Penn State and Florida are trying to get into the mix.

There’s obviously a long way to go in Matthews’ recruitment.

While I still think LSU is the favorite here — thanks to their in-state ties — this is a recruiting battle that could interesting. Matthews is going to be one of the most highly sought after defensive players in the 2022 recruiting class.

That means LSU won’t be able to just sell Matthews on playing close to home — they’ll have to prove they’re the best landing spot for him.

But I wouldn’t worry too much. Landing in-state players in something Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron excels at doing.