LSU Football: 4-star in-state WR isn’t a lock to land with Tigers

No one dominates in-state recruiting quite like LSU Football.

The Tigers don’t often miss on elite in-state recruits.

During the 2021 recruiting cycle, LSU signed five of the top eight recruits in the state of Louisiana (the Tigers signed the top four in-state players).

There’s an elite 2022 wide receiver, however, that could end up leaving the state.

Could LSU football miss on elite in-state wide receiver?

2022 four-star wide receiver Shazz Preston, 6-foot/190 lbs from Saint James, LA, is ranked in 247Sports’ composite rankings as the No. 8 wide receiver in the country and the No. 4 player in Louisiana. He’s also ranked as the No. 67 overall player in the 2022 recruiting class.

Preston obviously has interest in the Tigers, but there are other programs that equally have his attention.

And just because LSU is the hometown school doesn’t mean the Tigers have an advantage in this recruiting battle.

USC, Texas, Georgia, and Alabama are serious threats to land the talented wide receiver.

Preston’s father recently spoke to 247Sports about his son’s recruitment. And he made it clear that the family will be doing their due diligence.

The family is considering everything in Preston’s upcoming decision — specifically the impact that the looming Name, image, and likeness rule changes will have on the college football experience.

That’s one of the reasons that USC is a serious threat to land the Louisiana native.

“It’s Hollywood. With the name, Image, Likeness laws changing, you have to do your due diligence and what they have to provide,” said Preston’s father while discussing USC. “They are rich in tradition in receivers and quarterback play.”

Preston is going to sign with the program that is best equipped to set him up for success beyond college football.

That could still be LSU. But he won’t sign with the Tigers by default. LSU will need to work hard to land the dynamic four-star wide receiver.