LSU Football: Why Jacoby Mathews’ recruitment feels familiar

LSU football‘s 2022 recruiting class took a hit this week when four-star defensive back Jacoby Mathews announced his decommitment from the Tigers.

“After deep consideration, my parents and I have thought a lot through and I have decided to decommit from Louisiana State University and re-open my recruitment,” said Mathews in a tweet.

While losing Mathews’ commitment obviously isn’t ideal, it doesn’t mean the Louisiana native won’t be playing in Baton Rouge.

In fact, Mathews’ recruitment actually feels very familiar.

LSU football’s recruitment of Jacoby Mathews feels like their pursuit of Derek Stingley Jr

Mathews’ decision to decommit from LSU feels like a lot when Derek Stingley Jr decommitted from the Tigers in 2017.

After being committed to LSU for 10 months, Stingley decommitted so he could consider his options.

“I committed before my sophomore year of high school,” said Stingley in 2017 (via Nola.com). “I still have two whole years left. I just want to make the right decision for my future and I thought this was the only way to do that with a clear head.”

Stingley, of course, ended up signing with Ed Orgeron and the Tigers. And his decommitment from LSU is merely a footnote at this point.

Is it possible we see the same thing happen with Mathews?

It certainly feels that way.

Mathews seemed excited to join LSU. And he was helping the Tigers recruit talented players to Baton Rouge. That’s why his decommitment was a bit of a surprise.

All of the recent movement with SEC expansion could be the reason Mathews decided to take a step back (when Stingley decommitted, it was a couple of months after Orgeron was named LSU’s permanent head coach). And that’s understandable. College football is changing right now and I’m sure Mathews wants to make the best decision possible.

Ultimately, however, I expect Mathews to sign with LSU. In fact, I’d be surprised if that wasn’t the case.