LSU reels in 14th-ranked recruit Austin Deculus

LSU claimed one of the top recruits in the country Friday, securing a commitment from four-star offensive tackle Austin Deculus.

"I always knew that LSU would be my top school, but it was just in the last month that I knew for sure where I was going," Deculus told Gerry Hamilton of ESPN. "The coaching staff treated me different than all the other coaches, and Death Valley in full effect is like nothing else."

In addition to his four-star label, Deculus is ranked by ESPN as the No. 4 offensive tackle in the 2017 recruiting class, and the No. 14 overall prospect. The Cypress, Texas, native chose the Tigers over offers from more than 20 programs, including Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M, and Michigan.

Deculus is already the seventh four-star prospect to join Les Miles' 2017 class. LSU is looking to assemble its third top-five recruiting class in the last four years.