St. Stanislaus quarterback Myles Brennan is committed to LSU. (Photo: Jackson Clarion-Ledger)
Ed Orgeron has been elevated from beloved interim to LSU’s head coach.
And the Tigers’ potential quarterback of the future couldn’t be happier.
Brennan, the record-setting QB from St. Stanislaus High (Bay St. Louis, Miss.) told USA TODAY High School Sports that he was thrilled by the decision.
“I love it,” he said. “He’s one heck of a coach. Him and I are very close and I can’t wait to spend my college career with him.”
Brennan said he and Orgeron had a close relationship before he was elevated to interim coach following the firing of Les Miles, but the relationship “grew tremendously throughout the months.”
Brennan, a four-star Under Armour All-American, is ranked as the No. 10 pro-style quarterback in the nation, according to 247Sports. He was named Mississippi Class 4A Mr. Football.
With Orgeron in place, the next step will be finding an offensive coordinator.
The happiness with the new coach wasn’t only on the offensive side.
JaCoby Stevens, the highest-ranked recruit in the LSU class, said the decision was “huge for LSU.” Stevens, from Oakland (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) is a five-star prospect ranked as the No. 1 safety in the nation and No. 24 player overall, according to the 247Sports Composite.
“Coach O is a great guy and a great coach,” Stevens said. “Hopefully, he’ll keep the defensive staff together.”
Stevens, an Under Armour All-American, had decommitted from LSU last fall when rumors surfaced that Miles would be fired. He then recommitted in August when Miles returned. In September after Miles was fired, he said he was sticking with his commitment — at least for the time being.
Stevens said Saturday that he had talked to Orgeron “a few times because he was on that staff,” before Miles was fired, but has been in much more frequent contact since Orgeron was named the interim coach.
“We all love Coach O,” Stevens said.
Four-star Under Armour All-American cornerback Kary Vincent from Memorial (Port Arthur, Texas,) also praised the new coach.
“I’m super-excited for our future,” Vincent said. “I believe he’s totally capable of bringing the program to the next level.”
Vincent is ranked as the No. 13 cornerback in the nation.
Austin Deculus, a four-star Under Armour All-American offensive tackle, told USA TODAY Sports on Saturday that he was “looking for backup” when word came that LSU might be looking for someone other than Orgeron, but that changed with the announcement.
“Honestly my commitment was on the fence when LSU fired Les, but when coach O got moved to the position I was more then happy,” he said. “Then all this talk of hiring someone else as head coach had me looking for backups, but now knowing it’s official that he’s head coach I’m back to 100% on my commitment.
“He deserves that spot and this is only the beginning of the dynasty.”
Deculus is ranked as the No. 9 offensive tackle in the class and No. 38 overall, but the 247Sports Composite.
“Coach O is from back home (Louisiana), but he just brought something LSU needed,” Deculus said. “I knew it was the right pick when he first said, ‘One team, one heartbeat.’
Grant Delpit, a four-star safety from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., also said he is encouraged by the move. Delpit is also an Under Armour All-American.
“I think it’s a great hire, and I’m excited to see where Coach O leads the program,” he said. “I’m very close with him and the whole staff. We talk on the phone every week.”
LSU has 18 commits in the Class of 2017. Two players have decommitted since Miles was fired: junior college wide receiver Stephen Guidry and IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) wide receiver Jhamon Ausbon, who committed this week to Texas A&M in his home state.
