Despite a final push from a college head coach LSU fans know all too well, one of New Orleans' top Class of 2019 prospects is staying home. Wednesday morning, alongside several teammates, John Ehret linebacker Donte Starks signed his National Letter of Intent to play college football next fall at LSU.
Starks announced last Friday his decision would come down to the Tigers, whom he's been committed to since July 5, and Kansas, who hired former LSU head coach Les Miles a month ago. Starks took an official visit to the Big 12 school two weekends ago after Miles offered the No. 7 recruit in the state on Nov. 25.
But his official visits ended with LSU last weekend alongside fellow future LSU teammate John Emery, the No. 2 running back in the country. The two posed for a photo together in LSU jerseys and posted it on Twitter. Three days later, things became official.
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Entering national signing day, Starks was rated the top linebacker in Louisiana in the Class of 2019 and the sixth-best in the country, making him a key component for the Tigers' highly ranked recruiting class.
Wednesday marks the first day of the "early signing period," a 72-hour window when high school recruits can sign binding national letters of i…
Starks finished his chaotic high school career in Marrero after moving back and forth across the south. He came to John Ehret after his sophomore season at St. Martin High School in Mississippi -- not far from Biloxi.
Just as his junior season was about to begin, the inside linebacker announced he and his family were moving back to Mississippi after former Patriots coach Corey Lambert was fired. Starks cited “unfortunate circumstances with the Jefferson Parish School Board" in his announcement.
As a junior at Biloxi High School, Starks compiled 82 tackles -- including 13 for a loss -- despite missing the first three games of the season. But three weeks after his junior campaign ended, he again announced he was on the move -- this time back to John Ehret to finish what he meant to start.
With the Patriots as a senior, Starks racked up 129 tackles, including 17 for loss, and 7.5 sacks as he and his John Ehret teammates won 12 consecutive games after dropping the season-opener to West Monroe, making it all the way to the Class 5A semifinals, where they again fell again to the Rebels.
Jay Ward
Position: CB
Measurables: 6-foot-1, 175 pounds
High School: Colquitt County
Hometown: Moultrie, Georgia
247Sports Position Rank: No. 51 (3-stars)
STORY: Jay Ward was one of the most surprising signings of LSU's 2019 class. Ward seemed like a lock to either Kentucky or Florida State, which he visited last weekend, but the three-star CB instead picked the Tigers.
Devonta Lee
Position: WR
Measurables: 6-foot-2, 212 pounds
High School: Amite
Hometown: Amite
247Sports Position Rank: No. 8 (4-stars)
STORY: Devonta Lee elected to stay close to home in signing with LSU. The elite athlete took part in the Under Armour All-America Game and had 19 scholarship offers before signing with the Tigers.
- Photo via LSU
Maurice Hampton
Position: CB
Measurables: 6-foot-0, 205 pounds
High School: Memphis University School
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
247Sports Position Rank: No. 14 (4-stars)
STORY: The rich get richer. LSU, or DBU, signed another elite cornerback with Maurice Hampton sticking to his commitment of more than two years to the Tigers.
- Photo via LSU
Soni Fonua
Position: SDE
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 264 pounds
School: Mesa Community College
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
247Sports Position Rank: No. 5 (3-stars)
STORY: Soni Fonua saved the theatrics and announced his decision to sign with LSU on Sunday instead of national signing day.
- Photo via LSU
Cordale Flott
Position: DB
Measurables: 6-foot-1, 165-pounds
High School: Saraland High School
Hometown: Saraland, Alabama
247Sports Position Rank: No. 23 (3-star)
STORY: He was once an Auburn commit before flipping to LSU. A report early Wednesday indicated that Flott would not signed today, but he ultimately signed with LSU.
- Provided photo
Kardell Thomas
Position: OG
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 356 pounds
High School: Southern University Lab
Hometown: Baton Rouge
247Sports Position Rank: No. 2 (5-stars)
STORY: Kardell Thomas remained loyal to his commitment to the Tigers, which dates back to summer 2016.
- Photo via LSU
Tyrion Davis
Position: RB
Measurables: 6-foot-1, 230 pounds
High School: Southern University Lab
Hometown: Baton Rouge
247Sports Position Rank: No. 8 (4-stars)
STORY: A hometown product, Tyrion Davis should continue his success at the next level down the road at LSU. His 230-pound frame makes him a bigger, more physical running back.
- Photo via LSU
John Emery Jr.
Position: RB
Measurables: 5-foot-11, 206 pounds
High School: Destrehan
Hometown: Destrehan
247Sports Position Rank: No. 2 (5-stars)
STORY: A longtime Georgia commit, John Emery Jr. flipped to LSU in mid November. He should factor into the Tigers' offense right away.
- Photo via LSU
Peter Parrish
Position: DUAL QB
Measurables: 6-foot-1, 198 pounds
High School: Central
Hometown: Phenix City, Alabama
247Sports Position Rank: No. 13 (4-stars)
STORY: Peter Parrish recently led his team to the Alabama 7A state championship over Thompson, 52-7. Starting at quarterback for Thompson was Alabama commit Taulia Tagovailoa, the younger brother of Heisman finalist Tua Tagovailoa.
- Photo via LSU
Marcel Brooks
Position: OLB
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 195 pounds
High School: Marcus
Hometown: Flower Mound, Texas
247Sports Position Rank: No. 3 (4-stars)
STORY: A dominant defensive presence, Marcel Brooks held offers from 21 programs. Offering schools included Oklahoma, Alabama, Ohio State, Texas and Texas A&M.
- Photo via LSU
Derek Stingley
Position: CB
Measurables: 6-foot-0, 188 pounds
High School: Dunham
Hometown: Baton Rouge
247Sports Position Rank: No. 1 (5-stars)
STORY: Derek Stingley bolsters another elite LSU recruiting class. He should make an impact immediately at DB U.
- Photo via LSU
Apu Ika
Position: DT
Measurables: 6-foot-0, 188 pounds
High School: East
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
247Sports Position Rank: No. 11 (4-stars)
STORY: Apu Ika was a surprise late addition to the 2019 class, choosing to sign with the Tigers over in-state Utah.
- Photo via LSU
Trey Palmer
Position: WR
Measurables: 6-foot-0, 179 pounds
High School: Kentwood
Hometown: Kentwood
247Sports Position Rank: No. 19 (4-stars)
STORY: Trey Palmer visited LSU the weekend before signing day, which seemed to reaffirm his commitment to the Tigers.
- Photo via LSU
Donte Starks
Position: ILB
Measurables: 6-foot-1, 225 pounds
High School: John Ehret
Hometown: Marrero
247Sports Position Rank: No. 6 (4-stars)
STORY: Donte Starks committed in July and took an official visit to LSU last weekend. He joins a long line of talented Tigers inside linebackers.
- Photo via LSU
Charles Turner
Position: C
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 260 pounds
High School: IMG Academy
Hometown: Bradenton, Floida
247Sports Position Rank: No. 6 (3-stars)
STORY: Charles Turner, a Canton, Ohio, native, played two years at high school powerhouse IMG Academy, going 16-1 in that time. He will play in the All-American Bowl on Jan. 5, 2019.
- Photo via LSU
Kendall McCallum
Position: ILB
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 230 pounds
High School: Oxford
Hometown: Oxford, Alabama
247Sports Position Rank: No. 32 (3-stars)
STORY: AL.com reported Kendall McCallum missed four games due to a health scare that was first diagnosed as a heart problem. It was eventually determined to be asthma. McCallum adds to a strong defensive group in the 2019 class.
- Photo via LSU
Anthony Bradford
Position: OG
Measurables: 6-foot-5, 355 pounds
High School: Muskegon
Hometown: Muskegon, Michigan
247Sports Position Rank: No. 13 (4-stars)
STORY: Anthony Bradford is the sixth-highest rated prospect from Michigan, according to 247Sports. He also held offers from SEC programs Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.
- Photo via LSU
T.K. McClendon
Position: TE
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 247 pounds
Community college: Copiah-Lincoln
Hometown: Wesson, Mississippi
247Sports Position Rank: No. 3 (3-stars)
STORY: T.K. McClendon, from Treulton High in Soperton, Georgia, will have two years of remaining eligibility at LSU.
- Photo via LSU
Quentin Skinner
Position: LS
Measurables: 6-foot-0, 235 pounds
High School: Buford
Hometown: Buford, Georgia
247Sports Position Rank: No. 4 (2-stars)
STORY: Quentin Skinner is the latest Buford, Georgia, longsnapper to play for LSU. Brothers Blake and Reid Ferguson are both from Buford. Blake is LSU's sophomore starting snapper. Reid snapped for the Tigers for four years, ending in 2015.
- Photo via LSU
Joseph Evans
Position: DT
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 305 pounds
High School: Haynesville
Hometown: Haynesville
247Sports Position Rank: No. 45 (3-stars)
STORY: Joseph Evans described LSU as a dream school and committed two days after receiving an offer from head coach Ed Orgeron.
- Photo via LSU
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