The family of Columbus (Ind.) East five-star quarterback Gunner Kiel confirmed with 247Sports that he committed to LSU on Tuesday.

LSU has landed the nation's top pro-style quarterback prospect in Gunner Kiel from Columbus (Ind.) East.

The nation’s top-ranked pro-style passer and No. 12 recruit overall, Kiel becomes the 22nd commit for the Tigers program, and the 10th ranked inside the Top247.

"I can't wait to play in the SEC," Kiel said. "A lot of people call it the NFL of college football and it will be an exciting time. It would mean a lot to be a starting quarterback in such a great conference at a great school. I really love the players and the coaching staff. They were all great to me on my visit and seemed very welcoming."

The 6-foot-4, 218-pound Kiel chose LSU over Notre Dame and Vanderbilt, and will begin classes as an early enrollee this semester. Arkansas, Purdue and USC also received late consideration.

“Just a gut feeling,” Kip Kiel, Gunner’s father told 247Sports on Tuesday afternoon. “The thing about LSU, they’ve been on him from the get go, and have been consistently on him from the get go, and it was a gut feeling that he had.

“Obviously I think Gunner had a great relationship with (LSU quarterbacks) Coach (Steve) Kragthorpe and Coach Kragthorpe has a lot of experience, and I think that was the big key for LSU. Playing with the top talent in the country around him had something to do with it. He likes the SEC conference and that atmosphere kind of helps too.”

As a senior, Kiel earned Indiana Mr. Football and state Gatorade Player of the Year honors after passing for 2,517 yards and 28 touchdowns to just four interceptions. He led Columbus East to the semi-state round of the state playoffs, also rushing for 427 yards and 12 more scores. He will cap his prep career as a U.S. Army All-American on Jan. 7.

Kiel originally committed to Indiana before the start of the season, where his older brother is a quarterback with the Hoosiers. Kiel de-committed from the in-state program on Oct. 21, and visited LSU, Notre Dame and Vanderbilt twice before coming to a final decision. He was in Baton Rouge for the Arkansas game and returned for a Tigers bowl practice.

“All of the players were great to me on my visit,” Kiel said. “I enjoyed talking with Coach Miles and everyone down there. Baton Rouge is a special place and can’t wait to be a part of it.”

The Kiel family requested that 247Sports share quotes with myindianafootball.com. For more on Gunner Kiel’s commitment, check out Luke Martin’s interview with Kiel at myindianafootball.com here.