When it comes to the LSU Tigers as they approach National Signing Day on February 7th with most of the 2018 class locked in, they’re focusing in on getting the incredibly stacked 2019 class in the state of Louisiana. The Tigers already have six commitments from that class and one of them is Kardell Thomas from Southern Lab. The 5-star recruit is ranked as the top offensive lineman in the country and made his commitment to the program on January 29th.

110% A TIGER Thanks To all the Schools that recruited me I'm Grateful for it But home is where The Heart Is I Put This City On my Back and It's Mines So why not work to bring Baton Rouge A National Championship 💜💛🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯 pic.twitter.com/pMXQB7aqoN — Kardell thomas (@kardellt62) January 30, 2018

Thomas came on The Producers to talk about the decision and attributed some of it to being a Louisiana native. “Being here my whole life, I always had that dream of playing for the Tigers. A lot of schools crept in on that, but when I actually sat down and realized that I’m able to have my family come see me play every time I’m in Death Valley or going on the road against an SEC opponent. The decision came from just me being down there and watching The Boys From the Boot video really helped make my decision. A lot of schools get their talent out of state like Alabama and my mind was like ‘If I stay here and I get other players to stay here like some of these five-stars, I can help make something happen.'”

Before he made his decision though, LSU lost their offensive line coach in Jeff Grimes. “When I first heard about it, I didn’t know because I falling asleep before (Jeff) Grimes came out with it. I almost knew something was up because he texted me almost every day. We’d talk and then that kind of stopped so I was like ‘Coach might be leaving’ because when you go from having consistent conversations to not talking at all, I kind of knew something was up.” However, that didn’t change his mind when it came to committing to the Tigers, mentioning that “As long Coach O and a couple of other coaches are still there, I’m straight. Grimes and I had a great relationship and it hurt a little bit, but at the same time I understand that it’s a business so I went into this with a business mindset.”

Check out the full interview for more about Kardell Thomas.

-Clint Domingue