Scott Lashley could have gone anywhere to play football.
On Tuesday, the West Point High School offensive lineman gave a verbal commitment to Alabama. He will sign a National Letter of
Intent with the Crimson Tide today with seven of his teammates on National Signing Day.
Lashley was supposed to make his announcement at a news conference at the school, but bad weather in the area forced schools to be dismissed early and canceled the event, so he made his decision known on a video.
“I would like to thank God for all my blessings,” Lashley said on the video. “I would like to thank my parents and family for supporting me. I would like to thank the coaches and teachers for giving me that push on and off the field. I would like to thank my teammates just for being there for me, for pushing me on the field to get that extra rep or run that extra gasser.”
Lashley, who had 25 Division I scholarship offers, picked Alabama over Mississippi State and LSU. He visited all three in January and gave a special thanks to each one before he pulled out a Crimson Tide visor and put it on.
Lashley was committed to MSU briefly in the summer, which is why many expected him to sign with MSU. Lashley couldn’t be reached for comment, but West Point football coach Chris Chambless said it was all about the perfect fit for Lashley.
“When you can narrow it down between those three schools, you’re really not going to make a wrong decision,” Chambless said. “You’ve just got to put it all in perspective of where you think you fit. His decision was totally up to him and his family. I guess he weighed all the options and made a decision where he felt like he best fit.”
The four-star left tackle is the second commitment for Alabama in as many days from the state of Mississippi. Germantown High cornerback Nigel Knott committed to Alabama over Ole Miss, Oregon, Mississippi State, and Tennessee on Monday.
Lashley, who is the top offensive lineman in the state of Mississippi, joins fellow offensive tackles five-star prospect Jonah Williams and Charles Baldwyn, the nation’s top junior college tackle, in the Crimson Tide’s 2016 class. Both have already enrolled. Alabama enters National Signing Day with 18 commitments.
MSU hoped to add Lashley to a group of offensive line recruits that features DeSoto Central High’s Dareuan Parker, Philadelphia High’s Greg Eiland, and Fort Pierce Central’s (Florida) Stewart Reese. South Carolina offensive guard commit Lloyd Cushenberry could be the fourth offensive lineman if he flips to MSU today.
Chambless said Alabama is getting a great player.
“You ask anybody that knows anything about him and people he played against, they will tell you the same thing,” Chambless said. “I feel like he can develop into a great player. He’s got great potential, he’s a fast learner, a hard worker, and he’s going to do the things that it takes to be successful.”
Lashley didn’t receive his first offer — from MSU — until last February, but many others followed suit and offered the 6-foot-7, 310-pounder.
Chambless said he wasn’t surprised offers came pouring in for Lashley as the 2015 season wore on.
“I always knew when he was able to be out there 100 percent and perform, he was going to get the job done,” Chambless said. “Coaches and colleges were able to see that. You can’t coach the size No. 1, but he’s got great feet, he’s got a great mind for the game. I think he’s going to be successful wherever he goes.”
Alabama loses All-American Cam Robinson at left tackle. Lashley said last month Robinson is his idol and that he tries to mold his game after Robinson’s.
Chambless said Lashley has the potential to play as a freshman for Alabama.
“The sky is the limit for him,” Chambless said. “He’s going to go, learn, and excel as fast as they are going to let him do that.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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