STARKVILLE — Lorenzo Dantzler is pretty happy with his commitment.
The Starkville High School defensive lineman committed to Louisiana Tech earlier this spring. He has seven other offers, including Southern Mississippi and Memphis.
He hopes more offers will pour in this fall as he plays his final season for the Yellow Jackets. If that happens, he’ll re-evaluate his options.
“If a better offer comes and I feel like it’s a better opportunity for me to succeed in my career, then I will switch my commitment over,” Dantzler said.
Dantzler had 37 tackles (six for loss), five sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, one pass breakup, and one safety as a junior.
Before he made his commitment, Dantzler liked what he heard from the Louisiana Tech coaches. He felt like it was a good fit and that the school had everything he was looking for academically and athletically.
“I could probably start as a freshman and I could graduate in three years,” Dantzler said. “It was just a better fit for me as what position I want to play at.”
247Sports considers Dantzler a three-star prospect and the 55th best player in the state of Mississippi. He is rated as the 103rd-best weak-side defensive end in the Class of 2016, but his position is a topic of conversation.
The 6-foot-1, 222-pound senior might have the skill to play at a Southeastern Conference or Power 5 school, but teams don’t know what he is.
“He’s just a little in between weight wise and height wise,” Starkville defensive coordinator Brooks Oakley said. “I don’t think anybody really knows where he is. Is he on the line of scrimmage, is he off the line of scrimmage?”
BleedTechBlue.com writer Jonathan Ford sees Dantzler playing defensive line and linebacker for the Bulldogs in Ruston, Louisiana.
“I see him fitting the role of their hybrid defensive end, outside linebacker position because he shows he’s versatile enough to stand up if he’s asked to,” Ford said.
Dantzler reminds Ford of another Golden Triangle Area defensive lineman, former West Point High standout Vontarrius Dora.
“He shows the ability to get up field and rush the passer or disrupt a run play much like Dora could in high school, and (he) uses his length well against blockers,” Ford said.
Dora chose Louisiana Tech over Ole Miss, Arkansas State, and Alabama-Birmingham. He will be a senior this year.
Louisiana Tech’s roster features 11 players from the state of Mississippi.
Playing at a school like Starkville will get Dantzler noticed. The Jackets were ranked No. 1 for a good portion of last season. Starkville returns several players on defense and likely will compete for a Mississippi High School Actives Association Class 6A State championship.
Oakley likes what Louisiana Tech has to offer Dantzler, but he wants him to feel comfortable with the school he signs with in February.
“What we try to preach to those guys, you go out there and play the best you can and if you get some Power 5 offers, that’s great,” Oakley said. “If that’s what he’s looking for, hopefully he’ll go out there and produce and get what he wants.”
Dantzler said a scholarship offer from Purdue is looming.
“It’s been cool as far as the recruiting process,” Dantzler said. “I’ve been staying in contact with a lot of other schools and nothing has come up as an offer as of right now. If I have a big season, I’m pretty sure the offers will come.”
Ben Wait is a sports writer for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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