Edward Paris commits to LSU over Texas, Florida

The newest Tiger was considered to be a long-time LSU lean.

By Wescott Eberts Feb 25, 2013, 7:12pm EST

The LSU Tigers secured one of the top defensive back prospects in the nation when Mansfield (Texas) Timberview defensive back Edward Paris gave his verbal pledge on Monday, informing New Orleans Picayune beat writer James Smith via text moments before making his official announcement on Twitter:

LSU fans turn up!!
— Edward Paris Jr (@323Eddie_P) February 26, 2013

A Louisiana native who grew up a fan of the Tigers before his family moved to Texas, Paris chose LSU over his two other finalists, Texas and Florida.

One of the top prospects in a loaded defensive backs class in 2014 for the state of Texas, the 6'1, 190-pound player is a consensus five-star prospect and the third-ranked safety in the country by the 247Sports composite rankings. In the 247Sports rankings, Paris is the No. 9 prospect nationally and the top player in Texas. He held offers from around 25 schools prior to his commitment, including Clemson, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, TCU and Tennessee, among others.

Paris told the New Orleans Picayune over the weekend that the Tigers were the right fit for him:

Everything just feels right at LSU. The coaches, the fans and the football program are all top notch.

His impending decision was hardly a closely-kept secret -- he spent his time in Florida at a 7-on-7 tournament wearing an LSU shirt and hat, making his allegiances clear.

Part of what makes Paris such a highly-considered prospect is the fact that he's physical enough to play the safety position, but also possesses the speed, hips, and overall transition ability to spend time at cornerback, hence his insistence on being classified there instead of at safety.

The 2014 US Army All-American now makes six commitments already for LSU in the 2014 class, including the third defensive back, joining Houston (Texas) Alief Taylor cornerback Chris Hardemann and Woodville (Miss.) safety Devin Voorhies.

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