Earlier this morning, Connor Culp, No. 4 in the Chris Sailer kicker rankings, tweeted out an official commitment to the Tigers.
I am extreme blessed and thrilled to announce that I have committed to LSU #GoTigers pic.twitter.com/w4IXVUEbts
— Connor Culp (@culpyy18) August 4, 2015
247 and NOLA.com have confirmed. Culp is listed at 5-10, 180 pounds, and per Max Preps, has made 19 of his 21 field goals at Desert Vista High School in Arizona.
Sailer gives Culp the following review on his site:
"Connor is an unbelievable kicking talent. A great athlete with one of the very strongest legs in the nation. Smooth and extremely consistent on field goals. A great competitor who does extremely well under pressure. Kickoffs are D1 ready right now. The sky is the limit here. Connor is going to dominate at the D1 level. A fine young man with a great attitude and work ethic. Scholarship pick without a doubt."
Culp marks 19 commitments for the Class of 2016. I know that some will wonder why a scholarship spot would be given to another kicker with one on the roster already in Cameron Gamble and a couple of walk-ons who have handled it in the past. For one, I do expect LSU to go over the 25 limit, depending on how many early enrollees they sign this year (yes, they can have early enrollees, they just can't sign financial aid agreements with them, as a result of the Matt Womack sanctions -- eligible kids are still free to enroll mid-semester). And ultimately, it doesn't really cost anything -- LSU isn't going to pass on a kid at any other position because of Culp.
Scholarship kickers (or punters, or long snappers) are like condoms. You'd rather have them and not need them than need them and not have them.
Welcome to the good guys Connor.