Hold that Tiger: Fitzgerald West Commits to LSU

LSU’s attempts to bolster its depth along the line of scrimmage took a positive step forward as Lafayette Christian Academy defensive tackle Fitzgerald West committed to the Tigers 2022 recruiting class.

West isn’t the most highly touted of prospects. Per 247 he’s outside the top-100 among defensive linemen across the nation and is ranked the No. 41 prospect in Louisiana. But West isn’t being recruited to LSU as a defensive tackle, instead he’ll play center once getting to campus next summer.

West seems to already have the size and strength needed to play center at the college level. West is currently 6’2” and 315 pounds; he was the district champion in the shot put and also the state’s runner up this year.

At Saturday’s ceremony, West said he silently committed to LSU about two weeks ago after taking a visit to Alabama.

“It was two weeks after LSU offered me a scholarship,” West said. “I was on my way back from visiting Alabama. I called Coach Orgeron. He said, ‘Are you ready to become a Tiger?,’ and I said, ‘Yes, sir, I am.’”

Alabama, SMU and Tulane were all interested in West according to 247.

Some of West’s future LSU teammates were on hand to watch him officially join the 2022 class: left tackle Will Campbell, quarterback Walker Howard, corner Laterrence Welch, and current Tiger safety Sage Ryan, who was West’s teammate at LCA.

“With Fitz at center, nobody is going to touch me, that’s for sure,” Howard said. “We have championships on the way. I’m ready to win some championships together. We’re going to be the best in the country, No. 1 in the country at the end of the day.”

The addition of West gives LSU 14 commitments in its 2022 recruiting class. The class is ranked fourth nationally and is currently the best in the SEC.