2019 4-star linebacker Donte Starks commits to LSU

The LSU Tigers bolstered their 2019 recruiting class on Thursday. Ed Orgeron and his staff were able to land a commitment from a four-star linebacker from nearby Marrero, Louisiana in the person of Donte Starks. Starks took to Twitter to officially announce his commitment in a video that you can watch below (if you have not already).

The news of Starks’ commitment doesn’t come as much of a surprise. 247Sports’ Crystal Ball had him listed at 100 percent for the Tigers on 17 predictions. Naturally, the Louisiana linebacker decided to head to the preeminent program in the Bayou.

Listed at 6-foot-1, 225 lbs., Starks ranks 123rd overall in the nation for the 2019 recruiting cycle. Amongst all inside linebackers, he’s a Top 10 player, just falling outside the Top 5 at No. 6. That group is of course headed by Nakobe Dean and also features Penn State Nittany Lions commit Brandon Smith, Ole Miss Rebels commit Diwun Black, Alabama Crimson Tide commit Shane Lee and, lastly, Maninoa Tufono. So, he’s in pretty good company.

Starks is also the 6th-ranked recruit in the state of Louisiana in 2019. And as it stands, he joins two of the Top 3 in the class at LSU, in the persons of cornerback Derek Stingley of Baton Rouge (Dunham School) and offensive guard Kardell Thomas, also of Baton Rouge (Southern University Lab).

Starks’ commitment brings LSU up to 19 hard commits for the 2019 class. He is the sixth player from Louisiana to commit, as Orgeron and his staff are doing a solid job of hauling in in-state talent. He is also the ninth player to commit that is rated four stars or better (seven four-stars and two five-stars currently occupy the class). Their class is currently ranked 3rd in the country behind their fellow SEC brethren of Alabama and the Texas A&M Aggies.