LSU commit happy with pick.
Dr. Phillips’ Tolan pleased Kelly hired, will visit campus again
Dr. Phillips linebacker Demario Tolan committed to LSU in July. He was content with his choice and ready to move on to the next level.
Then his path hit a bit of a hurdle when LSU parted ways with beloved head coach Ed Orgeron.
Coach O was a big part of what drew Tolan to LSU, so when the raspy Cajun was no longer in the picture, Tolan started to waver a bit.
He took trips to other schools, namely Georgia, and was shopping around a bit. All along, however, he remained loyal, waiting to see whom the Tigers would hire as their next head coach.
In stepped former Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly and all was back in order for Tolan.
“I think it’s a great hire. I know LSU is going to stay winning for a long time,” Tolan said. “I was really ready for the new coach so I can go take my visit. So really, my reaction was, “Now I can get ready to take another visit to LSU.’ “
Tolan already had taken his official visit to Baton Rouge, but with the coaching change, high school prospects are allowed another official visit to meet the new coach.
Tolan will make his next LSU visit beginning Friday.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound linebacker certainly was relieved to hear the news about Kelly this week.
“It’s really a blessing and I feel good about it,” Tolan said.
In June, Tolan revealed a top 5 of LSU, FSU, Miami, Clemson and Tennessee. Georgia has joined the mix in the past couple of months, but it’s still LSU that holds the key to Tolan’s future.
“It’s like everything is off my shoulders,” Tolan said, “but I still gotta take my visit to make sure it feels right still, because I do still have other options.”
The dismissal of Coach O was difficult for Tolan.
“Yeah, it was really disappointing, but what some coaches and some other people were saying was that it was for the better,” Tolan said.
So Tolan remains committed as long as nothing changes. In the meantime he will be preparing for the All-American Game in San Antonio (formerly known as the Army All-American Bowl).
“That was always a dream, getting to play in an All-American game,” Tolan said. “That will be a great feeling being able to get that experience.”