Recruiting: Ponchatoula safety Jacoby Mathews commits to LSU for 2022

The LSU Tigers added their latest elite commitment for their ’22 class via Ponchatoula safety Jacoby Matthews.

100% COMMITTED 💛! pic.twitter.com/CDgEBB7gZz

— 𝑴₂𝑵𝑬𝒀 (@JacobyMathews) April 23, 2021

The 6-2, 208 pounder is among the top five safeties in the nation for the next signing period.

Matthews is very versatile, excellent in space and good in both man and zone coverage. A sure tackler, he can over power receivers. Matthews is instinctive and rarely takes a false step.

To demonstrate his superb athleticism, Matthews played quarterback for the Green Wave in 2020, passing for 858 yards with 10 touchdowns while running for additional 548 yards and nine scores. the multi-sport standout also excelled on the hardwood, averaging 12.5 points per game and grabbing 6.5 rebounds each outing with highlight film dunks on the court thanks to 34″ vertical leap.

Longtime high school head coach Hank Tierney, who has coached at Archbishop Shaw, West Jefferson and now Ponchatoula, has had elite talent on his teams over the decades, some of which went onto play in the NFL. He feels Matthews possesses similar traits to some of the best.

“Athletically Jacoby is like Tory James, Ryan Clark and the Joseph bothers (Mickey, Terry, Vance and Sammy),” said Tierney. “And he is a tremendous, tremendous kid.”

Matthews may have the closest comparisons to Ryan Clark, the former LSU safety who played 13 seasons in the NFL and not only excelled on the football field, but served a point guard on an Eagles state championship basketball squad.

The connection is more first hand, considering Matthews currently trains with Clark.

LSU ties are even deeper as Matthews grew up with a vested interest watching former Tigers star wideout Ja’Marr Chase. Their families have ties.

LSU beat out competitors such as Florida, Clemson, Texas, Arizona State and USC. I suspect that the process will continue up until signing day with the value of Matthews on the trail.

With his pledge, LSU has verbals from the top three players in Louisiana for 2022 – QB Walker Howard (#1), OT William Campbell (#2) and Jacoby Matthews (#3).

Matthews is skilled enough to be an instant contributor for the Tigers but he joins what has become a crowded and talented group at the position including the most recent signing class.

Special teams coach Greg McMahon was primarily responsible for his recruitment with help from receivers coach Mickey Joseph. Texas assigned Terry Joseph to recruiting Matthews while renowned Clemson defensive coordinator Brett Venables has give his best effort to sway the coveted recruit, LSU’s 13th pledge for 2022.