Although LSU fans were hoping to get five-star defensive end Colin Simmons as the number one pass rusher in the country chose to commit to Texas, all was not lost as the Tigers were still able to acquire the services of his teammate in four star running back Caden Durham.
Durham also decided to commit on the same day as his five-star teammate as he moved up his commitment date from August 25th to August 10th after having a great visit with LSU for the team’s Bayou Splash recruiting weekend before the recruiting dead period started.
For his commitment announcement, which was streamed on 247, the state champion running back and the number eight running back in the country for the 2024 class narrowed down his college decision to three schools in LSU, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M. Throughout the process, it was Oklahoma that was leading the way until LSU and running backs coach Frank Wilson made a great late push for Durham’s services, and for good reason.
Just as his teammate Colin Simmons was dominant on the defensive side of the football in helping the Panthers win the Texas Class 6A state championship, Caden Durham was that guy on the offensive side of the football that led the way with 1,960 yards and 36 touchdowns on the ground last season. Running a 10.25 100 meters, Durham not only has breakaway speed, but he has the stature and power to break off tackles as well at 5’10, 190 pounds.
Durham, who is also a track athlete, will also be running track in college as well so this is a big pickup for not only the football program, but also the championship caliber track program at LSU as well.
He is also the only running back that the LSU coaching staff is pursuing for the 2024 class as the position group is loaded already with eight running backs on the roster currently, and that there is also a loaded class at the position coming up in 2025.
This is the Tigers’ 23rd commitment of the 2024 class that is a top 10 class in the country currently. Despite losing one commit, the Tigers were able to salvage the day in getting one of the top running backs in the country.
