Kelly, LSU lose pledge from ESPN 300 CB Antoine

Last updated: 2024/06/24 at 2:44 AM

BigP Published June 24, 2024

Eli Lederman, ESPNJun 23, 2024, 08:59 PM ET

LSU’s talent-rich 2025 recruiting class took a hit Sunday night after four-star, in-state cornerback Jaboree Antoine, No. 47 in the ESPN 300 and the second-ranked prospect in the state of Louisiana in the 2025 cycle, pulled his verbal pledge from coach Brian Kelly’s Tigers.

Antoine, a two-way star at Westgate High in New Iberia, Louisiana, is the No. 6 cornerback in the 2025 class. His decommitment follows recent official visits to Miami and Florida State, and the 6-foot-1 defensive back is expected to consider both schools, along with LSU, upon reopening his recruitment. Prior to Sunday, Antoine was the third-highest rated prospect in the Tigers’ incoming class.

Splitting time between quarterback and cornerback at Westgate, Antoine emerged as one of the top prospects in the state for the 2025 class. He announced his initial commitment to the homestate Tigers following his junior season earlier this year Jan. 27.

“Staying home would be huge knowing that my family can come to every game,” Antoine told ESPN at the time. “Playing for the state of Louisiana and playing for just LSU itself — the organization — is huge.”

Upon his January commitment, Antoine was one of the cornerstones of LSU’s star-studded 2025 class alongside No. 2 quarterback Bryce Underwood (No. 2 in ESPN 300) and top-ranked running back Harlem Berry (No. 20 in ESPN 300). But visits to Miami (March 4, May 31) and a recent trip to Florida State (June 14) sparked questions over Antoine’s future, all the way through to his decommitment Sunday night.

Antoine’s move marks the second high-profile decommitment in LSU’s 2025 class. Five-star wide receiver Dakorien Moore, No. 3 in the ESPN 300, pulled his pledge from the Tigers last month with Oregon, Texas, Ohio State and LSU among the front-runners for his signature.

Antoine leaves an LSU recruiting class that sits fourth in ESPN’s latest team rankings for the 2025 cycle. Even with Antoine’s decommitment, Kelly’s latest class still includes seven ESPN 300 prospects, including Underwood, Berry and in-state offensive tackle Devin Harper (No. 15 OT in 2025), and the Tigers proceed into the summer with the real possibility that Antoine may still land in Baton Rouge come December’s early signing period.