4-star Texas WDE target Jarell Cherry commits to LSU

Ed Orgeron and his staff continue to find success recruiting the state of Texas with Dallas Carter weak-side defensive end Jarell Cherry starting April with a pledge to the LSU Tigers.

A four-star prospect, Cherry committed to the Tigers on Saturday evening over a host of other Power 5 options, including Texas, Alabama, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M and UCLA, among others.

Simply put, Cherry felt the way he’d fit into LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda’s system was enough to earn his early pledge.

"I prayed on it for the longest," Cherry told 247Sports. "I went down there and my family got to see it, and it just felt like the best fit for me, so I decided to commit.

With Cherry on board, the Tigers’ 2018 class now ranks No. 4 nationally and tops the SEC. Three of LSU’s 13 current commits hail from Texas with Cherry now joining four-star Cibolo Steele safety Caden Sterns and four-star Marshall offensive guard Chasen Hines, whom chose LSU over Texas just weeks ago.

As far as Texas is concerned, the staff has only extended offers to three other weak-side defensive end prospects to date and Conroe Oak Ridge product Joseph Ossai — a heavy Texas A&M lean — is the only of the bunch from Texas.

If the Longhorns plan to take a weak-side defensive end in this class, the time is now to prioritize the position and start assessing some backup options with Cherry — Texas’ primary option at the position — now headed elsewhere.

At 6’3, 230 pounds, Cherry ranks as the nation’s No. 192 player, No. 7 weak-side defensive end and the No. 25 player in Texas, per 247Sports Composite.