LSU managed to hold off late pushes from some Southeastern Conference rivals to land a signature from long-time commitment and two-sport star Maurice Hampton.
Now all the Tigers need to do to ensure he gets on campus is keep 30 professional organizations at bay when the MLB Draft rolls around this summer.
Hampton, a four-star cornerback and Mr. Football in the state of Tennessee, signed his National Letter of Intent with LSU on Wednesday morning. Auburn was the other finalists in the final mix.
Complicating matters, MLB scouts project Hampton as a potential first-round pick in the upcoming MLB Draft. He is currently the No. 27 overall prospect, according to the website MLB Pipeline.
Trying to hold onto star players amid the MLB Draft isn’t new for Paul Mainieri, who’d also very much like Hampton to sign, but it’s a bit of a risk for Ed Orgeron and the football team. Per NCAA rules, LSU wouldn’t get that scholarship back if Hampton leaves to play professional baseball this summer.
For what it’s worth, there’s optimism on LSU’s part that Hampton will find his way to campus. The feeling is Hampton would demand quite the lucrative signing bonus in order to give up his football career and go pro.
LSU now holds 21 signees out of a possible 25. JUCO edge rusher Soni Fonua sent in the day’s first official fax around 8:30 a.m.
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