Coxie commits

Class of 2016 wide receiver Damonte Coxie was almost ready to give a verbal commitment on Saturday when something told him to hold off.

Coxie was at Tulane's camp and on the verge of pledging to the Green Wave. He even called his grandfather and discussed the decision with him.

"I told him I was about to commit," Coxie said. "He asked me if I was sure and I was like, 'Yeah, I guess.' He said, 'If that's what you want to do, then do it.' I just sat there thinking and something told me to wait a little longer."

Not long after, Coxie received a text from LSU recruiting coordinator Frank Wilson summoning him back to Baton Rouge, which led to a long-awaited offer and a quick commitment to the program that he wanted all along.

"I was in Coach Miles office when it happened," Coxie told TigerBait.com. "The camp had just ended. I was waiting on him with my family and he came in and offered me."

Coxie said he took "zero seconds" to commit at that point, to the delight of his mother, aunt and grandfather who were there with him.

"They knew that's where I always wanted to go," Coxie said. "They kept it on the down low until they got out of the office but they expressed themselves right then."

Coxie arrived at LSU's camp on Friday intent on leaving a great impression on the staff. He told LSU receivers coach Tony Ball that he was seeking an offer and the assistant gave him this advice: "He said if I want that offer bad enough, go out there and get it," Coxie said. "That's all he had to tell me really. I went out there and got it."

Coxie said he went one-on-one with high-profile defensive back Kristian Fulton of Rummel and handled his business.

"He was in man and I got off the jam, ran a good route and caught the ball," Coxie said.

Coxie felt like he'd done his part with a strong showing but left campus without the offer.

"After I left, I was really disappointed," Coxie admitted. "I thought I was supposed to get it right then and there. Coach had called me in his office and told me to hang tight and trust him. It was out of my hands and I had to trust him."

The 6-3, 185-pounder is unranked by Rivals and rated as a three-star prospect. He held offers from Southern Miss, Tulane, McNeese State and Southeastern Louisiana prior to Saturday.

So what is LSU getting in Coxie's estimation?

"I'm a big target for them to throw it to," said Coxie, who ran a 4.6 40 at camp. "And I bring a lot of humbleness. I'm ready to learn."

Coxie transferred from Tara to East St. John in Reserve, La., for his senior season, a transition that has gone well for him. He scored touchdowns on offense and defense in East St. John's Black and Gold spring scrimmage and is expected to play receiver and safety this season.

"It's actually gone smoother than I thought it would have," he said. "We ended up getting a whole new coaching staff, so it was like a fresh start for everybody. I wasn't the only new face."

As he attended church on Sunday morning, Coxie enjoyed hearing from all the well-wishers who learned about his college football choice.

"Everybody was congratulating me," he said. "They were like, 'What's up Mr. Tiger!' and 'Congratulations on your offer!' I was hearing a lot from friends and church members."

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