Dodd switches to LSU

Two days after LSU nudged Alabama in the Southeastern Conference Western Division standings and drew the favorite's role to repeat as the league champions the Tigers edged the Crimson Tide on the recruiting trail as well.

Nearly four months after choosing Alabama following a Junior Day visit three-star offensive line prospect Andy Dodd of Linedale, Ga.-Pepperell rescinded that pledge Friday in favor of LSU during the first of a two-day unofficial visit to Baton Rouge.

"I had just been praying about it," Dodd told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "I just felt like it was the right thing to do. It (LSU) was the place that I fit in the most."

Dodd, the nation's No. 21 offensive guard, further enhances a LSU recruiting class ranked third nationally. The 6-foot-3, 325-pounder gives the Tigers their 21st overall commitment and fourth offensive lineman to go along with Ethan Pocic of Lemont, Ill., Josh Boutte of Westgate and K.J. Malone of Ruston-Cedar Creek.

Dodd's also the ninth out-of-state prospect to commit to LSU Head Coach Les Miles and second from the state of Georgia, joining quarterback Anthony Jennings of Marietta.

Dodd said such a move has been in the works since his March 26th commitment to Alabama - a school he selected over scholarship offers from Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami and South Carolina. His first day on LSU's campus was enough to prompt a change in his future college home after a tour of the school and a meeting with Miles.

"I've been thinking about (changing) ever since I committed," Dodd told the AJC. "I knew I made the wrong decision. Here lately, I had been telling people about it. I came down on a visit, and they showed me lots of love at LSU. I knew that's where I wanted to go."

Dodd added the following: "I just didn't feel like I should be spending my college years there. A week or two after committing, I knew I had made the mistake. I didn't want to come out and say anything yet."

The addition of Dodd will effectively close out LSU's recruiting at offensive line.

The 6-7 Pocic, the nation's No. 3 offensive tackle, is expected to remain at tackle while Boutte and Malone are projected to play offensive guard.

In the case of Dodd he could play any number of spots along the interior line but is expected to help fill a void at center with LSU graduating senior P.J. Lonergan after this season and only Elliott Porter (sophomore) and Corey White (redshirt freshman) backing him up.

Dodd played tight end last season for Pepperell but is expected to move inside and play left tackle in 2012.

"He's more advanced as a run blocker, but I think he has the foot work to be a great pass blocker," Pepperell football coach Jeff Shiftlett said in an earlier Rivals.com interview. "That's his strength. His foot work is great for a big kid. He can really move. I think you'll see improve on his pad level and a couple of other things that we'll work on this season. He's a great football player."