On3 top-100 DL Gabriel Reliford commits to LSU: 'It's big to see how they're so committed to me'

On3 top-100 DL Gabriel Reliford has locked in his college decision.

One of the nation’s most productive pass-rushers out of The Boot has committed to LSU over USC on Friday.

The No. 59 player in the On300 for 2024 out of Shreveport (La.) Evangel Christian Academy broke off his commitment to Texas A&M last week in the hours after taking an official visit to LSU last weekend and getting several of his most pressing questions about his future answered in full.

“It was a great weekend going to LSU,” Reliford told On3. “I had a lot of big questions, my parents had a lot of questions, and we got them all answered thankfully. LSU is a great place. With Coach E (Elijah Robinson) leaving A&M and going to Syracuse, it also changed things. I’m glad I got to take the official visit. The timing was kind of crazy, but glad I took the visit ultimately.”

“The big thing for me was how they would use me scheme-wise and how they would develop me,” the blue-chip DL continued. “My biggest thing that had me committed to A&M was that Coach E was a great coach and could develop me. I got a lot of my questions answered as far as the coaching situation and development part, which was big for me.”

A priority of need for the Tigers in this 2024 cycle, Reliford has piled up 251 tackles over the past two seasons with Evangel. He notched 15 sacks in that span. The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder from North Louisiana has led the state in sacks each of the past two seasons.

LSU’s consistency paid off with Reliford

Reliford picked up an offer from Frank Wilson in July. After two game-day visits to Tiger Stadium and a multi-day visit along with his family for an official visit, Wilson and the LSU staff finally won over the On300 DL.

“They have been very consistent,” Reliford, the No. 7-ranked DL in the nation, said. “I don’t think a day has gone by since they offered me without them talking to me. It’s big to see how they’re so committed to me. They really care and want me, and it’s the whole staff.”

“Coach Frank played a big role as far as pleading their case why I should go there. He did a great job at it,” he continued. “The development part played a big part in it. Trusting the process … Obviously, LSU is gonna play great defense. They always have. The strength and conditioning standpoint is good. The competition throughout is good. They’re gonna get me right physically, mentally. It’s about trusting the process.”

Reliford will graduate from Evangel later this month and enroll at LSU in January.