LSU lands 4-star defensive end Key out of Georgia high school

Published Feb. 2, 2015 10:56 p.m. ET

foxsports

ATLANTA — Four-star defensive end Arden Key pulled an LSU cap from underneath a table and placed it on his head, announcing his decision to join the Tigers football program in the fall of 2015. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound pass rusher ended any speculation on where he'd play football live on the FOX Sports South show "Next Class 2015" Monday night.

The Hapeville Charter senior from Lithonia, Ga. is the top-ranked defensive end from the state of Georgia, and is ranked ninth in the country, according to the Scout Recruiting.

"Schools want pass rushers, and that's what I can do," said Key on FOX Sports South.

Key's decision boiled down to two schools: LSU and South Carolina. Auburn was thought to be in the running recently, but fell out of the competition when Key canceled a recent visit with the Tigers.

He originally committed to the Gamecocks during the summer prior to his junior season, but de-committed a few months later. Key, once again, committed to South Carolina during the summer before his senior season. But he de-committed again on Jan. 6, just more than four weeks prior to Wednesday's National Signing Day.

"I made my mind up this morning," Key said on Monday, explaining how difficult it was to make his decision. "I wrote the names on some paper and put them in a hat. I was just choosing. I did five tries and I was choosing. And the team I'm about to announce they came up the most."

For his third commitment, Key chose LSU.

"They lead the NFL in producing defensive linemen," Key said of his new football home, LSU. "My dream is to be in the NFL. It's family oriented, everybody loves you they welcome you with open arms. Coach Miles, Coach Orgeron, Kevin Steele all them is some hype guys and they love what they do."