Football: Ocean Lakes' Hunter headed to LSU

Ocean Lakes wide receiver Justin Hunter, one of the nation’s most highly regarded athletes in the Class of 2010, verbally committed to LSU on Sunday night.

Hunter, 6 feet 4 and 175 pounds, picked the Tigers after also receiving offers from Ohio State, Tennessee, Penn State, USC, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Alabama, Clemson and Florida.

Ocean Lakes coach Chris Scott said it came down to Hunter wanting to go to a school where he’d have the opportunity to play football and compete in track.

LSU regularly ranks among the nation’s best in both sports.

“He’s been really good at communicating that to all coaches,” Scott said. “And some people have been more understanding about his desires to want to play both sports. I know that LSU was one of those opportunities that would allow him to do both and compete at a very high level in both sports.”

Last football season, Hunter finished with 34 receptions for 558 yards and nine touchdowns to help lead the Dolphins to their first Eastern Region final.

On the track, Hunter is ranked second nationally in the long jump with a leap of 25 feet, ½ inch and fifth nationally in the high jump at 7-2.