Three-star Columbia SC tight end prospect Mike Tyler commits to SEC power

One of the state’s top prospects is headed to the Southeastern Conference to play his college football.

Hammond tight end Mike Tyler announced Saturday on Instagram a commitment to LSU. Tyler picked LSU over Duke and West Virginia.

Tyler is LSU’s 23rd pledge for the Class of 2025 and second tight end, joining John David LaFleur. The Tigers have the third-ranked class for 2025, according to ESPN and On3, and are ranked fourth by 247Sports.

Brian Kelly and the Tigers didn’t offer Tyler until May 19 but made a strong push. He ended up visiting the school three times, including LSU’s Bayou Splash recruiting event last month.

“I love everything about that place,” Tyler said of LSU. “The stadium is humongous, great food, I just love it down there. It’s the SEC, you can’t beat that. It is the top conference right next to the NFL. I feel like I would be ready to play and the atmosphere is great.”

“The process has been overwhelming for sure,” Tyler said. “It is like what you see on YouTube and Netflix, but you gotta take it in because you only get one chance.”

Tyler (6-foot-4, 240 pounds) also isn’t a traditional tight end, as most of time he’s expected to split out more as a wide receiver. 247Sports Composite ranks him a three-star prospect and the 31st-best tight end prospect in the country and 12th-best prospect in South Carolina.

South Carolina was in the mix for Tyler early on in the process. Although things cooled between the two sides, Tyler said he still hears from Gamecock coach Shane Beamer.

Last season, Tyler caught 33 passes for 548 yards and seven touchdowns, including the game-winning 32-yard grab in the SCISA 4A championship game. He finished with six catches for 64 yards in the game. It was Hammond’s seventh state championship in a row.

The Skyhawks open up the season Aug. 23 at home against Christ Church, which won the S.C. High School League Class A championship last year and is moving up to 3A this year.

Midlands’ top-ranked senior prospects

A look at where some of the top Columbia-area high school football seniors are in the 247Sports Composite rankings in South Carolina:

Onis Konanbanny, DB, Heathwood Hall — Uncommitted. Will announce Aug. 23 and his final schools are Florida State and Tennessee.

Will Wilson, QB, Richland Northeast — Committed to NC State

AJ Brand, QB, Irmo — Committed to Virginia Tech

Mike Tyler, TE, Hammond — Committed to LSU

Elgin Sessions, DB, Dutch Fork — Committed to West Virginia

Josh Smith, DB, Dutch Fork — Committed to Coastal Carolina

Jo Jo Crim, DB, Camden — Uncommitted

Stephen Collier, WR/S — Committed to East Carolina