Alabama Football: Examining If Tide or LSU Tigers Are Best Fit for 4-Star ATH

Alabama and LSU's battles on the field now transition off the field with Kendell Beckwith. 

And while it's uncertain which team will land the 4-star athlete from East Feliciana High School in Jackson, La., Rivals.com reported that Beckwith laughed when mentioned as a lock for the Crimson Tide.

So if he doesn't play for Alabama, where will this highly-touted prospect go? LSU and Alabama are thought to be his top two teams, as Beckwith has attended camps for both SEC schools. But could we see a reenactment of Landon Collins, when he chose Alabama over the his state university, LSU?

In an interview by alabamaintel.com, Beckwith talked about the pressures of going to LSU.

“I get that a little bit. If it gets too bad I bring up the score from the national championship game and they usually leave me alone after that,” Beckwith said.

So it seems as if the Tigers and Crimson Tide's battle for power in the SEC is taking form off the field with Beckwith, and he has enough talent to slightly tilt the balance in favor of one of those teams. But which should he choose?

At Alabama, Beckwith will have the opportunity to play outside linebacker in the same way the Crimson Tide used Courtney Upshaw.

Considering Upshaw was a high second round selection in the 2012 NFL draft, that has to put a smile on Beckwith's face. Beckwith's athleticism and strength should come in handy there, and his 6'2", 220-pound frame will make him a good fit.

Add in the fact that he would be playing for arguably college football's best coach in Nick Saban, and Alabama seems like a solid choice. But Alabama isn't the only place he can go to win championships.

At LSU, Beckwith would not only be closer to home, but he would get to play defensive end for defensive coordinator John Chavis, and LSU knows a thing or two about developing defensive linemen.

Beckwith is a great pas rusher, and considering his size, Chavis and Les Miles could develop him into another Sam Montgomery. And if it's one quality Miles has better than Saban, it's that his players absolutely love playing for him. Not to say that Saban's doesn't, but with Saban you know you're going to get chewed out quite often.

The bottom line is that Beckwith really can't make a bad choice here. Both schools are known for their defensive presence, are farming systems for the NFL and will always be in the race to win a championship.

But with Beckwith laughing at being called a lock for Alabama and considering that he's from La., he might be leaning toward the Bayou Bengals. And quite frankly, that might be the best fit for him in regards to proximity.

Plus, who wouldn't want to develop into a future professional football player without having to get your ear rung dry by Saban?