The confusing and beguiling saga surrounding LSU’s recruitment of highly-regarded Loganville, Ga., running back Storm Johnson apparently has reached closure with Johnson withdrawing his commitment to the Tigers.

“We are not committed to LSU anymore,’’ Johnson’s father said Thursday night via telephone. “Storm has de-committed.’’

The younger Johnson informed Tigers running backs coach Larry Porter last week that he was withdrawing the verbal commitment he delivered to Coach Les Miles and Porter inside Miles’ office at the LSUFootballOperationsCenter during an unofficial visit on July 11, Wes Johnson said.

The elder Johnson accompanied his son on that unofficial visit to Baton Rouge and said that Miles and Porter both accepted the commitment. The LSU coaches also asked Storm Johnson, rated as the nation’s No. 13 running back by Rivals.com, not to speak publicly about the commit, Wes Johnson said.

Immediate speculation, accepted by Wes Johnson, was that LSU coaches did not want the commitment to affect the recruitment of other high profile running back prospects such as Lache Seastrunk of Temple, Texas.

News of Johnson’s pledge to Miles and Porter was then questioned, with Miles reportedly having refused the commitment and informing the younger Johnson that he still was being evaluated by LSU coaches, despite having already received an official scholarship offer from LSU.

LSU remains in contention for Seastrunk, the nation’s top-rated running back by Rivals. The Tigers also received a commitment from Cincinnati, Ohio, quarterback Spencer Ware on July 29. Ware is rated as the nation’s No. 12 athlete by Rivals and is projected as a running back at LSU.

It was during this period that Porter spoke to Storm Johnson to disclose LSU having backed away from its commitment, Wes Johnson said.

After two weeks of silence, Wes Johnson addressed the situation this week.

“It’s really awkward,’’ Wes Johnson said. “I don’t know what (LSU’s coaches’) reasons could have been (for backing away). We’re not upset about it. It just put us in a bad spot. We have to regroup. Right now, Storm is just trying to make himself the player he needs to be. He’s not committed to LSU. I can’t begin to say why. We just feel like we’re not ready to commit to anybody right now.

“Storm spoke to Coach Porter and Coach Porter told him to hold on. We can’t continue to hold on.’’

Although conciliatory, Wes Johnson did not hide his feelings.

“We were led on,’’ he said. “But we’re rebounding. We’re rebounding from a situation that really doesn’t feel good to us. We know it’s a business. (The experience) shocked us. We were in total shock. We came down there and we spent a lot of money to do so. But you live and learn. We know now that everything that glitters is not gold.’’

Johnson, 6-feet-1, 215 pounds with 4.47 speed in the 40, chose LSU ahead of Florida from a final five that included Michigan State, Oklahoma and OhioState. Johnson projects as a full academic qualifier, who is scheduled to graduate in December.

Florida no longer is an option for Storm, Wes Johnson said, after the Gators received a July 24 commitment from Mack Brown of Lithonia, Ga. Brown is rated No. 6 nationally among running backs by Rivals. Michigan State, Oklahoma, Florida State, Kentucky, Penn State, West Virginia and North CarolinaState are likely considerations.

Would Storm Johnson reconsider LSU if the Tigers’ stance changed?

“I don’t know,’’ Wes Johnson said. “That’s a decision we would have to make as a family.’’

Storm Johnson could not be reached for comment, but he never hid his strong feelings for wanting to play at LSU, something he addressed after revealing his initial commitment to LSU via telephone to Porter on June 29.

“I’m lucky to be a Tiger,’’ Storm Johnson said. “I love LSU.’’