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Barring any last-minute surprises, UL's football program has finalized its 2009 recruiting class.
Now the Cajuns, who currently have 17 public commitments, must wait until National Signing Day on Wednesday. Everything becomes official once the school receives a binding national letter of intent from each recruit.
"Right now, we're just holding on," UL coach Rickey Bustle said. "We've mailed out all the scholarship forms and just have to wait (for the recruits to fax them back)."
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20090203/SPORTS/902030335/1006" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>
Joshua Parrott •
jparrott@theadvertiser.com • February 3, 2009
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The wait is already over for four of UL's recruits.
Three junior college signees - wide receivers Vernon Wolfe (Hinds Community College in Mississippi) and Andrew "Rico" Joseph (Coffeyville Community College in Kansas) and defensive lineman Jordan Topp (San Diego Mesa College in California) - signed with the Cajuns in December. All three have already enrolled for the spring semester and will be eligible for spring practice, which starts March 11.
Another prospect, defensive back Melvin White from Brazosport (Texas) High, signed with UL in 2008 but sat out last season to become academically eligible.
The Cajuns got commitments from two 2009 recruits last weekend in Helen Cox all-state wide receiver Javone Lawson and Pearl River tight end Jacob Maxwell. McDonogh 35 linebacker Jewell Ratliff, a two-time all-state pick, also committed over the weekend but will grayshirt as he attempts to attain a qualifying ACT score. That means he will delay his full-time enrollment until January 2010.
After getting those commitments on Sunday, UL was set for signing day unless defensive end Caesar Rodriguez from Columbus High in Miami was willing to decommit from Central Michigan. Rodriguez decided to stay with the Chippewas, so the Cajuns are now just making sure they keep their current commitments.
This year's recruiting class has a definite in-state flavor. Seven of UL's 14 prep commitments are from Louisiana. That includes Lawson, Maxwell, Teurlings Catholic athlete Andrew Hebert, Mamou running back Rob Walker, Woodlawn defensive back Winston Burnette, Redemptorist linebacker Brandon Nash and L.W. Higgins offensive lineman Ashton Tyler.
Another in-state recruit is defensive tackle Tyrell Gaddies. The redshirt freshman from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College attended Kennedy High in New Orleans before getting displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
UL will give fans an opportunity to learn more about the incoming signing class at a signing day party on Wednesday at the Leon Moncla Indoor Practice Facility.
Doors are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. The program beginning at 5:45 p.m. Admission is free to the public.
The 2009 signing class will be much smaller than last year's group of 23. UL expects another small class next year.
"We don't have but 15 or 16 seniors for next year," Bustle said. "So we're not going to be signing a big number next year."
But it's not next year yet. UL coaches and fans will spend the next day or so hoping their commitments keep their word and sign with the Cajuns on Wednesday.
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