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Given the option of leaving the state to play college football, Rob Walker instead decided to stay close to home.
Mamou High's all-state running back was one of many recruits to make that decision this year and sign with UL. In fact, nine of the 18 prospects that signed binding national letters of intent with the Cajuns on Wednesday hailed from Louisiana.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20090205/SPORTS/902050329/1006" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>
Joshua Parrott •
jparrott@theadvertiser.com • February 5, 2009
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"I think it's very important because we're all from around the same area and there's a lot of talent in this area," Walker said. "If we all come together like a big family, we can do great things in our own backyard."
Walker, who turned down an offer from North Carolina, will be joined at UL by another Acadiana native in Teurlings Catholic athlete Andrew Hebert. Other in-state signees include Woodlawn defensive back Winston Burnette, Helen Cox wide receiver Javone Lawson, Pearl River tight end Jacob Maxwell, Redemptorist linebacker Brandon Nash, McDonogh 35 linebacker Jewell Ratliff and Higgins offensive lineman Ashton Tyler.
Tyrell Gaddies played defensive tackle at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College but attended Kennedy High in New Orleans before being displaced to Eisenhower High in Houston by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Keeping the in-state talent within the Louisiana borders is a priority each year, UL coach Rickey Bustle said.
"We want to look in this state first before we go (out of state)," Bustle said. "I think this is a heck of a class. The biggest thing you look for besides your athletic abilities is how kids are going to fit into this program. We've been developing this program for quite some time. We're losing some awfully good seniors.
"But these guys coming in have convinced me that they are very goal-oriented on and off the field. Academics are important to them, and we'll mix that with the athletic ability."
Hebert, whose father Jay and uncle Jed played football for UL from 1983-86, said there was never any doubt in his mind that he would stay close to home. Playing for the Cajuns just made sense.
He was glad to see so many of his peers make a similar decision on signing day.
"It's good just for people that have followed the schools around Acadiana and have seen what the players from around here are capable of," Hebert said. "I think it's good for UL because people will keep following those guys without having to go out of state. That was a major thing in my decision.
"I also knew it was going to be easier later in life to get a job if I stayed in the area."
Those nine in-state signees bring some lofty accolades.
Walker is rated the state's 35th-best recruit and the nation's 43rd-best all-purpose back by Rivals.com. As a senior he led the area in rushing yards (2,021) and rushing touchdowns (27).
Hebert started at multiple positions at Teurlings and was always productive. As a sophomore, he was an all-state tight end. He rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of his final two seasons but will likely move to the defensive side of the ball at the next level, either at linebacker or safety.
Tyler held an early offer from Ole Miss before a coaching change but committed in November to the Cajuns. He has a wingspan between 6-foot-9 and 6-10.
Lawson got early offers from Ole Miss and Tulane, but both schools moved on before he qualified academically. He went on to earn first team all-state honors in Class 4A after making 19 touchdown passes and returning two kicks for scores. He's now rated the state's 65th-best prospect by Rivals.com.
Burnette battled injuries throughout his career but is ranked the nation's 143rd-best safety by Scout.com.
Maxwell needs to add weight to his 6-4, 210-pound frame, but he has a 38.5-inch vertical leap and solid speed for someone his size.
Nash is a little undersized but incredibly productive and had an offer from Arkansas State. As a senior, the 5-11, 218-pounder logged 136 tackles and six sacks.
Ratliff is a hard-hitter at linebacker and a two-time all-state selection but still needs to get a qualifying ACT score. He is expected to grayshirt, meaning he will delay his full-time enrollment until January 2010 while attempting to qualify.
Gaddies is an intriguing prospect. The 6-3, 270-pounder was a state finalist in the 110-meter high hurdles in high school and will have three years of eligibility starting next fall. He's expected to arrive on campus in May.
The Cajuns also went outside Louisiana to fill this recruiting class, which is smaller this year because they have so many returning players. Bustle also got three signees from Florida, two from Texas and one each from Alabama, California, Mississippi and North Carolina.
Four of those signees are already enrolled and on campus. Wide receiver Vernon Wolfe and Andrew "Rico" Joseph and defensive lineman Jordan Topp arrived from the junior college ranks and will be eligible for spring practice. Safety Melvin White, a 2008 signee from Texas, sat out last season while attempting to become academically eligible.
UL brought in a balanced group, signing nine players on offense, eight on defense and one athlete.
"This is an exciting class," Bustle said. "We definitely hit needs and filled those needs with a limited number of scholarships."
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