OL Mike Cannon commits to Louisiana
<center><a href="https://forumeus.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=22388#post22388"><b> Complete list of 2005 verbal commitments </b></a></center><hr><i>Cannon opts for Cajuns</i><blockquote><p align=justify>Only days before the opening of the national football signing period, the University of Louisiana's 2005 recruiting class was short on offensive linemen.
The Ragin' Cajuns had only two commitments in the offensive front - one junior college signee and one prep school product.
That's one thing that influenced the decision of Miami-Plantation High's Mike Cannon, who gave Cajun coach Rickey Bustle a verbal commitment Sunday evening after a weekend official visit.
But it was that visit more than anything that helped the 6-foot-4 1/2, 270-pound tackle make his decision.
"I loved the town and the coaching staff," said Cannon, who became the Cajuns' 24th verbal commitment heading into Wednesday's first day of national letter of intent signing.
"I really liked how welcoming the school was. It was a lot different from down here."
Cannon joins tackle Mike Walczak of Tucson, Ariz., and Pima Junior College and center Brad Bryant of Huntington, W. Va., and Fork Union Military Academy as offensive line pledges for this year.
He is also the fourth Florida product to commit to the Cajun program, joining defensive end Terrell Richardson of Pensacola-Escambia, running back-receiver Derrick Smith of Fort Lauderdale-Dillard and wide receiver Corey Frederick of Fort Lauderdale and Compton Community College.
Cannon was part of a highly successful program at Plantation High under coach Frank Hepler, who retired after leading the squad to a third straight unbeaten regular season in Florida's highest classification.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050201/SPORTS/502010324/1006">The rest of the story</a>
Dan McDonald
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Plantation went 10-0 this year before losing in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs, and had reached the second round in each of the past two seasons.
"We've got 10 or 12 guys off this team signing Division I," Cannon said. "It was a really good team."
Cannon more than did his part, starting in the defensive line as a sophomore before switching to offensive tackle the last two years.
In those two years, he had one false start penalty and one personal foul penalty with no holding calls on a squad that was well balanced between running and passing.
"They (Plantation coaches) liked that I could get upfield with a back behind me," Cannon said. "My best game is the running game because I can go downfield. But I've been working on my pass blocking a lot since I had a little trouble with speed rushers at the end of the year.
"Coach (Troy) Wingerter showed me the zone-style offense they use in the line, and I caught on real quick. I'm liking that already."
Cannon was recruited by Cajun coach Brian Jenkins after seeing a highlight tape.
"He liked my speed and footwork," Cannon said, "and they gave me a chance to show what I could do. I'm hitting the weight room harder than ever, and I think I can start for them pretty quick. I'm determined to do that."
Originally published February 1, 2005
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