2003 Football Commitments

[Turbine]

Any news on an offensive lineman that committed yesterday to Louisiana? It was reported on KATC.

[NewsCopy]

Lineman chooses Cajuns

LOUISIANA La. — Louisiana has received its sixth football commitment to the 2004 signing class, with Parkview Baptist lineman Bobby Fails giving Ragin’ Cajun head coach Rickey Bustle a verbal pledge Monday.

The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Fails played offensive line for the first time this season for the state semifinalist Eagles, after playing defensive line in his first three high school seasons. But he said Monday he wasn’t picky about where the Cajun coaches utilize his talents.

“Honestly, I want to play wherever the coaches put me,” he said. “I don’t have a preference. I think they’re pretty set on putting me in the O-line, but wherever they think I can help the team, that’s where I want to be.”

Fails joins defensive back Joseph Hadnot of Lufkin, Texas, Lafayette High running back Caleb Rubin, offensive lineman Austin Wilkinson of The Woodlands, Texas, offensive lineman Jesse Newman of Powell River, British Columbia and Destrehan defensive back Jamarcus Smith as early Cajun commitments.

Fails helped lead Parkview Baptist to the state’s top ranking in Class 3A all season, before falling in the semifinals.

His teams compiled a 38-4 overall record in the past three seasons, including a state championship.

The rest of the story

Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com

[NewsCopy]

Junior College recruit gives verbal pledge after visit.

LOUISIANA La. — Louisiana’s football squad got its first commitment from a defensive lineman for the 2004 recruiting class Wednesday.

Independence Community College standout Curtis Isaac, heralded as one of the top defenders in the Kansas-based Jayhawk Conference for the past two seasons, gave the Cajun coaching staff a verbal pledge after an official visit last weekend.

“When I walked around town, everybody showed the football players a lot of respect, and I liked that,” said the 6-foot-2, 280-pounder. “We didn’t have that good a year up here as a team, and everyone kind of started ignoring us.

“When I was down there, the fans seemed like they showed a lot of support.”

Isaac, a native of Hopkins, S.C., was a two-time All-Jayhawk Conference pick for Independence, seeing his first-ever action in the defensive line after playing linebacker during his high school career. He said that the Cajun coaches had already tabbed him for the defensive front.

“I like the D-line a lot,” he said. “You’re always in the middle of all the action. At linebacker, I was having to run just to get into the play.

“They’re going to a 4-3 there next year and it’s a lot like what we ran the last two years.”

Isaac finished with 80 tackles, seven quarterback sacks and 14 tackles for losses this fall despite Independence’s 2-7 overall record.

He had previously earned All-State honors at linebacker at Lower Richland High in Hopkins, competing in the state’s largest (4A) classification.

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com

[NewsCopy]

Louisiana signed its fourth junior college player . . .

The Ragin' Cajuns signed Justin Ernest (6-3, 280) of Grossmont College in El Cajon, Calif. who will be eligible to take part in spring drills with the team.

Ernest joins offensive lineman Ryan Gilles of Santa Ana (Calif.) as recent UL-Lafayette junior college signees.

Ernest, a two-year starter, was named Grossmont's most valuable offensive lineman after helping his team to a 13-1 record and national No. 3 ranking among junior colleges.

The source of the story

[NewsCopy]

Interesting reads on the Justin Earnest led Griffins attempt at a national title.

Grossmont Reaches Title game December 7, 2003

Griffins up against state power December 13, 2003

Last-gasp Drive Nips Griffins in Finale December 14, 2003

[Turbine]

Thanks to Swampfox for confirmation on this commitment.

The Griffins of Grossmont College Finished:

#1 in Southern California.

#2 in California

#3 in the Nation.

[NewsCopy]

Cajuns catch up, get Brown

LOUISIANA La. — The University of Louisiana’s football program got a second-time-around commitment Sunday, but wide receiver Eddie Brown will probably be worth the wait to the Cajun squad.

Brown, one of the state’s top receivers at New Orleans’ Fortier High one year ago, gave coach Rickey Bustle a verbal commitment Sunday and is expected to enroll for the spring semester today.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Brown, who had 290 catches for 2,100 yards and 50 scores in his four-year prep career, originally signed with Oklahoma State last spring.

However, he did not reach academic qualifying standards until after the fall semester had begun, and never enrolled at OSU.

Brown has since become fully qualified and will have five fall terms remaining after today’s anticipated enrollment. He will also have the advantage of spring drills prior to his first fall season.

“I think that’ll give me a chance to compete for a starting job,” Brown said Sunday. “I know it’ll help me to have the full off-season and weight program ... I’m ready to get in the weight room now.”

Brown, the 11th commitment to Bustle for this year’s recruiting class and the second wide receiver in that group, was a second-team Class 5A All-Stater as a senior at Fortier when he caught 55 passes for over 700 yards and 12 scores.

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com

[1stTake]

I was worried about finding a Stamps replacement, this is awesome.

[cajun1300]

Interesting trend: Three 2003 non-qualifiers in Briggs (Arizona), Brown (Oklahoma St.), and Smith (Tulane). Kudos to the Cajun staff for sniffing these prospects out.

[ULTubaTom]

Briggs is rated 3 stars, Brown is rated 3 stars, and Smith is rated 2 stars by rivals.

[NewsCopy]

Kicker commits to Cajuns

LOUISIANA La. — The University of Louisiana's 2004 football season will provide a homecoming for Drew Edmiston ... who in turn will provide a lot of support to the Ragin’ Cajun kicking game.

Edmiston, a prep standout as a punter and kicker for Owasso, Okla., High but a native of Lafayette, became the 12th player to give Cajun head coach Rickey Bustle a verbal commitment on Sunday after an official visit over the weekend.

The 6-foot-5, 195-pound Edmiston spent his first 15 years in Acadiana and played freshman football at St. Thomas More before moving to Oklahoma.

“It’s a lot different there now,” Edmiston said Monday after his visit and commitment. “The school’s gone through a lot of changes and it’s had a big face lift. It’s a lot more desirable place to be now.”

Edmiston handled kicking chores for the Owasso squad of head coach Ron Smith for the past three years, and added punting duties as a senior. He was 39-of-40 on extra points and 7-of-9 on field goals as a senior with a long field goal of 48 yards. He also averaged over 38 yards per punt.

“Coach came to me just before the season started and said we needed a punter,” he said. “I’ve been doing PAT’s and field goals longer so I like that more.”

Owasso finished with a 7-4 record and lost in the first round of the Oklahoma state playoffs last fall.

Edmiston and his father sent a video tape to the Cajun coaches in making a first contact earlier this year, and was invited for an official visit over the past weekend. He said that the Cajun coaches told him he’d have a shot at punting and kickoff roles.

Sean Comiskey had a strong sophomore season on placements for the Cajuns last fall, hitting 28-of-29 conversions and 12-of-15 field goals while missing only once inside 50 yards. However, Louisiana's punter Grant Autrey (39.2) graduated.

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com

[NewsCopy]

Burkhalter gives nod to Cajuns

LOUISIANA La. — One of the state’s premier defenders became the University of Louisiana’s 14th commitment to the Ragin’ Cajun football program Wednesday, with Parkview Baptist linebacker Brenton Burkhalter giving a verbal commitment two days before his official visit.

“I knew where I wanted to go,” said Burkhalter Wednesday. “I loved the atmosphere and everything about the school every time I was there. It seems like they’re really busting it to turn the program around and I’d love to be a part of that.”

Burkhalter, this year’s state Class 3A Defensive Player of the Year, totaled 173 tackles during a senior season in which the Eagles went 13-1 and were ranked first all season before falling to Notre Dame in the state semifinals.

“They’re getting a real good hand there,” said Notre Dame coach Lewis Cook. “He’s very active, strong and always around the ball. He just has a nose for it. He’s got the intangibles that you just don’t coach.”

Burkhalter was a four-year letterman for the Parkview squad of head coach Kenny Guillott and helped lead his squad to a four-year record of 49-6. His team won the Class 3A title in his sophomore year, reached the quarterfinals last year and the semifinals this season.

The six-foot, 225-pounder was a unanimous All-State selection this year, earning his second 3A All-State honor, after a junior season in which he had 152 total tackles, a pair of interceptions and three fumble recoveries. He was also a two-time All-District 8-3A pick and the league’s defensive MVP this year, and earned two Baton Rouge All-Metro honors.

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com