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.
Louisiana Fan
Geaux Cajuns
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.
Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana
Go Cajuns
Briggs is rated 3 stars, Brown is rated 3 stars, and Smith is rated 2 stars by rivals.
. 12th commitment: Drew Edmiston (Kicker)
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.
The rest of the story
Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com
. 13th commitment: Brenton Burkhalter (Linebacker)
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.
The rest of the story
Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com
Ragin Rukus
Ragin' Cajuns Fan for Sure
Sounds like another good catch for Bustle and his staff!
Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana
Go Cajuns
There has been another commitment. It is Jonathan Vance a linebacker from West Jefferson. It was in today's morning advocate.
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CAJUNS ADD ONE; SET FOR WEEKEND: Linebacker Johnathan Vance (6-2, 210) of West Jefferson recently committed to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette after receiving interest from Marshall, Northwestern State and Nicholls State, giving the Ragin' Cajuns 14 commitments and signees.
"This was his first year to come out for football, but he's got a lot of ability," West Jefferson coach Hank Tierney said.
UL-Lafayette is expected to host 16 prospects this weekend, including Catholic-New Iberia quarterback Michael Desormeaux who has already visited UL-Monroe and is scheduled to visit Louisiana Tech.
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15th commitment: Jonathan Vance (Linebacker)
West Jefferson linebacker commits to Cajuns
LOUISIANA La. — Jonathan Vance has only one year of high school football on his resume’, but that one year was enough to convince University of Louisiana coaches to offer the West Jefferson linebacker a college shot.
Vance returned that confidence this week when he gave Ragin’ Cajun head coach Rickey Bustle a verbal commitment as part of the 2004 recruiting class.
Vance didn’t play as a prep between junior high and his senior year at the Harvey school, but compiled 77 tackles in helping lead the Buccaneers of coach Hank Tierney to a perfect 10-0 regular-season record.
“Coach Tierney kept bugging me to play and asking people about me,” Vance said. “They were on a downslide before he got here and losing a lot, and I wasn’t happy about playing football because of that.”
The 6-2, 210-pound Vance bided his time playing basketball before joining the football squad this year, and saw some time at defensive end and safety before finding a home at linebacker. His best game came against St. Augustine when he had 12 tackles, five assists and an interception.
“It didn’t take me long to catch back on,” he said. “I know I need to work on my speed and strength more because I’ll be going up against a different level of athlete and a different atmosphere, but I’m working on that now.”
Vance, already academically qualified, moved up his visit to the University of Louisiana to the first weekend in January.
The rest of the story
Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com
. Louisiana receives 16th commitment: Ray Givens (Wide Receiver)
...UL-Lafayette dipped back into Lufkin (Texas) High for its second commitment in wide receiver Ray Givens (6-2, 190). The Ragin' Cajuns earlier secured a pledge from Givens' teammate defensive back Joseph Hadnot.
Givens, who also visited Houston and Stephen F. Austin, started for two years in a predominately running offense at Lufkin and was selected second team all-District 11-5A as a senior.
"He's going to fit in anywhere he goes," Lufkin coach John Outlaw said. "He's going to work hard every day and he'll make big plays for them."...
The source of the story
Advocate
. Louisiana receives 17th commitment: Elijah Nelson (Defensive End)
...Nelson, who transferred to Edison from Miami-Northwest High for his senior year and also visited Toledo, was voted third-team All-Dade County.
"He was an excellent player for us who is very coachable," Edison coach Corey Bell said. "His greatest asset is his speed, but he's also got plenty of upside."
The source of the info
Advocate
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