2003 Football Commitments

[BrockMeaux]

Sounds like another good catch for Bustle and his staff!

[ULTubaTom]

There has been another commitment. It is Jonathan Vance a linebacker from West Jefferson. It was in today's morning advocate.

[NewsCopy]

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.

The source of the story

[NewsCopy]

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

[NewsCopy]

...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

[NewsCopy]

...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

[NewsCopy]

Louisiana gets its X-Man

...The addition of Xavier Campbell, who prepped at perennial power De La Salle High in Concord, Calif., gives UL-Lafayette its second prospect from Grossmont of El Cajon, Calif. -- the nation's No. 3 ranked junior college team -- after offensive lineman Justin Ernest signed with the Cajuns in December....

The source of the info

Advocate

[NewsCopy]

Compton coach Cornell Ward said Bradley, who drew interest from Texas-El Paso, will have three years of eligibility remaining after playing only one season -- the first of his career -- at Compton College.

"He never played football in high school, but he was all-conference for us. He can play defensive end, linebacker, fullback and tight end. He's just going to play his role."

The source of the info

Advocate

[ULTubaTom]

It said in the morning advocate that Xavier will have two years elgibility.

[NewsCopy]

Nelson, Givens pledge to Cajuns

LOUISIANA La. — Louisiana’s football squad got verbal commitments from east and west this week, adding prep players from Florida and Texas to its 2004 commitment list.

Defensive end Elijah Nelson of Miami, Fla., and Edison High and wide receiver Ray Givens of Lufkin, Texas, and Lufkin High each followed up visits to the campus last weekend with commitments to Ragin’ Cajun head coach Rickey Bustle.

“I just liked the coaching staff there,” said Givens (6-2, 190), who led his high school team to a three-year 37-6 record. “I felt like I could fit in really well there.”

“I like the program they have,” said Nelson (6-3, 225), who had nine sacks and 38 solo tackles for Edison as a senior despite playing virtually all year with a broken hand. “The weather and lifestyle are similar to down here.”

The two bring the Cajuns to 18 total commitments for the 2004 signing class including 12 high school prospects and six junior college players — four of whom are already enrolled for the spring semester.

Givens is the second prep commitment from Lufkin, joining teammate defensive back and earlier pledge Joseph Hadnot. The Lufkin squad was 10-2 this season with a District 11-5A title after a 13-3 campaign that included a trip to the state semifinals in 2002. One year earlier, Lufkin went 14-1 and won the Texas Class 5A state title.

“It was important for me to be around a winner,” Givens said. “I could see that they (UL Lafayette) was rebuilding a lot and did well in the league last year, and I wanted to help get to first in the league this year.”

The rest of the story

Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com

[NewsCopy]

Nelson, Givens pledge to Cajuns

LOUISIANA La. — Louisiana’s football squad got verbal commitments from east and west this week, adding prep players from Florida and Texas to its 2004 commitment list.

Defensive end Elijah Nelson of Miami, Fla., and Edison High and wide receiver Ray Givens of Lufkin, Texas, and Lufkin High each followed up visits to the campus last weekend with commitments to Ragin’ Cajun head coach Rickey Bustle.

“I just liked the coaching staff there,” said Givens (6-2, 190), who led his high school team to a three-year 37-6 record. “I felt like I could fit in really well there.”

“I like the program they have,” said Nelson (6-3, 225), who had nine sacks and 38 solo tackles for Edison as a senior despite playing virtually all year with a broken hand. “The weather and lifestyle are similar to down here.”

The two bring the Cajuns to 18 total commitments for the 2004 signing class including 12 high school prospects and six junior college players — four of whom are already enrolled for the spring semester.

Givens is the second prep commitment from Lufkin, joining teammate defensive back and earlier pledge Joseph Hadnot. The Lufkin squad was 10-2 this season with a District 11-5A title after a 13-3 campaign that included a trip to the state semifinals in 2002. One year earlier, Lufkin went 14-1 and won the Texas Class 5A state title.

“It was important for me to be around a winner,” Givens said. “I could see that they (UL Lafayette) was rebuilding a lot and did well in the league last year, and I wanted to help get to first in the league this year.”

The rest of the story

Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com

[NewsCopy]

After being named an All City player in 2001, and completing his prep carreer at Carson in the Los Angeles area. Marcus McCall went on to play for El Camino JC.

Marcus has committed to Louisiana.

Marcus McCall, FB, 5-10, 235, Los Angeles, Calif.-El Camino JC