2003 Football Commitments

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Clay Bridges, DT, 6-4, 265, White Oak, Texas-White Oak

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Rodney Hardaway,
DE,
6-4, 230,
Tyler, Texas - Chapel Hill

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Erik Jones,
TE,
6-4, 235,
Austin, Texas - Westwood

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David Lewis,
DB,
5-10, 185,
West Monroe - West Monroe

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LOUISIANA La. — It was only by chance that Luke Sniewski came to the attention of University of Louisiana’s football coaching staff, but it didn’t take long for the Cajun coaches to realize his talents.

Now, the record-setting quarterback for Pasadena (Calif.) City College is enrolled at Louisiana for the spring semester, and is already preparing to be a big part of the Cajun squad this fall.

“It’s a really friendly place and I’m really glad I’m here now,” said the 6-foot-6, 215-pound Sniewski. “It was culture shock at first, but life is about change and I’m glad I made this one.”

Sniewski is one of eight members of the Cajuns’ 2004 recruiting class who are already enrolled for the spring, including six junior college signees and a pair of early-entry freshmen. That group joins 17 verbal commitments the Cajuns have received for next Wednesday’s national signing day.

Sniewski played only one year at Pasadena City College, and the Cajuns were recruiting an offensive lineman from that school earlier this year.

“Coach (Mike) Gibson was after a tackle,” Sniewski said, “and the highlights they had showed me throwing a lot of balls. He brought a film back to Coach (Rickey) Bustle and Coach (Rob) Christophel, and they liked me a lot. They pretty much offered me a scholarship the first time we talked.”

Sniewski only played half of the 2003 season for Pasadena City with a recurring ankle injury, playing in only six games and only seeing scant action in some of those. When healthy, though, his Pasadena City squad set a school record for total offense in a game with a 712-yard effort against Santa Ana College.

He also threw for 433 yards, another school mark, against El Camino College as a sophomore after splitting time with John Rattay — younger brother of former La. Tech and current San Francisco 49ers quarterback Tim Rattay — as a freshman.

“I think my arm strength and my leadership on and off the field are my strong points,” he said. “I can read defenses pretty well, and I’m already looking at tape every day getting to know Division I defenses. Football’s 90 percent mental, and if I can pick up the offensive system and study the defenses, my head will be my best asset.”

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com

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LOUISIANA La. — David Lewis is used to being in a winning football program, and says he wouldn’t want to be a part of one that wasn’t successful.

But the West Monroe standout isn’t concerned about the leap of faith he’s taking with the University of Louisiana program.

“I know they’ve struggled some,” he said, “but I think things are really turning up and heading in a great direction. They won four of the last five last year, and that’ll carry over to next season.”

Lewis, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound defensive back, plans to be a part of that “next season,” giving Ragin’ Cajun coach Rickey Bustle a verbal commitment this week after a weekend official visit.

“I thought it was wonderful,” Lewis said of his visit. “I loved the people in the town, the campus was beautiful, I enjoyed everything about it. I like the coaches a lot ... it all starts with personal relationships you make with coaches, and they’re very excited about turning things around.”

The Cajuns have a 25-man recruiting class — eight players who have already signed and enrolled for the spring semester, and 17 verbal commitments from high school and junior college players — heading into Wednesday’s national signing day.

Lewis was a three-year letterman in the powerful Rebel program, starting some games as a sophomore and earning Class 5A All-State, All-Northeast Louisiana and All-District 2-5A honors as a junior. He broke his right hand as a senior against Captain Shreve and missed five games but still earned all-district honors.

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com

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LOUISIANA La. — If there was a hole in Louisiana’s football commitment list, it was a lack of freshman interior defensive linemen.

That changed this week when White Oak, Texas, product Clay Bridges gave Ragin’ Cajun coach Rickey Bustle a commitment, adding his 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds to the list.

“I thought I fit in pretty good there,” said Bridges. “I got a chance to watch them on film, and they did a lot of stunts similar to what we did in high school.”

Bridges, who started both offensively and defensively for coach Tracy Blankenship at White Oak, earned All-District 15-3A and All-East Texas honors as a senior when his squad went 7-4 overall and 4-1 in league play.

He is part of a 25-man recruiting class for the Cajuns heading into Wednesday’s national signing day. Eight of that group have already enrolled as either transfers or junior college players, and 17 are verbal commitments expected to sign Wednesday.

Bridges’ all-league and area honors came on offense, but he figures to be a defender in college. He is the only true defensive down lineman on the commitment list, a group he’s anxious to work with.

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com