LOUISIANA La. — Eight new faces are getting a jump on helping Rickey Bustle turn around University of Louisiana football fortunes.

Some 17 more prospects are expected to sign national letters of intent today with the Ragin’ Cajuns, giving Bustle and his staff a large contingent of talent to introduce at 5 p.m. today at the Cajundome Convention Center.

“We feel really good about the players we have commitments from,” said tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator Troy Wingerter, who emceed last year’s Signing Day festivities.

“We called all of them at home — not just on their cell phones — last Saturday. It’s tough to be visiting other schools when you’re at home on Saturday afternoon.

“Schools have been coming in late on some of the kids, but they’re firm.”

This year’s class will include a pair of Acadiana area prep standouts, running back Caleb Rubin of Lafayette High and quarterback Michael Desormeaux of Catholic-New Iberia, in addition to 15 other high school stars from as far away as California and Oklahoma.

In school for the spring semester and available to practice are 6-foot-6 quarterback Luke Sniewski, tight end Tommy Briggs, wide receiver Eddie Brown, offensive linemen Justin Ernest, Ryan Gilles and Jesse Newman, defensive lineman Curtis Isaac and defensive back Jamarcus Smith.

Of that group, Brown (Fortier) and Smith (Destrehan) are high school midyear signees while the rest are junior college products.

“To have those kids here in the spring is big,” said Bustle, whose team won four of its last five games in 2003 for a 4-8 finish. “The JC kids are all good-looking kids, and the two high school players will help us, too.”

The 2004 class that will be introduced tonight will include two quarterbacks, three wide receivers, three tight ends, four offensive linemen, two running backs, one kicker, five defensive linemen, two linebackers and three defensive backs.

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com