The Book: UL Football Recruiting 2006

[NewsCopy]

Burks, a 6-foot-3, 260-pound All-District selection in 3-5A, was a three-year letterman and was Denham's team captain as a senior. He started two years at center and also played two ways as a defensive end this fall. "He's just a tough, hard-nosed guy," said Denham coach Dru Nettles. "He'll get in there and battle. He brings a lot of toughness and really enjoys the game." Burks has bloodlines in his favor. His father and three uncles all played collegiately at LSU, and uncle Shawn Burks was an All-Southeastern Conference selection. "I really liked their offense and their schemes," Burks said of the Cajuns. "I really like that they're on the rise right now, and I feel I can fit in there." Burks attended camps at LSU and Auburn during the summer along with one night camp at UL. "The coaches there definitely came after me the hardest," said Burks, who attended two Cajun games this fall. "They were always talking to be, and they made me feel real welcome when I came up there. They sounded like they really wanted me to come." Denham Springs finished only 1-9 in Nettles?226-130? first year ("We needed more guys like Ian," Nettles said), but Burks still drew notice from teams in the Sun Belt Conference and in the Gulf region. "They picked up a very good football player," Nettles said. "He's going to be very good for their program." The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

The University of Louisiana football squad upped its number of commitments to three Monday when St. Thomas More kicker/punter Tyler Albrecht and Denham Springs center Ian Burks both giving Ragin Cajun coach Rickey Bustle verbal pledges. Albrecht and Burks join Catholic-New Iberia running back/linebacker Matt Desormeaux as Cajun commitments for the 2006 recruiting class. Albrecht hit 12-of-16 field goals and 24-of-25 extra points for the Cougars in their march to the state Class 4A quarterfinals. He also handled kickoff for most of the season before a groin injury slowed him there. It didn't hamper his punting, though. He finished the season with an average of just over 40 yards, and averaged over 50 yards per kick in STM's quarterfinal loss to Bastrop. Ironically, one of his field goal misses came at the end of that game. "That's part of being a kicker," said STM coach Jim Hightower. "I watch them every Sunday miss (NFL) kicks. He was a really key player for us, a clutch performer and very consistent." Albrecht, who joined the Cougar squad following Hurricane Katrina after attending Holy Cross in New Orleans, had a pair of 50-yard field goals during the season, one of them a last-minute game-winner. "I was considering UL even before I came here," Albrecht said. "We've got family here and I'm originally from here, and I was happy to see them winning. That made me want to go there even more." Albrecht will be in the forefront to replace graduated senior Sean Comiskey, who finished his four-year career as UL's all-time career kick scorer. "I like the position I'm going to be in," said Albrecht, who will be coached directly by Bustle since he handles the kickers. "I like coach Bustle and it'll be encouraging to have him there." "We're excited about what they did this year," Hightower said, "and we're excited to have another one of our players over there with them." The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[Boomer]

Don't like the dad's LSU comment---Let us keep this HC/STMer in Lafaytette--From the way Hightower phrased it in the DA ---He likes the UL staff and his kids going there!!!!!

[Purecajun]

Taylor Collins. I'm a junior. you?

About Albrecht. I saw him kicking field goals today after school. He said he doesn't want to get rusty and is getting ready to be UL's starter next year.

LOL. Dude, it's Gerry!!!!!!!

[T-Col]

LOL. Dude, it's Gerry!!!!!!!

no way. How long u ben here dude? What are the odds?

[Purecajun]

no way. How long u ben here dude? What are the odds?

Three to four years man.

[TheRaginCajun06]

I don't like his dads article either. Sounds like he wants his son to go to LSU too bad. Maybe one of those, "I wish I would have gone to LSU" articles lol.

Glad he's coming to UL. The more locals that come and establish themselves in our program the better.

Something I never understood was when really good players go to LSU to sit the bench when they could be starting at UL. Yes, I know some may get a break at playing, but for some is it just hopes that the person in front of them gets injured so they can shine?

[NewsCopy]

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajun football team increased its verbal commitment number to four Wednesday evening, garnering one of the area's top wide receivers. Lafayette High's Richie Falgout, who has recorded over 40 catches each of the last three years for the Mighty Lions, gave Cajun head coach Rickey Bustle his pledge Wednesday. "They were the ones that were pretty much on me all the way through," Falgout said Thursday. "I had gone to games at La. Tech and Southern Miss, but I didn't take any other official visits." The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Falgout was an All-District 2-5A selection this year with 46 catches for 612 yards and three scores in nine games. He had 41 catches for 660 yards as a sophomore and 48 grabs for 723 yards as a junior. Falgout earned all-district second-team honors in both his sophomore and junior seasons and moved to the first team despite LHS' 4-5 overall and 2-4 league records this year. He is also a two-time All-Parish pick. He said the Ragin' Cajuns' turnaround this year was a big key in his decision. UL, which began the season 1-5, won its last five games and grabbed a share of the Sun Belt Conference title, its first conference crown since 1994. "I could really see Coach Bustle and Coach (offensive coordinator Rob) Christophel turning everything around," he said. "I wanted to be a part of that. There were a bunch of guys there when I took my official visit, and I got along with all of them really well." Falgout said the Cajun offense, one that turned into one of the country's best rushing attacks this season, could be huge for the wide receivers in coming years. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[JMV JustMyView]

Winning will bring in this kind of talent...

[cajun tom]

Winning will bring in this kind of talent...

Falgout looks to be about the same size as Brandon Stokley when he came out of high school. I hope he is half as good.

[RedCajun]

Winning will bring in this kind of talent...

Plus his Dad is a HUGE fan of UL, that can't hurt

[Cajun1997]

Matt Desormeaux, FB, New Iberia
Tyler Albrecht, PK, STM
Ian Burks, OL, 6-3, 260, Denham Springs
Richie Falgout WR, 5-10, 160, Lafayette