By BUD JOHNSON

NEW ORLEANS – This time last year he was the star quarterback at Hahnville High School, leading the Tigers into the state playoffs.

Now, Nick Cannon is a freshman student-athlete at Tulane University.

He is not expected to play this year, but Cannon is not complaining. He is learning, working, watching and waiting his turn to compete for the quarterback job at Tulane.

Nick sustained a knee injury during pre-season practices, and his first objective is to make sure he is fully recovered. He resumes practice with the team this week.

“He was really having a good fall camp,” said Tulane coach Chris Scelfo. “Obviously, this set him back. He has hasn’t been able to practice for three weeks, but he has been at practice and every meeting.

“I know Hahnville must miss him, because he has been a real asset to our football program.”

Scelfo added, “(HHS head coach) Lou Valdin really did a great job training him on the football field and his mother and father did a tremendous job with his upbringing. He is not only a good athlete, but an outstanding person and that is directly attributed to his parents.

“He knows he is going to redshirt now because of the injury. If he grows and develops this year mentally, it will payoff for him when he does begin to play.”

One of his biggest fans is Valdin, who witnessed Cannon taking over the quarterback job during his senior year.

“The first thing you think about is his poise under fire,” Valdin said. “He only started one year of high school ball.

“He was so cool. That was unique for a guy who was a first-time starter. He had tremendous talent.”

Cannon was “all-everything” at Hahnville High.

He was selected as the Nokia Sugar Bowl player of the Year for 2001 and he was named to the All-River Parishes team.

He was also an All-District 6-5A selection.

Cannon passed for 33 touchdowns and 2,730 yards as a senior, leading the Tigers the Class 5A regional championship and the state quarterfinals.