MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / February 5, 2000

LAPLACE – The number 13 was lucky for River Parishes football players Wednesday.

That was the number of local players signing letters of intent on college football’s National Signing Day, the end of a long period of often hectic recruiting.

East St. John’s Roydell Williams led the local group, signing with Tulane in thehigh school’s library. Williams, regarded as the top receiving prospect in thestate, chose the Green Wave over LSU. He had also considered Florida andGeorgia Tech.

“I like the coaching staff,” Williams said. “They stayed with me throughoutthe whole process. I respect them for that. Other schools backed off until Ipassed the ACT and then came back on me. When I went to visit, I feltcomfortable with the players and coaches.”Williams, who caught a school-record 61 passes for 1,341 yards and 17 touchdowns in being named all-State this past season, joins former teammates Ky Joseph and Corey Sewell with the Green Wave.

“Corey was real excited about me coming to Tulane,” Williams said.

Williams is currently preparing for the baseball season. The center fielderwas an all-River Parishes selection in 1999. Although he will probably haveprofessional scouts looking at him this season, Williams said he will probably still go to college.

“It’s the best thing for me,” Williams said, adding that the football staff said they will also let him play for the Green Wave’s baseball program.

East St. John head football coach Ronnie Stephens said Tulane is getting thebest receiver in the state in Williams.

“He practices hard everyday and it carries over to game day,” Stephens said. “He can catch the ball over the middle and take it upfield and that’swhat Division I-A schools look for. I believe he can make an impact as afreshman over there.”Joining Williams in signing in the East St. John library Wednesday wasdefensive lineman Thomas Pittman, a 1997 graduate. Pittman, who hasplayed in the Montreal Expos farm system the last three seasons, signed a letter of intent with Florida.

Across the river, three West St. John players were signing their names toletter of intent papers. Wide receiver Donriel Louis signed with LSU,becoming the first player from the school to sign with the Tigers since Terry Robiskie in the early 1970s. Louis said he wavered at little after the coachingchange but always came back to the Tigers.

“I thought about other schools,” Louis said. ” I went to check out Texas A &M, Southern Miss and Tulane. I really enjoyed the visits but LSU was made forme.

“I liked everything. The academic program was nice. The football program isin the rebuilding process but I think this year is going to be a winning season.

I liked the environment and everybody around me. They were nice and easy toget along with.”Brian Lumar signed with Georgia Tech, choosing the Yellow Jackets over McNeese State and Nicholls State. Lumar led the area in receptions, catching67 passes for 1,009 yards and 13 touchdowns.

“My dream came true,” Lumar said. “I always wanted to play for a big school.I finally made it. I prayed every night, got down on my knees wishing I could goto a D-I school and I made it.”Tight end Marlon Jackson chose Grambling over Nicholls State and Mississippi Valley State. The all-District selection caught 40 passes for 614 yards andfour touchdowns in 1999.

“I liked the SWAC, the competition,” Jackson said. “I want to be a goodathlete there and play well. I like the school and I wanted to play in the BayouClassic.”Jackson is also a starter on the Rams’ basketball team and may look into the possibility of playing the sport in college.

“Most likely, I’ll stick to football,” Jackson said. “If I do good in football and Ihave some more energy to go out for basketball, I’ll try to do it.”Jackson said the Grambling coaches have him projected at either strong safety or wide receiver and that he might see playing time as a freshman.

“If I go in there and hit the weights, get stronger and build up my speed, I can be out there and playing my freshman year. I wouldn’t mind being redshirtedbut if I can go out there and play, I wouldn’t mind.” Riverside’s Joseph Trosclair inked with Nicholls State at a signing party at the Reserve Knights of Columbus Hall Wednesday night. The all-Stateselection helped the Rebels rush for over 2,000 yards in 1999.

“I liked the school very much,” Trosclair said. “They treated me very wellwhen I went to visit. They said I might have a shot to start next year. Theyhave facilities there and academics. Nicholls State always wanted me andthat’s where I went.”Trosclair said he wants to get stronger before heading up to the college level.

“I think I need to be stronger before I actually play. That’s what I’m doingright now, working out a lot.

Destrehan had two players sign. Jeremy Parquet signed with SouthernMississippi, choosing the Eagles over Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana Tech.

The all-State selection helped Wildcats gain over 4,200 yards in 1999.

“The school was good,” Parquet said of Southern Miss. “I went there on avisit and fell in love with the place. It’s where I want to play the next four orfive years. I knew when I went there. I felt so good when I was there.”Parquet said he is being projected at left tackle.

Richard signed with Louisiana-Monroe. The River Parishes and District 7-5ADefensive MVP had 82 tackles and eight sacks as a defensive lineman in 1999. Richard said the coaches at Monroe project him at strong safety.”I liked the campus,” Richard said. “The visit was pretty good. I talked to thecoaches and they seemed nice. And it’s open to me whether I want toredshirt.” Lutcher had four players sign letters. Defensive lineman Jemelle Cage signedwith Louisiana Tech where he will join former Bulldog Allen Stark. Cage choseTech over Louisiana-Monroe, Nicholls State and Jackson State. Cage was theDistrict 9-3A Defensive MVP and an all-State selection after recording 94 tackles and 11 sacks.

“I liked their style of play,” Cage said of Louisiana Tech. “Everything wentsmooth when I visited and I like their quarter system with scheduling classes.”Cage said he was told he will have the opportunity to compete for a starting job on either the defensive line or at linebacker.

Joining Cage at Louisiana Tech will be running back Jerron Wishom. Wishomselected Tech over Tulane, Southern Mississippi and Nicholls State. He was asecond-team all-District 9-3A selection after running for 516 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught 23 passes for 247 yards and being able to usethat versatility is one reason he chose the Bulldogs.

“The type of offense they run, they throw to their backs out of the backfield a lot,” Wishom said. “I could be one of those out of the backfieldand I can run the ball.”Wishom said he would like to put on a little more weight and will redshirt this season. His first season will be the same season the Bulldogs move into theWestern Athletic Conference.

Wide receiver Kenneth Johnson signed with Southern Mississippi, choosing the Eagles over Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Miami (Fla.) and Southern.Johnson was an all-State selection in 1999, catching 32 passes for 950 yards and nine touchdowns.

“I’ve been liking the school since I first visited it,” Johnson said of USM.

“They have a good team and good coaches. I felt comfortable up there.”Johnson stuck with the Eagles even after the change in offensive coordinators in the offseason.

“At first, that had me leaning toward Louisiana Tech,” Johnson said. “But Italked to the coach (Jeff Bower) and he said to trust him, that everything would be alright.”Johnson will play wide receiver and said it will be up to him whether he wants to redshirt or not. Johnson, one of the fastest sprinters in the state, alsohas the option to run track. He said he probably will run in the relays toprepare for the 100 and 200 meters down the line.

Another Lutcher football/track star, quarterback Thomas Ricks, signed with Southern. Ricks chose the Jaguars over Nicholls State, Louisiana-Monroe andLouisiana Tech.

Ricks was an all-District 9-3A and honorable mention all-State selection in 1999 after passing for 1,841 yards and 15 touchdowns.

“Their program is a well-developed program,” Ricks said of Southern.

“I felt comfortable in that environment when I went up there. Their staffand their coaches seemed like they were family. I wanted to be a part of it.”Ricks is projected at quarterback. He said he might throw javelin in the trackseason to keep his arm in shape.

Ricks will be joined at Southern by St. James center Damon Oubre. Oubrechose the Jaguars over SWAC rival Grambling. He was an all-District 9-3Aselection after helping the Wildcats gain over 3,000 yards in 1999.

“It was mostly an easy decision,” Oubre said. “They offered me what Iwanted. I’m looking forward to working hard and being the best I can be. I’mlooking forward to playing football at Southern as well as getting a pretty good education.”One player who did not sign was Wildcat quarterback Corey Webster.

Webster is deciding between Southern Mississippi and LSU but said there is no timetable on when he might decide.

“We are trying to make a decision now,” Webster said. “I’m talking to mymom and dad and we are trying to decide. I want to go where I can fit in andplay early.”Webster said that both schools project him at wide receiver. Both USM andLSU are also letting him play basketball.

St. James coach Rick Gaille said five more of his players could be signingsoon.

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