Early-June Louisiana commitments round-up
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Several notable prospects all over Louisiana helped highlight hectic opening weeks of June by making college commitment announcements. Four in-state schools and out-of-state Power Five programs to the east and (far) west garnered pledges from talented student-athletes. Here’s a run-down…
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Continue ReadingSeveral notable prospects all over Louisiana helped highlight hectic opening weeks of June by making college commitment announcements.
Four in-state schools and out-of-state Power Five programs to the east and (far) west garnered pledges from talented student-athletes.
Here’s a run-down of where they’re heading.
Joseph Cryer Joseph Cryer 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Natchitoches Central | 2024 State LA — 6-4, 190 OL — Natchitoches Central (2024) —> Ole Miss
The big mauler wasted no time on the June recruiting circuit this month, arriving to Ole Miss on June 2 and making his commitment announcement on his visit. Cryer, who follows coach Jess Curtis from Many to Natchitoches Central this year, is one of Louisiana’s top rising senior linemen with a long offer list and a spring visit schedule that had included additional stops at Oklahoma State, TCU and Mississippi State. The Rebels have signed prospects from Louisiana each of the past four cycles, including offensive linemen each of the past two.
Armani Cargo Armani Cargo 5'11" | 160 lbs | DB John Ehret | 2024 State LA — 5-11, 160 DB/ATH — John Ehret (2024) —> Tulane
Hometown Tulane swiftly ramped up its pursuit of the Patriots’ speedster following his blazing 10.45- and 21.15-second 100- and 200-meter times, respectively, at the outdoor track and field state championships in May and garnered his commitment June 6 over other suitors that included Texas Tech and Memphis. Cargo has been a versatile athlete during his high school career and could prove to be another in-state steal for the Green Wave.
Steven Blanco Steven Blanco 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB St. Martinville | 2024 State LA — 5-10, 190 RB — St. Martinville (2024) —> Louisiana (Lafayette)
For the second straight recruiting cycle, the Ragin’ Cajuns have earned the commitment of a standout from nearby St. Martinville over a solid list of other college options. The Tigers’ physical bell-cow of a back throughout his high school career announced his pledge June 7 and is scheduled now to rejoin former teammate Harvey Broussard next year after the all-state receiver surprised many with his steal of a signing in December.
Cullen Charles Cullen Charles 6'0" | 190 lbs | ATH St. Martinville | 2024 State LA — 6-0, 190 WR/ATH — St. Martinville (2024) —> Arizona State
Charles, who joined Blanco and Broussard as the headline trio of weapons on the Tigers’ offense the past couple seasons, announced his college choice June 10, just a few days after Blanco. The speedy athlete continued Arizona State’s nice run of Louisiana recruiting in recent years with 2024 poised to be the Sun Devils’ eighth class in the past 10 securing at least one signee from the state.
James Harris James Harris 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Oak Grove | 2024 State LA — 6-2, 225 LB — Oak Grove (2024) —> Southeastern Louisiana
The perennial power Tigers’ standout linebacker helped kickoff a big commitment day around the state June 12 with his pledge to Southeastern Louisiana. Harris is a physical athlete with good next-level size and state championship experience in multiple sports. And his signing would continue a recent pipeline from Oak Grove to Hammond where former teammates Kaleb Proctor and Dalton Allen are already on the Lions’ roster.
Darrius Davis Darrius Davis 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Archbishop Rummel | 2024 State LA — 5-11, 180 DB — Archbishop Rummel (2024) —> Stanford
The Cardinal had felt like the favorite to land Rummel’s standout safety and veteran leader since extending a scholarship offer this spring despite Davis being sidelined by injury. Stanford represented not only a Power-Five opportunity, but a strong academic fit for the well-rounded student-athlete with field-of-study and post-football aspirations in accounting — in addition to the significance of the coaches’ belief in him despite the setback.
Joel Rogers Joel Rogers 6'0" | 190 lbs | ATH West Feliciana | 2024 State LA — 6-1, 185 DB/ATH — West Feliciana (2024) —> LSU
The Saints’ two-way star, who quarterbacked the team to a semifinal run this past fall, had quietly become one of Louisiana’s most heavily recruited 2024 prospects. But despite the long list of offers, Rogers said he kept coming back to the nearby LSU program he had grown up watching and signed with the Tigers over TCU, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas and others. Rogers is a smart, physical safety prospect with a knack for being around and making plays on the ball in a way that should make proud former star Tyrann Mathieu, whom he said was one of the first players he remembered admiring in purple and gold.
Kylan Billiot Kylan Billiot 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Terrebonne | 2024 State LA — 6-4, 185 WR — Terrebonne (2024) —> LSU
Less than four days after earning his LSU offer at the program’s annual high school 7-on-7 tournament, Billiot announced his commitment to the home-state “dream school.” Billiot had long considered himself a basketball star until approximately the past year and has worked hard to develop both his body and his skillset to go with the natural athleticism — lateral quickness, leaping, body control and ball skills — that helped lay the foundations for him to stand out in both sports. He will follow former high school teammate, star defensive lineman Maason Smith, and another strong local connection, former Thibodaux receiver Karen Lacy, to Baton Rouge.