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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

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SPORTS

2008 Advocate Second Dozen

LaRon Byrd

Hahnville, WR

6-5, 190

Considering: Auburn, Mississippi State, USM, Miami

Rated the nation’s No. 58 wide receiver and state’s No. 11 prospect by Rivals.com. … Started for three years at Hahnville. … Extremely physical with good speed (4.5 in 40) and is also automatic in goal line situations on fade routes. … Totaled 50 catches for 630 yards and 13 TDs as senior. … Has visited Auburn and will visit Mississippi State this weekend and finish up with trips to Southern Mississippi and Miami. … Also has offers from Tulane, Nebraska and Louisiana Tech. … Is expected to qualify academically.

Khiry Cooper

Calvary Baptist, WR

6-3, 190

Considering: Nebraska, Florida, Arkansas

Rated the nation’s No. 99 wide receiver by Rivals.com … Has great size, speed (4.5 in 40) and is proficient route runner. … Voted first team Class 2A All-State after catching 60 passes for 1,037 yards with 16 TDs. … Also excelled for school’s state championship baseball team as center fielder and lead-off hitter and wants to play both sports in college. … Will take an official visit to Arkansas next weekend. Also planning to make visits to Nebraska and Florida. … Academically qualified.

Robby Green

John Curtis, DB

6-0, 170

Committed to Alabama

Rated nation’s No. 17 cornerback by Rivals. com … Considered among the state’s top cover corners despite a lack of height. … Has run 4.5 in 40 and is strong for his size with a 345-pound bench press. … Suffered knee injury in first half of Class 2A state championship and didn’t play in the second half. … Earned first team Class 2A All-State honors after making 45 tackles with four interceptions. … Committed to Alabama over nearly 30 offers. … Projects to qualify academically.

Herman Lathers

Scotlandville, LB

6-1, 205

Committed to Tennessee

Rated nation’s No. 43 inside linebacker by Rivals.com … Played in nine games after transferring from Istrouma where he started for two seasons. … Led Scotlandville’s defense with 114 tackles, including 18 for losses, and five sacks. … Not only displayed ability to play the run but showed off his 4.5 speed in 40 in pass coverage as well with two interceptions. … Was selected to All-Metro team. … Committed to Tennessee over offers from Tulane, Baylor, Ole Miss and Stanford. … Academically eligible with a 3.8 grade point average.

P.J. Lonergan

Rummel, OL

6-4, 290

Committed to LSU

Rated nation’s No. 58 offensive guard by Rivals.com …. Possesses plenty of heart and has tremendous motor to go with his strength and speed. … Was three-year starter for Rummel, which has produced five 1,000-yard rushers during the last two seasons. … Started at guard for two years before moving to tackle as a senior. … Chosen first team Class 5A All-State. … His father Pat played offensive guard at LSU where he lettered in 1978. … Committed to LSU over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana Tech, Purdue and Tulane. … Academically qualified with a 3.5 grade point average.

Trent Mackey

Carencro, LB

5-10, 225

Committed to Tulane

Rated the nation’s No. 35 inside linebacker by Rivals.com … Was a three-year starter at Carencro after evacuating from his home in Port Sulphur because of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. … If not for lack of height would have been considered among the state’s truly elite prospects. … Enjoyed extremely productive three seasons, twice earning Class 5A All-State honors. … Registered 103 tackles as a senior with five sacks and 13 stops for losses, while rushing for 636 yards and 10 touchdowns after being pressed into duty at fullback during senior season. … Committed to Tulane. … Academically qualified.

DeAngelo Peterson

Desire Street, WR

6-3, 195

Committed to LSU

Rated nation’s No. 22 athlete by Rivals.com. … Played both wide receiver and safety as senior, helping Desire Street to berth in Class 1A state semifinals. … Projects as wide receiver in college where he earned first team all-state honors after catching 39 passes for 698 yards with 10 touchdowns. … Also shined on defense where he was named All-Metro with 94 total stops, four interceptions (returning one for a TD) along with 3.5 sacks. … Committed to LSU over a total 25 scholarship offers. … Timed at 4.5 in 40. … Academically qualified with 3.3 grade point average.

Freddie Smooth

Desire Street, DL

6-5, 300

Considering: Oklahoma, Auburn, North Carolina, LSU

Rated the nation’s No. 53 offensive tackle by Rivals.com … Was a two-way starter at offensive and defensive tackle for team which advanced to Class 1A state semifinals. … Improved his stock tremendously with solid senior season that included 70 tackles and 4.5 sacks on defense. … Was named first team Class 1A All-State and All-Metro on offense. … Has taken an official visits to Oklahoma and Auburn. … Is scheduled to take his final visits to North Carolina next weekend and Southern Mississippi on Feb. 1. … Still needs test score to be qualified academically.

Jhyryn Taylor

Franklinton, WR

6-1, 185

Committed to LSU

Rated nation’s No. 51 athlete by Rivals.com and state’s No. 12 prospect. … Started for four years at Franklinton at wide receiver and returned punts. … Caught 47 passes for 826 yards with 14 touchdowns to earn first team Class 4A All-State honors. … Runs 4.5 in 40-yard dash. … Younger brother of LSU senior safety Curtis Taylor and older brother of fellow LSU commitment Brandon Taylor. … Committed to LSU. Also received offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas State, Miami and Mississippi State. … Needs core grades to qualify academically.

Dallas Thomas

Scotlandville, OL

6-6, 265

Considering: Tennessee, Ole Miss, USM

Rated the nation’s No. 57 offensive tackle by Rivals.com. … Very good quickness (5.0 in 40) and athleticism for someone his size. … Will easily be able to handle additional weight because of a slender build. … Finished career at Scotlandville after transferring from Istrouma where he played for two seasons. … Two-time All-Metro and all-district selection. … Has taken an official visit to Tennessee. Has scheduled to visit Ole Miss on Jan. 25 and may take a visit the following weekend to Southern Mississippi. … Still lacks a test score to be academically eligible.

Kermit Tyler

Higgins, OL

6-4, 310

Committed to Ole Miss

Rated nation's No. 52 offensive guard by Rivals.com ... Started for four years at Class 5A Higgins in New Orleans. ... After playing defensive tackle as freshman and sophomore before moving to guard for final two years, helping the Hurricanes average nearly 270 yards rushing per game. ... Considered excellent drive blocker, utilizing good upper body strength and excellent foot work. ... Selected to participate in Offense vs. Defense high school all-star game in Miami earlier this month but wasn't able to play game because of an illness. ... Early commitment to Ole Miss. ... Recently received an offer from Southern Mississippi. ... Academically qualified.

Prentiss Waggner

Clinton, DB

6-2, 180

Considering: Tennessee, Minnesota, Ole Miss, North Carolina, USM

Rated nation’s No. 33 cornerback by Rivals.com … Great combination of size to defend against taller receivers but also quick enough (4.4 in 40) and athletic enough to cover down field. … Was named the Class 2A defensive player of the year after intercepting 16 passes as a junior. … Earned first team Class 2A All-State honors and was chosen All-Metro for the second straight year after making nine interceptions. … Also shined at wide receiver — catching 75 passes for 873 yards and 13 TDs for Eagles who advanced to state quarterfinals. … Has made official visits to Tennessee and Minnesota. … Is scheduled to visit Ole Miss this weekend and either North Carolina or Southern Mississippi on Jan. 25. … Academically qualified with better than a 3.0 grade point average.

— William Weathers