One of the state’s most highly-coveted quarterbacks will be going out-of-state to play college football.
Zack Oliver, who will be a senior at Catholic (Baton Rouge, La.) this coming season, announced his commitment to Northwestern of the Big Ten. Oliver must wait until the start of the signing period on Feb. 2, 2011 to make it official.
"I’m very excited," Oliver said. "I’m ready to move to the next level and show them what I’ve got."
Northwestern offered Oliver a scholarship last February, but he delayed his decision while waiting to hear from LSU, located in his hometown. When LSU didn’t make a firm commitment, Oliver opted for Northwestern, located in the Chicago suburb of Evanston.
Oliver made an unofficial visit to the campus during spring break.
"They were asking me to wait so they could evaluate me more," Oliver said of LSU. "I just didn’t know if I had the time they needed."
In his second year as a starter last fall, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Oliver guided Catholic to the Class 5A state semifinals.
Northwestern, a private, academically rich university, was the most prestigious offer Oliver received. Others came from the likes of Arkansas State, Memphis, San Diego State, South Alabama, Tulane, Tulsa and Western Kentucky.
Oliver carries a 3.4 grade point average and scored a 25 on his ACT. Northwestern’s 2010 recruiting class featured another Baton Rouge product in linebacker Collin Ellis of Dunham (Baton Rouge, La.).
ULM gets one, waits on another
The University of Louisiana at Monroe received one in-state commitment but still is waiting on another from a standout defensive tackle located in its hometown.
St. Amant (La.) kicker Justin Manton announced that he plans to sign with the Warhawks in 2011, but Neville (Monroe, La.) defensive tackle Demarcus Hodge said he wants “to keep my options open.”
Manton kicked a school-record, 54-yard field goal last season, as well as field goals of 51 and 48 yards. He also made 46 of 47 extra-point attempts. In addition, the 6-foot, 190-pound Manton is a starting guard on the basketball team and a left-handed pitcher on the baseball team.
"I like what they have going," Manton said of ULM, which now has six commitments for its 2011 recruiting class. "It looks like they’re a program on the rise."
The Warhawks might benefit themselves even more if they could land Hodge, who helped Neville to the Class 4A state championship last season. Within a week of that state title, the 6-1, 300-pound Hodge said he began to receive scholarship offers. Hodge took an official visit to ULM and participated in a summer camp at the school. He also attended camps at Alabama and Louisiana Tech.
Hodge said he’s also received offers from Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Texas Christian. ULM has indicated it wants to move Hodge to nose guard.
Hodge collected 44 tackles at Neville last season, including 10 for losses totaling 34 yards. He recovered four fumbles, forced three others, broke up four passes and had two quarterback hurries.
Hodge is academically qualified after having scored a 23 on ACT while carrying a 2.8 grade point average.
St. Augustine bulls way to title
St. Augustine (New Orleans, La.) can only hope its performance in the inaugural Red Bull Game Breakers 7-on-7 tournament is a precursor for the regular season.
The Purple Knights bested seven other teams, including Terrebonne (Houma, La.), to win the national title at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
St. Augustine defeated Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas) in the final, 31-14.
"It was a challenge," St. Augustine coach David Johnson said. "I thought the kids did a great job."
Senior wide receiver Marc Edwards caught eight touchdown passes in three games to earn Most Valuable Player honors. Defensive back Shawn Thomas intercepted five passes.
St. Augustine advanced to the tournament by winning a local qualifier at Tulane.
Coaches not idle during summer
The offseason has been an active one for coaches, who have been busy taking on new jobs in preparation for their respective upcoming seasons.
* Walker (New Orleans, La.) has added two new coaches to its football staff in former Port Allen assistant coach Steven Thomas and former Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) assistant coach Kevin Schexnayder. Thomas will take over as Walker’s defensive coordinator, while Schexnayder will coach the wide receivers.
* Danny Cook left Springfield, where he was a football assistant, to become the defensive coordinator at Menard (Alexandria, La.).
* Brandon Bravata joined the Catholic of Pointe Coupee (New Roads, La.) football staff as an assistant while assuming the head baseball coaching duties. Lauren Castle, a former All-American softball player at LSU, will become the head softball coach.
* Parkview Baptist (Baton Rouge, La.) has a new volleyball coach and girls basketball coach in Becky Madden and Sam Barham, respectively. Madden previously coached at both the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Episcopal School of Acadiana (Cade). Barham was a long-time boys basketball coach at Zachary.
Wrestling: Brother Martin adds familiar face
Robbie Dauterive is returning to his alma mater of Brother Martin (New Orleans, La.) to assume control of a wrestling program that he once built into a state power. Before resigning to pursue a career in sales, Dauterive won three state titles with two runner-up finishes in five years.
Dauterive replaces Matt Lambert, who resigned after the 2010 season. Dauterive said he didn’t enjoy his new profession and regretted his decision to leave.
Brother Martin has had four head coaches since Dautervie’s departure, and although it has won three state titles since then, the program has slipped in the past two years.
Brother Martin finished fifth in the state two years ago and seventh last year. It didn’t have an individual champion in either year for the first time since 1996.
