Bonnabel signs four football players, one bowler to scholarship

Four Bonnabel Bruins have signed football scholarships to play on the college level.

Joseph Taranto is heading to Louisiana College, Jonathon Brock will attend Arkansas-Monticello, Torrence Bardell signed with the Naval Academy and Deaune Nicholas is attending Langston University.

In addition, standout bowler Alahna DeGruy will attend Alabama State on a bowling scholarship.

Taranto was a standout linebacker for the Bruins, setting a school record for forced fumbles and he was the team’s second leading tackler.

“Taranto will be good at the next level because he’s just a driven kid,” Bonnabel coach Brett Bonnaffons said. “I’ve seldom seen many kids go through more than he has gone through in his life. To come out of it and to college and be successful is an amazing thing. He refuses to fail. He’s signing as a receiver. We were playing him out of position because that’s what our team needed. He is a talented receiver. He gave up his own personal ambition to help his team.”

Brock starred in the secondary and is a good basketball player at Bonnabel for the outstanding team of Glenn Dyer. Brock was second in interceptions for the Bruins in 2019.

“Jonathon has only played football for one year,” Bonnaffons said. “He came out in May. He has such a big upside. If he had played for two or three years, he would be an SEC player. Arkansas-Monticello is getting an extreme steal. He is six-foot-3, weighs 190 and he runs a 4.6. He is an athletic freak. He’s a great kid. To say I’m proud of him is an understatement. He knew nothing about cornerback and now he is signing a college scholarship.”

Bardell was the star quarterback who holds the school record for passing yards in a season, total yards in a season and total passing yards in a career and touchdowns in a career and season.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a kid who I respected more than Torrence,” Bonnaffons said. “I’ve had a few others I respected as much but none more. To be the first Division I recruit from Bonnabel since 2004 is amazing. You understand the type of character you have to have to go to the Naval Academy. That is what he is. He is a legitimate Division I quarterback. He’s one of the top three players to ever come out of Bonnabel, in my opinion.”

Nicholas is the fifth leading rusher in Bonnabel history. Nicholas ran for 934 yards in fewer than nine games played in 2019 for the Bruins.

“Just like Taranto, Deaune had to overcome a lot to get to this point,” Bonnaffons said. “he fought through every bit of adversity he has had. He is a confident football player. He has been a great player for me. He wants the ball and he produces.”

Bonnaffons will truly miss all four players but knows they have left their mark.

“These four guys led Bonnabel back,” Bonnaffons said. “They are the reason we are getting better as a program.”

DeGruy has been a standout bowler for Bonnabel for the last four years, competing for the co-ed Bruin team. DeGruy entered prep league play Thursday at AMF All-Star Lanes in Kenner with a 199 average and has a 299 game to her credit.