Metro New Orleans provides ample talent for FBS programs in 2019

It is well documented how much football talent is produced year in and year out in the Greater New Orleans Metro area. After having read this article, you’ll realize just how much.

The college football world is generously sprinkled with players who impact the game after growing up and sharpening their skills in this area. These are the players performing for schools outside of Louisiana.

WR Kalija Lipscomb – Vanderbilt

This 6-foot-1, 200-pound product of Jesuit is the second leading returning receiver in the SEC for ’19. He was a three-year for the Blue Jays with 130 catches for 2,300 yards earning All State twice. The senior Lipscomb was the top receiver for the Commodores last season with 87 grabs for 915 yards and 9 touchdowns.

DE Chris Turner – Missouri

Former Hammond Tor is a backup, recording 24 stops and two sacks last fall.

DE Sci Martin – Missouri

The McDonogh 35 product and LSU transfer via the JUCO route is expected to start this season.

WR Kirk Merritt – Arkansas State

The Destrehan product is the top returning receiver in the Sun Belt after racking up 83 catches for 1,005 yards and 7 touchdowns to earn first-team all conference acclaim.

LB Bruce Jordan Swilling – Georgia Tech

The former Brother Martin Htwo-way star has tallied 54 tackles the past two seasons as a backup.

CB Trey Swilling – Georgia Tech

Bruce’s brother, another Brother Martin alum, is a two-year starter for the Jackets who was All State and a three-year captain for the Crusaders.

SS Christian Campbell – Georgia Tech

The former Ponchatoula quarterback was All State in 2014 and managed 4,030 career rsuhing yards and 75 touchdowns in an option offense. He moved to strong safety at Tech in the spring of ’16 and became a starter.

QB Keytoan Thompson – Mississippi State

Former Landry-Walker star is currently battling Penn State transfer Tommy Stevens for a starter’s role. The 6-4, 225-pound junior has passed for 458 yards, six touchdowns and an interception and rushed for an additional 226 yards and four scores.

DT George Lea – Arizona State

Another Landry-Walker roduct is set to be a starter for the Sun Devils in 2019. The 6-foot-3, 275 senior had 27 tackles including four for loss last year.

WR Jeremy Singleton – Houston

Another Brother Martin alum who is now a sophomore backup for the explosive Cougars.

TE Glenn Beal – Texas A&M

John Curtis product is a sophomore backup heading into the preseason with the Aggies.

LB/DB Clifford Chattman – Texas A&M

Currently a versatile rover on the Aggies defense, he prepped at McDonogh 35. The junior is currently a backup.

FS Joe Foucha – Arkansas

The former McDonogh 35 standout is a starter for the Hogs as a sophomore.

MLB De’Jon “Scooter” Harris – Arkansas

A three-year starter, he led the Razorbacks in tackles in the past two seasons. He’s the SEC’s top returning tackler with 118 stops last season. Harris led John Ehret to the Class 5A state title game in 2015.

RB Pooka Wiliams – Kansas

The former Hahnville Tiger was All-Big XII as a freshman in ’18 with 1,125 yards rushing (7.0 yard average) and seven touchdowns. He is the leading returning rusher in the league.

DE Reggie Walker, – Kansas State

In 34 career starts, he has racked up 16 sacks and 30 TFL. As the second leading returning tackler in Big XII, the 6-2, 250-pound senior was previously All State at Ponchatoula.

DB Michael Lee – Kansas

The three-year starter has appeared in 32 games and tallied 215 tackles with four interceptions. The 5-11, 181-pound senior prepped at Landry-Walker where he was a three-time All District performer.

OLB Tyrin Ferguson – Nebraska

Tje 6-2, 230-pound senior had 36 tackles and five TFL in ’18, including 10 stops against Colorado. While at Edna Karr, he was the Class 4A Defensive Player of the Year when he had 104 tackles with 23.5 TFL and 10.5 sacks as a senior.

CB Kyle Meyers – Florida State

The senior has played in 38 contests for the Seminoles with 29 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions as backup. He prepped at Holy Cross.

FS Brad Stewart – Florida

A starter heading into his junior season, he had 41 tackles with a pair of interceptions in ’18. As senior at McDonogh 35, he had 111 tackles and 11 interceptions to earn 4A Defensive Player of Year acclaim in 2016.

LB Garrett Wallow – TCU

Enters 2019 as a first year starter and leading returning tackler for the Horned Frogs with 72 tackles, three sacks, 2.5 TFL in 2018. The junior prepped at John Curtis.

SS Josh Perry – Memphis

a two-year starter, the 6-2, 201 pound junior has 65 career tackles with 7 passes defended. He hails from Amite.

MLB Nathaniel Evans – UCF

The 6-1, 241-pound senior shined with 99 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 7.5 TFL and four pass breakups last season. He had 102 stops as senior at John Curtis.

DL Brendon Hayes – UCF

The 6-3, 293-pound senior is a twoyear starter and Brother Martin product who had 44 tackles, three sacks and eight TFL in ’18.

OLB Kenny Hebert – Vanderbilt

The junior out of Holy Cross will start this season for the Commodores after making 14 stops and four sacks last fall.

WR Devonta Smith – Alabama

A key starter for Tide, the Amite product tallied 42 grabs for 693 yards and six touchdowns in 2018.

CB Shyheim Carter – Alabama

The 6-foot, 195-pounder plays the “star” position in Nick Saban’s defense. The Kentwood alum is Bama’s second-leading returning tackler with 44 tackles, 10 PBUs and two interceptions.

RB Garland LaFrance – Western Kentucky

The sophomore out of St. Augustine had 158 yards rushing last season.

LG Kirk Kelley – Troy

He’s a three-year starter entering his senior campaign at 6-4, 320 pounds. He prepped at John Ehret.

WR Tyrone Legette – South Alabama

The speedster out of John Curtis is the son of the former New Orleans Saints cornerback Tyrone Legette, Sr.

TE Seth Caillouet – Texas Tech

He’s a backup redshirt freshman from Archbishop Hannan

RB Will Mathews – Kent State

The senior at 5-7, 201 pounds is a Destreham product who had 115 yards and a score in 2018.

CB Terrell Bailey – Tennessee

The sophomore Vols backup starred at John Ehret.

WR Da’ Monte Coxie – Memphis

The 6-3 junior is The American’s second leading returning receiver with a pair of years as a starter to his credit. The East St. John product snared 72 passes for 1,174 yards (16.3 average) and seven touchdowns.

WR Devonta Jason – Mississippi State

The 6-3, 225-pound sophomore is a backup out of Landry-Walker hoping to reel in passes from his former prep QB Thompson in Starkville.

CB Cameron Dantzler – Mississippi State

Another former prep QB, the St. Thomas Aquinas alum did not surrender a touchdown in 345 snaps last season while adding 45 tackles, 11 PBUs and two interceptions. He is considered one of the better cover corners in college football by NFL scouts. While at STA, he also captured a state long jump title with 23′ 3 1/4″ leap.

LB/DB Aaron Brûle – Mississippi State

Former Archbishop Rummel standout played in four games last season but was still able to redshirt. He’s battling for reps at weakside linebacker this preseason (shoutout to @KCnola22 on Twitter for alerting us to Brûle’s omission).

WR Michael Young – Notre Dame

A junior backup, the 5-10, 190 pounder prepped at Destrehan.

WR Lawrence Keys – Notre Dame

He’s a 5-10, 172-pound redshirt freshman out of McDonogh 35.

QB Justice McCoy – Colorado State

The 6-1, 198-pound sophomore out of St. Augustine is competing for snaps this preseason.

WR Tevin Bush – West Virginia

The 5-6, 163-pound junior who was an electric playmaker at Landry-Walker had 14 grabs for 209 yards and a score last season.

LT Christian Hoz – Arkansas State

Entering the preseason as a backup, the 6-5, 316-pound redshirt freshman prepped at Hannan.

LB Giovanni LaFrance – Arkansas

The 6-1, 248-pound junior is a St. Aug alum.

MLB Andrew Parker – Arkansas

The 6-2, 238-pound redshirt freshman is a Sophie B. Wright product.

CB Devin Bush – Arkansas

The 6-foot, 190-pounder is a freshman out of Edna Karr.

CB Gregory Brooks – Arkansas

He’s a freshman reserve from West Jeff.

NT Gerald Wilbon – Texas

The 6-3, 335-pound senior from Destrehan will look for more snaps on a defense returning just four starters.

DT D’Andre Christmas-Giles – Texas

Just like Wilbon, the St. Aug alum enters 2019 looking for more snaps.

LG Malik Clark – Kansas

The 6-4, 320-pound junior out of Warren Easton is set to be a first year starter.

WR Takulve Williams – Kansas

The 6-0, 196-pound sophomore from St. Aug is dangerous after the catch.

CB Corione Harris – Kansas

The 6-1 sophomore was originally committed to LSU. Now a Jayhawks starter, he had 43 tackles, two TFL, seven PBU and three interceptions in 2018. The Landry-Walker product played QB and CB as a prepster.

CB Lance Robinson – Kansas State

He’s a 5-9, 192-pound redshirt freshman out of De La Salle.

DE Earl Barquet – TCU

The John Ehret product crashes off the edge fast at 236 pounds