MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / July 31, 1999

LAPLACE – West St. John’s Donriel Louis became the latest in a long lineof River Parishes football players to commit to LSU when he verbally committed to the Tigers this week.

Louis attended LSU’s one-day camp and said he liked the coaches and the offense the Tigers run. The 6-2, 170-pound wide receiver had also beenrecruited by Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Texas A & M and Southern Mississippi among others.

“It’s been my dream to play with LSU,” Louis said. “LSU has a greatfootball team and its academic program is wonderful, too. It’s close tohome and my family can come to see me play college football.”Louis was a Class 2A all-state honorable mention selection after helping West St. John to the Class 2A state championship this past season. As an all-District 9-2A selection, he grabbed 45 passes for 775 yards and eight touchdowns in 1998. His interception at the Riverside 7-yard linelate in the game sealed the Rams’ championship game victory.

“He has great range and great speed,” West St. John coach Laury Dupontsaid of Louis. “He is capable of making the great play. That is what he didhere and he can do it at the next level, too.”Louis was also named all-River parishes in basketball after averaging 16.9 points per game in 1998. In track, he was the Class 2A statechampion in the high jump this past year.

Louis is the first River Parish football player to commit to LSU since Destrehan’s Rondell Mealey and Hahnville’s Clifton White in 1995.

Louis, who is eligible to play academically, becomes the ninth player to commit to the Tigers early this year, joining linebackers Marvin Jones of Hammond, Marcus Yanez of Bastrop, Skylor Magee of Poplarville (Miss.) andRobert Peace of Ruston; defensive linemen Lionel Turner of Walker and Rudy Johnson of Kentwood; running back Erin Damond of Bogalusa and Notre Dame offensive tackle Kade Comeaux.

Louis said committing early will allow him to concentrate on this season.

“I have something to look forward to this season,” Louis said. “It issomething to push me harder for the season.”

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