By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

NEW ORLEANS — Former East St. John star Darion Monroe is garnering national acclaim. 

Monroe, a Tulane defensive back, was recently named to the preseason All-Conference Team for the American Athletic Conference, earning first team honors. 

The former ESJ quarterback and defensive back is part of an elite Green Wave secondary that placed two more first team players in Lorenzo Doss and Sam Scofield. 

The 5’10”, 190-pound safety tallied 91 tackles and 3.5 sacks for the Wave in 2013, while also intercepting one pass and logging six pass deflections. He helped lead Tulane to a stark turnaround last year, the team going 7-6 and qualifying for the New Orleans Bowl. The Green Wave went just 2-10 in 2012. 

At East St. John, Monroe was named a four-star recruit by Rivals.com. He racked up 67 total offensive touchdowns over his junior and senior seasons and hauled in eight interceptions on defense as a senior. He earned L’OBSERVATEUR’s nod as St. John Parish Offensive MVP to go along with All-State honors in his senior season.