Memphis Tigers are Hitting Home Runs in Louisiana

by Lee Brecheen

Frankie Jackson

February 3, 2010 - The Memphis Tigers, lead by former Memphis Tiger and new Head Coach Larry Porter, who came from LSU as one of the nation’s best recruiters, is hitting home runs recruiting Louisiana. Larry Porter has six verbal commitments from Louisiana heading into signing day this week. A name from the past , from a Louisiana school , former QB Martin Hankins, who started his career at Southeastern in Hammond for then Head Coach Hal Mumme, but finished his career at Memphis University, is helping coach Porter get some of Louisiana’s best. I will go on record and say this; Memphis has the second best class of Louisiana players committed behind LSU. LA Tech, who lost their coach, had a kid named Rob Donovan Lewis from Jonesboro Hodge HS, 5-11 175, verbally committed, but since Derrick Dooley’s departure to Tennessee, Lewis has committed to Memphis. Rob Donovan Lewis to me was La Tech’s best verbal for their class from Louisiana. Lewis can play big time football, he’s fast 4.45 forty, tough, and most of all can play three positions, WR/CB/Punt Return. Lewis was right under James Wright, Belle Chasse, Travon Reed, Thibodeaux, and Jarrett Fobbs, Huntington, to me as a game changer watching on film all year long. Tulsa thought they had a steal in talented CB/SS Todd Washington, 5-11 180, 4.45 forty from Lutcher, but Todd decommitted to Memphis. Todd would have played for Tulsa this coming year he’s super fast, and is a lock down CB, with really good size, long arms and good height. The best small RB in Louisiana this year was Frankie Jackson , 5-9 195 4.5 forty from Capitol, had over 40 offers

Taurean Nixon

for DIV 1 schools, and choose to play for Larry Porter at Memphis. Jackson will be the best RB to sign with Memphis since DeAngelo Williams from the state of Arkansas a few years ago. Jackson will start or play a ton day one, and might be up all Conference USA, when the season is over. CB/PR Taurean Nixon 6-1 185, who can run a true 4.39 forty, fastest time at LSU’s summer camp, played at Southern Lab in Baton Rouge, had over 20 DIV 1 offers. Nixon to me is the best CB in Louisiana, he had 4 interceptions that lead to Touchdowns his senior year, and had three Touchdowns from Punt Returns. This kid will play right away, and his upside is super. QB /ATH Kevin Wright 6-3 215 , from Christian Life HS in Baton Rouge, lead his high school team to the Super Dome his junior year as a QB, but also doubled as a FS. Kevin has a great frame, and huge upside because he’s a true 4.6 forty, at 215 pounds, I think he will outgrow QB/FS, and could be a NFL prospect one day as a LB or TE. This kid will end up weighing 230 to 240. Wright was offered by almost every school in Louisiana. WR Reginald Travis 6-3 180, 4.6 forty , from Plaquemine HS, has big time upside, this kid will get faster and bigger in college, but what impresses me most is his ability to go up and get passes, has great vertical leap, and great hands.

The secret to me for Memphis getting so many good Louisiana football players is (A) Larry Porter knows the coaches in Louisiana, and (B) coach Porter, has seen these kids on film while at LSU, and up close at LSU camps the last two years, also the kids know him also. There’s a chance that big time pulling guard Audoniss Madison 6-4 305 pounds from Edna Karr HS, will become commitment #7 from Louisiana for the Memphis Tigers. Madison is one of the best (OG’s) in Louisiana, big kid, strong, mean, and can run. This hurts a lot of in state schools

Kevin Wright

like Tulane, ULM, LA Tech, and ULL for losing out on some of Louisiana top players, who I predict most, if not all, will play this coming year in Conference USA. I really believe these seven players all have a chance to be drafted one day. Larry knew what talent in Louisiana the LSU tigers were not chasing, and he recruited the best players left. Larry Porter will not have the luxury of knowing kids like he did working past LSU camps for next year’s recruiting class , but what he has done is open up a door into Louisiana, with several talented Louisiana players on the roster.