Acadiana Defensive Back Overcomes Adversity Last Fall

by Jay Parker

Going under the knife is a scary scenario for any athlete. The battle back is a process that can put a strain on not just one’s physical health but their mental health as well. For Laterrance “LT” Welch, his end goal of winning a state championship kept him locked in throughout his therapy. Welch tore his meniscus in May 2020 and performed his rehab every day so he could be able to play in the 2020 football season. Once cleared in December, Welch helped the Rams secure their second consecutive state championship 35-34 by intercepting the ball against Alexandria Senior High School in the final minute of the game.

“I had to keep climbing, keep working out, and keep getting my knee stronger,” said Welch.

Welch has a perfect athletic build for a defensive back standing 6'1 and weighing in at 180 pounds. He runs a true 4.54/40 with a 235-pound bench press and 405-pound squat max. In his career with a shortened junior season, Welch had six interceptions. He is ranked as the number 14 cornerback in the country and the number seven cornerback in Louisiana according to 247 Sports. Going into next year, Welch sees areas of his game to improve on to continue Acadiana’s history of winning.

“I’m trying to improve my footwork and speed before next season,” said Welch. “We have a lot of guys coming back so I’m looking forward to lead my team to another state championship. You’ll see us next December back in the Superdome.”

In January of this year, Welch committed to play for his home state team, the Louisiana State University Tigers. Welch had over 20 offers and chose the Tigers over schools such as Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Florida, and Texas. Welch is excited to join the “DBU” family that LSU has to offer.

“The coaching staff is what sold me to commit,” said Welch. “How they develop DB’s and get them ready for the league makes it a family and a home.”

Welch is still taking visits to other universities. He visited the Auburn Tigers on June 11th and is visiting the Oklahoma Sooners on the weekend of June 25th.

Welch’s mentality on the football field can be compared to Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Both possess a high on-field IQ and share a drive to push the wide receivers lined up across from them off their game. Outside of football, you can find Welch either on the basketball court or in the kitchen. He enjoys cooking anything from tacos to spaghetti.

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My name is Jay Parker and I’m from Natchitoches, LA but live in Monroe Louisiana. I’m a senior Communication – Public relation major with a Business Administration minor at the University of Louisiana-Monroe. I currently serve as ULM’s Student Government Association Vice-President and am a member of Pi Kappa Alpha. I attended St. Mary’s high school in Natchitoches where I played football and baseball for 4 years. I enjoy spending time with my family, friends, and 2 dogs Jordan and Pippen. I also enjoy all forms of competition from board games to softball games.