Football: Desormeaux recognized by Honor Society, Pritchard Qualifies, Fendt Wins, & More

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • June 21, 2009

Former UL quarterback Michael Desormeaux helped the Ragin’ Cajuns shred opposing defenses with his run-pass skills.

Now the New Iberia native is once again getting recognized for his work in the classroom.

Desormeaux was recently named to the 2009 National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame Hampshire Honor Society, which includes collegiate football players from all levels who made at least a 3.2 grade-point average.

Now a rookie safety with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Desormeaux was previously honored as a semifinalist for the Draddy Trophy given each year to the nation’s top football student-athlete. He graduated in December 2008 with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.91.

"To be honest, I hadn’t really heard about it (the honor society)," said Desormeaux, who recently finished four weeks of organized team activities with the Jaguars in Jacksonville. "One of our assistants came up to me the other day and said something about it. It’s definitely a good thing."

Desormeaux ended his collegiate career in 2008, leading UL’s offense to the highest-scoring season in program history. The gritty left-hander topped the Sun Belt Conference in total offense and was the league’s Offensive Player of the Year as a senior despite playing the last half of the year on a bum knee.

For his career, Desormeaux finished as the third-leading rusher in school history and fourth in passing yards in only two seasons as a full-time starter. He became only the eighth quarterback in NCAA history to rush for at least 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons.

Desormeaux was not selected in the NFL draft in April but later signed with the Jaguars. Now he is fighting for a spot on special teams while learning to play safety at the next level.

"I’m very proud of Michael, not only because he was a great student and a great football player, but because he graduated," UL coach Rickey Bustle said. "After his NFL career, he will have the opportunity to put his degree to use."

Desormeaux recently started four weeks of strength and conditioning training with the Jaguars, who have training camp next month in Jacksonville.

Married to the former Lindsey Sale in April, Desormeaux is sharing an apartment on a month-to-month lease in Jacksonville with rookie tight end Zach Miller and his wife. Lindsey, a school teacher, has been able to spend time with Michael in Jacksonville with school out for the summer.

Desormeaux and Miller were roommates leading up to the draft while training at TEST Sports Club in New Jersey.

Summer time

Bustle told theadvertiser.com that six football signees have enrolled for summer school, which started two weeks ago.

According to Bustle, the six newcomers are former Mamou High running back Rob Walker, defensive back Winston Burnette, wide receiver Javone Lawson, linebacker Brandon Nash and defensive linemen Brandon McCray and Tyrell Gaddies.

Burnette (Woodlawn High) and Nash (Redemptorist High) are from Baton Rouge. Lawson (Helen Cox High) is out of New Orleans. Gaddies was born in New Orleans but played at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College. McCray played at Merritt Island High in Florida.

Pritchard qualifies

UL golfer Kyle Pritchard recently qualified for the U.S. Amateur Public Links, which is July 13-18 at the Jimmie Austin Golf Course in Norman, Okla.

Pritchard, who will be a senior next season, shot back-to-back rounds of one-under par to win the U.S. Amateur Public Links Sectional Qualifier at Pecan Valley Golf Course in San Antonio, Texas.

An all-Sun Belt Conference selection in 2009, Pritchard can earn an automatic berth to play in The Masters by winning the U.S. Amateur Public Links. The Masters will be held next April in Augusta, Ga.

Fendt wins again

Philipp Fendt, the reigning Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year from UL, won the Startzeiten Golf Tournament in Austria to clinch the Sicherheitstechnik Golf Trophy.

Fendt was the lone golfer to shoot under par (seven-under) and finished seven strokes ahead of the second-place finisher. He plans to rest this upcoming week before playing in the National Open in two weeks.

Odds and Ends

Former UL pitcher Danny Farquhar earned his first career win in Double-A on Thursday. The second-year pro threw two scoreless innings in relief as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats beat the Akron Aeros, 2-1, in Eastern League play. Farquhar is now 1-2 with a 0.77 ERA in nine outings since being promoted to Double-A in late May … Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman, who played at UL from 1999-2002, recently told The Chicago Sun-Times that he hopes to recover from reconstructive shoulder surgery in time for the start of training camp on July 31. Five months ago, Tillman had his second shoulder surgery in the past four years … Milwaukee Brewers’ prospect Jonathan Lucroy, a former Cajun catcher, is hitting .364 with 12 hits in his past 33 at-bats for the Double-A Huntsville Stars in the Southern League. That hot streak has boosted his average 19 points to .266 … Ex-UL golfer Greg Sonnier finished in a tie for 17th at 15-under par last week at the 2009 Merrill Lynch Mid-Season Championship. Two other former Cajuns, Michael Smith and B.C. Thibeaux III, both failed to make the cut.