Football: UL’s 2002 recruiting class: Where are they now?

Football: UL’s 2002 recruiting class: Where are they now?

Football: UL’s 2002 recruiting class: Where are they now?

Dan McDonald, Daily Advertiser –

JERRY BABB, QB, St. Thomas More High, Lafayette. Redshirted in 2002 natural freshman season. Started at quarterback next four years and ended career as most accurate passer in UL history (56.9%), breaking Jake Delhomme’s school record. Ranks second in UL career in passing yards, third in touchdowns and third in total offensive yardage. Missed three games in junior year with injury but otherwise played in all other 42 games of career, starting 38. Led UL in total offense four straight seasons, only second player in UL history to do that (Delhomme, 1993-96). Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year prior to senior season.

Grade: Five stars

RASHON BROWN, LB, Captain Shreve High, Shreveport. Never qualified academically.

Grade: Zero stars.

BRANDON COX, OT, Nimitz High, Irving, Texas. Did not attend UL in fall of 2002 but became academically eligible during the fall and enrolled for 2003 spring semester. Stepped immediately into starting lineup as right tackle and started 12 games, playing more snaps (841) than any lineman that year. Played in and started 46 games, both UL career records, even though only playing in one play in 2006 season finale due to knee injury. Two-time All-Sun Belt first-team selection.

Grade: Five stars

MACK FAIR, LB, O. Perry Walker High, New Orleans. Redshirted in 2002 natural freshman season. Played in 11 games in 2003 and in seven games in 2004 as a reserve linebacker and was a fixture on special teams. Stepped into regular staring rotation in 2005 junior season with five starts in 10 games and had 15 tackles with two for losses. Played all 12 games as senior and had 19 tackles with one stop for loss.

Grade: Three stars

JOHNNY FELDERS, S, St. Helena High, Pine Grove. Played in all 12 games as freshman backup in 2002 with three stops in season finale against Middle Tennessee. Redshirted in 2003 and played in all 11 games in 2004 with nine total tackles including eight solos. Started last seven and played all 11 games as junior in 2005 and finished fourth on the squad with 51 tackles, 37 of them in Sun Belt play, and had an interception and a fumble recovery against Northwestern State. Ranked third on squad as senior with 55 tackles including four for losses and two sacks in starting all 12 games.

Grade: Three stars

TERRYL FENTON, DB, Holy Cross High, New Orleans. Stepped into regular role as natural freshman in 2002, playing in all 12 games and getting 14 tackles while returning an interception 44 yards against Arkansas State. Started seven of 12 game sin 2003 and ranked seventh on team with 32 tackles with one theft. Started all 11 games at cornerback in 2004 and was 10th on team with 27 tackles. Started 11 games as senior in 2005, raking fourth on team with 51 tackles and third career interception. Finished eligibility in 2005.

Grade: Three stars

JOSH HARRISON, RB, Copperas Cove High, Copperas Cove, Texas. Redshirted in 2002 natural freshman season and played in eight games in 2003, seeing significant time in final four and rushing for 168 yards and three scores. Started three of seven games in 2004, rushing for 118 yards. Played in eight games as junior in 2005, rushing for 265 yards to rank second on squad among running backs and four scores. Missed last eight games of senior year with injury and had 66 yards rushing.

Grade: Two stars

ANTHONY "TONY" HILLS, DE, Newman Smith High, Carrollton, Texas. Redshirted as natural freshman in 2002 and played 11 games in 2003 with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery. Started eight times and played all 11 games in 2004, finishing with 30 tackles to lead all defensive linemen including nine stops against North Texas. Started 11 games at end in 2005, earning honorable mention All-Sun Belt honors with five tackles for losses and four sacks among 19 stops. Played and started in 11 games as senior, finishing with 37 tackles, eight for losses and five sacks.

Grade: Four stars

CHESTER JOHNSON, RB, Evangel Christian Academy, Shreveport. Played as natural freshman in 2002 in all 12 games and ranked second on squad with 164 rush yards and caught 11 passes for 70 yards. Started eight of 11 games in 2003 and led Cajuns in rushing with 421 yards and five scores along with 20 catches, and had 153-yard, three-touchdown rushing game against Idaho. Played in 10 games and started six as junior in 2004, leading running backs with 489 rush yards and two scores and 16 receptions for 146 yards … Started 2005 season opener against Texas but hurt shoulder four plays into game and missed rest of year, getting medical hardship. Also handicapped by injuries as senior, rushing for 86 yards and one score and catching 10 passes for 50 yards.

Grade: Three stars

JARVIS MURCHISON, DB-RB, Jasper High, Jasper, Texas. Sat out 2002 academically ineligible. Played in nine games defensively in 2003, recording six tackles and forcing one fumble and returning five kickoffs for 91 yards. Left squad after 2003 season. Was part of UL track team for two years.

Grade: One star

MICHAEL PETERSON, LB, West Monroe High, West Monroe. Did not play college football, choosing track and field at other state schools.

Grade: Zero stars.

ERIC REKIETA, QB, Paducah High, Paducah, Texas, and Navarro Junior College. Only junior college signee in 2002. Saw action in all 12 games in junior year in 2002, starting last three in place of injured starter Jon Van Cleave. Threw for 256 yards on 25-of-33 passes against Arkansas State in fist start and had game-winning drive against Idaho one week earlier. Threw for 652 yards on 65-of-113 passes (57.5 percent). Lost starting job at start of 2003 but played in six games and started middle four games of year, finishing with 1,090 yards and seven scores on 60.0 percentage. Threw for school-record 473 yards and four scores in Homecoming game against UL Monroe, completing 33-of-54 passes, but had season-ending injury the following week against New Mexico State.

Grade: Three stars

ROSS RIX, RB, Westminster Christian, Opelousas/Christian Life Academy, Baton Rouge. Redshirted in natural freshman year in 2002. Played in 10 games as reserve fullback in 2003 freshman season and rushed nine times for 27 yards, six for 20 yards against Fla. International, and caught two passes for 11 yards. Played in four games as sophomore in 2004, rushing for three yards and catching three passes for 10 yards. Did not play in last seven games that year and did not return to squad in 2005.

Grade: One star

TYLER WHEELER, WR, St. Helena High, Denham Springs. Never qualified academically.

Grade: Zero stars.