LSU Tigers: Gerald Willis III
BATON ROUGE, La. -- The spring game is back in Louisiana.
Gone for several years because of a change in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association rules, spring games returned this year and provided great evaluation opportunities for coaches. You had matchups like West Monroe (with ESPN 150 offensive tackle Cameron Robinson) against Monroe Neville (ESPN 150 safety Laurence "Hootie" Jones).
You had quarterback Brandon Harris (Bossier City/Parkway) putting up big yards in a spring game. You had Baton Rouge's University Lab, featuring three major prospects in three different classes -- 2014 ESPN 150 offensive lineman Garrett Brumfield (LSU commit), 2015 running back prospect Nick Brossette and 2017 stud Dylan Moses -- taking on rising class 5A power Zachary.
It's May in Louisiana, but around high school campuses, there's a touch of September.
This week's targets: LSU's coaches were spread out at spring games over the weekend.
Gone for several years because of a change in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association rules, spring games returned this year and provided great evaluation opportunities for coaches. You had matchups like West Monroe (with ESPN 150 offensive tackle Cameron Robinson) against Monroe Neville (ESPN 150 safety Laurence "Hootie" Jones).
You had quarterback Brandon Harris (Bossier City/Parkway) putting up big yards in a spring game. You had Baton Rouge's University Lab, featuring three major prospects in three different classes -- 2014 ESPN 150 offensive lineman Garrett Brumfield (LSU commit), 2015 running back prospect Nick Brossette and 2017 stud Dylan Moses -- taking on rising class 5A power Zachary.
It's May in Louisiana, but around high school campuses, there's a touch of September.
This week's targets: LSU's coaches were spread out at spring games over the weekend.
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Now that spring ball has started, ESPN 150 defensive tackle Gerald Willis III has been inundated with interest from college recruiters visiting New Orleans Edna Karr High School. He expected that.
That’s why, even if he’s comfortable with naming his top four schools, his list remains a fluid one. New schools are working hard to get in the mix, and Willis is ready to hit the road for more visits this summer.
That’s why, even if he’s comfortable with naming his top four schools, his list remains a fluid one. New schools are working hard to get in the mix, and Willis is ready to hit the road for more visits this summer.
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ATH Speedy Noil breaks down his top four 
April, 16, 2013
Apr 16
3:21
PM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
BUFORD, Ga. -- ESPN Watch List athlete Speedy Noil (New Orleans/Edna Karr) earned his invitation to The Opening back in February at the New Orleans SPARQ Combine. That didn’t stop him from attending the Atlanta NFTC on Saturday.
Noil didn’t go to participate in the camp. He went to support his teammate, defensive end Gerald Willis III. After a strong performance in Atlanta, Willis will be joining Noil in Oregon for The Opening. He received his invite on Saturday.
Although he didn’t work out, Noil did talk about recruiting and his top four -- LSU, Texas A&M, Florida and USC.
Noil didn’t go to participate in the camp. He went to support his teammate, defensive end Gerald Willis III. After a strong performance in Atlanta, Willis will be joining Noil in Oregon for The Opening. He received his invite on Saturday.
Although he didn’t work out, Noil did talk about recruiting and his top four -- LSU, Texas A&M, Florida and USC.
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BUFORD, Ga. -- The Southeast, in particular Georgia, prides itself on its football talent. When the 2013 Nike Football Training Camp tour made a stop outside of Atlanta on Saturday, the recruits who participated did not disappoint. After a competitive Saturday, dominated for the most part by the defensive line, six players earned invitations to The Opening.
Recruiting Nation’s Greg Ostendorf attended the camp. Here’s what he learned:
Headed to Oregon
Recruiting Nation’s Greg Ostendorf attended the camp. Here’s what he learned:
Headed to Oregon
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NEW ORLEANS -- When Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans in 2005, it looked like a game-changer, maybe even a game-ender, for the city's storied high school football history.
Many of the city's schools never re-opened. Others came back as shells of their former selves -- even under different names with different missions. The traditional Catholic League broke apart as some schools struggled to rebound. The future looked bleak.
Many of the city's schools never re-opened. Others came back as shells of their former selves -- even under different names with different missions. The traditional Catholic League broke apart as some schools struggled to rebound. The future looked bleak.
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UT has chance to build Louisiana pipeline
February, 28, 2013
Feb 28
8:00
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By
Max Olson | ESPN.com
For a program that has never needed more than what it can find within its own state borders, Texas is starting to acknowledge a new recruiting pipeline is there for the taking. It’s practically begging to be built up.
The Longhorns are poised to become a player in the state of Louisiana, starting with this 2014 recruiting class.
The Longhorns are poised to become a player in the state of Louisiana, starting with this 2014 recruiting class.
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Paris commit good sign for LSU's future
February, 25, 2013
Feb 25
7:54
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By
Gary Laney | ESPN.com
There was no big junior day at LSU this weekend. Spring practice? Doesn't start for another couple of weeks.
Yet recruiting news poured out of the LSU campus in the last weekend of February. ESPN 2014 Watch List defensive back Ed Paris (Mansfield,Texas/Timberview) committed Monday via Twitter, joining linebacker Donnie Alexander (New Orleans/Karr), who committed Sunday.
Yet recruiting news poured out of the LSU campus in the last weekend of February. ESPN 2014 Watch List defensive back Ed Paris (Mansfield,Texas/Timberview) committed Monday via Twitter, joining linebacker Donnie Alexander (New Orleans/Karr), who committed Sunday.
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- Donnie Alexander is used to being surrounded by high-end college talent.
Playing for Louisiana Class 4A state champion New Orleans Edna Karr, Alexander played on the same team as 2013 ESPN 300 prospects Standish Dobard (Miami (Fla) signee) and Noel Ellis (Texas A&M) and 2014 watch list prospects Gerald Willis III and Speedy Noil.
Count Alexander among the high-end Karr prospects.
Tom Hauck for ESPN.comNew Orleans linebacker Donnie Alexander committed to LSU on Sunday, becoming the fifth 2014 commit for the Tigers.The 2014 linebacker was offered by LSU on a weekend trip to Baton Rouge. After returning home and talking it over with his mother, he decided to pull the trigger and commit.
"LSU's the school I always wanted to go to since I was small," he said. "I didn't really want to wait."
The name may be an unknown to fans, who were perhaps expecting one of the 12 Louisiana players on the ESPN Watch List to be the next to commit.
Truth be told, Alexander was surprised, too.
"I was (surprised)," he said. "I really wasn't expecting it. They like my speed. They like that I'm a good tackler. They like that I make plays."
In that regard, he is perhaps comparable to 2013 signee Duke Riley, who share's Alexander's smaller build, but speed that will allow him to be versatile in areas like pass coverage.
"I think I do have good coverage skills," he said. "I get good drops and I'll come up and stick a slot receiver."
And he knows how to win. Karr went unbeaten in 2014, beating a talented Monroe Neville team for the 4A title.
"At Karr, we strive toward winning and being successful young men," he said. "That's what our coaches preach to us. Now that we've won, we have to maintain, don't let it get to our head."
Playing for Louisiana Class 4A state champion New Orleans Edna Karr, Alexander played on the same team as 2013 ESPN 300 prospects Standish Dobard (Miami (Fla) signee) and Noel Ellis (Texas A&M) and 2014 watch list prospects Gerald Willis III and Speedy Noil.
Count Alexander among the high-end Karr prospects.
Tom Hauck for ESPN.comNew Orleans linebacker Donnie Alexander committed to LSU on Sunday, becoming the fifth 2014 commit for the Tigers."LSU's the school I always wanted to go to since I was small," he said. "I didn't really want to wait."
The name may be an unknown to fans, who were perhaps expecting one of the 12 Louisiana players on the ESPN Watch List to be the next to commit.
Truth be told, Alexander was surprised, too.
"I was (surprised)," he said. "I really wasn't expecting it. They like my speed. They like that I'm a good tackler. They like that I make plays."
In that regard, he is perhaps comparable to 2013 signee Duke Riley, who share's Alexander's smaller build, but speed that will allow him to be versatile in areas like pass coverage.
"I think I do have good coverage skills," he said. "I get good drops and I'll come up and stick a slot receiver."
And he knows how to win. Karr went unbeaten in 2014, beating a talented Monroe Neville team for the 4A title.
"At Karr, we strive toward winning and being successful young men," he said. "That's what our coaches preach to us. Now that we've won, we have to maintain, don't let it get to our head."
Big weekend for New Orleans in Dome
December, 9, 2012
12/09/12
8:51
PM ET
By
David Helman and
Gary Laney | ESPN.com
NEW ORLEANS -- From a high school football perspective, this weekend was one of the biggest weekends in the history of the Big Easy.
Metro-area schools -- Metairie Archbishop Rummel in Class 5A, New Orleans Edna Karr in 4A and River Ridge John Curtis in 2A -- won three of the five state championships at the State Farm/LHSAA Classic at the Mercedes Benz Superdome. Curtis, ranked No. 3 in the ESPN 25 Power Rankings, made a pitch for a national championship after No. 1 Bradenton, Fla./ Manatee was upset by Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas in the Florida Class 7A playoffs.
Here's a look at the games in the Superdome:
Metro-area schools -- Metairie Archbishop Rummel in Class 5A, New Orleans Edna Karr in 4A and River Ridge John Curtis in 2A -- won three of the five state championships at the State Farm/LHSAA Classic at the Mercedes Benz Superdome. Curtis, ranked No. 3 in the ESPN 25 Power Rankings, made a pitch for a national championship after No. 1 Bradenton, Fla./ Manatee was upset by Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas in the Florida Class 7A playoffs.
Here's a look at the games in the Superdome:
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RB Fournette surprised by Bama's play call
November, 4, 2012
11/04/12
10:30
PM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Although LSU came up short on Saturday, the atmosphere in Death Valley was as crazy as it’s ever been, and many of the nation’s top recruits were on hand to see it, including ESPN Watch List running Leonard Fournette (New Orleans/St. Augustine).
“Death Valley is a very exciting place,” Fournette said. Everyone’s screaming. You know how it is. It’s exciting there.”
The Louisiana native has been to LSU games before, but Saturday’s contest might have topped the list. It pitted two of his top schools, Alabama and LSU, and it came down to the final minute. Ultimately, it was a screen play, executed to perfection by the Crimson Tide, that won the game, a call that surprised Fournette.
“Death Valley is a very exciting place,” Fournette said. Everyone’s screaming. You know how it is. It’s exciting there.”
The Louisiana native has been to LSU games before, but Saturday’s contest might have topped the list. It pitted two of his top schools, Alabama and LSU, and it came down to the final minute. Ultimately, it was a screen play, executed to perfection by the Crimson Tide, that won the game, a call that surprised Fournette.
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RB Fournette earns Under Armour invite
September, 12, 2012
9/12/12
5:00
PM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
The Under Armour All-America Game has become the premier all-star game for high school football recruits, and for top recruits in the New Orleans area, announcing their decision at the game has become a trend.
Five-star safety Landon Collins announced his intentions to sign with the University of Alabama during last season's game, and now his brother Gerald Willis and talented running back Leonard Fournette, both 2014 prospects, plan to do the same.
On Tuesday, Fournette’s dream came one step closer to reality as he received his invitation to play in the 2014 Under Armour Game.
Five-star safety Landon Collins announced his intentions to sign with the University of Alabama during last season's game, and now his brother Gerald Willis and talented running back Leonard Fournette, both 2014 prospects, plan to do the same.
On Tuesday, Fournette’s dream came one step closer to reality as he received his invitation to play in the 2014 Under Armour Game.
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GeauxTigerNation writers Gary Laney and David Helman get you ready for the season with a daily breakdown throughout August of what LSU is facing in the fall, from its opponents, to its road trips to who it's recruiting. Today, David Helman has six suggestions for high school games featuring LSU prospects this season.
When the dust finally settles on the jamborees this weekend, it will officially be game week in Louisiana -- for both LSU and the high schools it recruits.
With so much top tier talent in the state, there will be plenty of juicy matchups between big names at the prep level. Here's an incomplete guide to seeing LSU commits and targets in action this fall.
When the dust finally settles on the jamborees this weekend, it will officially be game week in Louisiana -- for both LSU and the high schools it recruits.
With so much top tier talent in the state, there will be plenty of juicy matchups between big names at the prep level. Here's an incomplete guide to seeing LSU commits and targets in action this fall.
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For high school prospects, just as much as the much-discussed LSU football team, practice is getting old.
After several weeks of running the same drills and seeing the same faces, the monotony of fall camp has set in. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they still have two weeks to wait for a true opponent. That's not the case at the high school level, where schools (and recruits across the state) got their first taste of live action in scrimmages this weekend.
A quick look at some prospects in LSU's sights from this past weekend:
After several weeks of running the same drills and seeing the same faces, the monotony of fall camp has set in. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they still have two weeks to wait for a true opponent. That's not the case at the high school level, where schools (and recruits across the state) got their first taste of live action in scrimmages this weekend.
A quick look at some prospects in LSU's sights from this past weekend:
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WR Speedy Noil stars in Karr scrimmage
August, 17, 2012
8/17/12
12:44
PM ET
By
David Helman | ESPN.com
NEW ORLEANS - In Louisiana, it's not uncommon to see the best player on a high school team lined up at quarterback, even if it's not his natural position. With the ball in his hands during every snap, the quarterback can make things happen and fire off big plays.
But after watching him scrimmage Thursday night against Amite (Amite City, La.) High School, it's hard to imagine Edna Karr (New Orleans) High School receiver Speedy Noil making more plays at quarterback than wide receiver. The Cougars' talented junior played quarterback for Karr last fall, but he spent his night exclusively at wideout against Amite.
The results were devastating. He outran the coverage for touchdowns on post routes. He jumped over the coverage (sometimes double coverage, at that) for touchdowns on fade routes. At one point in the scrimmage, Noil caught a bubble screen in traffic, bulldozed an Amite linebacker, then outran nine other defenders to the sideline for big yards.
But after watching him scrimmage Thursday night against Amite (Amite City, La.) High School, it's hard to imagine Edna Karr (New Orleans) High School receiver Speedy Noil making more plays at quarterback than wide receiver. The Cougars' talented junior played quarterback for Karr last fall, but he spent his night exclusively at wideout against Amite.
The results were devastating. He outran the coverage for touchdowns on post routes. He jumped over the coverage (sometimes double coverage, at that) for touchdowns on fade routes. At one point in the scrimmage, Noil caught a bubble screen in traffic, bulldozed an Amite linebacker, then outran nine other defenders to the sideline for big yards.
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Gators impress 2014 DE Gerald Willis III
June, 15, 2012
6/15/12
6:48
PM ET
By
Derek Tyson | ESPN.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Defensive end prospect Gerald Willis III (New Orleans, La./Edna Karr) will only be a junior this coming year, but he is already familiar with what college football recruiting is all about. Willis is the half-brother of Alabama safety signee Landon Collins, the No. 1 safety in the country last year.
Collins spurned the home-state LSU Tigers and instead signed with the Alabama Crimson Tide. Willis said he wants to follow his brother's lead by not being afraid to get out of Louisiana -- but only if it's the best decision for him when it's time to make his college decision.
"It really don't matter if I go far from home," Willis said. "I just know that I have a home to come home to. My brother proved that he wasn't just going to stay at home. He could have stayed at home, but he thought he could go further if he went to Alabama. So I'm going to follow in my brother's footsteps. I might stay at home or I might go somewhere. I just don't know."
Collins spurned the home-state LSU Tigers and instead signed with the Alabama Crimson Tide. Willis said he wants to follow his brother's lead by not being afraid to get out of Louisiana -- but only if it's the best decision for him when it's time to make his college decision.
"It really don't matter if I go far from home," Willis said. "I just know that I have a home to come home to. My brother proved that he wasn't just going to stay at home. He could have stayed at home, but he thought he could go further if he went to Alabama. So I'm going to follow in my brother's footsteps. I might stay at home or I might go somewhere. I just don't know."
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ABOUT GEAUX TIGER NATION
Gary Laney
Gary Laney joined ESPN.com in 2012 after spending a year and a half as online sports editor of the Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate. Before that, he covered LSU sports for the Advocate. He has also been the sports editor at the Beaumont (Texas) Enterprise and covered McNeese State athletics for the Lake Charles (La.) American Press. Laney currently lives in Baton Rouge. Email him at glaneyespn@gmail.com