SMSH alum Harvey Broussard made an impression in his freshman season with the Ragin' Cajuns. 

UL football coach Michael Desormeaux has emphasized the importance of recruiting locally and in-state, and that strategy is reflected on the Ragin’ Cajuns’ 2024 roster, which lists more than a dozen players from area high schools

St. Martinville Senior High has sent three players to UL in the last two signing classes: running back Steven Blanco and receivers Harvey Broussard and Cullen Charles.

Charles was an unexpected bonus. He first signed with Arizona State, but when the receivers’ coaches departed, the 6-foot, 175-pounder landed with the Cajuns.

Ranked by Rivals as a three-star prospect and the No. 25 player in Louisiana, Charles committed to Arizona State following a summer 2023 visit. He is ranked ahead of prospects that signed with LSU and Mississippi.

As a senior at SMSH, Charles was a District 5-3A first team all-district selection, catching 40 passes during the regular season for 910 yards and eight TDs.

The 26th-seeded Tigers upset No. 7 Leesville, 46-40, in the first round of the Division II nonselect playoffs before losing a 25-23 heartbreaker to No. 10 Jennings.

This week, Charles and Franklin Senior High product Zylan Perry were honored as UL’s Community Honda Student-Athletes of the Week. Charles was the Newcomer of the Week; Perry was the top “Growth and Gains” performer.

Perry, a 5-foot-10, 187-pound redshirt sophomore, was the only running back to appear in all 13 games. He rushed for 213 yards on 54 carries with two touchdowns.

Perry was a quarterback and defensive back at FSH, where he led the 15th-seeded Hornets to the Class 2A nonselect quarterfinals in 2021.

He totaled 4,000 career all-purpose yards and 45 touchdowns, engineered a 2021 regional round upset of undefeated No. 2 Loreauville, and nearly helped pull off a quarterfinal win (29-28 loss to Jonesboro-Hodge).

Perry and Broussard, who lettered as a true freshman, are members of the Haik, Minvielle, Grubbs and D’Albor Home Team, which connects with local college athletes for NIL deals.

Broussard is projected as the starting X receiver, the modern term for a split end. As a deep threat with the size and athleticism to win 50/50 balls, he usually lines up on the opposite side of the tight end and is the farthest receiver from the ball..

On Thursday, Desormeaux posted on X (formerly Twitter) about the importance of NIL funding, which allows athletes to get paid for their name, image and likeness.

Krewe Allons, the official NIL collective for UL sports, has an ongoing grassroots campaign. The group is asking for a $10 donation to join with a note to “please consider an additional one-time gift.” More information can be found at www.kreweallons.com.