The first round of official visits for UL football yielded three new commitments, and the opportunity for wide receiver Robert Taylor, an April pledge, to celebrate with his future teammates.
A 6-foot-5 senior from Ferriday High School, Taylor took his official visit last weekend after committing in April.
"It's a blessing to have the opportunity, for real," Taylor said. "UL brought in me and my family โ and treated us like family."
Since he announced, Taylor said other schools have been trying to sway him, but that will be difficult to pull off with the relationship the big target has forged with coach Michael Desormeaux, offensive coordinator/receivers coach Tim Leger and defensive line coach Dennis Thomas.
"Coach Leger, he's pretty straightforward," Taylor said. "He kept it real. He's been through what I've been through. He told me his background."
Leger's desire to "craft" Taylor resonated.
"He wants to work with me," Taylor said. " That made me want to commit."
Last weekend's itinerary was fun-filled, Taylor said, with "never a dull moment."
"We did a lot of stuff," he said. "The food was good, and the people were genuine."
Taylor, who caught 29 passes for 500 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior, made an impression on the UL staff with his combination of size and explosiveness.
"My ability to move at my size was eye-opening for them," he said. "Some people think I should be a tight end, but I have speed and can use my hips."
Taylor said three-star quarterback commitment Tammerson Anderson (Beaumont, Texas, West Brook) immediately reached out to get on the same page with his future target.
As a senior, Taylor will try to lead Ferriday to a repeat basketball state championship after the program went 33-2 and captured the Division IV nonselect title. The Trojans' only losses were Division II select champ Peabody and Division I nonselect runner-up Ruston.
When he comes to UL, Taylor's goal is to be the best version of himself.
"I know I haven't reached my full potential," he said. "I just want the fans to know they're getting a dog. I'm ready and happy to be part of the family. Go Cajuns!"
UL has nine public commitments to date, including Taylor: TE Bryce Coleman (Shadow Creek HS, Texas); DL Maison Smith (University Lab), WR John Walker (Plaquemine), QB Tammeron Anderson (West Brook HS, Texas), CB Caleb White (Summer Creek HS, Texas), DE Kobe Smith (Avoyelles), S Landen Ortte (St. Thomas More), DT Noah Ernst (Angleton HS, Texas).