CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH School standout Lloyd Grogan signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play college football at Louisiana Tech in Ruston. Coaches, family and friends joined Grogan for the occasion. Seated from left are Grogan’s stepsisters, Madison and Lexi Landry; stepmother, Stacey Landry; Grogan and mother, Ruth Forcell. Standing, same order, are Grogan’s stepfather, Ryan Landry; brother, Tyler Louviere; friend, Jovon Johnson; brother, Lamar Grogan; father, Lloyd Jones; CCHS Athletic Director Ree Case and Head Football coach David Fuhrer.
The prep athlete was sweet-talked and exposed to numerous big name universities such as Nebraska, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M and Pittsburgh, but in the end, the local dual-sport standout chose to stay in Louisiana and attend Louisiana Tech in Ruston.
“They’ve been here since day one,” Grogan said Wednesday afternoon after basketball practice. “They treated me like family. I just felt welcome over there.”
While the others may have offered, Grogan said they weren’t around as much as Louisiana Tech.
Grogan said he decided on Louisiana Tech right after he made his official visit on Jan. 15.
CCHS football coach David Fuhrer said that 31 Division 1 and Division 1AA schools came to Central Catholic at times this spring and looked at Grogan, who is qualified to play as a freshman.
“I think everyone who came here did an outstanding job (of recruiting him),” Fuhrer said. “It’s just where Lloyd felt comfortable.”
Those offering, according to the recruiting service Rivals.com, were Baylor, Georgia Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Memphis, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Southern Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Tulane and Vanderbilt.
Grogan said the recruiting process was not easy.
“It was hard, difficult, kind of tiring,” he said. “At first it was OK but after awhile it got kind of aggravating.”
And now, he’s glad it’s over, and he can continue to focus on his senior basketball season as well as preparing for what lies ahead at the next level.
Fuhrer said Wednesday that while he was happy to see Grogan achieve his goals of signing a scholarship to play college football, he also is sad to see Grogan go.
“It’s a very proud day for us to have one of our players sign a college scholarship,” Fuhrer said. “I think it’s just a testament to Lloyd and all his hard work. He had a goal and a vision. He wanted to play college football. He worked hard, and he’s a tremendous athlete. He puts in a lot of hard work. He knows what he wants.”
While Grogan has been a standout on both sides of the football during his time at Central Catholic, he said the Louisiana Tech coaching staff has told him they want him to play safety and outside linebacker.
“He’s a guy that can play both,” Fuhrer said. “It’s just where he can fit.”
The three-star prospect, according to Rivals, said that his preparation for college will include working on his speed, footwork and continuing to get bigger.
Grogan said he intends to major in sports medicine.
Fuhrer said he believes his stud athlete will succeed at the next level.
“I watched him grow over the last five years and develop into a very good football player,” Fuhrer said of Grogan, who has been a member of the football team since eighth grade. “He’ll do well for himself.”
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