Parish products set for college football season

Ascension Parish high-school football teams will officially begin journeys this week that they hope will end with district and state championships.

However, the season isn't just around the corner for high-school players from Ascension. It's also close by for the many parish players that have gone on to play college football.

Here is a quick look at just a small group of Ascension products that will be playing at the next level this upcoming season.

Representing Ascension Catholic will be senior defensive lineman Delmond Landry.

Landry transferred to Southern Miss from junior college last season. In his first year there, he played in 12 of the Golden Eagles' 13 games and recorded 15 tackles. Three of those came for losses.

One of his teammates at Southern Miss is also a parish product.

St. Amant alum Briggs Bourgeois became the team's kickoff specialist as a true freshman in 2017. He kicked off 72 times, with 36 of those being touchbacks.

The Golden Eagles went 6-6 last season and reached the Independence Bowl, where they were beaten by Florida State.

Donaldsonville has a slew of players ready to compete at the next level.

Most notably, junior wide receiver Stephen Sullivan will be looked upon as one of LSU's top wideouts in 2018.

Last season, Sullivan had 11 catches for 219 yards and a touchdown. He also added a score on the ground.

He is joined by parish product Lloyd Cushenberry.

The Dutchtown alum begins his redshirt sophomore season with the Tigers. While starting guard Ed Ingram is suspended, Cushenberry is expected to start on the offensive line. He will be a key player in their rotation all season.

Also, East Ascension's Cameron Wire will begin his freshman campaign with the Tigers. Wire plays offensive tackle.

Donaldsonville alum Percy Cargo, Jr. is ready for his senior season at Grambling State.

The starting defensive back helped lead the Tigers to an 11-1 record and SWAC title in 2017.

He was a finalist for the STATS FCS Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award--which is awarded to the FCS player that excels in the classroom, community and beyond.

As a junior, Cargo finished with 54 tackles, one sack and one interception.

Tyarise Stevenson is set for his redshirt sophomore campaign at Tulsa. In 2017, Stevenson played in 11 games and collected 24 total tackles.

Former Tiger Tyler Brown is set to begin his junior season at Southern. Brown is a wide receiver on the team.

Also, Tahj Brown (Houston) and Davon Wright (Tulane) will be entering their freshmen seasons.

Dutchtown also has a plethora of players at the next level.

Jared Sparks is a redshirt sophomore wide receiver at Purdue.

In 2017, he had a promising season as he finished with 222 yards receiving and 126 yards rushing in what became a 7-6 campaign for the Boilermakers. Their 38-35 Foster Farms Bowl win over Arizona was their first since 1998.

His younger brother Adam became a starter in Missouri's secondary as a true freshman. He finished with 33 tackles and two interceptions as the Tigers went 7-6 and reached a bowl game.

Coney Durr is looking for a big bounce-back season as a junior cornerback at Minnesota.

Durr for forced to miss most of 2017, after tearing his ACL in the Golden Gophers' Holiday Bowl victory over Washington State. That was the first start of his collegiate career.

Sophomore cornerback Ricky Thomas will be playing his first season at Kansas in 2017. Thomas is a Blinn Junior College transfer.

There are five former Ascension Parish standouts on the Nichols roster.

Their lone Dutchtown alum is redshirt junior offensive lineman Hunter Austin. Austin played in five games in 2017.

East Ascension has two players on the roster.

Junior running back Kyran Irvin was a second-team All-Southland performer as a sophomore. He started six games and piled up 764 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Irvin broke the 100-yard mark three times.

Former Spartan teammate Devin Simoneaux will be a senior this year for the Colonels.

In 2017, the defensive lineman played in all 12 games and finished with 23 tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss.

Two former St. Amant defensive linemen are on the Nichols roster. Those players are senior Tyler Johnson and redshirt sophomore Xavier Anderson.

Johnson played in all 12 games for the Colonels last season and collected 25 tackles, 2.5 sacks and five tackles for loss.

East Ascension alum Kade Waguespack is entering his junior season as a tight end at Air Force. In 2017, he had two catches for 35 yards.