BOBBY ARDOIN Editor/Consulting Writer
A pair of Northwest High athletes have announced that they intend to play college football.
McKenzie Ardoin has agreed to play at the United States Naval Academy, while Davontae Brown indicates that he plans to join the Louisiana Christian University program.
Ardoin and Brown were both all-district selections and members of the recently-published St. Landry Now.com all-parish team.
The two players recently participated in a ceremony conducted before the student body inside the Northwest High gymnasium.
McKenzie Ardoin
Ardoin, 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, was scheduled to play for Southeastern Louisiana University, but the night before the early December high school signing date, Ardoin said he needed more time to make a decision.
After decommitting to Southeastern, Ardoin said he then entertained an offer to play football at the Naval Academy.
“It was really hard, telling (Southeastern), but the coaches at Navy kept telling me that I needed to go to Annapolis and see what life there is like and I went there January 12th. You are not required to enlist (in the Navy) until after you play your sophomore year. You have the option then to sign up for the Navy or transfer. I am going to go there and then go with the flow,” Ardoin said.
Northwest High head football coach Chris Edwards said that Navy projects Ardoin as an outside linebacker or an end that provides quarterback pressure.
“The coaches at Navy kept telling me they like his motor and energy. McKenzie is a 3.7 student and the coaches there like his academics. They even came down here to see him play basketball. It was a real big moment for Navy since they don’t usually sign someone this far down South,” Edwards said.
Davonte Brown
Brown, 6-3, 210, thinks he will play either the tight end or H-Back position at LCU.
Like Ardoin, Brown has his academics in order, with a 3.7 grade point average, according to Edwards.
Edwards describes Brown as a “late bloomer,” and a player capable of making big plays because of his strength and ability.
“Davonte can really become a playmaker. He’s only been with us two years as a football team member. Before that he played other sports and he was also in the school band. I think he fits in with LCU and the offense there, since they also run the spread,” said Edwards.
Brown said his tour of the LCU campus and interviews with the Wildcats’ coaching staff convinced him he made the right decision.
Playing in the band at one point was beneficial, Brown said, because the marching and the work outs supplemented his conditioning for athletics.
“I had a couple of other offers, but (LCU) felt like it was home. I talked to the tight ends coach and the scheme they run there fits me. They liked my overall athletic ability and said that I might also fit in there as a fullback,” Brown added.
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