Arkansas Expands Louisiana Territory with Addition of 2016 LB Giovanni LaFrance
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
After only netting one Louisiana recruit in 2015, the Razorbacks are back heavy in the Bayou State in the 2016 class landing their fourth commitment with linebacker Giovanni LaFrance on Saturday.
In the 2015 class, Arkansas secured just linebacker Kendrick Jackson from the Sports Man’s Paradise after a 2014 haul that included linebacker Dwyane Eugene, defensive backs Santos Ramirez and Henre’ Toliver, and wide receiver Jared Cornelius. The 2016 pull from Louisiana is impressive, with potential room to grow, that includes linebacker Dejon Harris, defensive tackle Briston Guidry, quarterback Cole Kelley, and LaFrance.
LaFrance (6-1, 235) has been a highly productive player for St. Augustine High School over the past two seasons. In 2014, LaFrance had 90 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, and six sacks for the Purple Knights. He wrapped up his senior season with 99 tackles in 10 games played.
The New Orleans area native committed to Tulane on May 26. The intensity of the recruiting process, pushing 20 total scholarship offers, brought a change of heart by Dec. 11 in the form of a decommitment. LaFrance opened his recruitment back up landing an offer from Arkansas on Jan. 19.
During an official visit to Fayetteville, LaFrance committed to the Hogs making his announcement official on Twitter posting, “First of all I wanna thank god for blessing me with all the opportunities and abilities he has blessed me with and all the coaches that offered me a scholarship but after long thoughts and prayers with my family. For the next 3/4 years I decided to continue my academic/football career at the University of Arkansas #WPS.”
Arkansas landed LaFrance over offers from Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Western Kentucky, Arizona State, Cal, Georgia Southern, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Monroe, Memphis, and Utah. LaFrance had an official visit scheduled with Louisville on Jan. 29.
Linebacker is a big area of need in the 2016 recruiting class for Arkansas. The Hogs now have 17 verbal commitments and are expected to take a full class of 25. Expect to see a couple of offensive linemen, a couple of defensive backs, and perhaps at least one more running back added to the class by National Signing Day.
Arkansas Razorbacks 2016 Verbal Commitment List (17)
SS Deon Edwards, 6’0”, 195 lbs, Lake Minneola HS, Minneola, FL
SS Alexy Jean-Baptiste, 6’3”, 205 lbs, Coconut Creek HS, Coconut Creek, FL
DE McTelvin Agim, 6’3”, 269 lbs, Hope HS, Hope, AR
DT Austin Capps, 6’4”, 306 lbs, Star City HS, Star City, AR
DT Briston Guidry, 6’3”, 275 lbs, Rummel HS, Metairie, LA
LB Dejon Harris, 5’11”, 235 lbs, John Ehret HS, Marrero, LA
LB Giovanni LaFrance, 6’1”, 235 lbs, St. Augustine HS, New Orleans, LA
OG Terrance Malone, Northwest Mississippi C.C., Senatobia, MS
OT Jake Heinrich, 6’5, 290 lbs, Urbandale HS, Urbandale, IA
QB Cole Kelley, 6’7”, 235 lbs, Teurlings Catholic HS, Lafayette, LA
RB T.J. Hammonds, 5’11”, 196 lbs, Robinson HS, Little Rock, AR
RB Devwah Whaley, 6’0”, 205 lbs, Central HS, Beaumont, TX
FB Hayden Johnson, 6’3”, 252 lbs, Rock Bridge HS, Columbia, MO
TE Grayson Gunter, 6’6”, 230 lbs, Madison Central HS, Madison, MS
WR Kofi Boateng, 6’1”, 175 lbs, Arlington Lamar HS, Arlington, TX
WR Jordan Jones, 6’2”, 175 lbs, Smackover HS, Smackover, AR
WR Kiel Pollard, 6’1”, 228 lbs, Colquitt County, Moultrie, AR
Photo credit: neworleansadvocate.com; No. 9 Giovanni LaFrance brings down a Rummel ball carrier.