Two-way tackle waiting on visits

Larry Shappley has been a leader on both the offensive and defensive line for West Monroe (La.) High. Now the tow-way starting tackle is starting to look toward colleges, waiting for a major Division I offer.

“I’ve been talking to Southern Miss, Tulane, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana Lafayette, Ole Miss and Louisiana Monroe. I only have offers from Louisiana Monroe and ULL [Louisiana Lafayette], but I talk to the coaches at the other schools all the time. I talk to Coach Johnson [running backs coach Jay] at Southern Miss, Coach Mahoney [offensive line coach Don] at Tulane and Coach Hopson [recruiting coordinator Jay] at Ole Miss. They’re all really nice guys.”

Shappley said he hasn’t determined how he’ll make his final decision, but said that he expects his planning to come together as West Monroe’s season winds down.

“I’m still pretty indifferent about all the schools right now,” he said. “I’m going to pick where I’ll be happy, and I’m not really leaning toward any place yet. I’ll arrange some visits after the season, and hopefully I’ll go places with my Matt Slocum [West Monroe defensive end]. We’re good friends, and it’d be really nice to go to the same school, but I’m not sure if that will work out.”

For now, the lineman considers him a student of the game, all while his team marches on in the state playoffs.

“We finished the regular season 10-0,” Shappley said. “We’re the fifth team in school history to do that, and now the playoffs start this week. I’m just going to make sure that I’m giving it my all every week, and I’ll be looking forward to playing in the Dome [Louisiana Superdome] for the state finals. I just enjoy playing every game and leading people to win. I feel like I’m a good run blocker and a good pass blocker, but I can always improve.

“I’m always watching tackles in football games, because you never know what you can learn from them. You never stop learning in this game, and you can get some techniques to help your own game from watching college players or pros, because they’re always so well-refined.”