DAPHNE, Ala. — Daphne athletic director and head football coach Glenn Vickery announced last week that offensive lineman Jeremy Sparks has verbally committed to play football next year for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Sparks considered offers from Memphis, South Alabama, Southeastern Louisiana and UAB before deciding on Louisiana-Lafayette’s Ragin’ Cajuns.

“I really liked everything about them,” Sparks said. “The school, the coaches, the program and the way they just kept checking on me and letting me know that they really wanted me and need me next year to start or definitely — if they red-shirted me — the next. And I don’t want to wait, I want to play.

“They also have the kind of business program that I’m interested in too. I had good relationship with coaches from other schools, too, but overall they seemed to really have what I was wanting. They want me to play tackle and that’s what I think I’m best at. I played a lot of basketball and all the footwork in basketball carries over. You use your feet a lot at tackle. They talked some about playing guard, which, it didn’t matter that much, but I think I do better at tackle and want to get in there and play as soon as I can.”

Although he admits his French isn’t that good, Sparks said that he felt right at home in Cajun Country and has some family in the area with alumni ties to the school.

“I guess they can translate for me if I need it,” he laughed. “No, I found out I have some distant family down there and we’re going to get together this weekend and meet for the first time and go to the Troy (at Louisiana-Lafayette) game. We’re all looking forward to it”

Sparks, 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, is a two year starter at left tackle for the defending state 6A champion Trojans and started several games as a sophomore on the OL.

Daphne offensive line coach Milton Sutton had high praise for the player he has known since Sparks’ freshman year.

“One of my favorite stories about motivation involves Jeremy,” he said. “He would come from basketball practice running all the way to the freshman weight room, work out, then run to the practice field and jump right into football mode. And he did that everyday. And nobody ever told him to do that. He just came that way. I’ve never known a kid that self motivated that young. And he still is.

“He’s the most disciplined player, the hardest worker and one of the finest young men I’ve ever coached. And he’s a real leader out there. You need a leader, he’s the guy. He lifts everybody up, he plays through pain, plays hurt. I know his parents are proud of him and they should be. We all are. he’s going to be a great student-athlete wherever he goes, just like he has been here.”

Sparks is the fourth DHS player to commit this year joining Ryan Anderson (Alabama), Eric Lee (South Florida) and T.J. Yeldon (Auburn).