Destrehan alums making their mark at LSU

LSU’s Jordan Jefferson and Glen Logan are Destrehan products who could be on the verge of big things with the Tigers. (Photos courtesy LSU)

LSU fans tuning in to the team’s annual spring game scrimmage likely noticed some considerable Destrehan flavor among Tigers starters.

Former Destrehan players Justin Jefferson and Glen Logan started at wide receiver and defensive tackle respectively in the game, signaling both are tabbed as significant contributors for Coach Ed Orgeron’s team this upcoming season.

Jefferson made perhaps the play of the day on his one-handed reception against cornerback Greedy Williams, taking that catch 94 yards for a touchdown and cementing what has been a breakout spring for the 6-foot-2, 185 pound sophomore.

Logan, meanwhile, is expected to shift back over to defensive end once the Tigers return to full health on the defensive line, but the junior 6-foot-4, 300 pound junior showed his versatility and ability to win in the trenches consistently.

For Destrehan head football coach Stephen Robicheaux, their success doesn’t come as a surprise. He knows first-hand their abilities and he added LSU coaches believe each player has the tools to make a sizable impact at Tiger Stadium this fall.

Jefferson’s meteoric rise up the LSU depth chart is a continuation of the Jefferson legacy at the school. His two brothers Jordan and Rickey Jefferson each starred at DHS before starting at quarterback and defensive back, respectively, for LSU.

“They really think highly of him,” Robicheaux said. “Coach Jerry Sullivan (LSU wide receivers coach) over there, Coach Orgeron, they think he can be a really good football player. He just needs to learn the system. But he has good tools and they think he has the possibility to play at the next level. It’s really exciting for all of us to see him play on a bigger stage at LSU.”

Robicheaux called Jefferson deceptively fast with great hands and someone that gets the details right.

“It’s a combination where a kid has talent and is willing to work hard and be coached, so he can develop that talent,” Robicheaux said. “His family was blessed with a lot of raw talent and he’s a fast and agile athlete showing he can be successful at that level.”

Jefferson did not immediately sign with LSU on last year’s National Signing Day, his signing delayed due to academics. He finished his senior year strong in the classroom and enrolled at LSU as a late signee.

“Coach Orgeron said he’d have a scholarship waiting for him, and he was true to his word,” Robicheaux said.

He added LSU has always been where Justin wanted to be.

“It’s a special thing where Jordan ended up going and Rickey was always around LSU and fell in love with it, and I think the same was for Justin with Jordan and Rickey,” Robicheaux said. “He’s worked hard to get where he wants to be. Now, he’s at the point he can really blossom.”

Logan, meanwhile, has clearly dedicated himself to preparing his body for the demands of SEC play.

“He came around here in January, and to see the way his body has changed is incredible,” Robicheaux said. “He’s 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds and not an ounce of fat on him. He’s put in the work and he’s won their lifting award several times this offseason. He’s committed to the weight room and keeps getting better. You can see he’s playing with a lot of confidence this spring … Coach Orgeron says he’s a special player who just has to keep learning.”

At Destrehan, Jefferson finished his career with 944 yards and eight touchdowns as the Wildcats’ go-to outside receiver.  Logan, meanwhile left Destrehan as the No. 2 overall prospect in Louisiana as per Rivals.com and closed out his senior season with 54.5 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and four sacks en route to All-State honors.

Hahnville coach Nick Saltaformaggio has been tasked with preparing his team for each of them, and he says that process was no picnic in either case.

“They look a whole lot better in purple and gold than they did in maroon and white,” quipped Saltaformaggio.

Jefferson, he said, demanded extra attention from the secondary.

“Justin is electric with the ball in his hands,” Saltaformaggio said. “You knew you needed to defend him with two guys, a corner with help from a safety over the top. He forced you to play a lot of two high with the safeties and it takes you out of your run defense.”

Logan, who played alongside fellow Division I lineman and Texas defensive tackle Gerald Wilbon, made running a nearly impossible task, Saltaformaggio said.

“He was a prototypical SEC lineman, a dominant player,” Saltaformaggio said. “I know we didn’t block him. They had dominant, dominant players up front and he led the group. The only way to block them was to get angles on them, and it was very difficult for us to get any physical push off the line unless we doubled them. Even then, they were able to eat the double team up.”Robicheaux called that size “game-changing.”

“It really brings back great memories, because we have great players at Destrehan, but you look back and realize how rare it is to have two guys with that kind of size come in at the same time,” Robicheaux said of the two linemen who helped lead Destrehan to the Class 5A state championship game in 2014. “What a blessing it was. Those guys are great players and great kids and they have really bright futures.”

 

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