A quartet of Texas high school football alums hope to help LSU
“geaux” for their fourth national title on Monday, when the top-ranked Tigers (14-0)
take on No. 3 Clemson (14-0) in the College Football Playoff National
Championship Game.
Junior safeties Grant Delpit and Kary Vincent Jr., sophomore
outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson and freshman placekicker Cade York headline
a group of 14 players that played football in the Lone Star State.
Both schools share a mascot and play their home games in
their respective versions of Death Valley, but only one will win the national
title. LSU and Clemson kicks off at 7:15 p.m. Monday on ESPN.
Before winning the Thorpe Award, Delpit established himself
as a star at Houston Lamar and transferred to the IMG Academy in Florida for
his senior season.
Delpit has 33 solo tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss
and two interceptions coming into the national title game. He finished with
three tackles and a pass breakup in LSU’s 63-28 thrashing of No. 4 Oklahoma in
the Peach Bowl CFP Semifinal Game.
His efforts earned Delpit a spot on the Associated Press
All-America Second Team in 2019.
Chaisson earned All-SEC First Team honors in 2019 and has 32
solo tackles, 6.5 sacks and a forced fumble coming into the national title
game.
He is a part of Texas high school Football lore after making
the clinching overtime tackle and force fumble of Galena Park North Shore’s
2015 Class 6A, Division I State Championship victory over Austin Westlake.
Chaisson brought that big stage ability to the Peach Bowl, where
he finished with six solo tackles and two tackles for a loss against Oklahoma.
Vincent had seven interceptions as a senior at Houston Port
Arthur Memorial and returned three of those for touchdowns.
He recorded a highlight-reel pick early in the second
quarter against Oklahoma when he interceptions a Jalen Hurts trick play pass
attempt on the first Sooner drive of the quarter. The interception set up Joe
Burrow’s third touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson and extended the Tigers’ lead
to 35-7.
Vincent added four tackles in the semifinal and has 33 solo
tackles, four interceptions and a forced fumble this season.
York may become a Louisiana legend and household name if the
national title game comes down to a field goal for LSU.
The former Prosper standout has made 80 percent of his field
goal attempts and 95.4 percent of his extra points. Burrow and the Tigers
offense gave him plenty of chances for those extra points in the semifinals and
York was a perfect 9 for 9 in those attempts.
