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.
