By JERRY BYRD, Journal Sports
Three hats made the final table at Wednesday’s signing ceremony for Captain Shreve’s Marquez Stevenson, a wide receiver and standout sprinter for the Gators.
Hats bearing logos from LSU and Oklahoma State got tossed to his friends in the crowd. The red and black Texas Tech cap ended up on the head of Stevenson, who will play football and run track in Lubbock, where he was verbally committed for months.
Just 11 days ago, Texas Tech head football coach Joey McGuire sat in Stevenson’s home and visited with his future Red Raider while watching their favorite NFL team — the Dallas Cowboys.
Stevenson was emotional as he addressed the crowd and spoke about the sacrifices both he and his family have made to get to this point in his career.
“From day one, Coach McGuire has been on me heavy,” Stevenson said of Texas Tech’s recruitment. “He did all he could to get me there. He visited with the family. He checked in on me every day. I mean, the Raider family, it’s just strong. It’s a home away from home. That’s what you want in a program.”
Stevenson was happy to share the moment with family, friends, and coaches.
“It feels good,” Stevenson said. “I know the community is there for me. It was a long day today. There were five other signees. I was there. We just had to support each other and see each other win.”
As the only local two-sport recruit, Stevenson headlined several Division I signees, including his Shreve teammates, on Wednesday. A list follows below.
Stevenson wasn’t the only two-sport star from Louisiana headed to Texas Tech. The Red Raiders flipped John Curtis’ linebacker/hurdler Justin Horne, who had been committed to Louisiana-Lafayette, earlier this week.
In a social media statement, Horne said that he was happy to be joining the “fastest recruiting class in the nation.”
When asked about his new teammate from New Orleans, Stevenson said, “We’re about to turn up.”
With his signing behind him, Stevenson turns his attention to the 2023 indoor track and field season where he will look to defend his LHSAA Division I 400-meter dash title (he has a personal record of 48.93).
Last season, he was the only athlete in Louisiana to break 49 seconds in the 400 indoors.
This year, he may have some company as Horne’s John Curtis teammate, junior King Taylor, who finished second to Stevenson a year ago at the LHSAA Indoor Meet, opened with a 49.1 at the Galleria Games Indoor Meet in Birmingham last Saturday.
“Don’t wake a sleeping dragon,” Stevenson said with a smile when asked about defending his 400 indoor title. “I’m about to come for it.”
Caddo-Bossier Division I football signees reported Wednesday
DB, Kody Jackson, Evangel – Louisiana-Lafayette
QB, Kam Evans, Huntington – Texas Southern
OL, Ja’Marion Kennedy, Northwood – Louisiana Tech
DB, Mar’Javious Moss, Northwood – Memphis
DL, Ta’Derius Collins, Northwood – Indiana
WR, Marquez Stevenson, Captain Shreve – Texas Tech
OL, Chris Allen, Captain Shreve – Northwestern State
WR, Will Derrick, Calvary/ULM (grad transfer) – Northwestern State
Contact Jerry at sbjjerrybyrd@gmail.com