Interview: Louisiana 2017 LB Noah Fontenot Cracking Helmets into one of the State’s Best

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Certain positions on the gridiron have a basic cardinal rule – a rule that each player has to learn to master before becoming great. Most of the rules are pretty simple, linemen have to protect their quarterback, running backs have to protect the ball, cornerbacks have to shut down wide receivers, safeties cannot let anything get past them, and linebackers have to stop the run. St. Thomas More Class of 2017 linebacker Noah Fontenot is quickly on his way to being one of those top players understanding his position based on his junior season production.

A good defensive line along with a well taught and instinctive linebacker can limit the opposition’s ground game at home, on the road – rain or shine. During the 2015 season, the Cougars posted a 10-3 mark with their inside linebacker gaining momentum at the right time as the team was hitting the end of the regular season. The 6’0”, 220 pound, talent came up with 123 stops, 73 solo, forced three fumbles, and had six sacks but absolutely tore it up over the final four games with 67 total tackles.

The Lafayette product hasn’t racked up stats against Louisiana area stiffs. St. Thomas More lined up against Catholic-Baton Rouge, Teurlings Catholic – twice, E.D. White, and Parkview Baptist to name a few. Fontenot is a “meet you in the hole” kind of linebacker, a linebacker’s linebacker, who also doubles as a fullback on short yardage plays and goal line packages. The theme – he likes to hit and does it well.

Recruiting services can have their say about who they believe are the top players in the nation or a given state, but it adds a little extra meaning when the top college football program in the state, and also one of the top programs in the nation, views a given recruit as one of their best area talents. Fontenot was given that honor by the LSU Tigers being invited to their “Boys in the Boot” event. The Boys in the Boot event is set up for the Top 50 players in Louisiana to come and tour the program and get some one-on-one time with the Tigers coaching staff.

The significance of being a Top 50 player in Louisiana, when the Top 50 players in the 2016 recruiting class from the Sportsman’s Paradise finished signing their letter of intent, talents were headed to LSU, Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, Nebraska, TCU, Stanford, Louisiana Tech, Houston, Memphis, Tennessee, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Arizona State, Florida State, and Texas A&M.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Fontenot going over his junior season, his offseason schedule, and covered his recruiting process to date.

Interview

Noah, you got after it on the field during your junior season. At this point in your high school career, what are some of the things you think you do well as a linebacker?

“I would say my ability to read the triangle – the center, guard, and tackle. I know where the ball is going. I may not be the fastest guy in the forty but my sideline to sideline speed helps me the most. My hips are strong, I’ve been power cleaning 320 since my sophomore year. I’ve played against some big running backs like Ben Miles (Catholic-Baton Rouge) and the fullback from Parkview Baptist. I have not found it hard to stop the run. I’m a downhill/meet you in the hole kind of player, not to sound arrogant.”

Noah, funny enough, when I watched your reel, that was the first thing I thought of and knew that was a theme I wanted to put into the opening of the interview piece – so, no, it does not sound arrogant at all.

(Laughs)

Let’s flesh out your game a little more, talk to me about your pass coverage. Where are you with that right now?

“We played Teurlings, their pass to run ratio is about 70/30. I had some deflections and an interception against them. I workout five days a week four days a week I go to a trainer. My trainer is helping me with my flexibility and hips. I’m working on my hips and getting back faster. My hips have gotten better and I’ve gotten a lot faster.”

Did you earn any individual honors at the end of last season?

“I was All-District.”

What are your goals for the 2016 football season?

“It has always been a dream of mine to play college football, hopefully that will work out for me. My main goals are to be the best player I can be. Last season, for the first time in school history we made it to the state championship. This year, every game is strictly business and we’ll tear you up. I want to play the best I can and win a title.”

What was your best game in 2015, against who, and why do you consider that your best game?

“I’d have to say either Game 10 at Northside (29-0 win) or the state championship game against Parkview Baptist (24-21 loss). I can’t decide. In the state championship game, I didn’t know but they told me I had 22 total tackles, 12 solo. Putting up those kind of numbers there was great. Against Northside I got MVP of the game. It was one of those rainy, muddy, slipping around everywhere games you always want to play be in but no one else does.”

What are your offseason workout goals?

“We workout heavy to put on the muscle this time of year and over the summer we get rid of some of it to get faster. My whole goal is to transform my body and get bigger, stronger, and faster. I want to improve and keep improving in every aspect of the game.”

Do you have a 40-yard dash time goal?

“The 40-yard dash is important to me. My goal is to get my 40 in the 4.5 range. I have not been timed in the 40-yard dash lately. I just changed up my start. They showed me how to do it and now I am doing it right.”

You mentioned power cleaning earlier at a high level. What is your bench press and squat max right now?

My bench press is 300, my squat is 515, and my power clean is 325.”

What camps are you going to coming up?

“I was invited to invite only Boys in the Boot by LSU, that’s for the top prospects in Louisiana. We toured the facilities – they were great. I’ve also toured UL’s (Louisiana-Lafayette) facilities. Camp wise, me and one of my buddies, we are going on the road and hitting as many camps as we can.”

What camps would you like to go to even if you may not attend that camp when all is said and done?

“LSU told me to go to their camp. Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana Tech, and I’m thinking maybe Ole Miss, TCU, Mississippi State, and all the Louisiana schools too. I’m going to the Nike Opening regional in New Orleans coming up. The rest of the exposure camps I’ll play them by ear.”

You mentioned the Boys in the Boot event, how did that go for you?

“It was awesome. LSU is top of the line all around. The living areas, the field, the weight room, the locker rooms, and the coaching staff is phenomenal. LSU is the best place in the country, it really is.”

What other schools are showing recruiting interest in you right now?

“I’ve gotten letters from North Carolina and letters from all the Ivy league schools. UL, LA Tech (Louisiana Tech), North Carolina, Cornell, Brown, Princeton, and LSU are the main schools showing recruiting interest in me right now.”

Is there a NFL or college player you enjoy watching play at linebacker?

“Kendell Beckwith, from LSU. I’ve watched him since he was in high school. He is a true power inside linebacker.”

How is everything going in the classroom?

“Everything in the classroom is going fine. I have a 3.7 GPA.”

Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet?

“I took the ACT and got a 22 on it.”

Have you thought about what you would like to major in once in college?

“Business management.”

Last question. Who has made the biggest impact on your football career?

“My dad (Derek Fontenot) and my step-dad (Patrick Howard) are both role models they push me. I was taught growing up, if you’re not giving 100 percent why do it. They are both role models. My step-dad played baseball in college (Southern Miss), he was a catcher, and his brother, my uncle, Jamie Howard played quarterback at LSU. He started at the end of his freshman year and played through his senior season. He helps me out a lot. My dad played linebacker at UL.”

Noah, thanks for your time today. Good luck with all the upcoming camps.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Fontenot family; Noah at LSU

Photo credit: Fontenot family; Noah in the LSU locker room