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Commitment No. 10: Texas CB Jaylon Monroe

The Tulane football team’s inroads into Texas continued Friday with the commitment of Mesquite High cornerback Jaylon Monroe.

Monroe, the Green Wave’s fourth recruit from the Lone Star State for the 2017 class under new coach Willie Fritz, received a scholarship offer a few days after participating in a school-sponsored camp at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport during June. When he liked everything about the school on his visit this week, his decision became easy.

“The primary thing was the relationship I had with the coaches,” he said. “I liked the campus. Everything I needed was on campus. I have a good opportunity to play as a true freshman, and I loved the atmosphere.”

Monroe’s only other scholarship offer from an FBS program was Texas State, but he said Kansas and Texas Tech showed interest. Other schools after him included Northern Iowa, Prairie View, Grambling and McNeese State of the FCS. His primary recruiter, secondary coach Chris Hampton, joined Tulane after spending the four previous years in the same position at McNeese State.

Despite the lack of big-name pursuers, Monroe expects to contribute right away.

“I can play man-to-man and go up for the ball,” he said. “I have good ball skills and great speed and hips.”

Mesquite’s best record the past three years was 5-5 in 2016, but Monroe predicts a breakthrough in his senior season. He expects a similar upgrade at Tulane, primarily due to Fritz.

“He’s a cool coach,” Monroe said. “He doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He’s straightforward, and he knows how to win. That’s what I like about him. I’m very confident of how the season is going to turn out. Due to his past history, I know he’s going to turn it around in a positive way.”

Monroe joins Denton Guyer offensive lineman Gage Mallory, Houston Stratford wide receiver Jaetavian Toles and Argyle athlete Dane Ledford as Tulane commitments from Texas. Before the arrival of Fritz, who coached Sam Houston State from 2010-13 and signed two players from Texas in February, the Wave’s last recruit from Texas was offensive lineman Colton Hanson in 2012.

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