by Lee Brecheen and Taylor Williams
 |
| WR Mark Laird, Ouachita Christian |
April 6, 2011 - WR Mark Laird from Ouachita Christian High School in Monroe is the best OCS player since TE Eric Edwards who was an All American recruit coming out of OCS and won a National Championship as a Starting TE for LSU and played for the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL. Mark has the best hands for a WR I’ve seen in years coming out of Louisiana, and I’ve watched high school football for over 25 years in Louisiana. His route running is really way above what you see from a normal high school WR. This kid always finds a way to get open, and I noticed on film in several games that he’s always coming back for the ball for his QB, which is something you don’t also see a lot of from a WR in high school. I don’t care what he’s ranked nationally; I just want to tell the people in Louisiana that this kid is the real deal. If he doesn’t sign with a top 10 program team in DI ball, then all those programs will regret not taking a kid with the best hands you will see from a 6-2, 180 pound WR, who will be 195 to 200 pounds when he’s done in three years of growing in college. I also see a kid who fights for the ball in the air and 99% of the time he wins the battle. I’ve seen several catches over the shoulder in the back or corner of the end zone where he makes it look so easy with one or two players all over him. That’s the hardest catch to make in college football when you have to time the catch. I feel when college coaches recruit a WR they leave one thing out in the new age of recruiting and that’s catching the pigskin. I feel that’s a lost art with kids coming out of high school. You can be 6-3, 200 pounds and run a 4.4 /40 but if you can’t catch the pigskin then your days of starting in college or to even play in the NFL are short lived. Mark also runs a true 4.55/40, but like Jerry Rice who I think was the best WR ever to play in the NFL and College, ran a 4.6/40 for the 49ers coming out of MS Valley College. What made Jerry Rice, in my opinion, was he caught everything near him all the time and his route running was perfect and had great football speed. Mark Laird looks to me like a Jordy Nelson of the Green Bay Packers with better hands. When Jordy was at Kansas State he came in at 6-2, 190, and is now 6-3, 215.
I hope you enjoy the article written and the interview done by talented writer Taylor Williams. We look forward to seeing Mark play this coming season again. These are questions I came up with that I think the avid fan would really enjoy.
First to arrive for Sunday’s magazine cover shoot at Cecilia High School was Mark Laird, a wide receiver from Ouachita Christian.
LAFM: At what age did you start playing football, and what do you like most about it?
ML: I started playing when I was about five or six with my older brothers, which has made me appreciate the competitive nature of the game the most.
LAFM: What are your current height and weight?
ML: 6-foot-2, 180 pounds.
LAFM: What’s your current forty time?
ML: 4.48
LAFM: Are you originally from LA, and if not, when did you move here?
ML: Monroe, LA, born and raised.
LAFM: Who were your idols growing up and why?
ML: Again, its my brothers, my second oldest was a quarterback and my oldest has played in championships, so I’ve always been geared for football.
LAFM: Has anyone in your family ever played collegiate or professional sports, and if so, where?
ML: One of my brothers plays baseball for ULM, and starts in center field. I also have an uncle that played AAA baseball and my grandpa played tight for ULM.
LAFM: What were your favorite college and NFL teams growing up?
ML: LSU and Saints, baby!
LAFM: What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses to work on as a player?
ML: My experience from playing with my brothers, and next year, I’m really working on improving my routes and making them sharper for a new quarterback.
LAFM: What’s it like playing for your current head coach?
ML: Coach Fitzhugh is a great guy, he teaches us how to be great people on and off the field. He not only gives us what we need for successful careers in football, but for everyday life and growing up.
LAFM: What’s your biggest rival and game you enjoy the most, and why?
ML: Cedar Creek, there’s just no love there.
LAFM: What was your best and most memorable game as a player at this point in your career?
ML: The game that put us in the Superdome this year against South Plaquemines. No 1A teams had beat them at home; we won 28-14 and everyone was going nuts.
LAFM: What are your and your team’s goals for next season?
ML: We always have the same goal, which is winning State. We know how it feels to get there and lose (last year), and that’s the furthest we’ve gotten so far.
LAFM: How important is it to play close to home for your family to see you?
ML: Being away from home doesn’t really bother me because I know my family would drive the distance and come even if it’s out of state.
LAFM: What are your top choices for colleges?
ML: LSU is my top choice since I grew up here and always dreamed of playing for them, but I really like Texas A&M and [Louisiana] Tech too.
LAFM: What colleges have offered you for football already?
ML: At this point, I’ve gotten letters and invites to visit LSU, ULM, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Auburn, amongst others.
LAFM: What camps have you been to and what camps are you planning to attend this summer?
ML: I went to ULL and am planning on going to LSU and LA Tech.
LAFM: Would you change positions in college from high school?
ML: I’ve only played defensive back and wide receiver in my life, and I’m tall for a DB, so I’d rather stay at wide receiver.
LAFM: What other sports do you play, and have you been recruited for them?
ML: I’m a pitcher and center fielder on the baseball team; I’ve gotten letters from ULM and am going to try to attend its camp this summer.
LAFM: What would you possibly major in at college?
ML: Veterinary science, cause I used to train dogs in the summer.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
