Recruit has son to think about with his decision

Eugene's college decision will not only affect him. It will affect his 3-month-old baby. Eugene's son, Jai Jr., was born on Jan. 3.

"He gives me a lot of motivation," Eugene said of his son. "He makes me work harder. He makes me more responsible.

"It hasn't really changed my life except for the fact I have a son now. I still play sports and go to school and do my schoolwork. The only thing is I can't do some stuff like go out to parties on the weekend. I stay home more."

Eugene, still a high school junior at Destrehan (La.) High School, knows school and sports will pave his future's path. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound defensive back could be one of the top 100 players in the nation. He has received scholarship offers from Tennessee, Southern California, Miami, Florida State, Oklahoma, Florida, Auburn, and Georgia. With an early list like that, it's hard not to think about how a school might prepare a young man for the NFL and the fortunes that could follow.

"I look at it a lot," Eugene said of considering a college program's record of producing NFL players. "But I look more at depth charts. I look at how many players they already have at certain positions. Whatever school I go to, I'm going to have to work hard. It's not easy. I just have to try to work hard, stay focused, stay out of trouble and listen to coaches.

"Miami, especially in the secondary, they put a lot of guys in the pros. Tennessee puts a lot in there, too. Also USC, they're putting a lot in there."

NFL riches would be a godsend for Eugene and his mother as they raise a newborn. Proximity also will be a consideration. LSU's Baton Rouge campus is just a 70-mile drive from Destrehan.

"That's the only reason I'd stay here for school," Eugene said. "I like LSU a lot because my family can see me. I'd be here more. LSU is great. They have great fans. If I went there, I'd be able to see my son and my family. I'd say I'm 75-80 percent sure I'll go out of state, though.

"My mom takes care of everything. She buys clothes, food, everything. She says don't stay here for school just because of the child. She'll take care of him while I need her to and until I don't need her to. I'll go to whichever college I need to, which one fits me best."

The Tigers are led by first-year coach Les Miles, who was hired after Nick Saban left LSU for the Miami Dolphins in January. For now, LSU isn't the proven commodity that it once was with Saban. Eugene still is searching as he surveys the onslaught of college interest.

"I knew the letters were going to be coming," said Eugene, who claims to have run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds. "I didn't know it'd be like this. I've heard from just about everybody."

Tennessee's best "in" with Eugene is sophomore tight end Chris Brown, who went to nearby Jesuit High School. The two hometown friends played together on several football and basketball teams, with Brown's dad often the coach.

"We're real close," Eugene said. "When he comes down here, I'll ask him questions. His dad just tells me to keep working hard and focusing on my grades. Chris said it's great there. He said he wouldn't have gone anywhere else."

"I run track, too, and Tennessee and LSU both have great track programs. That's why I like them a lot. I know (UT running backs) coach Troop (Trooper Taylor), (wide receiver) coach (Pat) Washington and coach (Phillip) Fulmer."

"I knew Troop since he was at Tulane. My cousin went to school here and we went to their summer camp. He's a great guy and he becomes your friend.

"I can't wait until I go to camp there this summer. I've never been to Knoxville before."

Eugene said he will visit UT, Nebraska, and Oxford, Miss., this summer and, hopefully, Notre Dame, Florida and USC. Last year, he visited Miami, where he explored the possibility of retracing the career path of Ed Reed, a Destrehan alum who plays for the Baltimore Ravens after attending Miami.

"He just tells me how it is, how the coaches are," Eugene said of Reed's Hurricane review. "He says it's a great school. It's not as big since it's a private school. He says wherever I go, I'll have to work hard."

"He tells me to take my time with the decision, not to rush it. He says to choose whichever school is best for me. It's my decision."

Eugene is both wide-eyed and bleary-eyed at the same time. He said the amount of college interest he has received is surprising while the sleepless nights of raising an infant still is hard to get used to.

"Some nights I have to wake up at three in the morning for him. That's different," he said. "At first, I couldn't believe it, but it's been great since he was born."

Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He can be reached at hookerd@knews.com.