Lacy picking up stats, collegiate interest

Thibodaux senior receiver Kyren Lacy is a verbal commitment to the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.

But some big-time schools are starting to take note of his talents and are knocking on his door.

Lacy’s offer sheet seemingly grows by the week, and he now owns offers from some of the top programs in the country as his recruitment heats up.

This past week, Lacy got an offer from the University of Miami earlier in the week, then continued his progression forward on Friday night with a three-touchdown game against H.L. Bourgeois.

Coach Chris Dugas said Lacy has grown up so much from the beginning of his career to now and he’s proud of his progression.

“He can play anywhere he wants to play,” Dugas said. “He’s matured so much during his time here and he’s just turned into a complete player. The thing with Kyren is he can really run. He runs like a little guy, but he has that physicality and that leaping ability of a bigger guy. He’s just the total package and he’s a great weapon for us.”

Lacy’s journey through his prep career is a story of triumph over adversity.

The polished receiver wanted to be a basketball player early in his career — so much so that he didn’t play football at all his 10th grade year.

“He wanted to focus on basketball,” Dugas said. “So we lost him. And it was a blow to us because we knew he was a talented kid.”

Lacy played football again as an 11th grader, but Dugas said he was slowed down a little because he wasn’t in rhythm. His timing wasn’t quite right and his level of physicality wasn’t quite right, either.

“He was just a little bit off,” Dugas said. “It’s hard to take a year off from this sport. It’s hard to come back and have everything click the way you want it to right away.”

But now, Lacy is full steam ahead.

He said he worked throughout the offseason to get bigger, faster and stronger and he showed up to as many workouts over the summer as he could to try and master his craft.

Lacy credits Tigers’ quarterback Luke Alleman, as well, saying that his successes are directly tied to Alleman — both on and off the field. The two men have chemistry and always know where each other are on the field.

That chemistry was developed because they worked hard throughout the summer to get their timing right on the route tree.

“There were days I didn’t want to work and he’d push me to keep going,” Lacy said. “I couldn’t ask for a better quarterback. We work well together.”

Lacy did the camp circuit and started to show out and get offers.

Right now, he’s a UL-Lafayette commitment, but the list of offers continues to grow and now features several prominent power 5 programs.

Lacy visited UL-Lafayette this past weekend and said he is still a commitment to the Cajuns. But he also said he’s listening to offers from other schools, as well.

In addition to ULL and Miami, his offer sheet now also includes offers from Virginia, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana Monroe and others.

He called the entire process a blessing, adding that he’s humbled to have so many quality programs interested in his services.

But first, there’s unfinished business at Thibodaux.

Lacy said he wants to finish his high school career with a bang, and those aren’t just idle words — the Tigers are truly in position to make some noise and do some damage.

At press-time, Thibodaux is 7-2 and currently sits in the Top 10 in the state in power ratings projections.

If Thibodaux can beat East St. John on Friday, the Tigers would likely clinch a Top 8 seed, which could mean two-straight home playoff games.

Lacy said he and his team are motivated and they have a clear, united goal — to go to the Dome.

Dugas said he doesn’t know how far Thibodaux can push this postseason, but added that he goes into every, single game liking some of the matchups the Tigers have on the edges, and Lacy is a big part of that.

The coach said he’s also most proud of how well Lacy has matured and evolved in his senior season.

“You have to be happy for a guy like that because you’ve seen him his whole career and you know he’s come a long way,” Dugas said. “Some schools are starting to get on him and they like the college body and the talent and the skillset he possesses. But he’s stayed humble and grounded and a team player and he’s just been great for us this season. We’re so happy for everything he’s been able to accomplish for our team.”