PERMITS
March 9, 2016
Anterina Guidry
March 9, 2016
A lot of local sports fans may have forgotten about Houma native Jake Broggi – the former starting quarterback for H.L. Bourgeois, who moved to New Orleans after his freshman year to play for Brother Martin.
But even with a new team to play for, he’s still been a gunslinger on that gridiron.
And he’s going to be spending the next four seasons of his career playing for LSU.
Broggi announced this week that he had accepted an offer from Tigers coach Les Miles to be a preferred walk-on for the LSU football team next fall.
The quarterback will graduate from Brother Martin in May, then head to Baton Rouge over the summer to begin what he calls a “dream come true opportunity,” and “something he’s looked forward to his entire life.”
“Every kid in Louisiana grows up wanting to be an LSU Tiger,” Broggi said. “To know that that’s something I’m going to be able to do is just an unreal feeling. It’s a blessing, and I’m grateful to Coach Miles, Coach (Cam) Cameron and the staff for the opportunity.”
Broggi punched his ticket to LSU with his powerful arm.
He showcased it routinely throughout his time at Brother Martin’s high-powered offensive arsenal, passing for 2,333 yards and 23 touchdowns in his senior season with the team.
But it was likely a strong showing against the right opponent that landed Broggi in Baton Rouge.
Brother Martin played Catholic High of Baton Rouge in the Quarterfinals of the Division I Playoffs this past fall – a game that was one of the most thrilling games in all of Louisiana for the 2015 football season.
The Crusaders led for a lot of the game, but lost a heartbreaker late, falling 49-48 to a Catholic team that eventually went on to win the State Championship.
After the game, Broggi said he started to get some attention from the Tigers, in part because of the showing that the senior quarterback put up against the Catholic defense.
What also likely helped is the fact that both Miles and Cameron’s sons play for Catholic, which likely led to each having a pretty close eye on the game tape – an in-depth look at the damage Broggi is capable of causing on the field.
Broggi said it was Cameron who formally offered him the spot with the team – an offer he considered with his family, then quickly accepted.
Preferred walk-ons are players who are not on scholarship, but are first in line to receive scholarships if players transfer or are dismissed from the team.
“I started to get attention from Coach Cameron and them after the season,” Broggi said. “I think playing that playoff game helped a lot. Talking to them, they said that they liked my toughness and my ability to succeed in a passing offense. Coach Cameron said he thought I was tough, and I’d be a good fit to be an LSU Tiger.”
Broggi is battle-tested, too.
As a freshman, he didn’t start every game, but he played the lion’s share of the snaps for a Braves team that’s in one of the most difficult districts in Louisiana.
At Brother Martin, Broggi was in arguably the best district in the Southeast – a brutally tough Catholic league that consists of top-flight programs like Rummel, John Curtis, Jesuit and St. Augustine.
Broggi said he knows that he’s an underdog to see playing time at LSU, but he’s confident in his ability to someday be a contributor for a Tigers program that’s struggled under center for the past decade.
The Houma native said the reason for that confidence is because of the success he had in high school while facing defenses that were littered with college signees all over the field.
Crusaders coach Mark Bonis said Broggi is the consummate leader.
“He’s a guy that you trust leading your huddle,” Bonis said during the season. “He’s a tough kid who has good command of the offense. He’s been a big piece to what we’re doing, and he’s a great kid. We’re proud of the way he’s gotten better and progressed.”
And now, he’s ready for the next chapter – an opportunity to suit up in purple and gold.
Broggi said he can’t wait to walk through the tunnel and onto the field of Tiger Stadium for the first time.
He said it will be the highlight of what’s already been a long, storied career on the gridiron.
“I’ve rooted for LSU all of my life – just like everyone else in our state,” Broggi said. “To have a chance to be a part of it now is even better. It will be very awesome to be able to be on that field and to hear the crowd and everything. It’s just about as special as it gets.” •
