Two Southwest Louisiana high school football players with Division I pedigree recently made their commitments known.

On Tuesday, J.D. Lafleur, a three-star Class of 2025 tight end at Sulphur High School, committed to LSU, while Lake Charles College Prep senior defensive back Erick Franklin Jr. committed to Stephen F. Austin on Friday.

Both announced their commitments on social media.

Lafleur will follow in the footsteps of his father, David, who was a high school (Westlake) and college all-American (LSU) tight end and was a first-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 1997.

Lafleur (6-6, 220 pounds) caught 13 passes for 229 yards as a freshman in 2022.

Lafleur said other offers included Texas A&M, Florida, Miami and Texas Tech.

Franklin’s father, LCCP head coach Erick Franklin, played for Louisiana Tech from 2001-04.

Franklin (5-10, 185) made 81 tackles, broke up nine passes and intercepted six while earning all-district first team and American Press All-Southwest Louisiana Big Schools honors while leading the Trail Blazers to the regionals of the state playoffs.

Franklin said he had offers from Troy, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State, Memphis and Louisiana-Monroe.

ROOKIE SETS RECORD: Sulphur native Ryder Sanford is putting together a stellar rookie season on the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit and broke the saddle bronc points record at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo last weekend.

His 92.5-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics’ Black Tie broke the old record of 91 set in 2010 by another Louisiana Cowboy, Cody DeMoss.

Sanford’s, a former McNeese State rodeo team member, has wins this season at the Trinity Valley Exposition Fair and Rodeo (Liberty, Texas), Southeastern Circuit Finals (Davie, Florida) and Deep South PRCA Rodeo (Winnsboro).

Sanford sits at No. 17 in the PRCA saddle bronc standings with $74,793.97 in winnings this season and needs to make the top 15 to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo, Dec. 7-16 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

TRADED: Former Hamilton Christian and McNeese State baseball player Jace Peterson is moving from the Pacific Coast to the desert Southwest.

The Oakland Athletics traded him to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday just ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline.

Peterson made his first start for the Diamondbacks at third base Tuesday night.

Arizona sent minor league right-handed pitcher Chad Patrick and cash considerations for Peterson.

Peterson is batting .221 with seven doubles, two triples, six home runs and 28 RBIs.