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Malik Garrett, an offensive lineman at Patterson High School, signed Friday to attend Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas, on a football scholarship. Seated from left are Garrett’s grandmother Wilda Jackson, uncle Floyd Brown, Garrett, mother Bernadine Garrett and aunt Dorothy Henry. Standing from left are Patterson Football Head Coach Chad Blanchard, Assistant Principal Mark Spradling, Keith Gray, Brandon Verret, Malik Bass and Clay Benoit, and Patterson Principal Rachael Sanders.
--The Daily Review Photos/Zachary Fitzgerald

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Malik Bass, a linebacker at Patterson High School, signed Friday to play football at McNeese State as a preferred walk-on. Seated from left are Bass’ brother Deondre Diggs, his mother Deadrant Diggs, Bass and Brandon Verret. Standing from left are Patterson Football Head Coach Chad Blanchard, Malik Garrett, Assistant Principal Mark Spradling, Keith Gray, Richard Welch, Clay Benoit and Patterson Principal Rachael Sanders.

Two ‘Jacks to play college football

Patterson Lumberjack team captains Malik Garrett and Malik Bass will continue their football careers at the next level.
On Friday, Garrett signed a football scholarship with Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas, while Bass committed to McNeese State as a preferred walk-on.
“Both of these guys have been exemplary student-athletes in every aspect of the word ever since they’ve been here,” Patterson football head coach Chad Blanchard said.
The two have great character, have been great leaders and are great football players, Blanchard said. “Both these programs are getting two really good quality kids,” he said.
Garrett was a three-year starter on the offensive line for Patterson. He was selected first team 9-3A All-District his junior and seniors seasons, and also made honorable mention on the Louisiana Football Coaches Association 3A All-State team.
Bass was a two-year starter at inside linebacker for the Lumberjacks and was the 2014 District 9-3A defensive MVP recording 138 tackles during the season. He made honorable mention for the Louisiana Sportswriters’ Association 3A All-State team. Bass was also selected to the second team 3A All-State by the Louisiana Football Coaches Association. He was a two-time 9-3A All-District linebacker, who also made the 2014 9-3A Academic All-District team.
Garrett chose Southwestern Assemblies of God University because the school gave him the opportunity to start at offensive tackle his freshman year, he said. Additionally he selected the college because of the quality of its academic program for his major, mass communication.
“I talked with my family about it. It was between them and another school, and I prayed about it a lot,” Garrett said. “It just seemed like SAGU was the right choice for me.” Garrett also received an offer from Wayland Baptist University, which is in the same conference as SAGU.
“It was a very competitive thing for the past two months. They’ve been recruiting me,” Garrett said.
According to Garrett, both universities are wonderful schools. He really appreciated what Wayland Baptist “was trying to do for me,” he said. “But it seems SAGU came out in the end as my best interest for me and my family.
“I’m ready to go ahead and start. I’m ready to go to work, and be ambitious and give it everything I’ve got for the next four years.”
Bass chose McNeese State, in part, because the school’s defense fits Bass better than other colleges he considered, he said. Bass also looked at Nicholls State and the University of Louisiana — Lafayette before making his decision.
He said he may play a variety of positions at McNeese State, including strong safety, outside linebacker, middle linebacker and free safety. Bass expects to have lots of competition from other players for those positions.
“Wherever they want me to play, I’ll just play it,” Bass said.
Former Patterson High teammate Deondre Skinner plays at McNeese State, which had some effect on Bass’ decision to attend the college. Bass is looking forward to getting to play with Skinner again, he said.
--By ZACHARY FITZGERALD
zfitzgerald@daily-review.com

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