LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — The world of college football is evolving before our very eyes in the era of the transfer portal and NIL. For the prospects still playing to get to the next level, the way they are being recruited is constantly changing as well. Former ULM Warhawks Preston and Derek Dark followed the recruitment process of four talented Louisiana high school football players in their documentary, “Blue Chippers: The Next Man Up.”

“One of the key inspirations is I’ve been a high school teacher and coach for like the past ten years.” Dark said. ” And we get a new class of kids that come in every year that wants to be, you know, a four or five-star recruit. You know, I wanted to marry the two as an educator and a filmmaker and make this film. So we can educate, you know, those kids and potential recruits on how, you know, the college football recruiting business is.”

One of those players spotlighted in the film is former Acadiana defensive back Laterrance Welch. The film follows his 2021 season with the Wreckin’ Rams, where the team chased a three-peat as state champions.

“You know, LT had a very unique story. You know, LT didn’t play a full football season, I think, until, you know, dating back to his sophomore year.” Dark said. “Also, LT, you know, he was being raised by a single mother with his three sisters, you know, and I kind of found that quite unique. And he was just such an outstanding young man, a very, very well-spoken young man. So, you know, he just, you know, he was just a guy that we think that we should showcase how his recruiting process went.”

For the Dark brothers, one of the most eye-opening parts of the filming process in Acadiana was seeing LT’s raw athleticism firsthand in Acadiana’s season opener against Carencro.

“Man, that first game, you know, he looked really seasoned and polished, and I mean, he looks like one of those ones that was definitely a playmaker.” Preston Dark said. “I mean, he made some plays in that game. He had a couple of hard hits, he had a good return, you know, so those things stick out on tape because he’s doing it in phases of the game where it’s much needed. So those were the unique parts, to see him as the actual four-star athlete that he is.”

Now that the film is out and these athletes are nearing the end of their college football careers, the brothers are happy to have been a small part of their journey.

“It really means a lot just to see their growth, you know, as far as being, you know, high school kids to go on to be young men and just seeing that transformation. You know, especially with LT, as much as adversity has been through.” Dark said. ” You know, having year-ending injuries in high school and now to see him play, you know, big-time college football. You know, seeing him get some spot time in LSU and seeing him really make some plays at Arizona State. You know, and now he’s over at UNLV and looking like he’s going to be you know, CB1 over there, cornerback one. So, you know, it’s just good just to see that transition. To see those guys grow.”

You can watch the movie for free on Tubi.

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