Antoine Deslauriers’ rise to high school football stardom is a bit different than that of his counterparts. Deslauriers is from Quebec and has never played a snap of football on an American field.
Still, this hasn’t stopped the class of 2025 linebacker from picking up offers from high-major programs like Ole Miss, Maryland, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina and South Carolina.
“I was born in Quebec so I didn’t move so much. Played football here, discovered football here. I started playing for the city team, and then I went on and played at my high school,” Deslauriers told LifeWallet Sports. “Football here in Quebec, I believe is the best province to play football. Guys are really getting out of here being technical football players.”
His first offer was from the Rebels on April 24, 2023.
“The first offer I got was Ole Miss … It wasn’t such a surprise but it was more of a surprise that it came this early because I still got two more years. I’m going into my junior year. I haven’t stepped foot on an American football field yet, and it just came one day … told my parents about it and everyone was happy and myself too, because, like I said, I’ve been putting in the work for that,” Deslauriers said. “It’s just an amazing feeling and it’s even better. They keep coming in and keep getting coaches to call and everything. It just feels amazing.”
Shortly after this offer from Ole Miss, the Hurricanes, represented by general manager of football operations Alonzo Highsmith, offered Deslauriers.
“It’s Miami. It’s a big-time school program and everybody’s talking about “The U” and everything,” Deslauriers said. “I don’t have the words to describe how I felt when [Highsmith] called. It took me a little time to process everything and wrap my head around what was going on.”
Deslauriers, who describes his game as “violent, smart and physical,” will move to Georgia on July 31 to play for Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (Ga.) High School.
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