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Posted by Mike Strom
August 04, 2007

Trent Mackey Jr., an All-State middle linebacker at Carencro, whose family formerly resided in Port Sulphur prior to Hurricane Katrina, became Tulane's sixth football commitment for 2008 on Saturday. Mackey, a 5-foot-10, 225-pound tackling machine, accepted Coach Bob Toledo's offer to join the Green Wave over offers from Ole Miss, Louisiana-Lafayette and McNeese State.

"Tulane was the first to offer me and I feel like it's the place for me to go because of the academics," said Mackey, who is fully qualified academically with a 3.5 grade-point-average and a score of 20 on the ACT. "I can't play football the rest of my life. I'm looking forward to getting a job after my college career. If I go to the NFL, that's good, but you need something to fall back on."

Mackey is entering his third year as a starter at Carencro after he and his family were forced to evacuate and relocate to the Lafayette area due to Katrina. He was a two-year starter at defensive end at Port Sulphur as an eighth- and ninth-grader before moving to Carencro.

"It was pretty hard, it being my sophomore year," Mackey said of his family's sudden relocation. "But I was mentally strong enough to be able to deal with the situation more than a lot of (other) people did in dealing with school and sports. I think everything worked out for the best for me."

Mackey earned a starting role at linebacker for Carencro after just one week of practice with Coach Lance Guidry's Bears. Although Mackey's father, Trent Sr., continues to operate a trucking service that operates in south Plaquemines Parish, the Mackey family now resides in the Lafayette area.

Mackey was recruited by Tulane tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator Doug Lichtenberger and projects as an inside linebacker for the Green Wave.

Mackey recorded 161 tackles and 12 sacks as a junior in helping the Bears to a 7-3 record in the regular season and an advance to the Class 5A state quarterfinals. Carencro defeated Hahnville 35-14 and Destrehan 35-28 in successive weeks before falling to eventual state runner-up Sulphur 40-6.

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