Honorable Citizens

admin Thursday, August 1, 2024 Comments Off on Honorable Citizens
Honorable Citizens

TONY AND TREVONTE’ Citizen

TREVONTE’ Citizen

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would venture to say new McNeese running back TreVonte’ Citizen is the most notable “legacy” in Cowboys’ football history. Legacy, in his case,  because he’s following in his father’s footsteps–McNeese Hall of Famer Tony Citizen.

I did some fact checking with retired legendary McNeese sports information director/encyclopedia of all that is blue and gold sports, Louis Bonnette, and the Citizens are the fourth father and son duo in program (84 years) history.

The most recent was in the early 2000s when Doug Brown (2004, 05, 06, 07) followed dad Mac Brown, who played for the Cowboys in 1962-63. Before him was Bill Hathaway in 1981-82 whose father Glen wore the colors from 1953-56. Back in 1983 John Kuehn played only one season for the Cowboys following Hall of Fame dad Charlie Kuehn, who was a rare two way player from 1950 to 52 and was McNeese’s first ever A.P. All American.

Family ties run even further in McNeese’s football past. The Cowboys have had brothers like Buford and Simon Jordan or the Orgeron’s-Cody and Parker. Cousins from nearly the entire Prince family. Uncle and nephews named Sam.

But never a son carrying the torch into the Hole with the notoriety of a dad like Tony Citizen. And to make this story even better: at the same position. The name Citizen is etched firmly in Cowboys’ history as Tony is ranked third all-time in career rushing yards with 3,284 off 713 carries, fourth in all-time rushing touchdowns at 33 and 15th in total offense between 1986-89.

Tony still holds the school record for most yards in a single game at 304 vs. Prairie View in his 1986 debut. When the ‘all-time greats’ debate starts, running back Tony Citizen is always in the mix along with Buford Jordan, Henry Fields, Vick King, Toddrick Pendland and Theron McClendon.

So along comes young TreVonte’, a former four star prep recruit out of Lake Charles College Prep. Back in 2021 Citizen was rated as the nation’s fourth best running back prospect when he bypassed LSU, Auburn, Florida and others to commit to Miami.

Citizen was a big recruiting catch in February of 2022 for then-first year Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal, who needed to make a recruiting splash quickly down at the U. Cristobal saw what everyone else loved about Citizen: a big 230-pound runner who could run through tackles or around them with speed and power, plus pass-catching skills out of the backfield.

Then came August of 2022, Citizen’s first pre-season fall camp as a freshman star recruit which resulted in a knee injury during scrimmage that left him with a torn ACL and LCL. As quickly as he put on that Canes’ jersey TreVonte’s season was over.

TONY Citizen RUNNING FOR MCNEESE IN THE LATE 1980s

“It was tough, you know. Playing a sport you love for years since six or seven years old and not being able to touch the field for two years,” says Citizen. “You have to keep your head up and keep praying, keep working and, thankfully, I’m back healthy. Just those two years grinding to get back healthy and back to myself. It was a long journey.”

The Cowboys were never in the Citizen sweepstakes three years ago. Much like the Etienne brothers from Jennings, Citizen was beyond McNeese’s recruiting reach. He had Power 5 written all over him after averaging nearly 125 yards a game during an abbreviated senior season at LCCP. He also played some as a linebacker and was a member of his high school relay track team.

That devastating knee injury sidelined Citizen for nearly a year and a half and he wasn’t cleared to play until last December’s Pinstripes Bowl, but he still didn’t get a snap. Two years of no real action will test anyone’s mental strength and perseverance as it did Citizen. Last spring Cristobal finally had positive comments on his young (but untested) talent saying TreVonte’ was “a guy running behind his pads, running at 230 pounds, accelerating, running through contact and catching the ball really well.”

But there were only a scant few carries for Citizen in Miami’s spring game in March and he realized maybe South Florida wasn’t his final collegiate destination. “God has a dream for everybody and sometimes it’s not what you expect. Everyone has trials and tribulations and just so happens mine was being injured at Miami for two years,” he says.

In April he entered the transfer portal and that’s when McNeese came calling again and this time they got their man. Despite a 4-17 record the last two seasons and being nowhere near the top in the Southland Conference, Citizen listened to coach Gary Goff’s pitch of a program turnaround and his personal redemption if he were to come back home.

“They told me how getting guys like myself and others will change this program around. He (Goff) talked about how the guys were divided last year and I’ve seen things change a lot since I’ve been here with the players, offense and defense, hanging out together. When players interact outside of the ball and get to know each other, it’s a better dynamic for the team and coaches,” Citizen explained.

Montana transfer QB Clifton McDowell will have the biggest impact on the team this fall but Citizen was the most surprising and high profile name to sign with the Cowboys during yet another roster and locker room overhaul. “That’s what Coach Goff did. He went around and looked for Dogs (tough, talented players) and he brought everybody here to bring back this program.”

Goff’s eyes widen and he can’t hide his enthusiasm when talking about Citizen. “He is a big and powerful runner and we’re really excited to get him here and help us turn this thing around.” Citizen will be a big fish in a crowded pond. McNeese’s collection of running backs is clearly the deepest in the SLC. Returning are senior D’Angelo Durham, sophomore Joshon Barbie, junior Coleby Hamm and two talented Jr-Co transfers from California in Bryce Strong and Jaylen Thompson.

Citizen had a lot of competition to deal with at Miami as well and feels if not for the knee injury he would have succeeded there as he intends to do here at McNeese. “We know it’s just one ball but that brings out the competition and the best in everybody. There’s no animosity between us. We know the best player has to play to help us win games. We will always compete and bring the best out of everybody and that’s really the goal,” says Citizen, who appears to be comfortable and relaxed now that he’s back home.

Two years ago TreVonte’ ventured far from home to Miami with stars in his eyes. And why not? Several recruiting outlets had him as one of the best running backs in the country and top 100 players overall. He had the entire package from size, power, speed, one cut skills, pass catching and was a solid blocker as well.

In sports, as in life, things can change quickly as they did for TreVonte’. One play, one cut and one hit.

TONY Citizen in 1989

In those two years he fell behind on the field and on the Hurricanes’ depth chart, he realigned his goals, probably had some introspective moments and decided it was time to alter his football path–that brought him back to his Louisiana roots.

Citizen’s story took an interesting twist when he decided to transfer to his father’s alma mater and travel a road that was not on his map two years ago. Being a legacy football player at McNeese is one thing but following a dad with a legacy as great and accomplished as Tony Citizen is another. The promise of a talented son following his acclaimed father at the same position, at the same school is not lost on TreVonte’, who is juggling the hard edge emotions embodied in every great athlete’s DNA.

“I’m not going to say it’s a pressure, but more like an honor, to play where my Dad played. To me, I’m a competitor so if I have a chance to break some of his records or do better than he did…great, but it’s not a priority on my mind. I’m just here to play, make the program better and win championships,” Citizen told me in one of his first interviews as a Cowboy.

 

“I just love the game so much and being able to play the game again, be out there with the guys…it means a lot to me.” 

Catch Rick Sarro’s commentary and latest opinions on Soundoff on CBS Lake Charles on Tuesday and Thursday at 10:05 pm and on Saturday at 11 pm. Follow Rick on Twitter @ricksarro.

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