Northshore High graduate and former Panther running back J.P. Verzwyvelt has singed a letter of intent to attend Millsaps College and play football for the Majors.

Verzwyvelt (5-foot-11, 195 pounds) said having his cousin and 2007 Northshore graduate Bryce Haddad at the school helped his decision.

“My cousin there, that was sort of a guiding point for me. It was either Millsaps or LSU and I wanted play football,” Verzwyvelt said. The running back added that he’s looking forward to Millsaps and said he enjoyed the campus.

“I’m really excited. I’m eager to go and see what the college experience is like,” Verzwyvelt said.

He also said the school has not promised him anything for playing time, but told him to work hard.

Last season, Verzwyvelt helped lead the Panthers to a 6-4 record. Unfortunately for him, Northshore did not make the playoffs.

His 511 yards on 126 carries (four yards a tote), with two touchdowns earned him second-team all-district honors and Wendy’s Heisman football nomination for Louisiana. He was also a team captain and a Coach’s Award recipient. In 2006, Verzwyvelt was named as an all-district honorable mention.

The Millsaps coach is former Alabama headman Mike DuBose. Verzwyvelt said that did not weigh into his decision too much, but said he is looking forward to playing for DuBose.

“I hear he’s a really good coach. I’m kind of interested to see what he’s going to be like,” Verzwyvelt said.

Northshore coach Mike Bourg, who will be entering his third season talked about Verzwyvelt.

“J.P. did a good job for us his junior and senior year,” Bourg said. “J.P.’s a hard-nosed kid. In the last six months, he’s worked really hard after football in trying to get bigger and stronger. It shows. He’s put on some weight. He wasn’t really sure if he wanted to play football at the next level or not. He was just kind of debating it. He had a couple opportunities, he chose Millsaps and I think he’ll fit in really well with them.”

Bourg said if Verzwyvelt doesn’t get a chance to play on offense his freshman season, he feels that the back will have a chance to play on special teams.

Verzwyvelt, who said he thinks he will go into the sciences of Pre-Med, worked hard on the field and off the gridiron. In the classroom, he posted a 3.77 grade point average and earned a spot on the 2007 Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s Academic All-State Football Team.

Verzwyvelt is the son of Gary and Annie Verzwyvelt of Slidell.