AMITE--For years Tangipahoa Parish has long been considered one of the hot beds of prep high school football in the state of Louisiana. The 2012 prep football season looks like it could be another success here in Tangipahoa.

Three local players are already committed to play for Southeastern Conference schools and at least a handful more expected to sign nice Division I Scholarships this February. The prep season could be a historic one in the making.

On the north end of the parish, the team with more titles than any other school looks to be back atop of Class 1A.

Coach David Currier, who is the dean of Tangipahoa coaches, has more players out for football since he’s been blowing his whistle under the tank in Kentwood.

The Roos not only look like a 1A title contender this season, I fully expect Kentwood to be in the thick of the Class 1A title chase for the next four seasons. Over in Tangipahoa, the Jewel Sumner Cowboys are looking to get back to the post-season in 2012.

The Cowboys have their biggest recruit in years as DB Jeremy Cutrer has already committed to play for the LSU Tigers. And as you well know, whenever a player is going to a major school, the team that he plays for gets some extra attention.

Now as we inch further south, we land in Amite. That's where the Mighty Warriors lost over 20 senior players from last season's 3A runner up campaign. I would not expect much of a drop off.

I’ve seen Amite practice. They have some special players at their skilled positions and a junior offensive lineman who will be one of the area’s top recruits in 2013. “We lost a lot of great players and a lot of leadership. We feel like we’ve got some very good players back again this season and we’ve been working hard to prepare for the start of practice,” said Warriors Coach Alden Foster.

Over in Tycer Park, the OFA Yellow Jackets are looking to get back into the thick of things as they are just weeks away from their first game of the season. The Jackets take on Copiah on August 17 and then have their home opener on August 24 when the entertain Parklane.

Now the Independence Tigers are up next and the Tigers should be better this season. For the first time in many years, the Tigers were not either first or second in the area 3A district. Their rivals from across the river moved into the district's 2nd spot last season.

Longtime Tigers Coach Keith Carona has several key players back in 2012 and Independence will be looking to challenge both Amite and Loranger.

And speaking of those Loranger Wolves, the folks out there are once again excited about the football team they have.

Loranger has not only made a splash in their district but last season the Wolves climbed as high as Number 3 in the LSWA Class 3A top ten.

And with 15 starters back this season, Loranger should once again be a solid playoff team this post season.

And finally down to south Tangi, we finish up with Hammond area schools STA and Hammond High along with the Ponchatoula Green Wave.

The best battle in the parish this season should once again be between Amite and Ponchatoula.

These two playoff teams return some quality players and the week two battle between the Warriors and Green Wave here in Amite should be a heavily attended game.

Green Wave Coach Hank Tierney has really done a great job of turning around the Green Wave program.

And Ponchatoula is fired about football again.

The STA Falcons started off their season with a huge win over crosstown foe Hammond. And the Falcons will look to get back to the playoffs in 2012.

As far as the Hammond Tors are concerned, it looks like they are in a very tough district that features the likes of Lakeshore, Salmen and Franklinton.

The Tors have a difficult non-district slate that features Amite, Breaux Bridge and Ponchatoula along with 5A power West Jeff.

So as we do each season, we as fans can expect another great year of prep football here in Tangipahoa Parish.