He came for the football. He stayed for the people.

When Blake Comeaux arrived at WashU, he brought talent, drive, and an openness to possibility, but also quiet doubts about whether he truly belonged.

Coming from a Title I public high school in southern Mississippi to an elite academic environment was jarring. But what he found, was a community of people who consistently reinforced that he wasn’t just welcome, but he was exactly where he was meant to be.

“My four years in undergrad were perfect, honestly,” Comeaux said. “What I envisioned as the ideal college experience is exactly what I had at WashU. It was no question that I wanted to stay another three years for law school.”

Now approaching completion of his juris doctor, Comeaux was first recruited to WashU to play football. Coaches like Larry Kindbom and Scott Mueller helped establish an early foundation of support, while teammates formed a built‑in community that helped him find his footing during the transition to life on campus.

As Comeaux grew at WashU, so too did his network of support. Through the Ervin Scholars Program, he found overlapping academic and social communities that made campus feel more connected.

“The Ervins are extraordinarily involved on campus,” he said. “It was almost impossible to join an organization without finding one of them already active or serving in a leadership role. That presence made stepping into new spaces feel far less intimidating.”

That familiarity mattered most during moments of uncertainty. In his first philosophy class, for instance, Comeaux recalls feeling out of place, grappling with unfamiliar texts and wondering if he could keep up. Support from older Ervin Scholars, through mentorship and informal academic networks, helped ease those doubts.

That sense of care deepened when Comeaux was selected as a McLeod Scholar, a program honoring Dean Jim McLeod’s legacy of access, mentorship and achievement.

“As a McLeod Scholar, we focus on humility, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to serving others, values rooted in who Dean McLeod was and his legacy that continues to shape WashU today,” Comeaux said.  

For Comeaux, those values became tangible through relationships built along the way including one particularly meaningful relationship with Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Anna Gonzalez. Though he can’t pinpoint the exact moment they met, Comeaux said Dr. G’s presence became a constant during his time at WashU as an administrator, mentor and trusted sounding board.

“She’s been an incredible mentor and a genuine friend,” he said. “Having someone with such a wide‑ranging career who’s willing to slow down, sit with you, and really talk has meant a great deal to me, and it’s always a joy to see her.”

As Comeaux moved into law school, that pattern of close, meaningful mentorship continued to shape his path. In Professor Cash Nickerson, Comeaux found a trusted mentor who blended practical legal training with personal guidance.

“I don’t have lawyers in my family, so having someone like Professor Nickerson, who’s done so many different things and is always willing to talk things through, has meant a lot,” Comeaux said. “He’s helped make what felt like an overwhelming career path feel much more navigable.”

Now preparing for consecutive federal clerkships after graduation, Comeaux remains deeply connected to WashU.

“My gratitude to the school is just immense,” Comeaux said. “WashU supported me in every way, from scholarships and stipends to the suit I literally wore to my clerkship interview.”

For him, WashU isn’t just where he earned degrees. It’s where he found his people.

“This is quite possibly the most significant time of my life,” said Comeaux. “I recognize how profoundly my time here has shaped my future, and how much of it wouldn’t have been possible without the people who have been a part of my journey,” he said.