Defensive Player of the Year Candidates
by Jace LeJeune
What a year for Louisiana High School Football in 2016. Every year, the state of Louisiana proves what kind of talent that these individuals have. This week, we have a very special show in the Defensive Player of the Year show. The best defensive players in the entire state will appear on our show to receive some magnificent trophies thanks to Linear Controls. Overall, there are six winners ranging from 1A-5A. There is also a tie for Defensive Player of the Year in one category. The following players below, from 1A-5A, are our top candidates for this prestigious award. To find out who wins the awards, tune into LAFM TV this week. We will also put up the winners in the next couple of weeks on our website. For local listings, we will keep you updated tomorrow at www.lafootballmagazine.com! The candidates below are listed in alphabetical order. We want to congratulate these players on their great seasons whether they win or not!
1A:
LB Chris Allen, Southern Lab
- 82 tackles, 14 tackles for loss,and 6 sacks
Southern Lab LB Chris Allen (Property of LAFM)
DT Mackenzie Carrier, Oberlin
- 75 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries
DT Shannon Forman, Southern Lab
- 40 tackles, 11 for loss, and 7 sacks
DB Ja’len Johnson, Central Catholic
- 69 tackles, 6 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries
DT Langston Murray, Logansport
- 74 tackles, 6 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, 18 tackles for loss
DT Kendal Offord, Delhi Charter
- 96 total tackles, 60 solo, 36 assists, 10 for loss, and one sack
LB Weston Swanner, St. Frederick
- 100 tackles, 11 for loss, and 4 sacks
2A:
South Plaquemines LB Kendrick Smith (Property of LAFM)
LB Sean Badeaux, Holy Savior Menard
- 143 tackles, 22 for loss
LB Troy James, Madison Prep
- 108 tackles, 12 for loss, and 9 sacks
DE Bryan Jones, Madison Prep
- 78 tackles, 13 sacks, and 6 tackles for loss
DB Louis Matthews, Ferriday
- 106 tackles, 82 solo, 22 for loss
DT Caleb Sampson, Northlake Christian
- 66 tackles, 3 sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss
DB Isaiah Smith, Many
- 102 tackles and 8 interceptions
LB Kendrick Smith, South Plaquemines
- 104 tackles, 22 for loss, 6 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 8 sacks
LB Dawson Snell, Sterlington
- 163 total tackles, 90 solo, 9 sacks
3A:
LB Xavier Davis, Parkview Baptist
- 83 tackles, 12 for loss, 2.5 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries
Parkview Baptist DB Trent Kavanaugh (Property of LAFM)
LB Jake Gitter, Country Day
- 81 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 10 tackles for loss
DT Jamiran James, De La Salle
- 62 tackles, 14 for loss, 15 sacks
DB Trent Kavanaugh, Parkview Baptist
- 48 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 interceptions
LB Josh Paul, De La Salle
- 74 tackles, 9 for loss, 2 forced fumbles, one fumble return for a TD, blocked punt, and two interceptions
LB Rashaun Preston, Lutcher
- 134 tackles, 64 solo, 4 for loss, and 2 interceptions
DB Dylan Recotta, Lutcher
- 118 tackles, 11 for loss
DB Jamal Walters, West St. John
- one of the state’s leaders in interceptions with seven
LB Gaige Willis, Northwest
- 120 tackles, 73 solo
DE Shawn Williams, Marksville
- 113 tackles, 32 solo, 81 assists, 13 for loss, 6 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries
4A:
Carencro LB Rashaad Harding (Property of LAFM)
DT Christian Brooks, Assumption
- 84 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks
DE Tyler Casby, Edna Karr
- 56 tackles, 21 for loss, and 13 sacks
LB Rashaad Harding, Carencro
- 102 tackles, 7 sacks, and an interception
DB Todd Harris, Plaquemine
- 91 tackles, 3 interceptions, 3 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown
DB Kenderick Marbles, Neville
- 34 tackles, 7 interceptions, 5 pass breakups, and 2 fumble recoveries
DT Phidarian Mathis, Neville
- 41 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and 7 sacks
DB Brad Stewart, McDonogh 35
- 111 tackles, 13 pass breakups, and 11 interceptions
DB Damien Tate, Warren Easton
-
40 tackles, 4 interceptions, 1 returned for a touchdown, 4 receptions for 174 yards and 2 TDs on offense and a kickoff return for a TD
LB Kevin Victorian, LaGrange
- 78 tackles, 22 for loss, 5 forced fumbles, 11 sacks, and 3 fumble recoveries
5A:
John Curtis DB Garret Wallow (Property of LAFM)
DT Davin Cotton, Evangel Christian
- 51 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 recovery, and 14 tackles for loss
LB Justin Daniels, East Ascension
- 104 tackles, 12 for loss, 5.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions
LB Preston Faulkner, Live Oak
- 126 tackles, 18 for loss, 6 sacks
LB Anthony Ford, Covington
- 102 tackles, 13 sacks, 15 for loss, 2 forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries
DE Tyrique Gibson, Ponchatoula
- 48 tackles, 10 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery for a TD
LB John Bailey Gullatt, West Monroe
-
189 tackles, 16 for loss, 2 sacks, 2 pass breakups, and a fumble recovery return for a TD
DE Justin Harris, East Ascension
- 65 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and 5 pass breakups
DB Kelvin Joseph, Scotlandville
- 67 tackles, 12 pass breakups, 3 interceptions, and 2 defensive TDs
LB Derrick Munson, Archbishop Rummel
-
110 tackles, 13 for loss, and 5 interceptions
LB Donovan Perkins, Zachary
-
103 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, and 4 interceptions
DE Tahj Samuel, Ruston
- 21 sacks, 34 tackles for loss, 74 solo tackles, 15 assists, 89 total tackles, forced fumble that was returned for a TD, 9 rushing TDs and a receiving TD on offense
DB Garret Wallow, John Curtis
- 70 tackles, 5 for loss, and 4 interceptions
