Louisiana’s Biggest DI Sleepers For Class of 2018

Louisiana’s Biggest DI Sleepers in Louisiana For Class of 2018

by Lee Brecheen and Jace LeJeune

*(The Following Players Selected are Seniors Only. Louisiana Football Magazine’s Lee Brecheen personally scouted all of these players below. For the following players, Lee will give out his scouting report on each player. Each player is separated underneath the area they played in.)

Every year, there are several kids that do not get ranked for whatever reason, but are big time players for college football and I wanted to share that with the High School games I scouted in person and watching full game film of most of the teams in the state of Louisiana every year.

 

Baton Rouge: 

Three players from the Division I State Champion Catholic High School Bears caught my eye not just in the state title game, but over the last two years. Kicker Preston Stafford  (6-0, 170) was the best senior kicker I saw all year in Louisiana and has a leg up to 55 yards. Stafford is a no-brainer DI player that might have to walk on for a DI school or I-AA program and would be a star in the future. CB/Athlete Patrick Mensah (5-10, 170) will dazzle you in the return game. Mensah is an impact performer on special teams, but also a big time cover corner with great hips and speed. Most of all, he is tough and not afraid to go after any ball on punts. I am a little puzzled that he did not get more attention from the in-state schools at the DI level. Punter Blake Davis (5-11, 175) averaged over 42 yards a punt most of the season with great hang time and has the tools to be a really good DI Punter.

 

 

 

 

Baker High School has produced some great players over the years, but this year, the sleeper is Claude Coleman (6-2, 181). Coleman can flat out fly as he has 4.5/40 speed. He is long, tough, and has a lot of ability. Not to mention that he is also a coach’s son so he knows the game. At the next level, Coleman could play as either a wide receiver or corner back, but is a no brainer DI player. He is just not getting the attention like other DI players. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dutchtown High School has three under the radar players in DB Van’Shon Grayson (5-8, 175), TE Brandon Davies (6-3, 220), and QB Ben Mays (6-3, 210). All three are great students and really are good athletes. I saw all of these kids practice in full pads. Mays has a cannon arm and decent feet in pocket while Davies has really good hands and runs well. Grayson made several big time interceptions in games and can run a legit 4.5/40. He is also a really big time hitter. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

East Feliciana High School center Jacolby Westmore has really good feet and is a tough kid. I think he is a great center but coaches will say that he is undersized at 6-1, 245. Most true centers are his size coming out of high school and end up at 270 or 280. They grow bigger and still have their great feet in the NFL when it is all said and done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Episcopal High School kicker Russell St. Romain (5-10, 160) has a cannon leg and puts most kicks in the end zone on kickoffs. I think he has a DI leg. Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond is getting quite a steal.

 

 

Parkview Baptist High School RB/DB Connor Joffrion (5-10, 195)  missed most of the season with an injury but when healthy, he was one of the best play makers and difference makers in Baton Rouge. Joffrion is strong, has more speed than you think, and is just overall a tough kid. He can go play baseball too, but I think a lot of smaller DI schools could use him as a running back in college. Even though Joffrion has enjoyed a tremendous high school football career at Parkview Baptist, he has already signed his letter of intent to play baseball for the University of Louisiana Lafayette, but who knows, football may still be an option for the two sport athlete.

 

 

 

 

Scotlandville High School has a lot of talent on their team so much so that they have two really good football players that are often overlooked in OLB Jaylon Pitts and RB Shedrick Smith. Pitts has DI skills and is a very intense kid with 4.55/40 speed. At 6-1, 205, he still has a lot of room to grow. I think he is a DI player all day, but I guess some schools want him heavier now. In his senior season, the outside linebacker had 59 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two interceptions. Smith, on the other hand, backed up a DI running back in Trenton Charles (Yale signee). This kid has big time talent. At 5-11, 190, he not only has 4.5/40 speed, but he also runs between the tackles with force and intensity. Smith might be the best running back no one knows about.

 

 

 

Live Oak High School center Jacobey Lee (6-2, 282) is strong, has great feet, and good technique. This kid can be a DI center for someone. He is one of the best pure centers I have seen over the last two years in Louisiana. Lee may not be playing at the DI level, but he will be playing for one of the hottest I-AA programs in the country right now in Nicholls State.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Houma/Thibodaux/Lafourche Area:

The biggest sleeper I saw in the area was at Ellender High School in DT Sedrick Williams (6-1, 312). Williams is a national recruit that could not only play DI, but be a star at the DI level. His effort, great feet, strength,and ability to tackle from sideline to sideline is amazing. He is SEC good and is quick enough to play defensive end for a LSU type program. However, right now, it looks like that Williams will be going to start his college career at the JUCO level as he has signed with Kilgore College in Texas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Covenant Christian Academy WR/DB Devante Johnson (6-3, 190) looks like he is ready for DI ball now with his speed and size. Johnson is a tough kid as well as a smooth runner with good hands. I think he is a DI player as well. In 2017, Johnson mainly contributed as a running back accounting for 882 total yards and nine touchdowns. Johnson has signed to play for Nicholls State University.

Donaldsonville High School WR LaDarius Jackson (6-2, 180) has the speed and size to one day develop into a really good player. Right now, he has 4.5/40 speed and at times, he looks like he will be a difference maker in college. Most of the time last season, Jackson found himself in the end zone for the Tigers as a wide receiver catching 39 passes for 836 yards and taking 11 of those passes for touchdowns. Another player from Donaldsonville is QB Jaylin Williams (6-2, 195). Williams is another raw big kid who can run 4.5. If not at quarterback, he could become a wide receiver or free safety in college. Williams had a great year himself throwing for 1,932 yards and 18 touchdowns while running for 438 more yards and four touchdowns. He is committed to Blinn Junior College. 

 

 

 

 

 

Thibodaux High School DT Darius Richard (6-1, 330) moves really well for a big kid and would be a perfect nose guard for the right DI school. After an incredible junior season, Richard put up some good numbers while being double teamed most of the time with 38 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and two sacks. Richard is considering schools such as Kentucky Christian University, Southern and other colleges. His teammate OT/DE Christopher Bolden is a late bloomer, but he looks the part and moves well. Bolden also has great feet and a 6-4, 250 body frame. All of these qualities will lead him to a great future. He also surprises you at times with his ability to make tackles from sideline to sideline. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E.D. White High School OG/DT Hudson Domangue (6-3, 305) moves really well for a nose guard/defensive tackle. Domangue is a strong kid, but might be a better offensive guard in College. Sleeper is definitely the word for this kid as a DI caliber player. As of right now, he has received a preferred walk on role from the University of Louisiana Lafayette and a scholarship offer from Louisiana College.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Terrebonne High School kicker/punter Matt Martin (6-0, 185) has a cannon leg as a punter and kicker. I think he is good enough to try out for a  DI team as a walk-on that can eventually earn his way into a scholarship. In 2017, Martin was named 1st Team All-District as a punter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

H.L. Bourgeois High School CB Richard Batiste (5-11, 175) has speed and most importantly, the knack for finding the ball. Not only is he a ball hawk, but he is also a big time hitter. 

 

Lafayette Area:

Rayne High School RB/SS Trent Winbush (6-0, 190) was as good as any safety I saw throughout the entire state in 2017. Winbush is a big time hitter and has great moxy for the game. Winbush also started at running back and ran for over 1,904 yards and 27 touchdowns while averaging over 11 yards per carry in 2017. The Rayne star has signed with McNeese State University to continue his football career.

Teurlings Catholic High School QB Wesley Blazek (6-3, 210) was basically a one year starter in 2017 and looked like a DI player to me in every way. He checked all the boxes that is needed for a quarterback which is a strong arm, high football I.Q., good feet in pocket, 4.65/40 speed, great touch on the ball, can throw the out pass, and most importantly is a great leader. This kid will be a big time quarterback for someone in the end. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

West St. Mary High School OLB/FS Dondre Johnson (6-3, 200) is a amazing athlete. Johnson played defensive end for the team because they needed him to play there. He is tough, long and just so  happens to have 4.5/40 speed. If you see this kid playing out of position for his team, then you would agree that it is not hard to project that he is a DI player.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a year they say there are no running backs, Patterson High School RB Dontre Nicholas (5-10, 195) proves that theory is not true. Nicholas is a big time player on a team that did not get a lot of coverage in 2017. Nicholas was a four year starter for the Lumberjacks. He is strong, has a great burst, good hips, and is quick hitting the hole. If he is not a DI running back, then no one is. As a senior, Nicholas ran for 893 yards and 12 touchdowns.

I have seen St. Martinville High School Punter/Kicker Dylan Wilmore  play in person in a game on a Thursday night. When the ball leaves his foot as a punter, returners lose it in the air because it goes so high. He is not bad either as a kicker with a 50 yard leg. 

 

St. Thomas More High School FS Cade Broussard (6-0, 195) has big time ability. The light came on in 2017. Broussard is a big time hitter, can cover, and runs a fast 4.6/40. This kid is the type of free safety that I want on my team. I think he is as good as former St. Thomas More Cougar Sam Scofield, who started for Tulane for three years. In 2017, Broussard racked up 91 tackles and had four interceptions. Broussard has signed to play with for Millsaps College.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Westgate High School has two kids that are so raw, but they have so much upside in CB Shannon Deal Jr. (6-2, 185), who can run a 4.5/40, and FS Deondre Spencer (6-4, 185). Both these kids have not hit their ceiling yet, but whoever signs them will get big time players to develop. Shannon Deal, who was an All-District defensive back in 2017, has an offer from Texas Southern University. Spencer, who was another All-District defensive back, has signed to play for Independence Community College in Kansas. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There might not be a tougher center in Louisiana with good feet than Church Point High School center Gage Higginbotham (6-2, 265). I saw this kid play. He is tough and gritty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I saw Carencro High School DE Keon Jean-Batiste (6-4, 225) play in person, and he has that big time speed off edge ability you cannot coach to be a pass rusher in college. Batiste looks the part and still can add more weight because he is a lean 225 pounds. In 2017, Batiste had 37 total tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vermillion Catholic High School QB J.T Lege QB might not have a lot of experience at the position, but he a cannon arm, live arm, and can make the throws. He is raw, but very talented. Lege is a legit 6-3, 185 pounds and has a lot of room to grow. It is a no brainer to get this kid on a campus and develop him. After a breakout junior season, Lege was sidelined with a knee injury at the beginning of the 2017 season. However, he was able to return four weeks later to lead the Screamin’ Eagles a number one seed in the Division IV playoffs and a semi-final playoff appearance. He ends his high school football career with 4,276 yards and 50 touchdowns. He has been contacted by a couple of schools, but has not made a decision yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monroe/West Monroe/ Ruston/Metro Areas:

I really like the two kids from Caldwell High School a lot in QB JD Abrams (6-3, 220) and RB Eric London. I think there is a school out there for them on the DI side. I like Abrams as a college tight end similar to J.D. Moore (Ruston/LSU). At 5-8, 195, I think London has the quickness, power, and vision to start for certain DI schools. Abrams threw for just over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns while being a major threat on the ground with 631 rushing yards and 14 more touchdowns. The physical quarterback has signed with Southern Arkansas. Meanwhile, London exploded on the scene with an incredible 2,641 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns. He has signed with Henderson State University.

 

 

 

Delhi Charter High School WR Desmond Longino (6-2, 185) looks the part and he is a good player. Longino runs well and has really good hands. This season, he had 21 receptions for 414 yards and six touchdowns. 

Ferriday High School’s Samuel Johnson (6-1, 230) runs really well, and I think he gets overlooked because on the other side of him at defensive end is LSU signee Dantrieze Scott (6-5, 245). I think Johnson will switch from defensive end to middle linebacker and be a good one. This season, Johnson had 38 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hurries, and five sacks. He will continue his football career at Ouachita Baptist in Arkansas.

Carroll High School OT Xavier Guy (6-5, 290) is raw, but has good feet. He is a late bloomer. If I was a college coach at a smaller DI school, I would take this kid and develop him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jonesboro Hodge High School DT Kelton Moss (6-1, 295) has really good feet and gives high effort. Moss has feet of a big time DI player. He is really going under the radar. Moss has posted back to back 100 tackle seasons including a season high 138 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, and six sacks. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mangham High School had a young team in 2017, but had two big time sleepers in DE Brandon Haynes, who really is a strong safety playing defensive end for the team at 6-0, 180 pounds with 4.5/40 speed, is extremely fast off the edge, and DT Randy Gayden (6-2, 304), who is a tough kid that has good feet. Haynes had 43 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and five sacks in 2017 while Gayden had 46 tackles, six tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rayville High School CB Frederick Lee (6-2, 185) looks the part and has 4.5/40 speed. Lee had 26 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and three interceptions in 2017 earning 1st Team All-District honors. He has signed with Northwestern State to continue his football career.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ruston High School DE Tahj Samuel is a no brainer DI middle linebacker. Samuel runs a 4.6/40, but looks 4.45 on the field and is very strong as a DE. If I was a DI coach, I would take him again as a big time middle linebacker.  He is fast, reads and makes tackles all day long. The LAFM 2016 5A Co-Defensive Player of the Year has signed to play for McNeese State University. Ruston also has a wide receiver named Xavier Cooper, who is 6-1 200 pounds, with great hands, a strong frame, and good speed. Cooper is a big time sleeper DI player. 

 

 

 

 

St. Fredericks High School OT Seth Tresize (6-4, 270) has really good feet and is a good blocker. He is another no brainer DI player to me. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

West Monroe High School SS/CB Isaiah George (5-11, 185)  is a really good athlete and hitter. George plays the run like a big time DI defensive back and covers the field with 4.5/40 speed. If his teammate center Logan Green walked on to the right DI school, he could be a starter in time. At 6-3, 270, he is tough, has good feet, and  is smart.West Monroe has another player who had over 530 tackles in his career in MLB John Bailey Gullatt (5-11, 230). He does not hand time 4.6, but put him on the field in the middle of the defense and I promise you he will make tackles. He is tough and fast enough to play DI football somewhere as a middle linebacker. The 2016 LAFM 5A Co-Defensive Player of the Year ended his illustrious Rebel career when he had 133 tackles and six sacks in 2017. Gullatt has signed with Army West Point to continue his football career.

 

 

I think Wossman High School DT Josh Jones might even be quick enough in a 3-4 defense. Jones is 6-0, 285 pounds, but very quick and tough.

Ouachita High School has a tight end named Jake Hammond (6-2, 245), who impressed me with his blocking. He blocks like a college player and has great hands. However, it looks like that the 2017 LAFM All-North Louisiana tight end is going to play baseball at the next level as he has signed with LSU Eunice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richwood High School has a big time nose guard/defensive tackle named Quanderrius Johnson (6-0, 310). Johnson has good feet and is a strong high effort player. Johnson would be a good player to build a team around on defense. The Class 3A All-State defensive tackle was a main reason on why the Rams made their first appearance in program history in the Class 3A state championship game by making 60 tackles, six tackles for loss, and four sacks. He has signed to play football at Louisiana College.

 

 

 

 

 

Shreveport/Bossier/Metro:

Captain Shreve High School has two players that are late bloomers to the game in RB James Ivory III (5-11, 200),  who runs a 4.6/40 with power and looks faster on the field, and young raw first year TE Graham Smith (6-5, 245). Smith is very raw, but he is already a decent blocker and moves well. Ivory was the bell cow for the Gators’ offense running for 1,707 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. He has two offers from Louisiana College and Southern Arkansas University. 

 

 

 

 

 

Evangel Christian Academy CB/SS Patrick Jones (5-11, 175), SS Bobby Bell (5-10, 191), and TE Christian Bailiff are all sleepers in the senior class of 2018. Patrick Jones is a tough athletic kid who can play DI football. Jones originally had a Kansas State offer, but will sign instead with Cisco Junior College. Bell covers a lot of ground as an outside linebacker, but is really a a strong safety for college. He has 4.5/40 speed and is a big time hitter. Bell has some offers, but no decision has been made yet. Bailiff has really good speed and is a very intriguing prospect with a 6-4, 205 lean frame and so much more to add along with good hands and 4.6/40 speed.  Bailiff has signed with Northwestern State University.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haughton High School center Brennon Bockhaus (6-5, 250) is a strong kid that has decent feet and could develop in college as a 6-5, 300 pound athletic player in the end. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minden High School QB Seth Tyler (6-3, 200) has a cannon arm and decent feet to develop with another year or so in college. Tyler has the arm and size to be a good one in the future. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Northwood High School OT Sawyer Cranford (6-5, 265) has good feet and lots of room to get bigger. Cranford might move to offensive guard for the DI level. Cranford signed with Ouachita Baptist University to continue his football career. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think these two kids from Woodlawn High School have big time talent in RB Trivenskey Mosley (5-9, 190), who is a strong, powerful kid with speed, and CB Jabroski Bates (6-0, 175), who has a long frame and great 4.5/40 speed. Mosley had a fantastic senior season running for 2,473 yards and 32 touchdowns. The 4A All-State member also had four kick return touchdowns and a receiving touchdown. He signed with the University of Southern Mississippi. 

 

 

Parkway High School DE/TE Derrick Mitchell (6-5, 245) could become a good one with more time to develop. Mitchell is a late bloomer as he is an one year starter. He runs well and has great size.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Mary’s High School QB Aaron Howell (6-2, 215), who is a four year starter, has all the intangibiles to be a great one as he has the arm, size, feet, and 4.65/40 speed. He is also a great leader that is tough and calm under pressure. Northwestern State University is getting a DI quarterback in the class. The LAFM All-North LA quarterback accounted for 3,148 total yards and 46 touchdowns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alexandria Metro:

The kid to me that had the WOW factor when watching film of full games was Tioga OLB Detavius Eldridge (6-0, 215). This kid is special. He runs like the big time linebacker in the DI power five conferences. He hits like the big time DI players and reads everything in sight. If he keeps working hard , whoever gets this kid will get a great one. This kid was the best player I saw in the Alexandria area in 2017. Last season, the Class 4A first team linebacker had 162 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. Arkansas of Monticello is indeed getting themselves a huge steal for the next several years.

 

 

 

 

Peabody High School has two kids that are super talented for DI schools in MLB Wayne Compton (6-0, 230), who runs a 4.7/40, and CB Kadarian Ellis (5-10, 170), who has 4.4/40 speed. Compton started as a defensive end/offensive tackle for the team, but I think he is a star in the making at middle linebacker for college. His quickness and speed off the edge was equally to that of any middle linebacker in high school that I saw. His effort is off the charts, and the kid is strong too. The first team All-Cenla defensive lineman had 62 tackles and four quarterback hurries this past season. Compton has received interests from colleges, but has not received an offer. Ellis was everything for the team since his Freshman year. I think he would excel at corner back because his hips and feet are big time for the next level. He is a great athlete. The LAFM 1st Team All-North LA CB had 50 tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, and four passes defended in 2017. He signed with Shasta Community College in Redding, California. Also, there is Peabody RB Tyler Clark, who was also a great player transfer from Alexandria High School. Clark runs with some power and has little bit of a burst to get by the safeties. Clark had 894 total yards of offense and nine touchdowns in 2017. He has accepted a preferred walk on spot with the University of Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With more coaching in college and another year to develop, Pineville High School QB Cameron Bates could surprise at the next level. Bates is 6-3, 215 pounds with a strong arm. He just needs to learn the rest. You can tell he improved with the coaching of former college coach Dennis Dunn at Pineville in 2017. Dunn is a quarterback guru from his days at Evangel Christian Academy. The First Team All-Cenla QB did indeed improve in his senior season by throwing for 1,920 yards and 17 touchdowns while running for six more touchdowns. Bates has accepted a preferred walk on position at Louisiana Tech. 

 

 

 

 

 

New Orleans/River Parishes/ Metro Areas

East Jefferson High CB Derek Marshall (6-0, 175) is very underrated. The kid runs a smooth 4.45/40 and is really the type of corner back colleges look for when it comes to man coverage. I was impressed with his upside and skill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was super impressed with Brother Martin High School fullback converted tight end Joseph Parenti in 2017.  Parenti, who at 6-1, 220, is strong, has great hands, and 4.7/40 speed. I think he would make a big time football player at fullback in college.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chalmette High School QB Jason Roper (6-0, 185)  has a big time arm and good feet in pocket. This kid could go to a DI school and compete for a job within a year. Roper can sling it. The all time leading passer at Chalmette threw for 1,176 yards and 14 touchdowns while running for almost 500 more yards and four more touchdowns. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think De La Salle High School QB Julien Gums (5-10, 225) would make a great running back in college, and I feel like he could play at the highest level. This kid has deceptive speed like former John Ehret/LSU RB Darrel Williams. Gums has some power and can break long runs. The state title game was not his best performance, but if you watch this kid over a three full game period, you would get what I am saying for his ability as a running back. He did some incredible things at De La Salle High School over the course of his career including leading his team to their first state championship appearance since the 1960’s and being named the Class 3A Offensive Player of the Year. He saved his last year for the best passing for 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns while running for 1,190 yards and 15 more touchdowns. Gums has signed with Nicholls State to continue his football career.

 

 

 

 

Destrehan High School SS/FS Macon Clark (6-0, 185)  was, to me, a a better hitter coming out of Destrehan than former player Ricky Jefferson (LSU). Clark lays the wood and can cover some ground. He is a big time DI player. I am shocked he is not nationally ranked. Clark will still play at the DI level as he has signed to play at Tulane University. 

The more you watch Edna Karr QB Skyler Perry,  you can see him being a free safety for a DI program. The kid is strong and can move like a free safety. Perry is a very underrated player that waited his turn when Aldon Clark (Arkansas State) was there and when his chance came, he took it advantage of it by accounting for 3,000 yards of offense and 35 touchdowns as well as leading the Cougars to another Class 4A state championship. He will continue his football career at Texas Wesleyan. His teammate OLB Jamier Jackson is also a big time sleeper. With 4.5/40 speed and at 6-2, 215, he is a big time athlete. Jackson has signed with Delta State. DT Ronnell Burbank (6-2, 260) had a great year and showed some serious quickness off the edge in 2017, which was something he did not have in 2016. In 2017, Burbank had 44 tackles, seven sacks, and 17 tackles for loss. He also dominated in the Class 4A state championship game in which he had two sacks, two tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. He has signed to play at McNeese State. To show how much talent there is on Edna Karr’s team, Perry, Jackson, and Burbank are only three of the 12 Cougars who signed during National Signing Day today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hahnville High School punter Dalton Melancon (5-11, 170) can flat out boom the ball with hang time. His dad Keith Melancon was a starting offensive lineman for LSU in the 1990’s. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you watch L.W. Higgins High School OLB Edward Reaux in full game film, you can see that he is a great athlete and a big hitter. He can fly and makes big time plays at 6-1, 195 with 4.5/40 speed.

KIPP Renaissance High School OLB Aaron Ganier can fly and hits like a ton of bricks at 6-1, 215. 

Out of all the big time defensive backs at Landry Walker High School, I thought Jomond Foster (5-11, 185) was the best hitter and really brought the IT factor of toughness and 4.5/40 speed. Foster has signed to play at the University of Alabama Birmingham.

McDonogh 35 High School fullback converted linebacker Dajuan Jenkins showed me he is one of the most improved players in the New Orleans area. At linebacker, he looked like a fit and it seems that he has got a great future there. Combine running back experience and feet, hitting ability in the hole, high effort and 4.6/40 speed at 6-0, 220, you got yourselves a man child player. Someone needs to give him a chance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Charles Catholic High School OLB Dellary Oubre missed most of the season with a injury and before his injury, I thought he was one of the top linebackers in Louisiana. Some lucky school will sign this kid. Oubre is 6-2, 220 and has run a 4.5/40. He is tough and strong too. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you watched the Class 1A state title game, there were several DI types in that game, but to me, the best senior prospect was West St. John High School OLB/MLB Covan Barnes (6-1, 225), who is a big time hitter that has 4.55/40 speed. This kid is as good as any linebacker in Louisiana. I saw Barnes play three years ago when he was a starter against Southern Lab. At that time, he was really dominant in a loss to them back in 2016. In 2017, Barnes helped lead the West St. John Rams to the Class 1A state championship by racking up 55 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks. Barnes did not sign on National Signing Day, but is still considering offers to play at the next level.

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Tammany/Tangi/Metro Areas:

Bogalusa High School Athlete/LB/DB Diante Lenior (6-1, 185)  can play big time football. I saw this kid play for two years. He just runs for days with his 4.55/40 speed and has the It factor knowing the game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 6-3, 215, Covington High School QB Josh Alfaro was an impressive runner and has a decent arm. Let us call him a slower version of Tim Tebow (Florida/Denver Broncos/New York Jets/New England Patriots), but very deceptive like Tebow in his running style. He is faster than he looks, took hits, and gave hits. Someone will sign this kid, develop him, and if he puts it together, a lot of DI programs will regret not seeing something in this kid because I did. In 2017, Alfaro threw for 1,814 yards and 20 touchdowns while running for 665 more yards and seven touchdowns. He is a hard commit to Houston Baptist University.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fontainebleau High School WR Darrell Tott (6-2, 189) is a smooth runner with 4.5/40 speed, long arms, and good frame. Tott made some big time plays for his team throughout the course of the season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Franklinton High School DE Lamount Harris-Magee grew into his frame in 2017 from 6-3, 195 to 215 pounds and looked good to me with 4.7/40 speed and looked faster as a pass rusher. He is still filling out. In 2017, Magee had a fantastic season with 115 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independence High School Athlete/SS Stephan Jackson (6-0, 185) might be the most gifted player at Independence since former QB Antron Sieber (LSU) and RB LaBrandon Toefield (LSU). He is raw, but  the kid did everything for his team and he is really gifted with 4.45/40 speed. He is really going way under the radar. As an athlete, Jackson had 709 total yard of offense and eight total touchdowns. His teammate FB Donald Drake III (6-0, 230) looks like a NFL fullback, but might have to start at a junior college first. 

Lakeshore High School DT/DE Tylan Driver and WR Jalen Willis are two big time players that DI schools got picky on. Willis does not hand time 4.5, but he looks 4.5 on field with a 6-4, 180 pound frame. Willis can get up vertically and make all the catches. Willis was one of QB Chris Penton’s (Southeastern Louisiana University signee) favorite targets catching 58 passes for 1,250 yards and 13 touchdowns. Willis has also signed his letter of intent to play at Northwestern State University. Driver is a 6-1, 290 pound kid, who moves well enough to play defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. The 1st Team Class 4A All-State nominee has not made his decision yet.

Loranger High School punter Luke Colona (6-3, 185) might be the best punter in state with a great hang time and sometimes looks like it comes out of a ball machine when he punts. Colona is a coach’s son and one heck of a wide receiver for the team too. The two time Class 3A All-State punter has not made his decision yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mandeville High School DE/LB Malcolm Johnson (6-2, 220) is one interesting player. In 2016, he was an offensive tackle for the team and in 2017, he played at defensive tackle/defensive end. I think he is a middle linebacker for college. His effort is off the charts good. He has got great feet and is a tough player. He already has 4.79/40 speed and has room to grow too. The 1st Team All-District linebacker will continue to improve his game at UNLV where he will continue his football career. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salmen High School MLB Jeremy Hudson (6-1, 230) is a man child as a linebacker. This kid has big time ability. I saw several games of this kid making plays some safeties could not make. Hudson is a no brainer DI player. If you do not believe me, just watch the film. The 2016 Class 5A All-State selection has an offer from Southern Arkansas. His teammate punter LJ Leonard, who is also the quarterback for the team as well as the head coach’s son, stands at 6-2, 185 and has a DI leg as a punter. Leonard has received a preferred walk on role with the University of Southern Mississippi.

 

 

 

 

Two of my favorite sleepers in Louisiana high school football at any level for DI is St. Helena Central High School QB Ricky Travis (6-3, 220) and RB Aaron Hurst. Ricky Travis is the best player I saw in 2017 that the DI schools missed on. If the commitment holds, Grambling got them one heck of a quarterback. This kid can throw a football 70 yards on a rope, runs a 4.5/40, and runs over people trying to sack him with a big boy stiff arm. He reminds me of a young Doug Williams (Grambling/Tampa Bay/Washington Redskins). RB Aaron Hurst was hurt for the state title game, but I saw him before that against a pretty salty Ferriday team in the quarter finals. This kid has power, speed, moves, and hits the hole with a burst at 5-10, 195. Both players led the way for a historic football season for the Hawks reaching the Class 2A State Championship game.

 

Lake Charles/Sulphur Metro Areas

I thought LaGrange High School QB Colton Frank IV was one of the best safety prospects in Louisiana. Frank also started at strong safety for the team. He can really hit, and he runs really well with a 4.5/40 at 5-11, 200 pounds. Frank is also a really good baseball player so much so that he has already signed to play for the University of Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sulphur High School FS Connor Cooke is one of the top hitters in the Lake Charles area at 6-1, 190 with 4.6/40 speed, but he runs faster on the field on tape. You do not fly in his area as a wide receiver because he will make you regret running in his area. Like Frank, Cooke is also a really good baseball player, and he too has signed to play for the University of Louisiana Lafayette baseball team.

Welsh High School TE Pearse Migl (6-0, 220) led the Greyhounds to their first Class 2A state title in 2017. Migl was one of the big reasons for that. This kid is the most complete fullback for college in Louisiana. He is a gifted runner that can run a  4.6/40. He is also a great blocker, has gifted hands, and gives all out effort. I do not understand the lack of DI interest. Even though teams do not sign many fullback today for scholarships, he looks like the prototype you want or have to have for a balanced offense. In 2017, Migl had 44 receptions for 455 yards and four touchdowns. Migl has accepted a preferred walk on position at the University of Louisiana Lafayette.

 

 

 

 

 

Kinder High School DT/OG Joey NcNeely (6-3, 296) moves really well for a big kid and what impresses me most watching him play is his high effort for a big guy. McNeely could play either nose guard or offensive guard for the right school at the DI level because hes strong and committed to the game. The son of late Louisiana Tech All-American Joe McNeely has signed with Tyler Junior College to continue his football career.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennings High School Athlete Bryce Anthony (5-11, 175), who can run a 4.55/40 can play corner back, strong safety, wide receiver, or free safety for many DI schools. He is a big time sleeper that is tough and has great coverage skills. Anthony has signed to play at Arkansas Monticello.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barbe High School WR KeAndre Turner is listed basically as a tight end for the team, but I saw this kid in person and he is a big time big wide receiver. Turner is a legit 6-3 ,200 pounds with 4.55/40 speed, long legs, and frame. He has a really good vertical along with good hands. This kid could become a I-AA All-Conference player really soon and at the DI level, he could do well in the right offense. Turner has accepted a preferred walk-on role at the University of Louisiana Lafayette.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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