District 2-Class 5A

28th Year Louisiana Football Magazine High School Previews for 2025

by Lee Brecheen. 

(Previews were written solely by Lee Brecheen since 1997 for Louisiana Football Magazine.)

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Alexandria Trojans

Head Coach:Thomas Bachman(11th year)

2024 Record:13-1

2024 Playoffs: State Title Game Runner Up

2023 Record: Quarterfinals

Key players Graduated:2024 District Offensive MVP RB JT Lindsey(LSU), WR Jimmie Duncan(Northwestern State), DB Kartez Simon(Lane College), DB Jayden Lewis, OL Jacobi Morris, OG Connor Reed, OL Caleb Purl, WR/RB Darius Washington(Louisiana Christian), FB Tanner Townsend,  DT Jordan Maso n, DE Elijah Nels on, Kicker Channing Meche

Team Outlook: We have a few young players back from the 2024 team. Many players are in the Soph/JR Classes as our leaders are young players. We do have kids with experience. We are going to do the work, if we do the work, chemistry and everything should fall into place for us to have another good team in 2025 said Head Coach Thomas Bachman.”

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Tidbits: The program coach Bachman has built in the Alexandria area is really amazing You are talking about a rich tradition high school, Alexandria HS, that had never been to a State Title game, and he has taken his team to 2, one in 2020, and in 2024 in the toughest Class in the state, Class 5A.I think they have a great chance to at least get back to the Semifinals and compete for a State Title again in 2025. The team has all the pieces you need to go back, but the 1st thing they will have to replace is RB TJ Lindsey, a 3-time All-State player who was incredible in 2022,2023, and 2024 for the program and at times unstoppable.

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The Offense will have two talented Running Backs in Noble Williams and Kason Williams, both players have a chance in a rotation to keep the run game strong in their 1st years to start. The Offense gets a big boost returning All District starting QB Karson Sellers, 6-,2 190, who started every game in 2024, completed 70% of his passes, and threw for 30 touchdown passes in a balanced Offense in 2024. The Offensive Line will again be talented but will have some new starters this year. Here are some OL to keep a eye on 2nd year starter Peter Lofton 6-3 285 started and played in every game in 2024,2nd year starter Ayden Price 5-11 265, OT Carter Rivette 6-0 225 new starter, OL/OC Jacob Delacerdo 6-2 245 new starter, new starter OL Jaden Everett 6-0 265 converted Defensive Lineman, and the 6th player in the rotation should get reps is Jayden Clemons 5-9 240. The Offense likes to use Tight End’s & HB/Fullbacks and here are some players to keep a eye on TE Grayson Thibodeaux 6-0 225 3 year starter, TE/FB Gaines McKenzie 6-1 205 starter, TE/FB Clayton Doyal 5-11 215 a converted LB, TE/FB Cooper Robinson 6-0 210, and TE/FB Bryce Letsinger 6-1 215. The WR room returns one of the best players from the 2024 team in Alex Fontenot, 6-2, 18,0 great hands, speed, and route, as a 2nd year starter. The rest of the Wide Receivers are WR/DB Ja’Kyrin Griffin, 2nd year starter, 4.45 speed in the forty, WR Kelton Ray 5-8 158, WR Hayden Burford 5-8 155, WR Trey Dorty, and WR Tristan Brooks 5-10 150.

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The Defense will be young but has experience overall. They return one of the best Defensive Backfields in all of Class 5A, special players like DB Kerrick Gaines 5-10 170 4.5 speed in the forty, DB Jaytun Terry 6-0 175 4 interceptions in 2024, CB Jaquarian Frazier 5-7 155 big time hitter, a 3 year starter and playmaker in the secondary, and Ja’Kyrin Griffin.THe Defensive front will be strong again lead by All District LB Xzavier White 6-0 230 SR a 3 year starter had 115 tackles in 2024, DT Peyton Hobbs 6-1 292 big time player 2nd year starter, DE/DT Jace Spikes 5-10 215, DE/LB Bryson Phoenix 6-3 230 new starter, DE/DT Gary Boatman 5-10 222 new player, DT Ethan Richard 5-11 240 2nd year starter, LB Jackson Townsend 6-0 185 big time tackler 2nd year starter, DE Jaden Bayonne 6-4 275 new starter, and other young players battling for reps.

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Special Teams will be led by Kicker/Punter Eli Fung, a returning starter as the Kickoff specialist from the 2024 season, who will now handle FIeld Goals too in 2025.

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Neville Tigers

Head Coach:Mike Collins(2nd year)

2024 Record:11-2

2024 Playoffs: Semifinals lost to Central HS

2023 Record:8-2.Lost to Central HS in the playoffs.

Key players Graduated: DE Brody Whatley(TCU), WR Kaleb Vaughn(College Track/Football), Safety Robert Graves III, CB Cameron Riley(UL Lafayette), Safety Bricen Robinson, RB Jaylon Nichols(North Carolina), WR Javari Lockhar t, WR Trendan Duma, RB Tardashi Lemon s, FB/LSP Henry High(National Park College Baseball in Arkansas), LB Conner Vinson, OL Tyler Brown, DT Anzelone Perkins, OL Dylan Jackso n, OG Brayden Blade, DE Jayson Parker, OL/TE Max Southern, FB Thomas Campbell(ULM ), WR Eli Day, CB Richard White, L B Clarence Betts.

Team Outlook: Our off-season program has been pretty extensive, and I am happy with our players' commitment for the 2025 season. 2024 was a learning curve for our young QB and many of our new starters last year, coming back. We know the expectations here at Neville High School, and the kids and coaches are expected to live up to those expectations. We have to replace most of the Offensive Line, Defensive Backfield,  RBs, and 4 Wide Receivers with experienced graduates, but we are talented and the young players will have to step up fast in 2025 said Head Coach Mike Collins.”

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Tidbits: Head Coach Mike Collins was on the LSU staff for the 2023 National Championship season.. In 2024 was the Linebackers coach for LSU.Coach Collins coached at ULM for 5 years and 7 years with McNeese State University in Lake Charles.Coach Collins is a College graduate of NLU in 1983(Now ULM), and is an alumnus of Ruston High School Class(1979).

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The Tigers, like the coach said, will be young but still very talented. The Offense returns a now seasoned QB for his 2nd year, Parker Robinson, 6-3, 190 pounds, has a cannon arm, and now has the experience of Class 5A football. The rest of the young Offense you have WR Zeland Young 6-4 208 2nd year starter only WR back with experience, but has a ton of ability to be the guy in 2025A lso returning at skill spots will be WR Emaude Sledge 6-0 177 new starter, WR Desi Byrd 5-10 160 new starter, starting RB Jamarion Roberson 5-7 165 with 4.5 speed in the forty, RB Trey Caston 5-6 180, RB Kayden Gray 5-11 170, and RB Jarvis Blackston will all be in a rotation to get the run game going as a group. The Offensive Line also very young you have OT/OG Wesley James 6-3 245 new starte, OG/OC Ronald Corley 5-10 265, new starter, OL Nick Ochoa 6-2 335 2nd year starter, OT Van Martinez 6-3 266 3 year starter leader tough kid, OC/OT/OG Bennett McNabb 6-3 285 new starter, and FB Mason Hart 5-11 195 tough blocker.

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The Defense will be pretty talented at Defensive Back, even though several players graduated from this position. At DB coming back you have one of the best in the State back in All District in 2024  Julian Burns 6-2 195 2nd year starter, A ll District in 2024 Safety Jayden Reed 3 year starter leader DI player 5-11 185 SR, CB/Safety Stephen Hanlon 6-3 195 new starter lettered in 2024, and Safety Max Carter 5-11 185 has 4.6 speed in the forty big time hitter. The front seven you have LB Donta Matthews 5-9 205 new starter, LB Jakobie Collins 5-9 205 2nd year starter had a great spring, DE Malik Grayson 6-0 215 a 3 year starter with 4.7 speed in the forty or better, DT Keontel Harris 5-11 260 new starter, DT Jordan Fobbs-White 6-1 280 2nd year starter DI player, and DE Jaylon Watkins 6-3 240 new starter.

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Special Teams, the Tigers have back starting Kicker Brooks Yerger, 5-6, 140, for his 2nd year as the starter. The Tigers also have two more Kickers that are competing in Rex Parker, 5-10 170, and Kicker Sorrell Rivers, 6-2 165; both players are competing also for the starting Punting job.  Long Snappe, the program has two really good players competing in Davis Shelby, 5-8 170, and Sam Goode, 5-9 170.

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Ouachita Parish Lions

Head Coach:Benji Lewis(3rd year)

2024 Record:4-6

2024 Playoffs:1st Round lost to Destrehan HS

2023 Record:3-8.1st Round lost to St. Amant HS

Key players Graduated: RB/WR CJ Spurs, WR Nick Nelson, CB DJ Shine, LB Blaise Marsala, DE Tedrick Reitzell, OC Max Grubbs, OT Thomas Girod, OL Garrison Young, WR Jordin Brown. 

Team Outlook: We have a large group of players that will be going into their 3rd year as starters on both sides of the football and are pretty excited about that. We feel like we will have an advantage with having more experience than we did the year before. I thought we did some things well in our Spring game against Evangel Christian High School. The 1st year I got the job, we had about 65 players in the program; now we are up to 82 players, and I think we have a chance to be at 85-90 in the fall. We’ve done a great job of keeping players in the program and developing them so we can have that depth year in and year out said Head Coach Benji Lewis.”

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Tidbits: Ouachita High School will have one of the best Defensive Lines again for a Class 5A team, which gives them a chance to go deep in the playoffs with more depth in 2025 than in 2024. Head Coach Benji Lewis, before he was the Head Coach at Ouachita High School, was the team’s Defensive Coordinator in 2022 and also the team’s Defensive Line coach, so you have to give Coach credit for developing these young men in the trenches for the program starting 4 years ago. Coach Lewis is an alumnus of West Ouachita High School (Class 1997) and played college football at ULM for then-coach Pat Collins.Coach Lewis also coached Defensive Lineman Rashard Lawrence (LSU) while at Neville High School and Courtney Wallace. So, the coach is quietly becoming one of the top Defensive Line gurus in the high school coaching ranks.

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The Lions will return two of the most dynamic football players in the Monroe area for the 2025 season, All District in 2024 WR/CB Wydell Clark Jr, 5-8 150, and RB Macario Dade, 5-6 155, both seniors in 2025 with big-time playmaking ability. Clark was All District and All State as a special-teams returner, has legit 4.45 speed in the forty, and Dade was All District in 2024 with 850 yards rushing, with over 200 yards receiving in 2024. Dade also has legit 4.4 speed in the forty, which is rare to have two Turpin-type players (Neville High School/Dallas Cowboys)  own one high school team. Also back on Offense is dual-threat 2nd-year starter QB Montrell Conner, 5-9, 15. He's also not a big guy, but like Dade and Clar, a big-time athlete with 4.5 speed or better, and has a good arm as a senior to have his best year yet in 2025. The Offense has more playmakers in WR Kevon Whitlock 6-0 170 2nd year starter recovered from a injury in 2025 looking to have a big year, WR Seneca Battle 6-4 180 a 2nd year starter, RB  Cam Williams 5-7 170 scored seven touchdowns in 2024 great power and loves the ball inside the 20 yard line of the other team to power runs in for touchdowns, and then there’s TE/HB Cam Brooks 5-9 180 a 2nd year starter with great hands and great speed 4.6 in the forty.  The Offensive Line will have a mixture of youth, new starters, and some experience. The leader back on the OL will be SR C.J William, 5-11, 275, with great feet, a 3-year starter, converted Defensive Tackle now Offensive Lineman. A.J. Washington, one of the strongest players in Louisiana, moves into the starting Center role at 6-0, 325 pounds, all muscle as a senior. You also have 2nd year starter Marcus Jacobs 5-10 265 SR, and a few players all battling for starting spots and all these kids will play or start in OT Jordan Pleasant 5-11 230 lettered started some games in 2024, OL Aiden Carter Boyd 5-11 210 SR, OL Julien Treadway 6-2 280 SR, and Silas White 6-2 265 all battling all talented players. When the team goes to a 2-Tight End look, you will see Tight End Ray Jones, 5-8, 180, a tough, quick player, and also a Defensive End for the team.

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The Defense will return one of the best Defensive Tackles in the United States and returning for his basically 4th year to play All District SR Dylan Berrymon 6-2 330 is a man among boys, and it’s like having an extra Defensive Lineman in the front with him in the game because he can control most Offensive Line groups. There’s also DE/OLB Jeremy Jones 5-11 190 Athlete fully recovered from an injury in 2024, and DE Alex Smith 5-9 195 not big but quick and strong as a 2nd year starter. The rest of the Defense you have Safety DeAndre Mansfield 5-10 160 a 3 year starter 82 tackles in 2024 2nd team All District in 2024 and All District in 2023, SS Orlando Freemont 5-10 167 65 tackles in 2024 and Field General of the Defense 4 year starter, CB Dallas Elmore 6-0 155, MLB Jamarcus Jacobs 5-10 180 a 3 year starter QB of the Defense 35 tackles in 2024, MLB Brandon Bruce 5-10 175 new starter, SS Reginald Brown 5-10 160 a 3 year starter, LB Kaiden Clegg 5-9 180 a 2nd year starter, CB Treylon Hoard 5-9 150 a 2nd year starter,  CB Dylan Johnson 5-10 160 a new starter, Safety Larry Cooper 5-9 140 2nd year starter, and Safety Nolan White 5-9 150 a new starter.

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Special Teams, the new starter at Kicker will be Oscar Hernandez, 5-9 150, and the returning starter at Punter will be Trey Johnson, 5-10 165 2nd year as the starting Punter.

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Pineville Rebels

Head Coach:Justin Charles(1st year)

2024 Record:3-7

2024 Playoffs:  No

2023 Record:2-9

Key players Graduated: Athlete Landon Grimes, DB Jacob Miranda(Northwestern State), SS Ty Sanders, LB Zane Seitz, OL Elias Sellers, DE Tyrein Richardson, DE/LB Lamarcus Thirs, DT Kamryn Perry. 

Team Outlook: I am really anxious to see what we have this Summer as a team. I am proud of the team’s workouts this off-season in the weight room and running, the kids are working really hard, and they are hungry to win games said Head Coach Justin Charles.”

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The Offense will have a QB battle over the Spring/Summer.QB Carter Smith returns after starting six games in 2024, and young, talented QB Kaleb Coleman will compete. Coleman can also play other positions as a starter during the 2025 season. The WR position will be one of the deepest on the team with players like WR Jayden Clark 5-8 170 SR, WR Daniel Coleman 6-3 200, WR Garrett Jackson 5-10 175 lettered in 2024, and Xavier Cockheran 5-10 160 all in the rotation in 2025. The run game has more depth in 2025, led by leader All District RB Ayden Tate, 5-11, 205, who ran for over 1,000 yards in 2024 and should have another great year in 2025, talented RB Kelmarion Phillips, and talented Altavis McQuarn, 5-10, 200, all in the rotation after Tate.The Offensive Line will have a chance to be really solid as a group in Class 5A lead by leader Brady McCann 5-11 305 SR, OG/OT Kelby Clayton 5-11 285 SR leader 3rd year starter, and new starters Caiden Meldor 6-0 265, OC/OL Phillip Beitz 5-9 240, and new starter OL Tristain Lesike 6-2 275.

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The Defense has a chance to be much improved overall with players like CB Hy’Keem Mix 5-7 175 SR a 3 year starter leader, CB Donovan Williams 5-9 160 2nd year starter, MLB Jyran Pearson 5-10 202 3rd year starter, DT Gerald Tatum 6-1 250, Daylan Tatum 5-9 252 one of the strongest players in the Alexandria area as a SR, much improved DE Brady Baden 6-3 255 SR, leader MLB Aiden Cannon 5-11 230 SR, LB Brady DuBois 6-2 190, CB/Safety Travis Edwards 6-0 170 2nd year starter, and DE Parker Rachal 6-2 205 SR 2nd year starter.

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Special Teams is blessed to have a 4-year starter back at Kicker Jaco Li, 5-8, 150 SR. Li has a range of 45 yards, and he’s pretty accurate. The Punting spot is wide open going into the Spring/Summer for the program.

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Ruston Bearcats

Head Coach: Jerrod Baugh(9th year) 

2024 Record:11-3 

2024 Playoffs: State Title Runner Up to Central HS

2023 Record:14-0 State Champion against Zachary HS 

Key players Graduated: QB Josh Brantley(Tulane), RB Jordan Hayes Jr(Blinn Texas JC), RB Dylone Brooks(Navarro Texas JC), OL Sam Nations(Northwestern State), OL Cameron Venzant, DT Payton Bell(Clarke Atlanta), DE Kaleb Williams(Clarke Atlanta), DT Ka’Varion Key, LB Zander Hayes,2024 District Defensive MVP, LB Zheric Hill(Louisiana Tech), CB Fabian Stringfellow, CB Aidan Anding(LSU), Kicker/Punter Jack Elliott, Long Snapper Jake Tyler, OL Ced Rhone,  WR Joran Parker(Lane College)

Team Outlook: These last 4 years for the Bearcats have been incredible. 2021 12-2 Record Quarterfinals,2022 12-2 State Champion Runner up, 2023 14-0 State Champion, and 2024 11-3 and another State Title gam.e The job Head Coach Jerrod Baugh and his staff are doing is making history for an already historic program. Coach Bau, as above says, is a Head Coach in his 9th year, but was hired as an assistant in 2015 at Ruston High School and promoted to Offensive Coordinator in 2016, so 11 years total, and all he has paid his dues. I don't see this bus slowing down as they say. The program lost a lot from last years team to graduation a 3 year starting QB Josh Brantley, a 3 year starting  RB ran for close to 4,000 yards and 45 touchdowns Jordan Hayes in his career,  a 2 time All State CB Aidan Anding,  and a 3 year starting special LB Zheric Hill, and also one of the best Defensive Coordinaters in Louisiana high school football Kyle Williams took a Defensive Line job with LSU Tigers. In all 16 special starters, seniors graduated, and most started 3 and 4 years or lettered those 4 years.  I think very similar to  Zacha and Destrehan, the Bearcats are not going anywhere and will compete for another Semifinal game or State Title game in 2025. The Bearcats only return four starters on Offense and four starters on Defense, but the young talent they have will give them a chance to be very good again.

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The Offense has a new QB for the first time in 3 years, and his name is Sam Hartwell, 5-11 175, with a. He has a good arm and good feet in the pocket, had a good Spring, and will be the guy to lead this team in 2025. The game lost most of it’s production but they do return SR leader FB Lander Smith(Scored three touchdowns in 2024)who does return as a starter, 5-11 205, great blocker, and can run the ball, and new starting RB Dalen Powell 6-0 190 has a chance to be special in the end. The WR room will be deep and talented, led by All-State/All-District TE/WR Ahmad Hudson 6-7 242,(41 catches for 718 yards with six touchdowns), who has a chance to become the next great player to come out of Ruston HS. Also at WR will be Keshun Malcolm 6-2 165, WR Josiah Morgan 6-1 191, and TE Cullen Clark 6-3 230, who can block and runs a legit 4.8 forty. The Offensive Line lost three starters to replace and here are the leading players to start new starter OL Logan Ashley 6-0 270, returning starter OL Jakaylan Blackmon 6-1 320, new starter OL Brooks Brown 6-3 230, new starter OL Nick Hawk 5-6 290, and returning starter Brock Singley 6-2 270.

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The Defense returns four starters lead by DT Kenneth Potts 5-10 230 4.7 speed in the forty 51 tackles, four tackles for loss with 2.5 sacks, Safety Trindon Moore 5-11 195 59 tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions in 2024, Safety Keilan Davis 6-0 200 44 tackles,1.5 sacks in 2024, and FS Jayden Anding 5-11 170 39 tackles and three interceptions in 2024. New starters on Defense are DE Keegan Goldsmith 5-8 230 4.81 speed in the forty, DT Ethan Russell 5-8 260, DE Hunter Soto 6-0 220,  LB Aidan Adams 6-2 190, LB Kayden Gray 5-11 205, CB Darius Woods 5-10 175, and CB Charles Scott 5-11 180.

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Special Teams will have a new Kicker and Punter in Joaquin Ramos. The new Long Snapper is Cade Kelly, 6-1, 190. Kelly can also Punt and letter in 2024 in a few games.

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West Monroe Rebels

Head Coach:DeMichael Dizer(1st Year)

2024 Record:7-6 

2024 Playoffs:3rd Round lost to Central HS

Key players Graduated: OT Hayes Fuqua(LSU), DE Tyler Roark(ULM), LB Parker Todd(Harding U), Punter Daniel Lane, LSP Daniel Chevalier(Western Illinois), RB Ranaldrick Myles(Arkansas Tech), LB Jaqurious Turner, FB Caden Willis, WR Lukas DuPriest, and CB Orlando Weber.

Team Outlook: The team has an aggressive mindset going into the Summer.  This goes all the way back to last Summer, kids being aggressive and strong off-season work. The kids are embracing the hard work to win a Championship. We will have an experienced team returning with 45-48 letterman seniors back in the program in 2025. We are also road-experienced from our schedule and playoffs in 2024 said Head Coach DeMichael Dizer.”

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Tidbits: New Head Football Coach DeMichael Dizer has been the Secondary coach for West Monroe HS since 2017,  and the Head Strength coach since 2020.  Coach Dizer's brother is the current head coach in New Orleans at St. Martin’s High School. Some of my favorite players to watch in my 30 plus years or so that played at West Monroe High School are Linebacker Bradie James(LSU), DE Brian West(Texas A&M & LSU), RB Tommy Banks(LSU), OT Brad Smalling(LSU), OT Rodney Reed(LSU), and OT/TE Andrew Whitworth(LSU),  OLB/DE Barkevious Mingo(LSU)and RB Tramissian Davis(Louisiana Tech)

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The Offense will have a good-sized Offensive Line to lead the team in 2025. They are lead by DI prospect All District in 2024 OL Tylan George entering his 3rd year as a starter at 6-4 320, TE/OL Baylor Welch 6-5 260 SR, OL/DL Damien Sanders 6-0 285 SR, Cameron Ross 5-11 323, and SR Chance Stites 5-10 230 SR. The Offense will return one of the strongest players in Louisiana in FB Christian Ponti 5-10 215 SR, speedster WR Trez Davis 6-1 185,  RB Kedrian McNeil 5-9 195 sleeper, TE Sam Turner,  TE Shephard Brown,  and WR Luke Vallery 5-11 180.The QB spot you have four players who can all start,  starting with starter from 2024 Ryder DeJean 6-0 190 a great Athlete can play other positions,  QB/WR Brady Guillot 6-2 185 talented young player, WR/QB Luke Vallery talented, and QB Tre King 6-5 225 has all the tools to be great. Look for all 4 QBs to help the team; if not, QB another position in 2025.

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The Defense will be talented in 2025 with a lot of experience back. The front seven will be lead by DE/LB Smoltz Lilly 6-4 235 SR sleeper, DE Brodie Thurmon 6-1 215 SR leader, LB Jackson Talley 5-11 190,  DT Jacob Davis 5-11 300, LB Mason Willis 5-11 200,  rotating in DT Braxton Florentine 5-11 265, DT Javon Fields 6-3 280, and several others competing rotating in. The Secondary will have some depth and a few players back with experience, led by CB Aavery Lewis 5-11 185 SR, DB Maddoux Cobbs 5-9 173, Safety Jaden Thomas Neck 5-11 195 SR, Safety Elijah Thomason 6-0 190 SR, and CB J’Tavian James SR with 4.45 speed.

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Special Teams, you have four players competing to win the starting Kicker job. One of those players is Davis Long, who has starting experience in 2024, Clark Barron,  Levi Lowe, and Sr Hunter Fox to compete this Summer and Fall for the job.

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