Senior linebacker Khalil Brisco is a really tough in the box backer that is known for his brutal hits. He should have a big a senior year. ​

Junior quarterback Luke Allemand will be the key to Thibodaux’s success this season. It’s evident he has the tools to be big time, but it remains to be seen if he can put it all together in this last run with this talented group of seniors. ​

“We have a lot of guys that have been starting or playing a lot since their sophomore year,” Menard said. “They’ve been through some tough battles that has prepared them so I expect us to have more of an edge this season.” 

The Trojans offense should pickup right where they left off last season with majority of their big time weapons returning. They lose quarterback Jacob Barker, but senior Ashtrein Duncan has shown he has the tools to make this offense just as good if not better than it was last year. The Trojans averaged 26 points per game with Barker last season, but coach Menard is excited to see how much better his offense will look this year. ​

“We have some really good skill guys & Ashtrein (Duncan) has shown since the spring that he is more than capable of leading this offense,” Menard said. “Jansen (Folse) showed what he can do last year at receiver & Wilcox is a big bruising tight end that will play a major role in our offense. We all know Deon (Jenkins) is special & is one of the best running backs teams are going to face this year. We’re kind of the unknown in our district & everybody kind of forgets about us. Our offensive line is in tact & I really like our front seven on defense. Our front seven might be the best since I’ve been coaching here.”

Senior running back Deon Jenkins is the second best running back in that tough 7-5A district behind Destrehan’s Kyle Edwards. Jenkins rushed for 1,743 yards & 17 touchdowns last season. ​

Senior quarterback Ashtrein Duncan comes in as a first year starter after playing receiver last season. Duncan looked pretty good in the spring & at a few camps over the summer. He will be a threat throwing the ball & a threat using his legs as well this season for sure. ​

​There is reason for optimism the next two to four years at H.L Bourgeois. The Braves finished 2-8 last season, but third year head coach Ryan Fournier is excited about his team this season & years to come. “I feel better about our team around this time this year versus how I felt last year,” Fournier said. ​

​It’s evident that the Braves have some talented players on both sides of the ball, but many of those talented players are young. This season I can see the Braves being very competitive in the toughest district in the state in my opinion, but realistically speaking I think they are a year or two away from being able to compete for the district crown. “It’s no secret that we’re extremely young & we have a good bit of young kids that we’re going to have to rely on this season,” Fournier said. “I’m excited about our team because of the talent we have & we have tons of speed.” 

The Braves will be tweaking their offense a little bit this season where they’ll be running the wing-t out of the spread. To give you an example, it’s very similar to what head coach Gus Malzahn runs at Auburn. “With the speed that we have I think this offense fits our personnel perfectly,” Fournier said. “Also bringing in a great offensive mind like coach Vitter has allowed us to tweak our offense. He has done a great job so far & the kids are buying in to what he’s implementing.”
Junior Jordan Rainey will be the starter at quarterback. The Braves new look offense should benefit Rainey’s skill set really well this season. 

​Junior Will Babin will be the team’s bell cow at running back this season. Tough hard nose runner that thrives at yards after contact. 

​Junior Rontrell Holmes will be the heart & soul of the secondary this season. Holmes looks like he is in for a big junior year at the free safety spot with his ball hawking ability. 

Freshman Jameian Buxton has the coaching staff & the Brave nation excited for these next four years. Buxton has proven to the coaching staff already that he deserves to start as a freshman at the defensive end spot. This kid will be the next highly touted prospect to come out of the Tri-Parish. He already holds offers from LSU, Miami, & Virginia. ​

Freshman Demarcus Singleton is another young prospect that has a chance to be special. He will split carries with junior Will Babin at running back this season, but I expect Singleton to make a impact early as a freshman. ​

Sophomore Javon Pharagood will be the Braves all-purpose player on offense. The speedster will make an impact at receiver, running back, & even in the return game this season. 

The three-star prospect Caleb Anderson committed to the Ragin’ Cajuns on Sunday just before the start of his senior season. UL head coach Billy Napier continues to make his mark in the state with securing a talent like Anderson for this 2020 class. As of today the Ragin’ Cajuns have the number one ranked recruiting class in the Sun Belt conference according to 247 sports. ​

“UL was my first D-1 & that meant a lot to me,” Anderson said. “They seen something in me that other schools didn’t at the beginning. After talking things out with my dad & brother we felt UL was the best place for me.”

I’m sure other schools won’t shy away from still recruiting Anderson until he signs on the dotted line in December. These next four months are going to be interesting to see if the Ragin’ Cajun staff can keep a big time talent like Anderson a part of their 2020 class. “I’m not sure if I’ll be taking in other official visits besides to UL at the moment,” he said. “I kind of want to get out of Clinton, LA so me & my family will just have to see.” ​

Southeastern University added a diamond in the rough to their 2020 class when they got Jhy Orgeron’s pledge on Monday. 

It’s evident that the 6-foot-4, 266-pound Orgeron flew under the radar for whatever reason, which is why he’s a huge steal for the Southeastern program. “I knew that Southeastern was the place for me to be,” Orgeron said. “I didn’t want to wait any longer after coach Calais called me & said the whole staff wants me bad. The staff kept in touch with me everyday & that was big to me. When I talked to my mom about it she said do whatever your heart desires.”

On the offensive line you look for quick feet, lateral mobility, & fluidity in their movement. Orgeron possesses those traits at offensive guard & then some. He still has some things he needs to improve on, but it’s no doubt he has the traits to be an all-conference player on the next level. When you turn on his film you instantly notice that he has a fearless mentality on the field which is big for an offensive lineman. 

Orgeron had pretty good showings at UL, LSU,  Tulane, & Nicholls St camps. At the Nicholls St camp he earned MVP for the best offensive lineman. Even though Nicholls St didn’t offer Orgeron he still remains high on the program. “Nicholls have shown a lot of interest in me,” Orgeron said. “Coach Rebowe, coach Russ, & coach Roussel are awesome guys. I love what they are doing with their program.”

After evaluating Orgeron at the Southeastern & Nicholls St camp this summer he looks like he could have a monster senior year. “I know I have a lot of guys looking up to me,” he said. “I just want to show leadership & lead by example my last year.” 

Don’t be surprised if Orgeron gets some late offers before signing day. ULM, UL, & Nicholls St will be keeping a close eye on him this upcoming season for sure.

​It’s no secret that the Tigers return a bevy of talent & experience. Head coach Gary Hill feels this year’s team could be just as good if not better than last year’s team. “We have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball,” Hill said. “I don’t think the team was too satisfied with losing in the quarterfinals, but they’ve came back hungry & ready to work this summer. We just have to recognized that we have something special here & we can’t get selfish.” 

Along with the talent that the Tigers have, the hiring of former Vandebilt Catholic head coach Jeremy Atwell will bring a lot of knowledge & experience to this coaching staff. “Getting a coach like Jeremy Atwell is invaluable,” Hill said. “He’s going to be a great asset to not only the coaching staff, but helping mentor our kids to build our program & take another step. He’s done a great job with our quarterbacks in the short time he’s been here & I’m excited about having him apart of this staff.”

Senior Jahon Johnson will be one of the Tiger’s biggest playmakers at running back. His speed & homerun threat ability will make this offense very dynamic this season. ​

Last season the Ellender Patriots finished 2-8 & 1-5 in district play. The last time the Patriots had a winning record was in 2016 where they finished 6-5 & made it to the playoffs. They bring in a host of talented freshman along with some good sophomores & juniors returning.
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Head coach David McCormick & offensive coordinator Jessie Turner expressed how pleased they were with a lot of their young kids & feels that they have a chance to do something special. “I’m impressed with our young kids & a good bit of them will have a chance to contribute early,” McCormick said. “If we can continue perfecting the little things from now until week one, by the time district rolls around our young kids will be a lot more comfortable with what we are teaching them right now.”​

It’s evident that the Patriots have a good group of young talent to build with, but what remains to be seen is if they can put it all together going forward these next few years. 

Senior Nykee Johnson looks like he will be a big contributor at wide receiver after finally coming over from basketball. He made big strides in the spring, 7 on 7 in the summer, & throughout fall practices thus far. ​

Freshman Tamaj Vergin is as talented as they come. Vergin had a breakout performance in the spring game versus East St. John where he made a leaping catch over two defenders for a touchdown. He put himself on a lot of school’s radar after a busy summer camping at UL, Nicholls St, Houston, Alabama, & Mississippi St. ​