Bootleggers national team: 6 top, breakout performers early

Seven-on-seven season is starting to heat up like the weather outside, and several teams around Louisiana’s rapidly expanded field are starting to hit the stride of their respective schedules. Prep Redzone Louisiana reached out to coaches and managers around the state for a few of their top players to watch in the first month or so of action. Here are half a dozen from the Bootleggers’ national team — the state’s traditional power on the 7-on-7 circuit which now also includes a handful of regional branches we’ll highlight on additional days. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="285191" first="Xavier" last="Atkins"] — 6-1, 200 LB — Jonesboro-Hodge (2024)</strong> Notable regional and national tournaments this spring represent the most media attention on the rural, small-school linebacker thus far in his young career. And while 7-on-7 is a particularly incomplete or imperfect glimpse of a linebacker’s game, what the format does allow Atkins to showcase is his fluidity, feet and sideline-to-sideline speed running with — and even out-running — smaller running backs, receivers and defensive backs, as well as his ability to make plays on the ball in the air. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="275580" first="Jace" last="Larsen"] — 6-2, 170 WR — Jesuit (2023)</strong> The junior was quietly not only the top receiver for Division I runner-up Jesuit this fall, but also one of the best in New Orleans. And he should be a prime candidate as one of the Bootleggers to gain notable recruiting traction this spring. Larsen has shown an ability to make catches all over the field in both the tackle game and already in 7-on-7, breaking himself free over the middle with his route-running, blowing past defenders vertically or leaping over them for touchdowns in back of the end zone. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138439" first="Omarion" last="Miller"] — 6-2, 195 WR — North Caddo (2023)</strong> Including Miller on a "breakout" list is a bit of a different meaning than most of his counterparts here. Atkins, Larsen, Solari and Thompson are starting to break onto the radars of many fans, reporters, college coaches and opposing teams for the first time. That was Miller’s position this time last year. Now, he’s making the rounds again with the expectations and target that come as his team’s returning leaders and an LSU commitment and continuing to impress in that stature. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138277" first="Khai" last="Prean"] — 6-1, 190 ATH — St. James (2023)</strong> Another Power Five prospect who has started to gain notable scholarship offers on the recruiting trail, Prean was a young newcomer on last year’s Bootleggers team. This year, he’s a starter and a star and has already been able to showcase his versatility as an offensive weapon at his primary position of receiver, as well as working in some snaps out of the backfield. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="145333" first="Diesel" last="Solari"] — 5-6, 160 ATH — Cecilia (2025)</strong> The freshman is slowly starting to generate some buzz for his explosiveness with the ball in his hands and looks like he could become one of Louisiana’s most exciting players in that regard as he continues to develop. This spring will provide Solari opportunities to put his route-running and pass-catching on display all over the country, and he’s already added a couple highlights to his portfolio in those regards through just a couple tournaments. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139480" first="Brennon" last="Thompson"] — 6-0, 180 ATH — East Ascension (2024)</strong> The young three-phase standout should be a known name here, but is still awaiting the college scholarship offers to come. And he’s carried his impressive offensive and defensive performances from the fall into being one of this year’s top players for the 7-on-7 team for which his older cousins, Shawn Preston Jr. and [player_tooltip player_id="128240" first="Shazz" last="Preston"], are among the many previous notable stars.