F3 Elite Team Stars: Four 2024 standouts to watch

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 four current sophomores from F3 Elite’s Team Stars — one of two 18U teams for the Baton Rouge-based organization that has come on strong since its inception three years ago. We additionally highlighted F3 Elite’s Team Juice early this week. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139258" first="Daniel" last="Beale"] — 6-2, 190 QB — Catholic (Baton Rouge)</strong> Louisiana’s 2023 quarterback class — including a handful or so of talented prospects from around the Capital City — has dominated headlines for its entire high school span. "Baby Beale" was the first of the 2024 group to start making headlines when he swiftly rose to varsity status as a freshman, was thrown into action when his senior teammate injured his ankle and then helped lead his Bears to a Division I championship. He immediately showed poise and decision-making beyond his years and has only continued to develop into even more of a playmaker with more well-timed and well-placed dimes down the field en route to another title as a sophomore. As he continues to gain high-level repetitions through his two remaining years of high school, Beale has the opportunity to be one of Louisiana’s top prospects. And this spring and summer should be big for him on the recruiting front. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139503" first="Marcus" last="Dawson"] Jr. — 6-3, 190 DB — University Lab</strong> Another underclassman with notable experience on a state championship run, Dawson was one of a few key sophomores who played an important role on U-High’s deep, talented defense. He boasts an intriguing combination of size, physicality and listed 4.53-second 40-yard speed and has good film in both coverage and run support. But the Cubs’ schedule is hit or miss in terms of opponents being able to consistently test the secondary, so 7-on-7 season provides good, extensive offseason repetitions as he continues to develop. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="285207" first="Granville" last="Anderson II"] — 5-9, 175 ATH — University Lab </strong> Anderson saw limited action this fall after transferring from Parkview Baptist, so the camp and 7-on-7 circuits are some of his biggest exposure thus far. He uses his quick feet, burst and balance to shake defenders off the line for clean releases, free himself up on sharp breaks or evade them for further yards after the catch. The Cubs graduated most of their top offensive weapons in Jason Barnes Jr., [player_tooltip player_id="136531" first="Edan" last="Stagg"], Derrick Graham Jr., [player_tooltip player_id="266473" first="Brian" last="Beck"] and (when he played offense in spots) [player_tooltip player_id="136479" first="Austin" last="Ausberry"]. So the door will be open for Anderson, [player_tooltip player_id="285208" first="Seth" last="Gale"], [player_tooltip player_id="144902" first="Alec" last="Haynes"] and others to take on larger roles, and Anderson is working to ensure he runs with his when that time comes. <strong>Kaden Mackey — 5-10, 165 DB — Dutchtown</strong> The defensive back from Ascension Parish is the most under-the-radar name on this list, but his highlights provide plenty to like. Mackey is fast, bouncy and light on his feet with good burst to break on passes for deflections or to chase down plays anywhere on the field. He should be an interesting sleeper to watch for an F3 program that’s already had some impressive defensive backs come through in its few years. And he and rising senior teammates [player_tooltip player_id="138361" first="Dickson" last="Agu"] and Akyrian "AK" Burrell might give Dutchtown one of the state’s more underrated trios on defense in the fall.