Top Performers: Woodlawn (BR) vs. Warren Easton spring game

Coaches from approximately 30 different college visited Baton Rouge last Thursday to watch Woodlawn host Warren Easton for New Orleans. The home-standing Panthers have been a program on the rise, led by Purdue quarterback commitment [player_tooltip player_id="138486" first="Rickie" last="Collins"], highly touted Power Five cornerback target [player_tooltip player_id="138307" first="Jordan" last="Matthews"] and an altogether strong 2023 class. And the Class 4A runner-up Eagles, perennial contenders in recent years, boast their share of talent headlined by 2024 defensive back [player_tooltip player_id="139491" first="Wallace" last="Foster"] IV. LSU, Tulane, ULM, Nicholls State, Northwestern State, Southern and Louisiana Christian were among the in-state programs represented, with Alabama, Purdue, Texas, Stanford, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Navy, Southern Miss, Jackson State, Houston Baptist, Belhaven and Millsaps among those from other states. Here were a few of the top performers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138486" first="Rickie" last="Collins"] — 6-3, 180 QB — Woodlawn (2023)</strong> In a quarterback class headlined by [player_tooltip player_id="138484" first="Arch" last="Manning"] and [player_tooltip player_id="138485" first="Eli" last="Holstein"], the Panthers’ passer has been soaring up recruiting rankings and colleges’ boards for well over a year now and still hasn’t stopped. Collins has always had a big arm, swagger and athleticism that made him an obvious college prospect. And his work on his drop-back and standing taller in his pocket to use his full height showed consistently Thursday. Collins also showed good pocket presence and decision-making whether to stand in against the rush, roll out and buy time as he scanned the field or take off for big runs. And after being challenged with a near-interception on the sideline by Foster, he came back and made some of his best throws of the evening with a long touchdown dropped perfectly over his receiver’s shoulder and another rolling and throwing a strike across his body to a receiver in stride across the middle of the field. <strong>Dezaray Delmore Jr. — 5-11, 170 DB — Woodlawn (2023)</strong> Delmore doesn’t carry the national recruiting profile of Collins or Matthews, but is one of a long list of other talented members of Woodlawn’s rising senior class that has started to garner college attention and should be an underrated addition for the in-state or regional program that ultimately lands him. Delmore pairs decent size, good speed and a great feel for the game and willingness to play physically to anticipate plays and position himself well for takeaways and quick, sure tackles. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138446" first="Tramon" last="Douglas"] II — 5-10, 170 WR — Woodlawn (2023)</strong> The speedy wide receiver was hampered by injury the last two seasons, but was all smiles Thursday to be 100% healthy and preparing for his senior season with his teammates — and even more so after hauling in a long touchdown deep down the right sideline in front of so many college coaches. He recently ran legs of the Panthers’ third-place 4x100-meter and 4x200-meter relay teams and should be poised for a breakout senior season as one of Collins’ top weapons as he gets that speed back into full football rhythm. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139491" first="Wallace" last="Foster"] IV — 5-11, 160 DB — Warren Easton (2024)</strong> The rising junior was among the first members of Louisiana’s 2024 recruiting class to start receiving scholarship offers during the winter of his freshman year, and he remains one of the state’s most sought-after prospects in that cohort. Foster is an Energizer bunny of nonstop activity, aggressiveness and energy that his team feeds off of and nearly made one of the highlight-reel plays of the spring game with a soaring interception of a pass Collins tried to tuck into a tight, safe window on the sideline. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138307" first="Jordan" last="Matthews"] — 6-2, 175 DB — Woodlawn (2023)</strong> The son of former LSU and Southern defensive end Roshaun Matthews and younger brother of former Louisiana Tech and McNeese State wide receiver Joshua Matthews has been locking down one side of the field for Woodlawn’s defense the past two years now. And he only looks even bigger, stronger and faster this spring, including a 10.66-second 100-meter dash and 21.29-second 200-meter dash at the Class 5A outdoor track and field state championships a few days earlier.. Stanford, Texas and Texas A&amp;M have come on strong during the past month or two, and Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding was on hand this past week to check in and keep Tuscaloosa, Ala., top of mind for a June visit. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139626" first="Fred" last="Robertson"] — 5-9, 180 RB — Warren Easton (2024)</strong> The Eagles’ top offensive threat on the night played a major role as a sophomore this fall on the team’s state runner-up run and figures to only take on an even more featured role following the graduation of running back [player_tooltip player_id="265940" first="Jay" last="Gordon"]. He found room on the ground to slice his way upfield for some of the team’s most successful plays of the night and showed his smooth, confident ability to catch passes from rising senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="138494" first="Keddrick" last="Connelly"] out of the backfield. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="145327" first="Antonio" last="Taylor"] — 5-10, 185 DB — Warren Easton (2024)</strong> Another of the talented rising juniors at 3019 Canal Street was among the team’s top defensive performers Thursday flying all over the field. Taylor appeared to be in or his close pursuit of every play sideline to sideline and coming downhill to fit run gaps or bring pressure. He figures to one of the major playmakers on another stout Eagles defense with Division-I talent at every level.