4th Quarter Season Preview: 4A Opelousas Tigers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Opelousas Tigers football team is coming into the 2022 LHSAA season with plenty of momentum after winning 6 out of their last 8 games in the 2021 campaign. Facing the injury bug, 14 freshmen were forced into action and that may very well pay defends for the Tigers very soon. Coach Jimmy Zachery has built a competitive culture in just a short period of time as Opelousas's head coach. What Coach Zachery has brought the most to this program is having a championship pedigree having coordinated a state championship defense at Union Parish in 2013. This program embodies toughness and great character along with willingness to put in extra work to achieve their goals. The Tigers return 7 starters on offense and defense this season. As I walked around amazed at the level of young talent around this up and coming program, I couldn't help but to notice several future Division 1 prospects. College coaches if you are reading this, you need to add St. Landry Parish on your list of recruiting trips.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62f1ebae7c6ed","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":407962,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"D'Shaun Ford","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Opelousas ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16177772/61a9017e4206380bf4b505f8u0022u003eD'Shaun Fordu003c/au003e is a Class of 2025 prospect who started all 12 games as a freshmen with no impactful injuries. He will enter the fall as a rising sophomore for the Opelousas Tigers. Just the first year in Coach Jimmy Zachery's system, Ford was a 3 down back and amassed over 1,000 yds rushing and double digits in touchdowns. The first thing that comes to mind when watching this kid is ANIMAL. Adequate height u0026amp; weight with a chiseled athletic frame and thick lower body displaying explosive athletic ability with the combination of power, balance, and short-area burst. D'Shaun also shows the ability to take it to the house when he touches the rock. What stands out the most when watching Ford's tape is his physicality and toughness. This kid does not shy away from contact. D'Shaun Ford's early success on the gridiron garnered him First Team All-District u0026amp; First Team All-Parish honors.rnrnCurrently, Ford doesn't hold any offers, but is getting interest from the likes of Texas Au0026amp;M. After his first, three sophomore games, you can look for schools to drop some offers on this POWER 5 Prospect.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":409619,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Corey Amos","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Opelousas","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17547148/6271747502b1540d489f72ceu0022u003eCorey Amosu003c/au003e is a 205 pound OLB/EDGE defender that has a long, athletic build with very long arms. Amos possesses above average athletic ability with a solid combination of elite quickness, play strength, burst to close and length to bother top flight Offensive Lineman. Amos stands up on the LOS majority of the time along with playing true outside backer and uses very good athletic ability with his explosive get-offs and violent hands to beat Offensive Lineman at the Point Of Attack (POA). Amos also shows on tape the ability to chase down run plays from the backside at a high level while running down the Line Of Scrimmage (LOS). Solid motor, and is disruptive and elite at shedding blocks while also displaying good pad level. Corey Amos also shows his versatility with being able to drop into zones and covering Running Backs in the flats. Also displays toughness how he runs through blocks on pass plays.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eAmos has not received any offers, but he will have a huge fall and spring evaluation that will lead to a plethora of big time offers. With a frame to add weight, I see the POWER 5 schools coming a knocking in his near future.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":409625,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='912270' first='Landon' last='Hammond']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Opelousas","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"It is a defensive coordinator's dream to have a kid at cornerback like u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16146789/61b8b6f07bddc60bdc28dc7fu0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='912270' first='Landon' last='Hammond']u003c/au003e. This rising sophomore prospect is 6020 and shows the ability to take the ball away as evidenced by his 5-plus interceptions in 2021. We were able to see Hammond on several occasions in the spring and summer months and his ability to compete at a high level is unmatched. The ability to have length at cornerback and run well is rare and [player_tooltip player_id='912270' first='Landon' last='Hammond'] has that ability. What's most impressive about Hammond's tape is his ability to come up and tackle. Landon packs a pretty big punch for a kid with a thin frame. Hammond also displays on tape all three of the Triangle of Success for Cornerbacks. He can play Press Man, Tackle In Space, and Play The Ball In The Air. With continued development in the weight room and technique at Cornerback, Hammond could find himself as one of the Best Corners in the country by the time he leaves Opelousas High School in 2025.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-64b757b5100e8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Names To Know</strong>: 2025 DL [player_tooltip player_id='915076' first='Jonathan' last='Ford'], 2-Sport 2025 ATH [player_tooltip player_id='913917' first='Zackeus' last='Malveaux'], 2025 ILB [player_tooltip player_id='913928' first='Travis' last='Esprit']e, 2023 ILB Dontay Washington, 2025 DT [player_tooltip player_id='913914' first='Jacobian' last='Ardoin'] Jr., 2023 OL Bryson Baloney, &amp; 2025 OC Chris Rideau.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Opelousas Tigers open up their season on the road against the Teurlings Catholic Rebels on September 2, 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62f1eb8c7c6ec","name":"acf/evaluation-block","align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64b757b510108"} /-->