Division-I sleepers highlight Bootleggers’ River/Bayou tryouts
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The new calendar and football year’s have begun, and Louisiana’s exploding 7-on-7 scene is off and running for 2023. Several of the state’s non-scholastic/all-star organizations have sorted out their rosters and are preparing for their first tournaments of the spring…
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Continue ReadingThe new calendar and football year’s have begun, and Louisiana’s exploding 7-on-7 scene is off and running for 2023.
Several of the state’s non-scholastic/all-star organizations have sorted out their rosters and are preparing for their first tournaments of the spring season.
The nationally known Louisiana Bootleggers, more than a decade running, now include branches around the state to offer more athletes the opportunity to participate and potentially earn their way to the national team.
The River/Bayou Parishes squad held its first tryouts for the season this past weekend at Nicholls State university.
And a few Division-I sleepers were among the standout athletes in attendance.
Tylin Johnson (6-2, 190 WR/ATH | Lutcher | 2023)
A missed junior season delayed Johnson’s recruiting profile in an era in which college opportunities are more difficult than ever for high school prospects to secure. But Johnson is a talented, albeit raw athlete with clear potential to play at the next level. Many Louisiana fans and media saw flashes of his big-play ability as receiver in December on the biggest stage in the state’s high school sports. Johnson hauled in 13 nine passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns in the Division-II nonselect state championship game in the Caesars Superdome against one of the Louisiana’s stingiest defenses. That performance capped a senior season of 42 catches for 750 yards and 11 touches that may have just been scratching the surface.
Johnson spent the morning working out with the group as he tries to stay sharp and continue developing for whatever opportunity he may be able to earn to compete at the next level, and he was clearly one of the top few talents in attendance.
Kylin Smith Kylin Smith 5'9" | 150 lbs | DB West St. John | 2024 State LA (5-10, 165 DB | West St. John | 2024)
The biggest takeaway of the day was the impressive development of speedy West St. John athlete Kylin Smith Kylin Smith 5'9" | 150 lbs | DB West St. John | 2024 State LA , whom Prep Redzone Louisiana first saw making early plays as a freshman two and a half years ago. Smith has grown into a long-framed, lightning-quick cornerback with a knack for snatching interceptions — as he did on his first two one-on-one reps, a swift reaction to a bobbled ball and then a route-jumping robbery — that should pique some notable Division-I interest this spring and summer as he hits the 7-on-7 and camp circuits.
Kobe Brown Kobe Brown 5'10" | 160 lbs | WR St. James | 2024 State LA (5-10, 165 WR | St. James | 2024)
Another speedy, young River Parishes prospect who has developed into a potential steal of Louisiana’s 2024 class is the St. James receiver, whose quick feet and route-running enabled him to break free on seemingly every rep. Brown has appeared his junior year, both his fall for the Wildcats and now the early stages of this 7-on-7 season, to be more confident than ever before in a way that shows. Wide receiver looks to be one of the top two or three most talented positions in the state’s rising senior group, and Brown is one of the notables to watch.
Brayden Williams Brayden Williams 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB St. James | 2024 State LA (6-0, 185 QB | St. James | 2024)
Brown’s year-round quarterback was the veteran and top performer of the passers on hand, light on his feet, quick on his release and placing his share of dots all over the field. Some of Brown’s confidence and development storyline is similar for Williams, who took over as the full-time starter leading the St. James offense and earned Class 3A All-State honors for his junior campaign. Williams completed 180 of his 263 passes (68.4%) for 2,367 yards (13.2 yards per completion), 25 touchdowns and five interceptions (5-to-1 ratio) and rushed 62 times for 261 yards and four more scores.
Caleb Ricks Caleb Ricks 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB St. Amant | 2025 State LA (6-1, 170 DB/ATH, St. Amant | 2025)
The younger brother of former LSU and Alabama cornerback Elias “Eli” Ricks has quietly developed into an intriguing prospect in his own right just outside of Baton Rouge in nearby St. Amant. The rising junior is tall, rangy cornerback who is strong, runs well and sought and soaked up both coaching and competition. Any instance in which he was lined up against Johnson immediately became an attention-grabbed rep as he battled with the older receiver.
Jackson Chaisson (5-11, 160 WR | East Ascension | 2024)
The Spartans’ standout was a favorite of coaches and teammates — including fellow EA rising senior Brennon Thompson Brennon Thompson 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH East Ascension | 2024 State LA — who pointed him out as an underrated player to watch from the moment he arrived. Chaisson was quick-footed, smooth in his releases, showed good speed downfield and reliable hands to snatch passes in stride and over defenders.
Jamaj Williams (ATH/DL/LB/TE/WR | Lutcher | 2025)
A few of Johnson’s rising senior and rising junior teammates who were on hand were also among the top-performing or intriguing prospects. Williams, a 2025 athlete, saw some playing time this fall as an edge rusher, including recording a couple sacks, but worked out Saturday as a wide receiver. Wherever he ends up, he’s a good-looking young player worth keeping an eye on.
Gregory Harding Jr. (6-0, 172 DB | Terrebonne | 2024)
Another top defensive back in attendance was rising Terrebonne senior Gregory Harding Jr., a versatile athlete in the secondary with good size, a long frame and good instincts and timing to jump a couple passes for deflections in 7-on-7 drills. The performance also showed an even-keel and resilient demeanor as he bounced back from a one-on-one session he felt didn’t live up to his standards and potential.
Peyton Clement and Derrick Pittman Jr. Derrick Pittman Jr. 5'8" | 145 lbs | ATH St. James | 2027 State LA (ATHs | 2027)
This pair of talented middle-school athletes with some experience beyond their years stayed and worked with the 18U group after their 15U session and made a few plays with the older guys. Clement has been working out at quarterback after previously spending more time as a pass-catcher, and he showed a good arm on a couple well-placed and -timed throws across the middle. And Pittman, with some experience on both side of the ball, worked out at wide receiver, including a highlight catch downfield in tight coverage as he and the older defensive back both fell to the turf.
Prep Redzone Louisiana won’t officially watch-list the 2027 class until after this summer or rank the group until after their freshman season, but both Clement and Pittman will be in those mixes.