Louisiana’s 2022 season showcases QB depth of 2023 class, beyond

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top-end quarterback talent and pedigree made the 2023 class anticipated, spotlighted, debated and scrutinized like few, if any, others to come through Louisiana.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yet, as the 2022 season reached not even its state championships, but its semifinals, all that group's headliners and their teams found themselves eliminated and spectating for the playoffs' final weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The absence of star Power Five-bound passers such as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138484' first='Arch' last='Manning']</strong> (Newman, Texas), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138485' first='Eli' last='Holstein']</strong> (Zachary, Alabama) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138486' first='Rickie' last='Collins']</strong> (Woodlawn-BR, LSU) in the Caesars Superdome didn't make for a lack of quality performances from the position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rather, other standouts finished the season with a bang that helped further underscore the rare level of quarterback talent currently coming through Louisiana's high school ranks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/U1sg0c2RtaY","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"embed-handler","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/embed/U1sg0c2RtaY </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE SENIORS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No better place to start that <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138278' first='D'Wanye'' last='Winfield']</strong>, whose final high school game helped open the door to his college opportunity at Louisiana (Lafayette). The Lutcher star had been among the state's top athletes the past three years, but been largely overlooked as a potential FBS quarterback. "Lunch" followed up an epic semifinal rushing performance with an impressive passing effort through the air against a stout, stingy defense determined not to let him win with his legs. Winfield completed 20 of 32 pass attempts for 299 yards and three touchdowns, rushed 43 times for 130 yards and another score and now joins a list of likely eight or more seniors from around the state that appear poised to have the opportunity to sign as quarterbacks with Division-I college programs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That strong cohort, particularly in the era of the transfer portal, already includes another title-game participant in Eastern Kentucky-signed Dunham quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='166977' first='Jackson' last='House']</strong>, the aforementioned Power Five trio, Liberty-signed Denham Springs quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138487' first='Reese' last='Mooney']</strong> and Texas Southern-signed Huntington quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='142562' first='Kamron' last='Evans']</strong>. And Scotlandville's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138489' first='Czavian' last='Teasett']</strong> and Northwood (Shreveport)'s <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138490' first='Mason' last='Welch']</strong> could still join in February. House completed seven of 14 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 19 times for 102 yards and another score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138293' first='Landon' last='Graves']</strong> put the bow on his record-setting Ouachita Christian career with a 19-for-25, 215-yard, two-score passing effort and 12-yard rushing touchdown that showed off both his arm and his legs. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='276371' first='Ayden' last='Authement']</strong> finished his St. Charles Catholic career undefeated as a starter by making critical winning plays late to claim the Comets' second straight state title. He finished 13-for-18 for 182 yards and a touchdown with another 57 yards and a score on 17 rushes. And Ruston standout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='314058' first='Jaden' last='Osborne']</strong> led the Bearcats back to their first Dome appearance since 1998 and completed 11 of 24 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown in a low-scoring battle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Destrehan and Many stars <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138283' first='Jai' last='Eugene Jr.']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138353' first='Tackett' last='Curtis']</strong> will play on defense in college, but led their respective offenses back to the top of their respective divisions — the Wildcats' first crown since 2008 and the Tigers' second in three years. Eugene completed 11 of 21 passes for 158 yards, including a few well-thrown darts along the way, and rushed 12 times for 67 yards, including the 29-yard game-winning score. And Curtis rushed seven times for 99 yards and two touchdowns, highlighted by a ridiculous 80-yard tackles-breaking breakaway.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Along with Teasett and Welch, other notable seniors around the state include <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138491' first='Gray' last='Walters']</strong> (Benton), <strong>A.J. Samuel</strong> (Edna Karr), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138493' first='Khylan' last='Gross']</strong> (Liberty Magnet), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138500' first='Grayson' last='Saunier']</strong> (Lafayette), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139290' first='Will' last='McClain']</strong> (Barbe), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138494' first='Keddrick' last='Connelly']</strong> (Warren Easton), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138495' first='Chantz' last='Ceaser']</strong> (Carencro), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='276318' first='Khameron' last='Boykins']</strong> (Logansport) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404524' first='Mills' last='Dawson']</strong> (East Feliciana).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/ntsIBsFqbo8","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"embed-handler","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/embed/ntsIBsFqbo8 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE JUNIORS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lafayette Christian junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139261' first='Ju'Juan' last='Johnson']</strong>, another highly regarded defensive prospect for colleges, was another of the undeniable stars of the Prep Classic leading his team's offense. The promising young cornerback completed 21 of 34 passes for 341 yards and three touchdowns and ran 33 times for another 245 yards and two scores for a record 586 total yards. And his toughness was on full display as he not only shook back from one hard hit after another, but also dished out his own fair share of punishment to opposing defenders as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Across the field in the rematch of district foes, fellow junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285278' first='Sam' last='Altmann']</strong> overcame some early nerves to provide a thrilling comeback with a record-matching sixth touchdown lifting St. Thomas More to its third title in four years. LSU signee Walker Howard's successor to the Cougars' offense completed 21 of 38 passes for 352 yards and the half-dozen scores that included the game-winning rope to Connor Stelly in the final seconds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And legendary John Curtis coach J.T. Curtis praised his own junior quarterback, <strong>Dagan Bruno</strong>, for not only his 38-yard touchdown to strike first in the Division I select showdown with district rival Brother Martin to cap the event, but for his overall management of the Patriots' offense. He finished 6-for-12 for 109 yards and rushed 11 times for 25 yards and another score. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Altmann and Bruno joined Johnson and Catholic (Baton Rouge) standout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139258' first='Daniel' last='Beale']</strong>, who played in 2020 and 2021 title games, as members of Louisiana's 2024 cohort to have led their teams in title games. And other talented passers in that cycle include <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='144873' first='Preston' last='Welch']</strong> (Teurlings Catholic), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139260' first='Will' last='Taylor']</strong> (St. Thomas More), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285287' first='Lynkon' last='Romero']</strong> (Erath), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285657' first='Abram' last='Johnston']</strong> (Parkview Baptist), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285279' first='Brayden' last='Williams']</strong> (St. James), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='144875' first='Josiah' last='Bushnell']</strong> (Lake Charles College Prep) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139262' first='Dawson' last='Simmons']</strong> (St. Augustine). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/A-nSOj6VGGk","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"embed-handler","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/embed/A-nSOj6VGGk </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AND BEYOND</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A couple of the state's talented underclassman were also on display on the big stage in Oak Grove sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291089' first='Jackson' last='Bradley']</strong> and North DeSoto freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401978' first='Luke' last='Delafield']</strong>. The former helped lead his Tigers' power running attack, compiling 109 yards and the exclamation-mark touchdown, which paired nicely with a shutout defensive showing to claim the Division IV nonselect victory. And the latter slung some of the week's prettiest deep balls that gave a glimpse of why his Griffins' coaches haven't been shy about projecting him as one of the nation's top prospects for his class. Delafield went 23-for-39 for 320 yards and two touchdowns, despite four interceptions along the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vermilion Catholic sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291147' first='Jonathan' last='Dartez']</strong> also provided the bulk of his Eagles' offensive spark with 115 rushing yards and a goal-line score and another 96 yards on 9-for-17 passing. He finished the season as an all-district and all-state first-team selection completing 72 percent of his passes for 1,397 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushing for 1,515 yards and 17 more scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other young passers already on the radar include <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291143' first='Ben' last='Latino IV']</strong> (St. Thomas Aquinas), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='144906' first='Jerry' last='Horne']</strong> (Denham Springs), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291086' first='Tylan' last='Johnson']</strong> (Madison Prep), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='144901' first='Abram' last='Wardell']</strong> (Calvary Baptist), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='198807' first='Sawyer' last='Pruitt']</strong> (Live Oak), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291167' first='Colton' last='Morris']</strong> (Loranger), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='144904' first='Cortland' last='Brownfield']</strong> (University Lab), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291087' first='Caleb' last='Gonzales']</strong> (Zachary), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='148529' first='Brodie' last='Savage']</strong> (Captain Shreve) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='426968' first='Jackson' last='Firmin']</strong> (Central) among others.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cf8NDgv4qrI","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"embed-handler","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cf8NDgv4qrI </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->