5 North Shore area players PRZLA hopes to catch as spring opens

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The LHSAA's official window for spring football opened Monday with a few schools around the state already taking the field and the vast majority kicking off their sessions in the next two weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone Louisiana has already started making some rounds, but won't be able to catch everyone. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll start over the next few days by pointing out and highlighting five players from each area we'd like to see — with priority given to rising upperclassmen and for prospects we'd be seeing for the first time, the first time in an extended stretch or the first time since some notable development.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And a series will begin next week highlighting six or more student-athletes from each school visited with a mix of returning veterans, breakout candidates and underclassmen to know for years to come.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cole Beecher — 6-3, 280 OL — Mandeville (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Skippers could warrant a list of their own interesting prospects to catch this spring and watch this year overall. But the big left tackle earns the nod after the 7-on-7 circuit provided opportunities to see several of his teammates already this year — including defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='145328' first='Tasmin' last='Showers'], wide receiver Donovan McGowan, running back [player_tooltip player_id='710077' first='Nate' last='Sheppard'] and quarterback Cade Jacob. Beecher looks quick on his feet with his long, solid frame. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='675890' first='KJ' last='Daniels'] — 5-10, 155 WR —&nbsp;Franklinton (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The recent Oklahoma commitment's speed and quickness jumps off the screen on his film —&nbsp;enough so to have earned a top-20 ranking in the latest update following his junior season. Between the draw of some potentially electric plays and seeing first-hand where he is in his physical development for the next level, Daniels is fairly high on the wish list of prospects to see this year whether in spring or fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaileb Rayford — 5-9, 155 ATH — Salmen (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The explosive three-phase playmaker with a listed 4.46-second 40-yard dash earned all-district honors as a junior and praise from players on rival rosters as one of the most underrated receivers in the state. Rayford is a name to know for the next Prep Redzone Louisiana rankings update and as an interesting potential sleeper in the signing class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jamaal Sapp — 6-3, 205 LB —&nbsp;Ponchatoula (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Albert Lewis III has been regarded as one of Louisiana's top 2024 outside linebackers, but the Green Wave benefit from having athletic edge rushers on both sides with Sapp more than capable of being a disruptive headache for opposing offenses who go all-in on avoiding or slowing down Lewis. Ponchatoula actually lists Sapp slightly bigger than Lewis and used in a mix of looks on the opposite side. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Skyler Zanders —&nbsp;6-3, 190 LB — Amite (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zanders looks like the next versatile athlete to watch coming out of perennial Tangipahoa Parish power Amite. The long, lean linebacker played both inside and outside this past season, including some good coverage snaps on film both in the slot and dropping well back in zone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->