Denham Springs Yellow Jackets | Spring 3-2-1 Spotlight

A Denham Springs squad with some notable veteran faces to replace this offseason was one of the first programs to kick off spring practice.   And the Yellow Jackets did so in fiery, physical fashion led by a couple current college recruits, other reliable veterans who should garner some interest and a few intriguing young standouts stepping into bigger roles with already-high expectations.   "I don't know about you, but I'm pretty fired up," coach Brett Beard told the team, saying he liked the early impressions of group that should have the potential to surprise some people come fall.   Denham Springs was the first stop of Prep Redzone Louisiana's spring practice tours, kicking off a series of "Spring 3-2-1" spotlights looking at three key returning standouts, two notable breakout candidates and one underclassman to know sooner than later.     <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/Yj-n3RfhUwU </div></figure>     3 WELL-KNOWN RETURNERS   [player_tooltip player_id='675887' first='Da'Shawn' last='McBryde'] — 6-3, 195 DB — Denham Springs (2024)   The Yellow Jackets' breakout star from this fall hasn't slowed down any from his record-setting junior season of interceptions. McBryde hit the weight room, track and recruiting trail hard during the early months of 2023, announced his commitment to nearby LSU in late April and was juggling double-duty practices with Denham Springs preparing for outdoor track state championships as spring football opened. McBryde should be one of the most fun players to watch in the Baton Rouge area this year with the ground that he covers, explosiveness he brings at the point of contact and the plays he makes on the ball in the air.   [player_tooltip player_id='421519' first='Maison' last='Vorise'] — 5-11, 170 DB — Denham Springs (2024)   The often-underrated cornerback pairs with McBryde to give Denham Springs one of the best defensive back duos in Louisiana to headline a secondary that should make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks. Of note, don't overlook 2025 safety [player_tooltip player_id='913906' first='Rancher' last='Miller'] as another high-energy, hard-hitting playmaker in that group. Vorise can excel in a variety of looks outside with his athleticism, instincts, patience and willingness to play physically. And when passes come his direction, he has shown great timing and overall ball skills to make even occasionally acrobatic interceptions. Tulane, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana (Lafayette), Florida State and Mississippi State had been among schools to start recruiting Vorise last summer, and Nicholls State, Southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi Valley State and Alcorn State have extended recent offers.   <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/UtFOIgtK96Y </div></figure>     Elijah Butler — 6-3, 215 DL — Denham Springs (2024)   "Shaq" isn't as well-known a name on the recruiting trail as his teammates in the secondary, but the returning all-district second-teamer and all-parish first-teamer is a physical leader and tone-setter in the defensive front on whom the Yellow Jackets know they can rely. Butler has good size, plays his assignment and has the explosiveness and strength to get by blockers for big plays in the backfield — a combination that makes him one of the top returning defensive linemen in District 5-5A and a prospect that should warrant some college looks.     2 BREAKOUT CANDIDATES   [player_tooltip player_id='144906' first='Jerry' last='Horne'] — 6-2, 185 QB — Denham Springs (2025)   The first breakout candidate is an easy one. Horne has been an intriguing young quarterback somewhere between "waiting in the wings" and "pushing the starter" the past two seasons behind 2023 Liberty signee [player_tooltip player_id='138487' first='Reese' last='Mooney'], and his time has officially come as the leader of the Yellow Jackets' offense. Horne has good size, physical build and feel for the game to go with a strong arm with a high, quick release and does a good job knowing when to put touch on his passes. In a quarterback class of a lot of new starters following the graduations of the highly touted 2023 group, Horne feels one of the best bets to be a Division-I prospect. And he beamed about the early rapport and mutual confidence with new coordinator Kyle Caskey, a longtime college and NFL assistant, as they prepare for the fall.   <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/7mkrD8mIpVM </div></figure>     R.J. Johnson — 5-8, 200 RB — Denham Springs (2024)   The Yellow Jackets' fullback provided a nice complement to 2023 Memphis signee [player_tooltip player_id='138470' first='Raydrian' last='McKneely'] this fall and is an offensive weapon in whom Beard and company are confident as a steady presence alongside Horne in the backfield. Johnson is a muscular bowling ball of a back who hits the gap hard, shows some explosiveness to the next level and is powerful running through or over contact and keeping his legs churning.     1 UNDERCLASSMAN TO KNOW   Cedrick Polk Jr. — 6-1, 195 LB — Denham Springs (2026)   The Yellow Jackets have a few rising sophomores to keep an eye on moving forward, including the Golmond twins Da'Jean and Da'Sean on offense. But Polk might be the biggest name to know of the bunch right now as a good-looking, long and potentially versatile athlete in the box that should be an impact player on the edge opposite Butler this fall and one of the top prospects on the Denham Springs defense in the years to come.

A Denham Springs squad with some notable veteran faces to replace this offseason was one of the first programs to kick off spring practice.