Edna Karr Cougars | Spring 3-2-1 Spotlight

Edna Karr's rising seniors have expressed a drive and sense of urgency to not become the program's first class in more than a decade to not win a state championship in its four years of high school.   The Cougars have to replace another strong graduating group, this time from a largely dominant run this fall before an abrupt quarterfinal halt in a battle at Catholic (Baton Rouge).   But a still-loaded roster has plenty of reason for fans in Algiers to be optimistic for coach Brice Brown and company's odds at reclaiming the mountain.   Edna Karr garnered an early stop on Prep Redzone Louisiana's spring practice tours and 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/-ySFJWzWFp0 </div></figure>     3 WELL-KNOWN RETURNERS   [player_tooltip player_id='285196' first='Edward' last='Brown'] — 5-11, 170 DB — Edna Karr (2024)   This Edna Karr roster is really more loaded with "breakout" candidates — and even notable underclassmen — than true "well-known," established returners than most of their title-hopeful peers or most of their own previous seasons. But multisport standout Edward "Tre" Brown definitely fits the bill as a returning starter who has been on some SEC recruiting lists for a year now as a smart and instinctive safety/nickel who makes big plays in the middle of the field breaking on balls for interceptions and deflections or unloading explosive hits to break up passes or stop ball-carriers in their tracks. The Cougars have a good safety group that includes a couple other highly ranked Prep Redzone Louisiana prospects including [player_tooltip player_id='291158' first='Arsenio' last='Bolds Jr.'] (2025) and a younger budding star with more information below.   <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/hlds3zB2stw </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='421613' first='Tah'j' last='Butler'] — 6-2, 210 LB — Edna Karr (2024)   Butler missed the bulk of this fall, but showed enough intriguing flashes that a few colleges began ramping up their recruiting efforts this winter — leading to a commitment to Georgia Tech over Tulane, Louisiana Tech, Troy, Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls State. And he has looked this spring to be right back into the flow without missing much of a beat as a long, active tackle machine in the middle of the defense covering a lot of ground and being involved on seemingly every play with a swarming group of linebackers and ends that includes Butler, Corey Adams, [player_tooltip player_id='914017' first='Lyric' last='Hawkins'] and Fred Hart among the names to know.   Levi Darensbourg — 6-0, 170 DB — Edna Karr (2024)   Another returning starter with some college offers already under his belt, Darensbourg leads the cornerbacks group that includes fellow rising seniors Shavez Morris and Brennen Harris Jr. in what should be among the state's stingiest secondaries overall. Darensbourg has good length and speed, plays with good patience and balance to stay disciplined in his coverage and also coming down in run support and also shows the timing and athleticism to make big plays on passes his direction. Southern Miss, Southeastern Louisiana, Toledo, Dartmouth, Howard, Furman and Mississippi Valley State have offered thus far.     2 BREAKOUT CANDIDATES   [player_tooltip player_id='421614' first='Rahji' last='Dennis'] — 6-0, 160 WR — Edna Karr (2024)   The standout sprinter has developed well physically into a bigger, stronger build while maintaining his elite speed and explosiveness and looking increasingly smooth at making sure-handed catches in stride. The "Roadrunner" returned to spring practice following outdoor track and field state championships and quickly looked the part of one of the best wide receivers in the state and garnered a swift string of offers from Louisiana Tech, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Tulane on the heels of the Cougars' spring game before committing to the Rebels this week. He and rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='426960' first='TaRon' last='Francis'] are among the headline prospects of an electric receiving corps that includes seniors Tyrone Wilson and Rogers Jackson among other leaders.   <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/oRVTFJ9f9ZE </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='144889' first='Kriston' last='Bell'] — 6-5, 290 OL — Edna Karr (2024)   The big lineman steps into the full-time starter role at left tackle to anchor the protection of new starting quarterback John Johnson (2026) with big expectations and a recent run of offers from Grambling State, Mississippi Valley State and Alabama State and interest from some notable FBS programs.   <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/LOOYBIgP58o </div></figure>     1 UNDERCLASSMAN TO KNOW   [player_tooltip player_id='401932' first='Aiden' last='Hall'] — 6-2, 170 DB — Edna Karr (2026)   and [player_tooltip player_id='710991' first='Richard' last='Anderson'] — 6-4, 280 DL — Edna Karr (2026)   Several underclassmen could fit this billing, including the aforementioned Johnson, but the headliners have to be the SEC-targeted defensive duo in the 2026 class. The long, rangy safety and big, explosive defensive tackle ranked No. 4 and No. 8, respectively, in Prep Redzone Louisiana's rankings for the class earlier this year, and both had strong spring performances by all accounts. A case could be made for both as top-five prospects early in the evaluation process for the class with big expectations as key pieces already this fall and high ceilings ahead long-term.   <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/dSxi7XRPlCY </div></figure>

Edna Karr's rising seniors have expressed a drive and sense of urgency to not become the program's first class in more than a decade to not win a state championship in its four years of high school.