Lafayette Christian Knights | Spring 3-2-1 Spotlight

Lafayette Christian is now a pair of heartbreaking December finishes removed from its four straight state championships from 2017 to 2020.   And a talented core of rising seniors said those recent experiences have only further underscored their hunger and sense of urgency to lift the program back to title heights in their final high school season this fall.   Lafayette Christian was among the first stops of 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/fEpI3C2h9Dw </div></figure>   3 WELL-KNOWN RETURNERS   [player_tooltip player_id='139261' first='Ju'Juan' last='Johnson'] — 5-11, 180 ATH — Lafayette Christian (2024)   Johnson made the leap this fall from a well-known standout in the Acadiana area to one of the most prolific performers in the state and most well-known players and prospects in Louisiana's rising senior class. Johnson is projected as a likely defensive back at the next level, but has been special leading the Knights' offense with his combination of poise, decision-making, athleticism with the ball in his hands and an underrated arm. He recently backed off a February commitment to Colorado to stay home and become one of the faces of home-state LSU's 2024 class.   <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/YoPY9slu1SA </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='285654' first='Melvin' last='Hills III'] — 6-4, 265 DL — Lafayette Christian (2024)   and [player_tooltip player_id='421516' first='Sandy' last='Lewis'] — 6-2, 235 LB — Lafayette Christian (2024)   The two early defensive standouts of the Knights' 2024 class have been on SEC recruiting radars since the tail end of their sophomore year and should be poised for big final summers and senior seasons. Hills has grown into a disruptive force on the defensive front, while Lewis was a versatile chess piece who could help create mismatches from a variety of positions in the front seven. Hills mentioned LSU, Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M, Alabama, Florida State and Ole Miss among colleges in most consistent communication this spring, while Oklahoma State, Texas and Ole Miss have been among the biggest players for Lewis.   <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/CsK43Ykg6yA </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='145325' first='Ty' last='Lee'] — 6-0, 180 DB — Lafayette Christian (2024)   This summer is expected to be a breakout stretch on the recruiting trail for Lee, who currently holds Southern and Marshall offers. But the lockdown corner and willing, reliable tackler in run support has been a key standout on the Knights' defense the past couple years, particularly with an all-state junior campaign this fall in which he recorded 73 tackles, including 55 solo and several near or behind the line.   <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/-mLVGZMIOSs </div></figure>     2 BREAKOUT CANDIDATES   [player_tooltip player_id='144893' first='Trae' last='Grogan'] — 6-1, 180 WR — Lafayette Christian (2024)   and Treanders Marzell Jr. — 5-9, 190 WR — Lafayette Christian (2024)   The complementary targets are expected to become focal points of the Knights' passing attack this year as they succeed graduating seniors [player_tooltip player_id='276373' first='Alonzo' last='Ryes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='275592' first='Alex' last='Beard']. Marzell is the latest in a string of speedy smaller pass-catchers that have excelled in the offense, while the bigger Grogan provides a bit of a different weapon than Lafayette Christian has had in recent years. Grogan had a solid junior campaign and particularly excelled late with nine touchdowns in four playoff games in a way the team hopes can be a springboard to a huge senior season.   <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/MsVss5zPhus </div></figure>   Jeremiah Jackson — 6-3, 225 DL — Lafayette Christian (2024)   Coaches praised the offseason work and development they've seen from Jackson, a defensive end with good size and explosiveness off the snap to burst into opposing backfields and make disruptive plays. The rising senior figures to be another major piece of the defensive front — a position group that has been pivotal in the program's run of success the past several years — alongside Hills and Jon Moore-Leday.     1 UNDERCLASSMAN TO KNOW   [player_tooltip player_id='920611' first='Kaleb' last='Campbell'] — 6-8, 280 OL — Lafayette Christian (2026)   Long, athletic 2027 defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='592357' first='Sky' last='Ryan'], the younger brother of former LCA star and LSU signee Sage Ryan, has started garnering early recruiting attention as "next up" among the high-profile prospects to come through the program. But a big offensive lineman in the cycle ahead of Sky quietly looks poised to be a Power-Five recruit in his own right. Hills, Lewis and Johnson praised the tenacious young blocker with heavy, violent hands as a key breakout candidate this fall up front opposite [player_tooltip player_id='421527' first='Trevor' last='Jeffrey'] and a major name to know for the years to come.

Lafayette Christian is now a pair of heartbreaking December finishes removed from its four straight state championships from 2017 to 2020.