Opelousas Tigers | Spring 3-2-1 Spotlight
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Opelousas netted its first winning season in decades this fall with an impressive 8-2 record and No. 3 seed in the Division-II Non-Select bracket. And coach Jimmy Zachery and the Tigers only see further progress ahead with their loaded 2025…
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Continue ReadingOpelousas netted its first winning season in decades this fall with an impressive 8-2 record and No. 3 seed in the Division-II Non-Select bracket.
And coach Jimmy Zachery and the Tigers only see further progress ahead with their loaded 2025 class leading the way with another year of experience and development under their belt.
Opelousas 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.
3 WELL-KNOWN RETURNERS
D’Shaun Ford D’Shaun Ford 5'11" | 210 lbs | RB Opelousas | 2025 State LA — 5-11, 210 RB — Opelousas (2025)
One of the lead stars of Louisiana’s loaded 2025 running back class, Ford is a powerful throwback and workhorse of a back who consistently trucks opposing defenders and keeps motoring downfield. He said a focus this offseason is continuing to get more elusive and make more defenders miss to help lessen the wear before reaching a college such as LSU, Auburn, Tennessee, Tulane, Miami, Mississippi State and Ole Miss that are among the most prominent involved in his recruitment.
Corey Amos Corey Amos 6'3" | 205 lbs | LB Opelousas | 2025 State LA — 6-3, 205 LB — Opelousas (2025)
The long, quick edge athlete is another notably ascending prospect in the 2025 class with Tulane, Missouri, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Nicholls State, Penn State and Grambling State among his spring run of offers. Amos is explosive to the backfield rushing from his outside linebacker position and comfortable and smooth dropping back into space.
Korey Fontenot Korey Fontenot 6'1" | 165 lbs | WR Opelousas | 2025 State LA — 6-1, 165 WR — Opelousas (2025)
The biggest aerial complement to Ford’s bruising rushing attack on the ground, “K2” is a speedy vertical threat who takes particular pride in his route running. Fontenot earned all-district recognition this fall as a sophomore and recently picked up his first college offer from Grambling State.
2 BREAKOUT CANDIDATES
Zackeus Malveaux Zackeus Malveaux 5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH Opelousas | 2025 State LA — 5-10, 160 QB/ATH — Opelousas (2025)
Another rising junior runs the offense in the quick-footed Malveaux, a backfield complement to Ford who can make defenders miss and take off with listed 4.4-second 40-yard speed and has enough of an arm to flick the ball downfield or to the sideline to Fontenot and company and burn opposing defenses going all-in in the box to stop the run.
Travis Esprit Travis Esprit 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB Opelousas | 2025 State LA — 6-0, 200 LB — Opelousas (2025)
Amos isn’t alone among talented athletes to watch on the Tigers’ defense — and, for that matter, even those still within that strong 2025 class. Esprit is a notable breakout candidate patrolling the middle of the field between Amos and Jonathan Ford Jonathan Ford 6'1" | 250 lbs | DL Opelousas | 2025 State LA with Jacobian Ardoin Jacobian Ardoin DL Opelousas | 2025 State LA among the big bodies up front and lean, speedy corner Landon Hammond Landon Hammond 6'2" | 160 lbs | DB Opelousas | 2025 State LA and safeties Jaylon Breaux Jaylon Breaux 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB Opelousas | 2025 LA and Kyran Moore Kyran Moore 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Opelousas | 2025 State LA among the leaders in the secondary.
1 UNDERCLASSMAN TO KNOW
Jamarion Daughtery Jamarion Daughtery 6'4" | 240 lbs | DL Opelousas | 2026 State LA — DL — Opelousas (2026)
The rising juniors help headline the roster on both sides of the ball, but Daughtery is a rising sophomore to monitor as another big-bodied defensive lineman alongside Ardoin that appears to move well and have a solid closing burst to chase down quarterbacks and other ball-carriers.