Calvary Baptist Cavaliers | Summer 3-2-1 Spotlight

A Calvary Baptist squad loaded with talent, experience and confidence is eager to make a run at its first title since 2020.   The Cavaliers have been familiar faces on the 7-on-7 and camp circuits during Prep Redzone Louisiana's offseason tours and garner their edition in the series of "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/8NflP0UcJBg </div></figure>     3 WELL-KNOWN RETURNERS   [player_tooltip player_id='710073' first='James' last='Simon'] — 6-0, 200 RB — Calvary Baptist (2025)   and John Simon IV — 5-10, 160 WR — Calvary Baptist (2024)   The sons of former Southern Lab and Louisiana Tech star John Ray Simon, a longtime college assistant now the offensive coordinator at Grambling State, have been the Cavaliers' headline prospects thus far. "Jay," the rising senior wide receiver, is committed to following his father's footsteps in Ruston. And James, an all-district running back as a sophomore, has emerged as one of the state's top prospects in the 2025 class, including offers from LSU, Alabama, Texas A&M, Texas, USC and several other of the nation's top programs. From a recruiting standpoint, the Simon brothers are the most well-known athletes, but the Cavaliers' depth of weapons — and established weapons — is impressive, including returning all-district wide receivers [player_tooltip player_id='139473' first='Aubrey' last='Hermes'] (2024) and [player_tooltip player_id='291081' first='Kolby' last='Thomas'] (2025).   <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/eIHPSX3LCBE </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='145363' first='Landon' last='Sylvie'] — 5-10, 170 DB — Calvary Baptist (2024)   and [player_tooltip player_id='144896' first='Julius' last='Moss'] — 5-9, 185 DB/ATH — Calvary Baptist (2025)   and [player_tooltip player_id='285616' first='Hutch' last='Grace'] — 6-1, 215 DB/LB — Calvary Baptist (2024)   Similar to the receiving corps, the secondary boasts a notable depth of talent. And the dynamic trio of smart, versatile safeties have headlined the group thus far. Sylvie, the younger brother of former Calvary Baptist and Oklahoma star Chanse Sylvie, is a ballhawking, communicative defensive quarterback and one of the more underrated players in the rising senior class with offers thus far from Southeastern Louisiana, Nicholls State, Grambling State, Furman and Lane. And the same could be said for the dynamic two-way playmaker Moss, the grandson of former LSU receiver Tony Moss, in the rising junior class with Grambling State and UAB among his early offers. Both Grace, the biggest of the group, has worked as more of a linebacker/safety hybrid, but shown notable coverage and ball skills to go with his physicality — including an eight-interception sophomore season and all-district co-defensive MVP honors as a junior.   <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/7ddykjLcPhU </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='144901' first='Abram' last='Wardell'] — 5-11, 190 QB — Calvary Baptist (2025)   The Cavaliers return their starting quarterback from this past season in Wardell, who earned all-district honors with an impressively efficient sophomore campaign. The heir to record-setting former Calvary Baptist star Landry Lyddy completed 145 of his 186 passes (78%) for 2,410 yards and 33 touchdowns to just four interceptions — including a streak of seven straight games without a pick from late September to late November. Wardell has had a strong offseason on both the travel and school 7-on-7 circuits spreading the ball around to the Simons, Thomas, Moss and several other teammates from that deep receiving corps. With time provided by the offensive line, led by [player_tooltip player_id='1203191' first='Jimmy' last='Wright'] (2024) and [player_tooltip player_id='1077570' first='Ethan' last='Sands'] (2025), the offense can be difficult to stop.   <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/niJMh-MuYZU </div></figure>     2 BREAKOUT CANDIDATES   [player_tooltip player_id='285663' first='Chris' last='Jackson'] Jr. — 6-1, 185 ATH — Calvary Baptist (2024)   Dozens of players could easily warrant highlights in this section, but we'll focus on a pair of versatile, two-way athletes — one standing out primarily on each side of the ball. Jackson has shown playmaking ability in the secondary, but has particularly stood out as a reliable receiver with good size, the ability to go up over defenders and consistently make tough catches in the air and also some agility to make tacklers miss for yards after the catch. He caught 29 passes for 510 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior — all top-three marks on the team. Additionally, [player_tooltip player_id='139496' first='Taylor' last='Guerrero'] (2024) and [player_tooltip player_id='914111' first='Titus' last='Stringer'] (2025) help round out the depth of the group.   [player_tooltip player_id='285202' first='Chaz' last='Whitaker'] — 5-9, 160 RB/DB — Calvary Baptist (2024)   Whitaker had primarily been on the Prep Redzone Louisiana radar as a running back early in his career, but has developed into another nice cornerback alongside the underrated [player_tooltip player_id='285201' first='Detravon' last='Davis'] (2024). The quick, high-IQ duo plays with great chemistry with the aforementioned safeties — and, for that matter, linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='139492' first='Lavorziesa' last='Houston'] (2024) and [player_tooltip player_id='291164' first='Cole' last='Miller'] (2025) — for an all-around stingy secondary and pass defense that prides itself with a level of "DBU" swagger. The speedy Whitaker is a shorter, but strong and physical athlete who plays with good patience and discipline both in his mirroring of opposing wide receivers and in swiping away of late pass breakups.     1 UNDERCLASSMAN TO KNOW   [player_tooltip player_id='261907' first='Peyton' last='Houston'] — 5-11, 180 QB — Calvary Baptist (2027)   and [player_tooltip player_id='934564' first='Braylun' last='Huglon'] — 5-10, 160 DB — Calvary Baptist (2027)   The talent stream coming through Calvary Baptist doesn't appear to be running dry anytime soon, and a couple of young standouts have already emerged as not only the early faces of the 2027 class, but of playmakers to expect notable contributions as freshmen. "Pop" Houston already holds a long list of offers that includes Texas A&M, TCU, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Houston, Purdue, Louisiana Tech and Grambling State and has earned and performed well in heavy reps on the 7-on-7 circuit with a special combination of both arm talent and maturity at his age. On the other side of the ball, Ole Miss and Texas Tech have extended early offers to Huglon, who has also excelled in his early reps as a speedy corner who fits well in the veteran secondary.

A Calvary Baptist squad loaded with talent, experience and confidence is eager to make a run at its first title since 2020.