Destrehan Wildcats | Spring 3-2-1 Spotlight

Destrehan's 2023 class concreted its legacy in the program's proud history this past December when the talented, deep and veteran group helped lead the way back to state-championship glory.   But even with so much of the core of that team now graduating and heading to college, the Wildcats remain well-positioned among Louisiana's top title contenders in the years ahead with key 2024 prospects taking on larger leadership roles and budding young 2025 and 2026 standouts continuing to come into their own.   Check out more information on some notable Terrebonne players in Prep Redzone Louisiana's latest "Spring 3-2-1" spotlight looking at three key returning standouts, two notable breakout candidates and one underclassman to know sooner than later.     3 WELL-KNOWN RETURNERS   [player_tooltip player_id='285192' first='Kolaj' last='Cobbins'] — 6-3, 225 LB/DL — Destrehan (2024)   Even as a junior on a senior-led team on a title mission, "Tut" was a pretty high-profile player this fall, capped as a District Defensive MVP and a Class 5A all-state selection alongside four of his senior teammates. Add an LSU commitment this spring and continued development of his body and game to look increasingly college-ready, and the edge-rusher is both one of the experienced returning leaders for a Wildcats program that should still be firmly in the conversation of championship contention and one of the most well-known players in the state entering this fall. Another all-district performer in Jairin McCall is the lead returning name inside with end [player_tooltip player_id='421656' first='Gideon' last='Bowman'] and linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1211820' first='Arrington' last='Adams'], [player_tooltip player_id='505643' first='Myd' last='Gilbert'] and [player_tooltip player_id='710284' first='Semaj' last='Walker'] among other names in the front seven on Prep Redzone Louisiana's radar.   <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/WxFYdZEQDjo </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='285271' first='Anthony' last='Robinson III'] — 6-0, 185 ATH — Destrehan (2024)   Another 2024 standout who played a notable role on this fall's undefeated run, Robinson is an explosive and versatile three-phase and multisport athlete who can bring track speed, intelligence and physicality to a variety of roles on either side of the ball or in the return game. Big college programs such as Miami, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, TCU and many others on his long offer list are primarily recruiting him as a safety, but he has also shown plenty of ability to make plays with the ball in his hands out of the backfield or split out. Keep an eye on Tai Terrell as another experienced name to know in a secondary replacing a handful of standouts from the 2022 roster.   <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/uELq_702ec8 </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='285276' first='Shane' last='Lee'] — 5-9, 200 RB — Destrehan (2024)   Four of Destrehan's 14 selections on the District 7-5A team this fall were juniors: Cobbins, Robinson and McCall on defense and Lee on offense. The strong, downhill runner — also a standout for the school's baseball team — with some big-play burst figures to be an even more critical piece of equation in his final high school season as a young quarterback takes over for Tulane-signed star and leader Jai Eugene Jr. Lee, who has enjoyed recent offers from Nicholls State and Arkansas State and interest from Florida State and Miami, said he's working this offseason on becoming a bigger threat in the passing game and showed some of those dividends at the end of the spring game with a long receiving score.     2 BREAKOUT CANDIDATES   [player_tooltip player_id='675893' first='Jayce' last='Mitchell'] — 6-4, 285 OL — Destrehan (2024)   The Wildcats will have to replace three all-district performers from a dominant offensive line group that paved the way for Eugene, Lee and company this fall. Mitchell is the top athlete returning in the position group with out-of-state Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Cal, Troy, Memphis, Colorado State, UTSA, Jackson State and Alcorn State joining a local crew of Tulane, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana (Lafayette), ULM and Grambling State in ramping up his recruitment this spring. And Michael Reed and Yarnell Smith are other familiar faces to know.   <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/L4cVjYjEWOo </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='421517' first='Makylon' last='Smothers'] — 6-3, 180 WR — Destrehan (2024)   Legitimately half a dozen or more receivers should be included in this section, but we'll give lead billing to the rising senior who may initially surprise some fans and opponents after missing this past season with injury. Smothers appeared early in the 2022 offseason to be poised to be a major breakout candidate this past summer and fall before being sidelined. But now he's back full-go — including recent Grambling State and Louisiana Tech offers — and returns his highlight-reel big-play ability to the perimeter of the Wildcats' offense. The list of Destrehan receivers to have already received offers also includes rising juniors [player_tooltip player_id='426964' first='Phillip' last='Wright III'] and [player_tooltip player_id='291153' first='Johnnie' last='Thiel IV'] and rising sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='212340' first='Jabari' last='Mack'] and Greg Wilfred, all of whom are among the top prospects in their respective classes. Additionally, [player_tooltip player_id='710272' first='Jhase' last='Thomas'], the son of former New Orleans Saints cornerback Fred Thomas, is a notable 2025 prospect with background at quarterback, receiver and defensive back that has started to garner college 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/WxQWxlu_emY </div></figure>     1 UNDERCLASSMAN TO KNOW   [player_tooltip player_id='401763' first='Jackson' last='Fields'] — 6-2, 185 QB — Destrehan (2026)   Mack and Wilfred's rising sophomore classmate will take the reins of the offense with lots of confidence from his teammates and coaches as he fills Eugene's big shoes in the role. Fields is another of the state's promising young prospects early in the development of the class with good size, arm and athleticism. His freshman numbers were impressive in his opportunities this past fall and had a strong spring showing that garnered praise from his receivers entering the summer.   <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/DIWx6J19gz4 </div></figure>

Destrehan's 2023 class concreted its legacy in the program's proud history this past December when the talented, deep and veteran group helped lead the way back to state-championship glory.