Isidore Newman Greenies | Spring 3-2-1 Spotlight

Isidore Newman transitions this year to life after Arch Manning — and, for that matter, Will Randle, Austin Guillory, Kai Donaldson, Will Zurik and the rest of the 2023 class.   And while the Greenies won't carry nearly the same hype and expectations from the outside, they are embracing their renewed underdog role and remain driven internally to aim for the same high goals.   Check out more information on some notable Isidore Newman 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.   <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/7SFEaGUFVuA </div></figure>   3 WELL-KNOWN RETURNERS   [player_tooltip player_id='291165' first='Brett' last='Bordelon'] — 6-5, 290 OL — Isidore Newman (2025)   An LSU commit is almost always the place to start when looking at teams' headline student-athletes. Father Ben Bordelon was an offensive lineman and team captain for the Tigers in the mid-1990s, and older brother Bo Bordelon is a 2022 signee already in Baton Rouge. Brett is already bigger than Bo was at the same age, moves well at his size and brings the feel for the game, maturity and work ethic one would expect from a young athlete who's largely grown up around the game at a high level. And he is the headline prospect in a trenches group with notable size for a Class 2A program that includes rising seniors Brandon Wilkins (6-2, 290), Heid Manning (6-1, 225), and Felipe Suazo (6-2, 165), rising juniors [player_tooltip player_id='914025' first='Jack' last='Del Castillo'] (6-6, 295) and Justin Wells (6-0, 230), rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='401960' first='Henry' last='Jackson'] (6-2, 285) and...   [player_tooltip player_id='144878' first='Will' last='Loerzel'] — 6-5, 240 TE/DL — Isidore Newman (2024)   and Peter Loop — 5-9, 160 WR — Isidore Newman (2024)   Two of the Greenies' major senior leaders this year figure to be two of the top passing targets for the team's new starting quarterback following Arch Manning's graduation and signing with Texas. Part of that aforementioned size in the trenches, Loerzel is already a target of programs such as Army, Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss, South Alabama, Nicholls State, Southeastern Louisiana and ULM and is receiving some interest from Tulane, Alabama, Florida State, Ole Miss and others. The tight end prospect is a big, physical two-way standout in the trenches for Isidore Newman, whose focus this offseason on continue to make strides as a receiving threat have been showing dividends in the spring, camp and 7-on-7 settings. Loop is a small, but quick receiver who earned an all-district selection this past fall. He consistently breaks himself open with his route-running and does a great job tracking the ball and making sure-handed catches, including balls over his shoulder and to the sideline.   <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/BTgZpeXpvD4 </div></figure>     D.J. Thomas — 5-11, 170 DB/WR — Isidore Newman (2024)   With more of the Greenies' more well-known players on the recruiting trail likely playing on offense at the next level, Thomas deserves some attention here as a defensive leader to watch. The speedy — or, as his nickname states, "Shifty" — athlete is also a two-way guy in high school, but projects most likely as a cornerback at the next level with offers thus far from Army, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Columbia, Cornell, Penn, Georgetown and Furman. His combination of discipline, instincts and closing speed keep him almost constantly in phase and make him a threat to be quickly headed the other direction if an opposing quarterback presents the opportunity.     2 BREAKOUT CANDIDATES   [player_tooltip player_id='914014' first='Eli' last='Friend'] — 6-1, 195 QB — Isidore Newman (2025)   The heir to Arch Manning's driver seat to the offense, Friend has all the confidence of his coaches and teammates and is handling the process of succeeding those big shoes with maturity and poise. The rising junior has looked early on this offseason to be one of Louisiana's better prospects at the position in his class, but this fall will provide a far better, more complete glimpse — both in the challenges presented by opponents and in Friend's ability to open up more of his all-around game as an athletic running threat to go along with his passing.   <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/W4APbYnUey0 </div></figure>     Isaiah Grant — 6-2, 225 LB — Isidore Newman (2024)   The Greenies' linebacker, a part of the school's back-to-back basketball state championships, is preparing for his second year with the football team. And while he's admittedly still learning the game and still catching up to speed on the physicality and overall feels for reads and angles, Grant has quickly and quietly shown the flashes of an intriguing athlete at his position at whom colleges should be taking some close looks this summer and fall.   <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/p0DKlnRmTg0 </div></figure>     1 UNDERCLASSMAN TO KNOW   [player_tooltip player_id='920625' first='Jake' last='Randle'] — 5-10, 170 RB — Isidore Newman (2026)   Like offensive linemen Heid Manning and [player_tooltip player_id='291165' first='Brett' last='Bordelon'], the shifty rising sophomore running back is another of the Greenies' talented younger brothers of recent college signees. Jake brings levels of comfort and confidence at a young age to the same field where he's watched and work with older brother Will Randle in recent season, but in a much different frame and skillset from the 2023 Texas tight end signee. Jake is an agile, shifty running back who isn't shy about running between the tackles or through contact, but had some of his biggest highlights this spring when he was able to get outside into space and make defenders miss. He joins rising senior Chance Cohn and Seth Perrilliat and young 2027 athlete [player_tooltip player_id='934574' first='Hendrix' last='Hill'] in the stable of backs.   <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/KX4K4vBHoR0 </div></figure>

Isidore Newman transitions this year to life after Arch Manning — and, for that matter, Will Randle, Austin Guillory, Kai Donaldson, Will Zurik and the rest of the 2023 class.