John Curtis Patriots | Spring 3-2-1 Spotlight

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>John Curtis climbed back atop the championship mountaintop in December, familiar territory for the state's longtime titles leader. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach J.T. Curtis and the Patriots will have to replace some key leaders, particularly on defense, but have worked this offseason to remain hungry and lay the foundation for this year's team to make its best run at another trophy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out more information on some notable John Curtis 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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/nrN6NIzMEmI","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"embed-handler","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <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/nrN6NIzMEmI </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 WELL-KNOWN RETURNERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139627' first='Michael' last='Turner'] Jr. — 6-2, 170 WR/DB/ATH — John Curtis (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The long, lean rising senior with track speed, smooth athleticism and strong ball skills is the big-name prospect on the roster this year — particularly on the heels of a spring semester that has seen his offer list explode from three to nearly 30, including Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia Tech, Nebraska, Arkansas, Auburn and Houston. Turner made big plays on both sides of the ball as a junior, including a touchdown reception and interception in the title game in December and enters his final high school season as one of the top players to watch in the New Orleans area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/F64jdtpwAio","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"embed-handler","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <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/F64jdtpwAio </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='675900' first='Dagan' last='Bruno'] — 6-2, 180 QB/ATH —&nbsp;John Curtis (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Patriots bring back their state-championship quarterback, a leader that J.T. Curtis praised heavily throughout the fall for the way he shouldered the responsibility and decision-making to run the offense. The three-sport standout showed the athleticism on the ground as a rushing complement to running backs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285662' first='Marlon' last='Prout']</strong>, <strong>Jason Gabriel</strong>, <strong>Kaheam Smith</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='901578' first='Anthony' last='Smith Jr.']</strong> and the passing ability to get the ball downfield to Turner and company and burn opposing defenses not respecting that threat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='675898' first='Orion' last='Duplessis'] — 6-5, 360 OL —&nbsp;John Curtis (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='677668' first='Bryce' last='Godfrey'] — 6-3, 270 OL — John Curtis (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A strong senior core returns up front, including a duo in the most recent Prep Redzone Louisiana top 150 for the class. The versatile Godfrey earned all-district and all-state honors as a junior leader in the group who has earned some college looks from Tulane, South Alabama and Lamar, and Duplessis garnered Grambling State, Graceland and Southern Miss offers earlier this spring. And the experienced group leading the room includes seniors Richard Newby and Christian Thibodaux among other veterans to know.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2 BREAKOUT CANDIDATES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914031' first='JoJo' last='Fagin'] — 6-3, 220 TE — John Curtis (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='901580' first='Tyler' last='Mitchell'] — 6-0, 180 WR — John Curtis (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coaches liked what they saw this spring from a pair of big targets for Bruno in the passing game. Fagin is a big, physical tight end excelling as both a blocker and a pass-catcher, and Mitchell provides a thickly built receiver opposite Turner who Curtis said is underrated and provides another big-play threat on the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='901569' first='Zachary' last='Drake'] — 6-3, 220 DL — John Curtis (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='145358' first='Jermal' last='Callio Jr.'] — 5-11, 175 DB — John Curtis (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With 2023 standouts such as Justin Horne, Austin Ackel and Blake Wibel graduating, the Patriots look to experienced returners like Drake in the box and Callio at corner to step into bigger leadership roles. Both made plays for a stingy unit in the fall — including a tackle for loss and interception, respectively, among the highlights of the state championship game —&nbsp;and should be among the top players to watch on that side of the ball this year along with Turner, senior linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='677677' first='Kaleb' last='Saavedra']</strong> and rising juniors linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710285' first='Hayden' last='Delatte']</strong>, safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710287' first='Jason' last='Curtis']</strong> and corner <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221211' first='Trey' last='Brown']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/PV0qmq5jWm8","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"embed-handler","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <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/PV0qmq5jWm8 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1 UNDERCLASSMAN TO KNOW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='920684' first='Jeffrey' last='Curtis'] —&nbsp;5-9, 185 LB — John Curtis (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401974' first='Kolston' last='Martinez'] —&nbsp;6-0, 185 ATH/LB — John Curtis (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='920677' first='Cain' last='Van Norden'] — 6-6, 225 DE — John Curtis (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Patriots have a crew of rising sophomores around the box who should see some playing time this year and could be interesting to watch develop over the years to come. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='920684' first='Jeffrey' last='Curtis'], a member of the next generation of the school's founding family, ended his freshman season with a fumble recovery to help ice away the team's state championship. [player_tooltip player_id='401974' first='Kolston' last='Martinez'] is a versatile athlete working as a hybrid strong safety/linebacker on defense, and [player_tooltip player_id='920677' first='Cain' last='Van Norden'] is a long, lean edge rusher with an intriguing frame that should give him a chance to earn him some next-level looks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->