McDonogh 35 Roneagles | Spring 3-2-1 Spotlight
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McDonogh 35 finished this past fall with an 8-4 record, its best since a 2019 Class 3A semifinal team. The Roneagles return a core group of seniors — including a handful of all-district performers — and have seen a few…
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Continue ReadingMcDonogh 35 finished this past fall with an 8-4 record, its best since a 2019 Class 3A semifinal team.
The Roneagles return a core group of seniors — including a handful of all-district performers — and have seen a few talented 2025 and 2026 athletes earn bigger roles and, already in some cases, college offers.
Check out more information on some notable McDonogh 35 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
Thai Brown Thai Brown 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB McDonogh 35 | 2024 State LA — 5-10, 175 DB — McDonogh 35 (2024)
and Armani Bell — 6-0, 170 DB — McDonogh 35 (2024)
Brown earned all-state recognition this fall with a breakout junior campaign that included seven interceptions. Brown has good ball skills and long speed, including qualifying for outdoor track and field state championships in the 400-meter, that can quickly turn a takeaway into six points the other direction. Southeast Missouri State, Georgia Tech and Central Arkansas have become the first colleges to extend offers, and Tulane and others have shown some interest. Brown earned all-district honors this fall and has seen his recruitment pick up in recent months as well with Arkansas State and Alcorn State offers and Troy and Middle Tennessee interest.
Santana Price Santana Price 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB McDonogh 35 | 2024 LA — 5-11, 180 QB — McDonogh 35 (2024)
and Craig Davis Craig Davis 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR McDonogh 35 | 2024 State LA — 6-1, 185 WR — McDonogh 35 (2024)
and Dameon McCloud — 5-11, 160 WR — McDonogh 35 (2024)
The rising senior trio of 2022 all-district performers returns to lead the offense for one more season. Price has the trust and confidence of his coaches and teammates in his third year at the helm. On the college front, Davis and McCloud reported offers from Wright State and Buffalo, respectively, during the spring semester — the former in January and latter in May.
Peyton McFarland Peyton McFarland 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB McDonogh 35 | 2024 State LA — 6-1, 200 DL/LB — McDonogh 35 (2024)
The returning second-team all-district defensive end is the Brown’s counterpart up front with his explosiveness off the left end to consistently disrupt opposing backfields. The Roneagles continue to enjoy a nice run of edge rushers with McFarland now stepping into the senior shoes following the latest graduation of 2023 Lamar signee Alex Sumler. Arkansas State extended a scholarship offer last spring, and Tulane and South Alabama have been among programs to show recent interest.
2 BREAKOUT CANDIDATES
Keith Newsome Keith Newsome 6'2" | 200 lbs | DL McDonogh 35 | 2025 State LA — 6-2, 200 DL — McDonogh 35 (2025)
The rising junior is the next up behind McFarland in the program’s aforementioned edge-rushing lineage and provides a nice balance to the defensive front working from the right end. While being listed slightly larger than McFarland, the tandem boast similarly explosive first steps and quickness around blockers as their strengths and can blow up opponents’ plays before they get started.
Deshawn Dales Deshawn Dales 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB McDonogh 35 | 2025 LA — 5-10, 170 DB — McDonogh 35 (2025)
Another rising junior to know on defense, the strong safety is a solidly built and strong athlete with active hands deflecting passes covering the slot, dropping back in zone or providing an extra rusher off the edge.
1 UNDERCLASSMAN TO KNOW
Jakai Anderson Jakai Anderson 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR McDonogh 35 | 2026 State LA — WR/ATH — McDonogh 35 (2026)
The speedy sophomore’s recruitment exploded during the spring practice period with seven offers in a 10-day span from Georgia Tech, Memphis, Tulane, Grambling State, Troy, UTSA and Southern University. Anderson was a notable highlight in the Roneagles’ spring game with big plays on both offense — taking a quick pass, making defenders miss and dashing up the sideline to the end zone — and defense — breaking on a ball and snatching an interception.