Eye-catchers, Notes from St. Thomas More’s “Air It Out” 7v7

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several notable programs from not only Lafayette, but all over Louisiana, visited St. Thomas More on Thursday for the "Air It Out" large schools 7-on-7 tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The home-standing Cougars ultimately took care of business to claim the crown, but not without plenty of notable performances from several schools and athletes along the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out a few notes on 12 eye-catchers from the tournament below.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/9nwOqEjjrss","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/9nwOqEjjrss </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285278' first='Sam' last='Altmann'] | 6-3, 195 QB | St. Thomas More (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rising senior quarterback helped lead his Cougars to the event championship, including some darts perfectly timed and placed into tight windows. As mentioned earlier this summer, Altmann appears to be continuing to gain comfort and confidence after only taking over the starting quarterback role midway through the fall. And, discussing with coaches, he sounds pretty firmly on the radars of several Division-I college programs around the state and region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710071' first='Jaboree' last='Antoine'] | 6-2, 180 DB/ATH | Westgate (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rising junior star played big roles both way in helping lead his Tigers to the tournament semifinal. Antoine ran the offense and made some solid throws downfield, while also breaking up several passes with his length and physical play at his more natural and next-level position at defensive back. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914120' first='Brian' last='Broussard Jr.'] | 5-9, 160 DB | St. Thomas More (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cougars will rely on several relatively fresh faces in bigger roles on defense this fall as they attempt to make a potential run at another state championship. So seeing a few of the defensive backs step up the way they did to win Thursday's event was notable, including the rising junior cornerback who rose to the clutch occasion to snatch interceptions to start and seal the championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934589' first='Collin' last='DiBetta'] | 5-9, 170 WR | Acadiana (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>Omari Dupas | 5-6, 140 WR | Acadiana (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wreckin' Rams, traditionally known for their run-heavy veer offense, reached — and held a late lead in — the semifinals Thursday with rising junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='913931' first='Caden' last='DiBetta'] and a crew of speedy receivers, headlined by rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='426961' first='Russell' last='Babineaux'], having an impressive showing in the all-passing format. Rising senior "Speedy" Dupas may have had as many catches as anyone on the day, and </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1203348' first='Christian' last='Guillory'] | 6-5 DB | St. Louis Catholic (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Saints had the basketball standout working at corner with a tall, long frame that immediately caught the eye. Guillory appeared to still be getting comfortable, but found himself in good position more often than not to deflect passes — including one or two which he would potentially intercept as he gets more confident. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='901033' first='Amir' last='Hill'] | 6-1, 185 DB | Acadiana (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The long, rangy safety more than backed up his addition to the latest 2024 rankings update with his play, including at least two interceptions and several other big pass breakups. Hill fly around the field, covering lots of ground for the Wreckin' Rams' defense and showing good anticipation and break on passes anywhere close.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139506' first='Jaylin' last='Johnson'] | 6-2, 165 WR/ATH | Alexandria (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139511' first='Amyrion' last='Mingo'] | 5-11, 170 WR/ATH | Alexandria (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the event's more exciting and highlight-reel sequences came as Acadiana took a late lead on Alexandria in the semifinals, only for the Trojans to answer with poise and speed as rising senior quarterback Ty Feaster hit Johnson deep downfield, then Mingo in the end zone twice for a touchdown and subsequent conversion. Johnson is an intriguing athlete with a high ceiling for the next level if he's focused and puts his potential together, so continuing to build some confidence and rhythm entering the fall is notable to watch. And Mingo, a flat-out <em>football player</em> and a longtime Prep Redzone Louisiana favorite, showed his strong route-running and feel as he consistently worked his way open through traffic — particularly near the goal-line and in other critical moments.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ja'Corian Norris | 6-1, 180 WR/DB | Tioga (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Indians' three-phase standout is a good-looking athlete who will be added to the class rankings in the next update. His biggest plays in the matchups in which Prep Redzone Louisiana saw Tioga came on offense, including a big touchdown catch over a defender. But he shows notable ability at safety and as a returner on additional highlights from the fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914202' first='Caleb' last='Ricks'] | 6-1, 170 DB/ATH | St. Amant (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The tall, long cornerback manned the right side of the field for his Gators and allowed little, if anything his direction. In St. Amant's matchup against St. Louis Catholic, the Saints avoided Ricks almost entirely as he shadowed his man. He swatted and broke up the lone pass in his vicinity. Ricks is still finding his way and gaining confidence, but he is an intriguing prospect still under-the-radar who may prove a steal for the college that identifies, lands and continues to develop him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='145333' first='Diesel' last='Solari'] | 5-6, 160 ATH | Cecilia (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thursday marked Prep Redzone Louisiana's first time seeing the Bulldogs' talented and versatile rising junior leader back in (relatively) full action after missing much of his sophomore year, and Solari looked good leading the offense and slinging the ball around the field to his talented teammates — including freshman [player_tooltip player_id='934555' first='Braylon' last='Calais']. Both names are notable in to remember in their respective classes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->