Bootleggers 7v7 Bayou/River tryout/preseason eye-catchers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the spring nonscholastic/travel 7-on-7 season approaches, Prep Redzone Louisiana will preview some of the state's student-athletes to watch this spring with a series of tryout eye-catchers and names to know for the coming months.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next up: Nine talented players who stood out during the Louisiana Bootleggers' tryout events for the Bayou/River area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bootleggers are the state's — and one of the country's —&nbsp;longest-tenured organization of its kind, going back 15 years, and feature a handful of regional/metro teams that filter up to the statewide "national" team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(<em>Note: The scout/writer accepted a position this winter coordinating the roster selection of this organization's national teams.</em>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934578' first='Jye' last='Blain'] — 5-11, 165 DB — St. James (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wildcats' young safety played well on the back end of the defense with discipline to stay in position and decisive, speedy breaks on the ball, including at least one interception. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='742755' first='Peyton' last='Clement'] — 5-10, 150 QB/ATH —&nbsp;St. James (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Swaggy P" has been on radar in Louisiana from a young age as he spent time working with and around and learning from older standouts. Clement has transitioned during the past year from wide receiver, enjoyed a nice growth spurt during the first half of his freshman and is starting to look the part of a high school quarterback ready to compete this offseason for the big shoes to fill left by [player_tooltip player_id='285279' first='Brayden' last='Williams']' graduation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ja'Juan Jackson — 6-0, 180 QB — St. James (2028)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Louisiana, a state not historically known for producing as much quarterback talent as it does other positions, has another notable wave of young passers on the rise. And Jackson with his big frame and arm is another to start putting on the radar as he begins his high school career this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934581' first='Derrick' last='Pittman Jr.'] — 5-8, 145 RB/ATH —&nbsp;St. James (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the standouts of the Wildcats' loaded stable of backs, Pittman was one of the most explosive athletes at the event and used that burst to consistently work free on routes out of the backfield and the slot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221060' first='Ryan' last='Simmons'] —&nbsp;5-8, 140 DB — Hahnville (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The winner of a "last man standing" competition in 1-on-1's on an interception of a ricocheting pass, the Hahnville defensive back was quick and strong with his hands in press coverage, stayed constantly in phase and played with patience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='940554' first='Trenajh' last='Smith'] — 6-1, 160 DB/WR — South Terrebonne (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The long, lean and versatile looks, athletically, to be one of the top prospects to watch in Louisiana's freshman class with his most natural role appearing to come at safety or potentially cornerback, though he also has some experience at receiver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1237625' first='Kalum' last='Verdin'] — 6-0, 160 WR/DB — Terrebonne (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Terrebonne transfer from H.L. Bourgeois was among the top receivers, consistently creating space and playing the ball well in the air.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401966' first='Jakias' last='Villanueva'] —&nbsp;5-6, 155 RB/WR — St. James (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The speedy young athlete etched out a role as a sophomore as one of the most productive weapons on a Wildcats squad that returned to its first state championship game since 2019 and looks poised for a huge spring on the 7-on-7 circuit where his strengths such as quickness, feel for route-running and smooth, secure receiving ability </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1220962' first='Jarrell' last='Williams'] — 6-1, 195 DB — St. James (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The veteran of the heavy St. James contingent on this list came up with some of the afternoon's biggest defensive plays with his length and ball skills at safety helping intercept at least one pass and deflect several others.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->