Football standouts to watch at 2024 track championships | 5A
In this article:
Three days of state championships this week punctuate the LHSAA’s outdoor track and field season. Top athletes from around the state will compete Thursday, Friday and Saturday at LSU’s Bernie Moore Stadium. And many of the events include notable football…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThree days of state championships this week punctuate the LHSAA’s outdoor track and field season.
Top athletes from around the state will compete Thursday, Friday and Saturday at LSU’s Bernie Moore Stadium.
And many of the events include notable football standouts, including some college-bound signees in their final high school events.
Here are several individual events to monitor Saturday as Class 5A helps wrap up the busy weekend.
———————————— CLASS 5A ————————————
(Complete Class 5A heat sheet)
JUMPS (AND MORE)
Scotlandville defensive back Broderick Davis Broderick Davis 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Scotlandville | 2024 State LA (23-00.50) and Ruston defensive back Aidan Anding Aidan Anding 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Ruston | 2025 State LA (23-00.25) lead a Class 5A long jump field full of football flavor.
Catholic (Baton Rouge)’s Alex Huffine (23-00.00), St. Amant’s Robert Wiliams (22-08.00), the Destrehan duo of Damien Richard II (22-01.00) and Tai Terrell Tai Terrell 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Destrehan | 2024 State LA (21-10.00), Terrebonne’s Alvin Celestin Alvin Celestin 5'9" | 155 lbs | ATH Terrebonne | 2026 State LA (21-08.25) and Alexandria’s Marquis Butler (21-08.00) all bring varying football backgrounds to the group.
High jump favorite Kyron Sumler (7-00.00) is a member of the John Curtis football roster and will try to hold off a cast of fellow multisport challengers that includes Dutchtown’s Austen Nelson (6-07.00), Airline’s Jeremiah Boudreaux (6-06.00), Southeastern Louisiana-signed John Ehret standout Darnell O’Quinn Darnell O’Quinn 5'11" | 150 lbs | WR John Ehret | 2024 State LA (6-06.00), Acadiana’s Damon Lewis (6-06.00) and Scotlandville’s Alden Dupree (6-05.00).
Butler (47-7.00), Richard (43-05.00) and Terrell (43-02.50) will compete in the triple jump as well, joining Scotlandville receiver Ferzell Shepard Ferzell Shepard 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Scotlandville | 2025 State LA Jr. (47-08.50), Carencro’s Joni Martin Joni Martin 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Carencro | 2024 State LA (45-04.00) and John Ehret’s Ke’ain Shorts Ke’ain Shorts 5'8" | 150 lbs | WR Helen Cox | 2025 LA (44-04.00) in another football-heavy event.
And a seemingly wide-open pole vault includes Walker’s Aidan Brumfield, West Ouachita’s Slade Sanford, Live Oak’s Will Price and Benton’s Miller Malley among the five athlete with matching 13-06.00 qualifying heights atop the field that also includes Barbe defensive back Carter Hooks (13-00.00) and Hahnville kicker Ryan Abadie (12-06.00) among the challengers.
HURDLES
Scotlandville’s Broderick Davis Broderick Davis 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Scotlandville | 2024 State LA , scheduled for a busy day with six events total, leads the 110-meter field with a 14.29-second qualifying time.
Airline’s Jeremiah Boudreaux, also in the high jump and 4×400-meter relay, is one of five athletes overall competing in both the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles with his qualifying times of 14.35 and 37.16, respectively — the second-fastest 110-meter and fastest 300-meter qualifying times in Class 5A.
That group that also includes Zachary defensive back Vederek Matthews Vederek Matthews DB Zachary | 2024 State LA (14.45 and 38.48).
The 110-meter field also includes Jesuit’s Ja’ir Burks (15.16), Hahnville’s David Powell (15.18) and New Iberia’s LeMarionze “Mario” Allen (15.36).
Scotlandville’s Dylan Evans (38.99), Edna Karr’s Jayden Hunter (40.17), New Iberia’s Allen Hamilton (40.54) and Terrebonne’s Braylon Brown Braylon Brown 5'8" | 160 lbs | DB Opelousas | 2026 LA (40.61) join Boudreaux and Matthews in the 300-meter group.
SPRINTS/RUNS
Destrehan wide receiver Phillip Wright III Phillip Wright III 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR Destrehan | 2025 State LA leads the 100- and 200-meter dash with qualifying times of 10.57 seconds and 21.41 seconds, respectively.
The highlight touted 2025 recruit is one of five total athletes competing in both events, including fellow football standouts in Dutchtown’s Lekedrin Harvey (10.71 and 21.83), Holy Cross’ Josh Brown (10.73 and 21.75) and Ruston’s Aidan Anding Aidan Anding 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Ruston | 2025 State LA (10.98 and 22.20).
Tulane-signed John Ehret standout Armani Cargo Armani Cargo 5'11" | 160 lbs | DB John Ehret | 2024 State LA (10.65), Mississippi Valley State-signed Scotlandville standout Kyree Langley Kyree Langley 5'11" | 185 lbs | DB Scotlandville | 2024 State LA (10.75) and Acadiana receiver Omari Dumas (10.97) will compete in the 100-meter.
Parkway’s Will Achee will is the lone athlete competing in both the 200-meter (21.64) and 400-meter (48.03) races.
The aforementioned Broderick Davis Broderick Davis 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Scotlandville | 2024 State LA (21.62) of Scotlandville, Edna Karr’s Lance Williams (21.82) and New Iberia’s Gregory Brooks III (22.37) are more football names to know in the 200-meter dash.
Barbe defensive back Darryl Washington (47.74), Acadiana’s Tourean Campbell (48.99), Catholic (Baton Rouge)’s Hunter Ullrich (49.10) and previously mentioned multi-event Scotlandville standout Ferzell Shepard Ferzell Shepard 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Scotlandville | 2025 State LA Jr. (50.02) bring some additional football flair to the 400-meter group.
Many of those individual runners will also compete in various relays, including Shepard, Davis and Langley in Scotlandville’s favored 4×100-, 4×200- and 4×400-meter teams.
Edna Karr and Acadiana represent the top challengers in the 4×100- and 4×200-meter races with the Cougars’ group highlighted by receivers Taron Francis, Oliver Mitchell and Bryant Sanchez and the Wreckin’ Rams’ group that includes Russell Babineaux Russell Babineaux 5'9" | 160 lbs | ATH Acadiana | 2025 State LA , Braylon Noel Braylon Noel 5'10" | 160 lbs | DB Acadiana | 2025 State LA , Keeman Thibodeaux Keeman Thibodeaux 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Acadiana | 2025 LA , Jonah Gauthier Jonah Gauthier 5'7" | 170 lbs | RB Acadiana | 2025 LA and the aforementioned Dupas and Campbell.
Wright, Richard and Terrell, star 2026 receiver Jabari Mack Jabari Mack 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Destrehan | 2026 State LA and 2025 running back Shane Ward Shane Ward 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Destrehan | 2025 LA are among the top football names on Destrehan’s 4×100-meter relay.
Among the other most recognizable relay teams for football fans: the John Curtis 4×200-meter that includes LSU-signed receiver/corner Michael Turner Michael Turner 6'1" | 145 lbs | ATH John Curtis | 2024 State LA Jr., running backs Jason Gabriel Jr. Jason Gabriel Jr. 5'10" | 180 lbs | ATH John Curtis | 2024 State LA and Marlon Prout Marlon Prout 5'8" | 155 lbs | RB John Curtis | 2024 State LA and defensive back Trey Brown Trey Brown 5'10" | 165 lbs | DB John Curtis | 2025 State LA and the Ruston 4×100-meter that includes the aforementioned Aidan Anding Aidan Anding 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Ruston | 2025 State LA , quarterback Joshua Brantley Joshua Brantley 6'4" | 200 lbs | ATH Ruston | 2025 State LA and running back Dylone Brooks Dylone Brooks 5'10" | 205 lbs | RB Ruston | 2025 LA .
THROWS
Highly touted defensive line recruit Devon Oliver Devon Oliver 6'3" | 275 lbs | DL Parkway | 2025 State LA of Parkway leads the field in the discus with a 176-04 qualifying distance and is second in the shot put (53-08.75).
Central Lafourche lineman Kaden Adams (57-00.50) boasts the top qualifying mark in the shot put.
Ponchatoula defensive lineman Troy-Kee Butler Troy-Kee Butler 6'3" | 250 lbs | DL Ponchatoula | 2024 State LA will also participate in both events, qualifying at 48-11.00 in the shot put and 139-01 in the discus.
Barbe’s Michael Fulton Michael Fulton 6'3" | 200 lbs | DL Barbe | 2025 State LA (52-09.50), Lafayette’s Triston Cormier (51-07.00), Scotlandville’s Tyler Knighten Tyler Knighten 6'3" | 215 lbs | DL Scotlandville | 2024 State LA (51-06.00), top-ranked St. Augustine sophomore defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart Jahkeem Stewart 6'6" | 280 lbs | DL St. Augustine | 2026 State LA (50-06.00), Zachary offensive lineman Keidrick Bailey Jr. (49-03.00) and Jesuit offensive lineman Spencer Waguespack (47-08.00) will compete in the shot put.
And Airline’s Malik Word (164-03), Woodlawn (Baton Rouge)’s Khamory Gipson (158-09), Catholic (Baton Rouge)’s Jack Torrance, Thibodaux’s Luke Guidry and Archbishop Rummel linebacker Robert Vaughn Jr. (130-09) provide further football representation in the discus.
Catholic (Baton Rouge) star Paul Catalanatto (205-07), who played football prior to this year, is the favorite to claim another javelin title.
John Curtis edge rusher Zach Drake (198-00), quarterbacks Gavin Stout (183-09.50) of Sam Houston and Jeffery King (183-03) of Benton, Walker’s Maddox Reine (182-09) and Brother Martin’s Landon Craig (168-00) are among the challengers in the event.