Oak Grove Tigers | Offseason 3-2-1 Spotlight

Oak Grove has won back-to-back state championships and four in the past five years and has another deep, talented and experienced senior class leading the way heading into this fall.   The Tigers figure to again be one of the top title contenders in the non-select smaller-school divisions with a long list of familiar faces and potential future college athletes.   Oak Grove is among the first stops of Prep Redzone Louisiana's series of "Offseason 3-2-1" spotlights looking at three key returning standouts, two notable breakout candidates and one underclassman to know sooner than later.     3 WELL-KNOWN RETURNERS   [player_tooltip player_id='291089' first='Jackson' last='Bradley'] — 6-3, 200 QB — Oak Grove (2025)   and [player_tooltip player_id='1221054' first='Jay' last='Freeman'] — 5-8, 150 ATH — Oak Grove (2025)   The dynamic duo in the Tigers' offensive backfield returns as one of the best in the state. Bradley, the Louisiana Tech-committed quarterback, completed 85 of his 161 pass attempts as a junior for 1,641 yards and 20 touchdowns to just four interceptions and rushed 184 times for 1,401 yards and another 20 scores. Meanwhile Freeman, the speedy running back, added 1,603 yards and 24 touchdowns on 170 carries and another 501 yards and eight scores on 22 receptions. Bradley and Freeman gave opponents fits as a pick-your-poison tandem behind Oak Grove's always-physical offensive line. And there's no reason not to expect them to continue that success as seniors.   [player_tooltip player_id='1596804' first='Isaiah' last='Joles'] — 6-0, 245 DL — Oak Grove (2025)   and Seth Ray — 5-11, 195 LB — Oak Grove (2025)   Two of the Tigers' top returning defensive standouts entering last year will help lead the unit once again as seniors in 2024. Joles returns off an all-state junior campaign in the trenches with 79 tackles, including 10 sacks and 11 for loss, up front, and Ray's role figures to loom even more largely in the linebacking corps with the graduation of Southeastern Louisiana signee [player_tooltip player_id='421608' first='James' last='Harris'].   [player_tooltip player_id='291088' first='J.T.' last='Layton'] — 6-3, 200 TE — Oak Grove (2025)   and Brodie Stuart — 6-3, 165 WR — Oak Grove (2025)   Two of Bradley's top targets in the passing game return in his standout tight end in Layton and the tall, speedy receiver in Stuart. Layton has been a highly ranked prospect by Prep Redzone Louisiana in the state's 2025 class throughout his high school career with his balance as a big physical blocker expected from Oak Grove in the trenches, but also a smooth route-runner and typically reliable pass-catcher — and an occasional power running option . And the long, lean multisport standout Stuart particularly caught our attention this past fall as a big-play weapon on the outside with 29 receptions for 697 yards (24.0 yards per catch) and 10 touchdowns.     2 BREAKOUT CANDIDATES   [player_tooltip player_id='1348532' first='Owen' last='Layton'] — RB — Oak Grove (2026)   Oak Grove's younger Layton earned a few carries as a freshman in 2022, a notable jump this past fall as a sophomore — 42 carries for 321 yards and four scores — and is expected to shoulder a heavier load as a junior as another reliable, physical complement to Bradley and Freeman in the backfield.   [player_tooltip player_id='1221030' first='TaMarques' last='Pritchard'] — 6-1, 180 DB — Oak Grove (2025)   The Tigers' three-phase playmaker — particularly as a long, physical defensive back — was one of Prep Redzone Louisiana's "eye-catchers" from the Division IV Non-Select title game and would be a solid bet as notable recruiting stock-riser to watch in the state's 2025 class the rest of this year. Pritchard has good speed, instincts and ball skills and shows not only a willingness, but an enjoyment to play physically. And he'll be one of a few notable breakout candidates to watch in the secondary with fellow senior George Spencer, returning from an injury that sidelined him this past fall, and rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1348534' first='Tyde' last='Hurley'], a safety with great size, among others to watch for potential bigger roles and big strides.     1 UNDERCLASSMAN TO KNOW   [player_tooltip player_id='1356148' first='Eli' last='Burrell'] — DB — Oak Grove (2027)   The Tigers will rely heavily on a deep, talented and experienced senior class and some key juniors, but the rising sophomore is expected to compete for consistent playing time in the secondary.

Oak Grove has won back-to-back state championships and four in the past five years and has another deep, talented and experienced senior class leading the way heading into this fall.