St. Thomas More Cougars | Offseason 3-2-1 Spotlight

Another year of St. Thomas More having to replace a large and decorated graduating class, and another year in which the Cougars appear eager to disprove anyone doubting their consistently contending program.   Legendary coach Jim Hightower's squad went back-to-back as champions again in 2022 and 2023, marking a fourth championship in the past five years and five in the past eight.   And while many of the names and faces may be different in 2024, the Cougars figure to again be among Louisiana's top teams to watch with some key returning leaders and a long list of talented teammates who look well-prepared to step into bigger roles.   St. Thomas More was among the first stops of Prep Redzone Louisiana's spring practice tours and a 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='914107' first='Nico' last='Blanchard'] — 6-0, 190 LB — St. Thomas More (2025)   Blanchard hit our radar at the end of his sophomore season with a critical onside recovery in the Cougars' thrilling comeback in the Division-II Select championship game and was one of our "breakout candidates" last summer heading into a bigger role on defense and what proved to be a strong junior campaign. The rising senior figures to be one of the leaders of the unit as a smart, speedy linebacker who covers a ton of ground in a hurry and arrives with hard-hitting physicality.   [player_tooltip player_id='914120' first='Brian' last='Broussard'] Jr. — 5-10, 170 DB — St. Thomas More (2025)   and [player_tooltip player_id='914125' first='Gavin' last='Duplechin'] — 6-1, 180 DB — St. Thomas More (2025)   Two more of the breakout candidates from last summer's 3-2-1 check-in, the junior defensive backs' performance played a huge role in the Cougars' repeat championship run. Broussard and Duplechin not only held their own as reliable coverage corners against an always-challenging schedule, but were high-impact difference-makers with their poise, anticipation and ball skills when quarterbacks attempted to test them. And the duo will now be among the most experienced, confident leaders on the entire team as seniors.   [player_tooltip player_id='1644772' first='Gabe' last='Mocek'] — 6-0, 210 RB — St. Thomas More (2025)   The junior chipped in about 400 yards and nine touchdowns as a key member of the Cougars' backfield stable with a couple senior teammates. Now the most experienced returning ball-carrier on the roster, Mocek figures to be a leader in what should be another good committee to lean on in the ground game. Dane Fossier is another rising senior returning with some experience under his belt, and rising juniors Carter Melancon and Blake Caillet are in the mix as well.     2 BREAKOUT CANDIDATES   John Barton — 5-11, 190 WR — St. Thomas More (2025)   and [player_tooltip player_id='1348536' first='Christian' last='Breaux'] — 6-2, 170 WR — St. Thomas More (2026)   St. Thomas More has been among Louisiana's best programs at consistently developing receivers into consistent, effective playmakers year in and year out. And this year should be no different in terms of guys prepared to step into bigger roles to replace graduating stars. [player_tooltip player_id='914114' first='Jacob' last='Froelich'] is the returning leader statistically, but the Cougars should also have a nice depth of weapons including: his fellow senior, Barton, as a dynamic pass-catcher we've heard a lot about behind the scenes and saw some big-play ability in flashes this past fall, and a rising junior in Breaux, a bigger target who made the most of some opportunities this spring.   [player_tooltip player_id='401749' first='Cole' last='Bergeron'] — 6-4, 210 QB — St. Thomas More (2026)   and [player_tooltip player_id='1336802' first='Matt' last='Parker'] — 6-5, 210 QB — St. Thomas Morę (2025)   The Cougars will have to fill big shoes at quarterback once again, but have made a habit of passing that baton extremely well every couple years for the past decade now. A pair of upperclassman quarterbacks with tall, solid builds, strong arms and a few varsity reps worked at the position this spring. And while Bergeron has been heavily covered on Prep Redzone Louisiana as one of the most promising quarterbacks in his class, the rising senior Parker shouldn't be overlooked in the battle for opportunities there — particularly for a program that has some background balancing multiple quarterbacks.     1 UNDERCLASSMAN TO KNOW   [player_tooltip player_id='1356151' first='Landon' last='Ortte'] — 6-2, 185 DB — St. Thomas More (2027)   The Cougars have one of the deepest and most patient programs in the state in terms of a wealth of upperclassmen in the varsity rotation and development through their sub-varsity levels having players prepared to hit the ground running when called upon as juniors or seniors. But Ortte is a notable underclassman to watch sooner than later as he appears poised to battle for playing time in the secondary as a sophomore.

Another year of St. Thomas More having to replace a large and decorated graduating class, and another year in which the Cougars appear eager to disprove anyone doubting their consistently contending program.