Edna Karr Cougars | Offseason 3-2-1 Spotlight

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a historic four straight state championships from 2016 to 2019, Edna Karr has now gone four-plus years seeking its next title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But a Cougars roster that is not only talented, but has also impressed coaches with its character, camaraderie and work ethic looks to be as strong a contender as any team in the Division-I Select field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edna Karr continues 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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 WELL-KNOWN RETURNERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913897' first='Corey' last='Adams Jr.'] — 6-4, 240 DL — Edna Karr (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710991' first='Richard' last='Anderson'] — 6-3, 350 DL — Edna Karr (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of Louisiana's newest SEC commits — Anderson to LSU this past Friday and Adams to Ole Miss on Thursday — help headline one of the state's top position groups. Edna Karr should enjoy good depth up front again this fall, but that starts with the duo of returning all-district selections: the big-bodied, but quick defensive tackle in Anderson and the versatile, inside-outside playmaker in Adams, both of whom can prove absolute nightmare for opposing offensive lines and backfields. The Cougars also return rising senior defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914017' first='Lyric' last='Hawkins']</strong> as another consistent playmaker from the 2023 starting lineup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='426960' first='TaRon' last='Francis'] — 6-1, 190 WR — Edna Karr (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of SEC commits and impressive position groups, the LSU-committed "ManChild" headlines another loaded Edna Karr receiving corps heading into his senior year. The strong and explosive Francis, new Tulane commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1214144' first='Oliver' last='Mitchell Jr.']</strong>, fellow rising seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710768' first='Daejawn' last='Smith']</strong> and <strong>Bryant Sanchez </strong>and rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1348420' first='Anthony' last='Thomas']</strong> have all caught our attention at different points this offseason and should have their opportunities this fall for big plays and big games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291158' first='Arsenio' last='Bolds Jr.'] — 5-11, 210 LB — Edna Karr (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401932' first='Aiden' last='Hall'] — 6-2, 185 DB — Edna Karr (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anderson, Adams and company will help set the tone in the trenches, but the Cougars' defense is full of talent at every level with close friends Bolds and Hall among the leaders of the linebacking corps and secondary, respectively. Bolds, himself with background as a safety, has continued to develop into more of a linebacker where his thick build, intelligence and instinct and vocal leadership serve him well as a quarterback of the unit. And Hall, one of the nation's elite rising junior safety prospects, is a rangy athlete who can cover a lot of ground in a hurry and also plays with explosive physicality.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2 BREAKOUT CANDIDATES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='920629' first='John' last='Johnson'] — 6-0, 170 QB — Edna Karr (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The quarterback with all those aforementioned weapons at his disposal, Johnson had a strong — at times prolific — first season at the helm of the offense before a few tough games late against top competition. And the expectation in Algiers is for him to learn and grow from those experiences — both the highs and the lows — and be even quicker in his reads and decision-making and more poised and confident overall in season's biggest moments and biggest stages as the Cougars continue their hunt for another state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710970' first='Hayward' last='Howard Jr.'] — 6-1, 170 DB — Edna Karr (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1237623' first='Maurice' last='Williams'] — 5-10, 155 DB — Edna Karr (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two of Louisiana's top rising junior defensive backs figure to be among the other top playmakers in the secondary with Hall, rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1644718' first='Cody' last='Morris']</strong>, rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1602024' first='Torrence' last='Sanders']</strong> and company. The fast, rangy Howard transferred to the West Bank school this year and in addition to his background at corner has also worked reps this offseason as a safety alongside Hall, while "Moe" was already starting to make a name for himself with timely plays at corner as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1 UNDERCLASSMAN TO KNOW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1281163' first='Kaiden' last='Lucas'] — 6-1, 180 DB — Edna Karr (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1240838' first='Jamichael' last='Quinn'] — 6-0, 190 LB — Edna Karr (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cougars are never lacking for talent. And even with great 2025 and 2026 classes ahead of them, a few rising sophomores have already started to chip in their own timely highlights during this offseason — including well-timed deflections by the rangy and versatile Lucas during the spring game at Destrehan in May and an interception by Quinn this past weekend at the Ragin' Cajuns' 7-on-7 tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->