Eye-catchers from Edna Karr vs. Destrehan spring game

High schools around Louisiana wrapped up their weeks of spring football practice this month with scrimmages that provided a pre-summer glimpse of their early progress toward the upcoming season.   None has been more high-profile in recent years than the date between perennial powers Destrehan and Edna Karr, which once again drew college coaches from coast to coast to check out the talented teams.   Prep Redzone Louisiana was able to catch a half-dozen of those matchups during the span of eight days, including the Wildcats' and Cougars' showdown.   Here's a look at some of the top eye-catchers from the matchup.     [player_tooltip player_id='710991' first='Richard' last='Anderson'] — 6-4, 330 DL — Edna Karr (2026)   The Cougars' star defensive tackle appeared ready to pick up where he left off in his dominant title-game performance in December. The LSU commit traded his old No. 90 jersey for a No. 7 worn in recent years by many of the program's top defensive playmakers and leaders and was consistently into the backfield to debut his new number in disruptive style. Edna Karr will once again have college-bound talent at every level of the defense, but the pressure Anderson is able to apply at the point of attack sets the table.   [player_tooltip player_id='1610129' first='Juelz' last='Batiste'] — 6-4, 230 EDGE — Edna Karr (2027)   Edna Karr has to replace several key pieces of their undefeated title team from this fall, but appears in most places to have notable talent poised for breakout seasons in their respective roles. Batiste, the rising junior edge rusher, is among the most intriguing new faces to watch on the squad with the frame, build and athleticism to be among the top prospects in Louisiana's 2027 class. He debuted in the top 50 of Prep Redzone Louisiana's rankings for the cycle this winter based on only small glimpses of his potential, but he looked this spring more than capable of backing up — if not exceeding — that early billing as he continued to fire off the edge and into the backfield.   [player_tooltip player_id='401932' first='Aiden' last='Hall'] — 6-2, 185 DB — Edna Karr (2026)   Anderson's fellow LSU commit also appeared in many ways in midseason form as he patrolled the middle of the field from his safety spot, barking out identification and encouragement to his teammates and flying around the field for jarring hits and pass breakups. As much as Anderson sets a tone with the pressure he applies up front, Hall does with the attitude and energy he brings in his role. And with the duo and the team as a whole not shy about their plans to repeat as state champions, Hall was already playing with notable intensity nearly four months ahead of the actual season.   [player_tooltip player_id='920629' first='John' last='Johnson'] III — 6-0, 170 QB/ATH — Edna Karr (2026)   Coach Brice Brown said at the beginning of spring practices that Edna Karr's dynamic, dual-threat quarterback had been more banged up at times this fall and played through more than many media or fans might have realized and that, now healthy, he should be even more of a threat with his legs as a senior. That forecast was certainly true in the spring rehearsal as the Liberty commit repeatedly sliced his way to big gains when he decided to take off with the ball and showed the elusiveness in the open field to make defenders miss even in the scrimmage format in which they needed only to get a hand on him.   [player_tooltip player_id='1736616' first='Tre' last='Garrison'] — 5-11, 190 RB — Edna Karr (2026)   and [player_tooltip player_id='1356161' first='Jermond' last='Macklin'] — 6-0, 185 RB — Edna Karr (2027)   The Cougars' running back duo was one of the biggest takeaways from the evening, as both Garrison and Macklin made their ways to the end zone, the highlight reels and some Division-I recruiting boards with their respective balances of strength and speed. Garrison, the slightly stouter rising senior, kicked off his recruiting process with Alcorn State's offer that night, while Macklin, with the more suddenness and shake to his game of the two, started his list with Florida State and Houston.   [player_tooltip player_id='401763' first='Jackson' last='Fields'] — 6-1, 195 QB — Destrehan (2026)   The biggest development on the home-standing Wildcats' side was the performance of their rising senior quarterback sparking a slew of recruiting interest, including LSU, Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Tulane and others pushing for camp visits for further evaluation. Fields has been an under-recruited leader and playmaker for Destrehan throughout his career, with an injury this fall contributing some delay to his process, but a pinpoint deep ball on a roll out to his right as he worked away from pressure seemed to particularly catch college coaches' attention on a solid night overall against a loaded Edna Karr defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='212340' first='Jabari' last='Mack'] — 6-1, 200 WR/ATH — Destrehan (2026)   The Wildcats' LSU commit was on the other end of Fields' biggest plays downfield, as Mack flashed both his crafty route-running and his 10.8-second 100-meter speed to burst past opposing corners and maintain his advantage as he stung the Cougars for a couple of explosive plays over the top in addition to his work on coming back to the ball on shorter and intermediate routes.

High schools around Louisiana wrapped up their weeks of spring football practice this month with scrimmages that provided a pre-summer glimpse of their early progress toward the upcoming season.