Top football prospect helps headline D-II indoor track state meet

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Louisiana's indoor track and field season wrapped up this past weekend with the state championship meet in LSU's Carl Maddox Field House.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As always, a long list of football standouts were among the top performers, including several title-winners and podium-finishers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at the multisport athletes we know have some football background — including a successful championship-repeat by the state's top-ranked 2026 football prospect — who finished in the top six of their individual events to net points for their schools in the meet in Division-II competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212343' first='Lamar' last='Brown'] — 6-5, 290 DL/ATH — University Lab (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The LSU-signed defensive lineman, the state's top-ranked football prospect, successfully defended his indoor shot put crown with a personal improvement to a 55-11.00 winning distance. Brown also holds outdoor discus and shot put championships the past two springs, respectively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tayven Carter — 5-11, 150 RB — Delhi Charter (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Won both the Division-II long jump (23-00.75) and triple jump (45-02.25) events.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1197420' first='Erin' last='Moore'] — 5-11, 175 DB — University Lab (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Navy-signed cornerback won the 60-meter dash (6.87 seconds) and led off his Cubs' second-place 4x200-meter relay (1:32.53) with its best leg (22.34 seconds) to help set the table for his teammates, including fellow football standouts <strong>Lorenzo Cooper</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401981' first='Sage' last='Ingram']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>William Plaster — WR/DB — Lake Charles College Prep (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finished second in the long jump (21-08.25), led off the Blazers' third-place 4x800- and 4x400-meter relay teams and participated in the 400-meter run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaleb Bigwood — 6-1, 160 WR — Hamilton Christian (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors' multisport standout wrapped his prep career with a win in the 400-meter run (49.06 seconds) and a sixth-place finish in the 60-meter dash (7.14 seconds).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ty'Kimion Ford — 6-2, 175 QB/ATH —  Slaughter Community Charter (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Won the high jump (6-04.75) championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1237765' first='Ke'Von' last='Johnson'] — 5-9, 160 RB — Northwest (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Raiders' star running back finished second in the 60-meter dash (7.03 seconds) and ran the second leg of the school's fourth-place 4x200-meter relay.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keshaun Toney — 5-10 WR/ATH — East Feliciana (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finished third in both the high jump (5-10.75) and long jump (21-01.50).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Granger Collins — TE/DB — University Lab (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finished second in the triple jump (43-06.00), sixth in the long jump (20-08.50) and seventh in the 60-meter hurdles (8.83 seconds).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eli Parich — Catholic-New Iberia (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Won the pole vault (14-05.25)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kodi Clement — 6-1, 165 DB/WR — Kaplan (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Second in the 400-meter (49.81 seconds). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rafael Cuartas — 6-5, 150 WR — Houma Christian (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Second in the high jump (6-02.75).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Justin Suire — OL — Highland Baptist (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Second in shot put (54-04.75)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Barrett Freeland — 5-7, 155 DB — Ouachita Christian (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finished second in the pole vault (12-05.50)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1737490' first='Bra'jon' last='Melancon'] — 6-1, 160 DB/WR — North Iberville (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finished third in the triple jump (41-06.00).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='920611' first='Kaleb' last='Campbell'] — 6-7, 305 OL — Lafayette Christian (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finished third in shot put (49-04.50).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1237775' first='Jeremiah' last='Smith'] — 6-0, 170 DB/WR — Glen Oaks (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finished fourth in the triple jump (41-06.00), sixth in the 60-meter hurdles (8.81 seconds) and ninth in the long jump (19-06.00) and ran a leg of the Panthers' third-pace 4x200-meter relay.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thomas Carter Jr. — 6-0, 160 DB — Slaughter Community Charter (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tied for third in the Division-II high jump (5-10.75)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Corbin Nicoladis — 5-7, 150 DB/WR — St. Martin's Episcopal (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Third in the 60-meter (7.05 seconds).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Andre Abshire — RB/ATH — Ascension Episcopal (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Third in the 60-meter hurdles (8.36 seconds).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Connor Toups — WR/DB — Erath (2028)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Third in the pole vault (12-05.50).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaydan Hamilton — 5-8, 160 RB/LB — Mansfield (2028)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wolverines' young running back finished fourth in the 60-meter dash (7.07 seconds) and participated in the long jump.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1782761' first='Garen' last='Lewis'] — 5-11, 165 WR — De La Salle (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fourth in the 60-meter hurdles (8.38 seconds).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Beckett Wilson — 5-11, 155 LB/RB — Dunham (2028)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finished fourth in the Division-II long jump (20-11.75).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jeremy Mitchell — 6-2, 170 WR/DB — Episcopal-BR (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The multisport standout finished fifth in both the high jump (5-10.75) and long jump (20-10.75) and seventh in the triple jump (39-05.00).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Luke Caraway — 5-10, 140 LB — St. Louis Catholic (2028)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fourth in pole vault (11-05.75).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dylan Kolenovsky — Isidore Newman (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fourth in shot put (48-03.50).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1611372' first='Ayden' last='Carter'] — 5-5, 155 WR/ATH — Lake Charles College Prep (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fifth in the 60-meter dash (7.10 seconds) and participated in the Blazer's 4x200-meter relay.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='960002' first='Jordell' last='Baise'] — 6-3, 245 OL/DL — North Iberville (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Millsaps signee finished fifth in the shot put (47-05.25).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>David Thomas — 6-2, 175 DB — Lake Charles College Prep (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finished fifth in the triple jump (41-03.75).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Branon Mitchell — ATH — Ascension Episcopal (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blue Gators' versatile standout finished sixth in the high jump (5-08.75) and seventh in the long jump (20-03.00) and participated in the shot put.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joel Smith — OL/DL — Country Day (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fifth in pole vault (10-11.75).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Devin Duplessis — 5-11, 160 DB — John F. Kennedy 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finished sixth in the triple jump (40-11.75).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dekai Butler — DB/RB — North Iberville (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finished sixth in the 60-meter hurdles (8.52 seconds) and ran the second leg of the Bears' 4x200-meter relay.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaleb West — 5-11, 155 DB — Port Allen (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sixth in the 400-meter run (51.03).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->