Notes on 6 new or ascending DBs from spring practice travels

Louisiana's window of spring football practices is always a fast and furious against the end of the school year and the April and May showers that cost days or work.   But those weeks are also a highly valuable opportunity to discover or put eyes on new or ascending prospects worth noting for upcoming rankings updates or likely recruiting momentum.   Visits with more than two dozen schools during less than a month provided notes on a long list of standouts of all positions and levels and stages of their recruiting processes.   Here's a few notes on a half-dozen defensive backs who have been relatively under-the-radar or unranked.     Craig Connor III — 6-0, 180 DB — John Curtis   The hard-hitting safety was spotlighted this spring among the state's defenders to start earning his first college offers, and he was among the clear standouts during a spring practice stop in River Ridge this week. Even his teammates in a loaded secondary, many strong tacklers in their own rights, are quick to praise him as a definite leader and tone-setters in that regard, and he made a few nice plays on throws during practice, reading and jumping and underneath pass for at least one interception and ranging across the middle of the field for other breakups.   Trae Dade — 6-2, 170 DB — Neville   The transfer from Richwood has intriguing junior film from this past fall and appeared during a practice visit to be fitting in nicely in his new school and defense, battling with and trading reps with the Tigers' top returning, rising senior wide receiver. Dade has a tall, long frame that checks the necessary boxes for the next level, changes direction quickly and shows good hands and timing to make plays on the ball in the air. Nicholls State and Lamar recently extended his first offers.   DeJuan Rivera — 6-2, 170 DB — Archbishop Shaw   The Eagles' rising star is a strong candidate to be the highest-ranking debuting defensive back in the next round of rankings updates with his long, rangy frame at safety and combination of good speed, ball skills and physicality at the position. Rivera is a well-rounded student-athlete just as capable and confident playing the back end of the field or crashing down to wrap up tackles and a recruitment that has started to gain steam with Army and Navy among his recent offers.   Jakyrin Sanchez — 6-2, 180 DB — Destrehan   Sanchez possesses the biggest measurables on the list and effectively uses them to his benefit with ability to smother wide receivers from his physical play off the line through his plays on balls thrown his way or his reliable, strong tackling in space. Sanchez appears to be a notable tone-setter in the Wildcats' defense this season and to be piquing the interest of some local FCS programs, some of whom were on hand for his and the team's spring scrimmage last week.   [player_tooltip player_id='1426922' first='Jaytun' last='Terry'] — 6-0, 175 DB — Alexandria   The Division-I Select picture has the potential this fall to be as fun and intriguing as it has in a few years now, and Alexandria figures to remain squarely in the mix again this year behind one of the more talented and experienced senior classes in program history — including not only a handful of particularly highly ranked prospects, but great depth to the group as well. Terry has been a consistent playmaker for the Trojans' defense the past two years with great ball skills and a knack for timely takeaways, his latest helping set up the team's come-from-behind win in the state's marquee spring scrimmage this year.   [player_tooltip player_id='1595354' first='James' last='Tyson'] — 6-0, 180 DB — St. Charles Catholic   The promising athlete is the only member of this list who landed in Prep Redzone Louisiana's rankings prior to the group's junior season, though much of that was from familiarity with his athletic profile and work in 7-on-7 settings. Tyson has had to show some patience awaiting his eligibility after a transfer as an underclassman and then earning his way into opportunities in the lineup this fall. But he's one of the top athletes, including his recent 10.67-second 100-meter dash, on a defending champion poised to contend again, and he looks ready for a big year ahead both on the recruiting trail and for the Comets.

Louisiana's window of spring football practices is always a fast and furious against the end of the school year and the April and May showers that cost days or work.