Neville prospects to watch | Preseason 3-2-1 Spotlight

Neville, a traditional power in Class 4A, established itself as a notable contender not only in one of the state's toughest districts, but in the always-tough Division-I playoff picture during the program's brief stretch in Class 5A.   Now, back to their more familiar classification level, the Tigers are being tabbed as one of the favorites, if not the favorite in Division-II Non-Select this fall.   That status is a testament not only to the tradition and standards of the program, but to the wave of talent currently making its way through Forsythe Avenue and to some of the notable experience and battle-testing those players have already faced in their careers.   Louisiana's high school football season is just over a month away, and Prep Redzone Louisiana will spotlight some of the top programs and prospects as in years past with its 3-2-1 format of three well-known returning stars or leaders, two notable candidates for breakout performance or big steps forward in some fashion and one underclassman to know sooner than later.   3 WELL-KNOWN RETURNERS   [player_tooltip player_id='489183' first='Parker' last='Robinson'] — 6-2, 200 QB — Neville (2027)   "P-Rob" has been a highly ranked prospect from early in his career, and the older and more experienced — and, after battling injuries as a junior, healthier — he gets the more of a problem he is for opposing defenses. The multisport standout was all-district selection and all-state candidate this past fall after turning some of the intriguing flashes and big games as a sophomore into a more consistent performance start to finish in his second season leading the Tigers. He's smart, tough as nails and poised with a strong arm to throw the ball all over the field, including some nicely placed deep shots, and has enough mobility to be effective avoiding the rush and extending some plays. He recently committed to ULM where he should be a recruiting steal, and hometown fans don't have to go far to watch him play his final high school games.   [player_tooltip player_id='2048629' first='Jakobe' last='Collins'] — 5-10, 185 LB — Neville (2027)   and Jaylen Watkins — 6-3, 230 EDGE/DL — Neville (2027)   The Tigers aren't overloaded with four- and five-star prospects everyone in the state and region necessarily know, but they have talented, productive future college players all over the field, including a pair of returning all-district selections in the front seven. Collins, a first-teamer as a junior, is productive playmaker in the middle of the defense who had several highlight-reel plays in pivotal moments in big matchups. Watkins, a second-teamer as a junior, is one of the biggest eye-test attention-grabbers on the roster and a disruptive force off the edge. And both consistently arrive in an explosive, hard-hitting that sets a tone.   Desi Byrd — 5-10, 165 WR — Neville (2028)   and [player_tooltip player_id='1356111' first='Emaude' last='Sledge'] — 6-0, 180 WR — Neville (2027)   Neville will have to replace Robinson's top target from 2025, a now-graduated senior who signed Division-I. But the roster includes several capable weapons on the perimeter from the rising senior class on down to the underclassmen. Byrd, a second-team all-district selection as a sophomore, and Sledge, a Division-I recruit heading into his senior season, aren't the same physically big athletes as some of their highest-profile predecessors, but they are consistent big-play threats with their quickness and long speed. Sledge's list of college offers includes South Alabama, Texas Southern, McNeese State and Lamar.   2 BREAKOUT CANDIDATES   [player_tooltip player_id='2228470' first='Trae' last='Dade'] — 6-2, 175 DB — Neville (2027)   and Dexter Major — 5-11, 175 DB — Neville (2027)   For the Tigers, using the "breakout candidates" more so for new faces who should represent big, difference-making boosts this fall is more representative of the major storyline to watch. And the secondary, where they have big shoes to replace, now has two top defensive backs from other nearby programs in the mix in Dade and Major, the cornerback and safety who transferred from Richwood and Wossman, respectively. Both are instinctive playmakers who play with a balance of poise and anticipation and have a knack for putting themselves in position for high-impact, takeaway plays. Dade, one of the more intriguing sleeper prospects in the state, recently picked up offers from Nicholls State, Northwestern State and Lamar.   [player_tooltip player_id='2228465' first='Dillon' last='Robb'] — 6-4, 225 TE — Neville (2027)   The receiving corps is a smaller, quicker group overall, but the Tigers added a big, physical weapon in the middle of the field in the West Ouachita transfer at tight end who committed Saturday to Tulsa over South Alabama, Nicholls State, McNeese State, Southern, Lamar, Charlotte and Texas Southern. Robb was one of the first eye-catchers when arriving to Neville practices this spring from a standpoint of "looking the part" and should be a huge asset to the offense this fall with his size, physicality and mentality as an additional blocker and his mobility and ball skills as a pass-catcher.   1 UNDERCLASSMAN TO KNOW   [player_tooltip player_id='2244039' first='Dan' last='Evans Jr.'] — 5-10, 170 DB — Neville (2029)   and [player_tooltip player_id='2244032' first='C.J.' last='Goins'] — 5-9, 160 QB/ATH — Neville (2029)   and [player_tooltip player_id='1910662' first='Deuntra' last='Scheanette'] — 5-10, 175 WR — Neville (2029)   Neville has wealth of not only talented underclassmen worth spotlighting in this section, but underclassmen with experience already under their belt. The three chosen here are already ranked prospects in the initial PRZLA list for their class after showing intriguing flashes in their various opportunities as freshmen. Evans should be a staple at corner for the next three seasons who was already forced to cut his teeth some early this past fall to fill in for an injured upperclassman. Scheanette broke into the starting lineup at receiver early in the season under similar circumstances and quickly showed flashes of his explosiveness there. And Goins is an heir-apparent at quarterback, but also possesses the all-around athleticism to be a weapon all over the field and in all three phases.

Neville, a traditional power in Class 4A, established itself as a notable contender not only in one of the state's toughest districts, but in the always-tough Division-I playoff picture during the program's brief stretch in Class 5A.