Destrehan Wildcats | Offseason 3-2-1 Spotlight

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Destrehan reached the quarterfinals for the seventh straight season in 2023 with a team replacing a deep and talented senior class from the prior year's state championship run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wildcats look the part of one of the top contenders again this fall with a f</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Destrehan 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='212340' first='Jabari' last='Mack'] — 6-0, 185 WR/ATH — Destrehan (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291153' first='Johnnie' last='Thiel IV'] — 6-0, 170 WR/ATH — Destrehan (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='426964' first='Phillip' last='Wright III'] — 6-0, 160 WR — Destrehan (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='710969' first='Gregory' last='Wilfred'] — 5-9, 165 WR — Destrehan (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wildcats' receiving corps, which has a strong case as the most talented in the state, has more than three "well-known returners" alone. Few, if any, position groups on any high school roster anywhere in the state boast more talent, led by four returning all-district performers — Mack and Thiel on the first-team and Wilfred and Wright on the second — with long lists of college offers. All four boast differing and complementary athletic profiles and skill sets, but all with notable track speed that makes the Destrehan offense a constant threat to break a huge play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401763' first='Jackson' last='Fields'] — 6-1, 195 QB — Destrehan (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The young quarterback earned the district's Offensive MVP honors this past fall as a sophomore in his first year as the starter, making for exciting potential ahead this year and next now with the benefit of that experience under his belt. Fields completed 134 of his 211 passes (63.5%) for 2,404 yards and 25 touchdowns — 11.4 yards per attempt, 17.9 yards per completion and a touchdown every 8.4 attempts or 5.4 completions — while also rushing for another 440 yards and five scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710272' first='Jhase' last='Thomas'] — 6-2, 170 DB/ATH — Destrehan (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Late last season seemed to become the versatile athlete's breakout party, and that process has only continued to grow this offseason — including his recent LSU offer and upcoming commitment decision between a long list of college options. Thomas has plenty background on offense and may still see a few reps at receiver this fall, but has settled fairly fully into his long-term home as a long, rangy safety with high-level ball skills. </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='505643' first='Myd' last='Gilbert'] — 5-11, 215 LB — Destrehan (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710284' first='Semaj' last='Walker'] — 6-0, 195 LB — Destrehan (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of linebackers who were already notable key pieces of the Wildcats' defense this past season, Gilbert and Walker should be leaders of the unit this fall as seniors. Walker earned second-team all-district honors as a junior, and Gilbert has continued building on his own strong season with a great offseason that included his coaches' selection as the team's Defensive MVP following their spring game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221216' first='Shane' last='Ward'] — 5-8, 180 RB — Destrehan (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another player who excelled in his role in 2023 and looks poised for even more this fall, Ward stepped up in place of an injured teammate late last season to shoulder the bulk of the Wildcats' carries down the stretch and earn an all-district second-team selection in the process. Now Ward has the opportunity to take over as the lead man in the backfield where he can provide balance to the aforementioned passing game, but is also a solid receiving threat in his own right.</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='723655' first='Tony' last='Crump Jr.'] — 5-11, 185 RB — Destrehan (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Destrehan depth chart is loaded with enough talent and experience that underclassmen cracking through the wealth of seniors and juniors figure to be fairly limited. But one 2027 prospect to know sooner than later is the promising young running back who should already earn some opportunities to rotate into the backfield for Ward and start showcasing his intriguing combination of size and speed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->