Notes on 6 rising senior RBs 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 rising senior running backs we had a chance to see during the past few weeks.   Deontae Camel — 5-9, 175 RB — St. Michael   Arguably the most under-the-radar name on this list compared to the other handful coming from perennial Class 5A contenders and Camel himself having missed time during his career with an injury. He does come from a familiar family name in Baton Rouge that has seen some talented and productive players come through a few different local schools. And like another name or two in this article, while his measurables might that pop off the screen to coaches, he wrapped up this spring looking really impressive with his toughness and physicality through contact and his vision and quickness to cut through defenses and at times seem to create angles at speed that weren't there before his move.   [player_tooltip player_id='1402701' first='Malachi' last='Dabney'] — 5-9, 190 RB — Destrehan   The Wildcats' returning all-state performer at the Louisiana's highest level returns this year with goals to produce even greater numbers in his senior season and looked capable of doing so in his solid scrimmage showing against a stout Archbishop Shaw defense. Dabney isn't the biggest back in the state and isn't going to burn the eye-popping 40-yard or 100-meter numbers of some of his peers, but he's among the toughest, most determined and most reliable ball-carriers in the state — an absolute workhorse who consistently seems to get stronger later in games and does show enough burst to gash big-gain plays against speedy defensive units.   Kohl Gray — 6-0, 190 RB — Ruston   The rising senior held the rope impressively last last season as then-sophomore breakout star [player_tooltip player_id='1845257' first='Dalen' last='Powell'] suffered an injury and Gray was called up in a heavier capacity to the Bearcats keep rolling their way back to another title game. And he appears to have carried that confidence and momentum right through the offseason with his solid build, quick feet and decisiveness with the ball in his hands such that even with Powell back healthy and looking great, Ruston coaches are working on packages to include both on the field together to create a variety of headaches for opponents.   Jordin Griffin — 5-9, 160 RB — Barbe   The LSU baseball commit was unfortunately not a player we got to see live this month (we tried!), but there's been enough talk among coaches increasingly intrigued by his football potential and the possibility that that might be a realistic avenue that he's worth noting here. The smaller, but dynamic and versatile back missed some time during the regular season, but appeared to click with a series of huge games in November to help his Bucs solidify their playoff opportunity and then carry it all the way to the quarterfinals. Expect him to participate in at least a football camp or two next month and for a choice of sport at the next level to become an interesting conversation to monitor.   [player_tooltip player_id='2214718' first='Syrian' last='Joseph'] Jr. — 6-1, 195 RB/ATH — Acadiana   The multisport standout and journeyman of sorts from a position standpoint on the football field looks to have found a home at running back where he enjoyed a big performance in the Wreckin' Rams' spring scrimmage amid his first full offseason in the role. Wherever college coaches envision him, Joseph certainly looks like a Division-I talent at the next level with his size, breakaway track speed and all-around versatility that has also given him opportunities to display his toughness and ball skills in opportunities in the front seven on defense and at wide receiver.   Tylek Lewis — 6-1, 210 RB — Zachary   Both members of the Broncos' 1-2 rising senior tandem in the backfield in Lewis and Jeremey Patton look the part of Division-I talents at the next level. This fall was a rare instance in which we didn't catch Zachary live for a game, and this spring marked the first opportunity to see the productive standouts in person. Lewis is eye-catching from a miles away with his size, seemingly every bit of his listed 6-foot-1 frame and 210 pounds — if not bigger — and he absolutely rolls at that size, including a 10.90-second 100-meter at outdoor track and field state championships.

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.