SBLive Louisiana All-State football team: Catholic-Baton Rouge 2024 QB, state champion, Daniel Beale named MVP

Lafayette Christian Academy and Destrehan quarterbacks, Opelousas coach, Ruston linebacker also receive top superlative honors

Two months ago, the 2023 high school football season wrapped up in New Orleans with eight state champions being crowned. 

Now, it's time to recognize several of the top individuals that helped make it another successful season on the gridiron in the Pelican State.

Louisiana high school football final Top 25 rankings for 2023 season

Here is the unveiling of the SBLive Louisiana All-State football team from the 2023 season, starting with the superlative award winners and then the selection of the first and second team honorees.

Most Valuable Player

Daniel Beale | Catholic-Baton Rouge | Sr.

It had already been a successful career for the Bears' quarterback entering his senior season.

However, Beale wanted to make his final season at Catholic even more memorable, and he was able to do that.

Beale helped lead Catholic to a third state championship in his four seasons as the Bears' signal-caller. In his final game in a Bears' uniform, Beale completed 19-of-26 passes for 360 yards and four touchdowns while adding a rushing TD as Catholic rolled past Acadiana, 55-31, for the Division I select championship.

On that same night, the Bears scored TDs on eight of their first nine possessions; then on their 10th and final series, took a knee to run out the clock.

For the season, Beale threw for just under 3,000 yards, finishing with 2,974 yards and 39 touchdowns along with 202 rushing yards and seven touchdowns as a senior. He ended his Catholic career throwing for 8,756 yards and accounted for 119 total TDs while holding school records for the most passing yards and TD passes in a game, season and career. Holds the school record for most passing yards and touchdown passes in a single game, season and career.

Beale will now move on to the next level, having signed to play at the University of Louisiana.

Photo of Lafayette Christian QB Ju'Juan Johnson (7) by Brad Bowie, The Acadiana Advocate

Offensive Player of the Year

Ju'Juan Johnson | Lafayette Christian Academy | Sr.

Johnson turned in a record-setting performance at quarterback for the Knights in 2023.

He threw for 3,597 yards and 41 TDs while completing 68 percent of his passes. Johnson was just as huge a threat running with the ball, as he finished with 1,497 yards on the ground and 25 TDs.

Along the way during his senior season, Johnson broke the state record for total career yardage and touchdowns.

He also helped LCA return to the Division I select state title game. But for the second straight year, the Knights fell short against crosstown rival St. Thomas More, although Johnson generated 457 yards of total offense and three rushing TDs.

Johnson will now head down Interstate 10 to play at LSU, which recruited him as a defensive back.

Photo of Ruston linebacker Jadon Mayfield by Josh McDaniel, Ruston Daily Leader

Defensive Player of the Year

Jadon Mayfield | Ruston | Sr.

The linebacker was an integral part of the Bearcats' defense and helped Ruston break a lengthy title drought.

This past season, he finished with 116 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and six sacks, and was a consistent force all season. But in the Bearcats' Division I non-select title game, Mayfield may have had his finest hour.

He recorded 12 tackles, including two for loss, along with 2.5 sacks as Ruston defeated Zachary, 31-17, for the Bearcats' first state championship since 1990. 

Mayfield will be staying at home to kick off his college career, having signed with Louisiana Tech.

Opelousas coach Jimmy Zachery (left) and tailback D'Shaun Ford after the Tigers' Division II non-select state title win Dec. 8, 2023

Coach of the Year

Jimmy Zachery | Opelousas

The Tigers capped off an incredible postseason run with their first state title in program history when they claimed the Division II non-select championship.

But the run actually began with a loss, to Cecilia on Oct. 20. Zachery - who finished his fourth season as the Tigers' coach - pointed out that defeat helped jumpstart his team.

His Tigers responded. Despite starting the playoffs as the No. 12 seed, Opelousas defeated four top five teams en route to the unlikely championship.

Opelousas beat No. 4 seed Lutcher - last season’s Division II non-select state champion - in the quarterfinals and the top seed, North DeSoto, in the semifinals. Then, Opelousas beat the No. 2 seed, a rematch with Cecilia, 26-13, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans to finally grab the top prize.

Photo of Destrehan quarterback Jackson Fields from his X page

Newcomer of the Year

Jackson Fields | Destrehan | So.

Fields had a tough act to follow entering his sophomore season. He had to take over the reins behind center for the Wildcats to replace Jai Eugene Jr., who guided Destrehan to the 2022 Division I non-select title, scoring the winning touchdown in the team's win against Ruston. Eugene is now playing defensive back at Tulane.

But Fields proved he was capable of getting the job done at quarterback. He threw for 2,404 yards and 25 TDs - completing 134 of 211 passes - while adding 440 yards rushing and five TDs.

Fields was also named the Offensive MVP in District 7-5A and helped lead Destrehan to an undefeated regular season. The Wildcats finished 11-1, falling to eventual runner-up Zachary in the Division I non-select quarterfinals.

First Team

Offense

Quarterback

Marlon Brown | Southern Lab | Sr.

Brown completed 149-of-213 passes for 2,720 yards with 21 TDs and eight more TDs rushing. He was named the District 9-1A offensive MVP while helping lead the Kittens to the Division IV select championship.

Running Backs

Chad Elzy Jr. | Ascension Catholic | Jr.

Elzy turned in one of the all-time best seasons by a rusher, gaining 2,911 yards on 198 carries with 47 TDs, an average of 14.7 yards per carry. He added two more TDs receiving while finishing with 320 points scored (includes 10 two-point conversions) and 3,468 all-purpose yards.

Harlem Berry | St. Martin's | Jr.

Another dynamic junior rusher, Berry ended up with 2,080 yards on 158 carries (13.2 yards per carry) along with 37 TDs. He also had seven receiving TDs and returned two punts for TDs while accounting for 2,562 yards of total offense. 

Wide Receivers

Kobe Brown | St. James | Sr.

Brown caught 78 passes for 1,359 yards and 16 TDs in helping the Wildcats reach the Division III non-select championship game. He had more than 1,000 yards receiving for the second straight season.

Aubrey Hermes | Calvary Baptist | Sr.

Hermes was a focal point in the Cavaliers' high-octane offense, catching 70 passes for 1,363 yards and 15 TDs. He also had a TD during a dramatic comeback as Calvary Baptist scored 15 points in the final three minutes to rally past St. Charles Catholic, 34-28, in the Division III select title game.

Tight End

Trey'Dez Green | Zachary | Sr.

Green was one of the top playmakers in Class 5A, catching 53 passes for 960 yards and 12 TDs while helping lead the Broncos to the Division I non-select title game. He will now play at LSU.

Offensive Line

Devin Harper | Captain Shreve | Jr.

Harper is considered by several recruiting services as the top-rated offensive tackle in the Class of 2025 and holds offers from some of the elite Division I programs in the country. As a junior, he graded out at 95 percent.

Joseph Cryer | Natchitoches Central | Sr.

The man they call "Big Hoss" underwent a transitional phase in 2023. Not only did he switch schools, going from Many to Natchitoches Central, Cryer also switched colleges, de-committing from Ole Miss to eventually sign with home-state LSU. But he turned in another consistent season up front, helping the Chiefs average 341.8 yards of total offense.

Mitch Hodnett | Sterlington | Sr.

Hodnett was ranked one of the top 75 interior offensive linemen by 247Sports.com. The 6-foot-6, 295-pounder also graded out at 88 percent as a senior for a Panther squad which finished 11-2. He has signed to play at TCU.

Raymond Howard | Archbishop Shaw | Sr.

Howard was a four-year starter, playing primarily left tackle, though at times he did line up at tight end. He helped pave the way for a Shaw rushing attack which generated more than 2,800 yards and passed for 1,500 more in eventually reaching the Division II select semifinals. He will go on to the next level, playing at Air Force.

Khayree Lee | John Ehret | Sr.

Lee was an imposing presence at 6-5 and weighing 300 pounds. He played on the left side of the line, both at guard and tackle, and didn't allow a single sack or even a single pressure from defenders all season. Lee will now take his talents to LSU.

Kicker

Aeron Burrell | Parkway | Sr.

One of the nation's more prolific long-distance place-kickers, Burrell - an LSU signee - had five of his nine field goals this season go for more than 40 yards. That included a personal best 55-yarder. He also was 34-of-35 on extra points and finished his Parkway career with 203 points and 24 career field goals. In addition, he didn't allow a single player to return a kick against him.

Return Specialist

Jy'heim Williams | South Plaquemines | Jr.

Williams returned three kickoffs for touchdowns and brought back two punts for TDs. He also accounted for nearly 570 yards.

Athlete

Tate Hamby | Ouachita Christian School | Sr.

A Vanderbilt signee, Hamby was an impact player in all three phases. As a receiver, he caught 40 passes for 945 yards and 14 TDs. At defensive back, he intercepted four passes and recovered three fumbles. And on special teams, he averaged 26.9 yards per punt return, bringing four of those back for TDs, part of his school record nine career TDs in that category.

Defense

Defensive Line

Melvin Hills | Lafayette Christian Academy | Sr.

Hills recorded 80 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks and 41 hurries for the Division II select runner-up. He will take his talents next season to Texas.

Gabriel Reliford | Evangel Christian | Sr.

One of the premier defensive linemen in the country, the 6-foot-2, 255-pound Reliford registered 122 tackles, 71 of those solo, as a senior. He also had 29 tackles for loss, nine sacks and three forced fumbles. Reliford will now be playing at LSU.

Dominick McKinley | Acadiana | Sr.

Another LSU signee, though McKinley had been committed to Texas A&M until flipping to the Tigers at the last minute. As a senior, he had 71 tackles - 43 of those solo - along with 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, 15 hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery for a Rams' squad which reached the Division I select title game.

Nickolas Thomas | John F. Kennedy | Sr.

Thomas was named the defensive MVP of his district after a season in which he had 14 sacks, 18 tackles for loss and 25 solo stops. He also forced two fumbles, recovered two more and scored three defensive TDs. Thomas will be going to Texas College in Tyler, Texas, for next season.

Linebackers

Kyle Cannon | St. Charles Catholic | Sr.

Cannon was the Defensive MVP in District 10-2A in a season in which he recorded 133 total tackles, 15.5 of those for loss. He also had 9.5 sacks, five interceptions (returning two of those for TDs), two forced fumbles and two recovered fumbles. Cannon even blocked two kicks and recorded two safeties. In a Division III select semifinal win against University High, Cannon - who is headed to Southeastern Louisiana - recorded 19 tackles.

Kolaj Cobbins | Destrehan | Sr.

Cobbins was named the defensive MVP for District 7-5A. He had 77 total tackles, 32 for loss, 12 sacks and 16 hurries for a team which went undefeated in the regular season. Cobbins also had four takeaways, returning one for a TD. He has signed with LSU.

Hayden Hernandez | St. Thomas More | Sr.

Hernandez was a force for a Cougars' squad which won the Division II select state title. He had 180 total tackles, including 43 solo stops, and four hurries. Hernandez also broke up six passes, intercepted one pass and recovered a fumble en route to earning District 4-4A defensive MVP honors.

Defensive Backs

Dylan Day | Southern Lab | Sr.

Day is headed to Miami (Fla.). But before that, he helped the Kittens claim a Division IV select state championship in a stellar season in which he picked off 10 passes - returning five of those for TDs. Day also broke up 30 passes and registered 58 tackles.

Wardell Mack | John Ehret | Sr.

Mack, a Texas signee, had 56 tackles and broke up seven passes, though he only picked off one pass.

Carter Hanberry | Dutchtown | Sr.

Hanberry was a big reason the Griffins reached the state semifinals for the first time in program history. He made 60 tackles, nine for loss and four sacks while recording five takeaways. Hanberry will be playing next season at Southeastern Louisiana.

Landon Sylvie | Calvary Baptist | Sr.

Sylvie was the leading tackler for the Division III select state champion Cavaliers and also picked off three passes while recovering four fumbles. He was named the Defensive MVP in District 1-2A.

Punter

Landon Daughdril | St. Louis Catholic | Sr.

One of the top specialists in the state, Daughdril punted 29 times, averaging 42.9 yards per kick. He had six punts of more than 50 yards, including a long of 57 yards, while placing 13 more punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line. He will stay in the Lake Charles area, having signed with McNeese State.

Second Team

Offense

Quarterback

Abram Wardell | Calvary Baptist | Jr.

Wardell completed 78 percent of his passes (266-of-340) for 3,883 yards - which ranked second in the state. He also threw for 45 TDs while only being picked off twice. Wardell's 45th and final TD came in the closing moments of the Division III select title game as the Cavaliers scored 15 points in the final three minutes to rally past St. Charles Catholic.

Running Backs

Zerrick Jones | Jena | Sr.

Jones played a vital role in one of the Giants' best seasons in school history, as they made their first state semifinal appearance. He rushed for 2,248 yards on 273 carries with 36 TDs while being named the offensive MVP for District 2-3A.

Jy'marion Island | Union Parish | Sr.

After falling in the state title game each of the previous three seasons, the Farmers finally broke through in 2023 with a come-from-behind 36-35 win against St. James for the Division III non-select championship. Island was a big reason for the comeback, scoring a TD with 11 seconds left and then adding the game-winning two-point conversion, capping a season in which he rushed for 2,496 yards - third in the state in that category - on 318 carries with 25 TDs and five two-point plays, including the one for the title.

Wide Receivers

Landon Strother | St. Thomas More | Sr.

Strother was the primary go-to target for the Cougars, as he caught 59 passes for 992 yards. He also scored 13 TDs for the Division II select state champs.

Parker Fulghum | Evangel Christian | Sr.

Fulghum led the state with 17 receiving TDs. He was also fifth in the state in receptions with 69 and all of his catches covered 1,413 yards. Fulghum will be playing football next season at Clemson University.

Tight End

Bob Patterson | Airline | Sr.

Patterson was a prototypical tight end, doing the job both in blocking and in pass-catching. He hauled in 44 passes for 462 yards and six TDs, and even added two rushing TDs. Patterson will play next season at Harding University in Arkansas, which recently won the NCAA Division II national championship.

Offensive Line

Evan Picou | Central Catholic | Sr.

Picou was a three-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines. As a senior, he led the team with 18 pancake blocks and allowed just three sacks against several tough opponents.

Peyton Peebles | Ascension Episcopal | Sr.

Peebles was considered the top offensive lineman for the Blue Gators, and earned a top-notch senior season, grading out with a team-high 91 percent and seven pancake blocks. He also allowed just one sack and committed only one penalty.

Drew Desormeaux | Catholic-New Iberia | Sr.

Desormeaux was the top offensive lineman for the Panthers as he graded out at 90 percent on the season. He also had 36 knockdowns.

Eli Head | Caldwell Parish | Sr.

Head was an imposing presence for his size, going at 6-foot-5 and weighing 285 pounds. He definitely looked the part, finishing with a whopping 90 pancake blocks. Head will play at the next level after signing with Arkansas-based Henderson State University.

Jayce Mitchell | Destrehan | Sr.

Mitchell had an outstanding career with the Wildcats as a three-year starter, being part of two teams that went undefeated in the regular season and winning the Division I non-select state title his junior year. This past season, he was the team's highest-graded lineman for 12 weeks, close to an 80 percent average. After originally committing to Cincinnati, Mitchell decided to stay close to home instead, signing with Tulane.

Kicker

Trey Furey | Belle Chasse | Sr.

Furey converted 10-of-14 field goals, with his longest being 56 yards. He was also a perfect 28-of-28 on extra points, and of his 36 kickoffs, 30 went for touchbacks. He has signed to play at Houston for first-year head coach Willie Fritz, formerly of Tulane.

Return Specialist

Diesel Solari | Cecilia | Jr.

While Solari was the team's quarterback and put up outstanding numbers, accounting for nearly 3,000 total yards and 50 total TDs, he was able to find the end zone in other ways. Solari returned 14 kicks for 411 yards and three TDs to help Cecilia reach the Division II non-select title game.

Athlete

Koby Young | Holy Cross | Sr.

Young was a big reason why Holy Cross enjoyed a turnaround season in 2023. He caught 54 passes for 654 yards and seven TDs, while on defense, he had 20 solo tackles. In addition, Young averaged 18 yards per punt return with a touchdown and averaged nearly 30 yards per kick return. Originally committing to Georgia Tech, Young instead signed with Houston.

Defense

Defensive Line

Kaine Olivier | Loreauville | Sr.

Olivier registered 127 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 14 sacks and 13 hurries. He even recovered five fumbles, forcing three more.

Sam Kirsch | Notre Dame-Crowley | Sr.

Kirsch was a two-year starter up front for the Pioneers. As a senior, he finished with 60 tackles, nine for loss, along with five sacks and five hurries.

Jaden Breaux | St. Charles Catholic | Sr.

Breaux was a force for a St. Charles team which reached the Division III select title game. He recorded 100 tackles, 21 for loss, to go along with 10 sacks.

Kade Nugent | St. Louis Catholic | Sr.

Nugent was part of a Saints' defense that allowed 14.6 points a game all season. He finished with 92 total tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and 11 hurries. Nugent came up with a pair of takeaways as well.

Linebackers

Graham Montet | St. Louis Catholic | Sr.

Another highly touted defender for the Saints, Montet was named the Defensive MVP in District 3-3A. He finished with 103 total tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss along with four pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, an interception and two blocked punts.

Harry Beacham | University High | Sr.

Beacham was the Cubs' top tackler with 134 stops en route to being selected the District 6-3A defensive MVP. He also had eight tackles for loss, one caused fumble, one recovered fumble and an interception. Beacham, the school's career leader in tackles, has signed with Navy.

Noah Lovelady | Ouachita Christian School | Sr.

Lovelady has a rare distinction, leading his team in tackles all four seasons. His fourth and final season with the Eagles, Lovelady had a team-high 144 tackles, along with 28 tackles for loss. He also had nine sacks and nine hurries.

Defensive Backs

Jack Lipari | Central Catholic | Sr.

Lipari led his team in tackles with 87. He was also the team leader in interceptions, picking off five passes. Other stats this past season included 11 pass breakups, six tackles for loss and one sack.

Brent Gordon | Cecilia | Jr.

Gordon was selected the Defensive MVP in District 5-4A in helping the Bulldogs reach the state title game. He finished with 119 tackles - 81 of those solo stops - along with breaking up eight passes and intercepting four more. He also forced five fumbles, recovering two of those, and had a defensive TD.

Ty Lee | Lafayette Christian Academy | Sr.

Lee picked off two passes and registered 74 tackles on the season for a Knights' squad that fell short of the Division II select state title, falling to crosstown rival St. Thomas More. But even in that game, Lee made his presence felt, holding the Cougars' top receiver, Landon Strother, without a catch. Lee has signed to play at Southern University.

E'Joshua McDonald | Captain Shreve | Sr.

McDonald intercepted six passes and broke up six more. He also recovered three fumbles, made 44 tackles and scored a defensive TD while earning 1-5A defensive MVP honors. McDonald is also a standout guard on the Gators' basketball team.

Punter

Ryan Hicks | Menard | Sr.

Hicks could have been selected for kicker, as he made 7-of-9 field goal attempts. But he was just as effective punting the ball, averaging 43 yards per kick. Football isn't Hicks' only speciality, as he is also a top-notch soccer player and a bowler, even getting a perfect 300 game.

Photo of Catholic-Baton Rouge quarterback Daniel Beale by Crescent City Sports