By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine

North Caddo’s Philippe Sanders could be the poster boy for the word “sleeper” in North Louisiana and the Shreveport area for the class of 2023.

I saw Sanders on film in 2021, his junior year when he mostly played offensive tackle. What I saw was a long, athletic body pulling and getting out front on blocks with the feet of an outside linebacker.

In 2022 Sanders will be given the chance to play a lot of defense and still be an offensive tackle. I think he will be big-time on film as a defensive end/pass rusher or even inside for North Caddo as a pass rusher at a very athletic 6-2 and 220 pounds of lean muscle. His build will allow him to add lots more weight and still run well in college.

So yes, I think Sanders could be a diamond in the rough for many FCS programs as a future starter, and if he has the season he’s capable of having, he can blow up as a FBS prospect as a defensive end/pass rusher.

Head coach John Kavanaugh likes the leadership Sanders brings his team.

“Philippe has really turned into a leader in our program,” said Kavanaugh. “He’s one of those guys who leads by example, just works hard every day. He’s got a big frame, big wingspan, and very athletic. He’s a guy who could put on 40 ‘good’ pounds when he gets in a college nutrition program. Definitely a next-level talent.”

Sanders regrets not playing football earlier.

“The thing I like most about football is the learning experience because I didn’t get a chance to play football in my earlier years, and honestly I really regret it because I really fell in love with the game of football,” said Sanders. “Our defensive line coaches, coach Reagan Smith and coach Johnny Kavanaugh, they’re both really good coaches and have a lot to teach me and the rest of the defensive line.”

Notes on Philippe Sanders: His favorite colleges are LSU, Ole Miss, Arkansas and Texas because they are all close to home.

He plans to major in engineering.

In the classroom he has a 3.9 GPA.

His family athletic ties include his uncle, who played high school basketball for McLeod High School in Texas. He said: “My grandpa played every sport in high school for North Caddo except soccer, and my dad played football and basketball.”

Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com