By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine
I hope everyone enjoyed the first part of this recruiting analysis of Shreveport-Bossier to select my Elite Eight seniors for the Class of 2023. In the Friday morning edition, I shared my list of the top four prospects locally. Today, it’s the next four.
Along with the kids discussed below, there definitely are several other players who will get offered scholarships by the last signing period, which begins Feb. 3. I can’t write about all of those players this week but I did cover most of those kids this summer in the Shreveport-Bossier Journal. If you want to check, the Journal has an excellent search button. It is interesting to go back and read the preseason assessments.
This might go down as the most talented class for Shreveport-Bossier in quite some time based on considering kids in the Class of 2023 who will become starters in college. I don’t ever remember this many in one class like I project past the eight cited this week.
Now let’s get to the rest of my Elite Eight local recruits from this year’s senior class.
Coming in at No. 5 is Corinthian Walters, an athlete from Southwood. He can play several positions, and from a recruiting standpoint should be a national recruit. Over four years, I have watched this kid develop and now he’s a 6-1, 205-pound incredible athlete who reminds me of former Woodlawn standout Donovan Wilson, who went on to star for Texas A&M and now is having a breakout year for the Dallas Cowboys.
LSU did not offer Wilson and the Tigers haven’t offered Walters. This kid plays OLB/RB/DB/WR and sometimes has returned punts and kickoffs during his four years as a starter for the program. Walters has plenty of God-given talent with legit 4.5 speed. I think he will become a star for someone in college at either OLB or safety.
I think he has special skills. Walters told me this summer he grew up a Texas Longhorn fan and Coach Sark would be well advised to get involved with this young man.
My No. 6 is the most gifted lineman in the area, center/OG prospect Chris Allen from Captain Shreve. This kid has the feet of a LB and has started for over three years. He is a legit 6-3, 275-280, and plays bigger.
Allen is mature beyond his years and has a chance to be special. Tulane was his first offer after the 2022 season. I believe more Top 25 teams are looking at him, or should be.
At No. 7 in my Elite Eight is his teammate, WR/DB Marquez Stevenson from Captain Shreve. This kid is listed at 6-4 in length – he looks 6-4 but actually stands 6-2, weighing 180 pounds with burning 4.4 speed. He is a tremendous sprinter, a returning state champion, who competes in all the sprint distances indoors and outside.
Stevenson is becoming a big-time talent right in front of our eyes. He is committed to Texas Tech but LSU and others have started ringing his phone with high interest. While playing WR is his game, his speed and skill set could make him a prospect to play corner or safety in college.
My No. 8 is safety Kody Jackson from Evangel Christian. This kid quietly has become a great player. Like former Evangel Christian QB Blake Shapen (Baylor), who wasn’t offered by LSU or Alabama, his recruiting has taken off late. Jackson is committed to UL-Lafayette but all the big guys will come in before the early signing period begins in December.
I loved watching his game in his junior year. Jackson has the toughness, length, and leadership you look for in a safety and he’s a 4.5 guy in the 40. The kid has a feel for the game and I just see special upside in this young man once he gets up to say, 6-2, 205, in college.
While the Elite Eight are guys I consider “can’t miss” prospects, there are more locally who fit that description or are on the brink with their skill set and production. I’ll be surprised if we’re not hearing from the Elite Eight soon in their college careers, and I’ll be surprised if there aren’t several not mentioned yet who make impacts quickly at the next level.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com
