By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine/YouTube TV
The Airline Vikings are having a great year again, sitting 7-1 with one of the state’s highest-scoring offenses, one that will get a good test Friday night against crosstown rival Parkway because the Panthers’ defense is the best around.
A big reason the Vikings are riding high is because of the leadership in the senior and junior classes. The roster has several players who have a chance to play college football.
Today we will talk about the Class of 2024, this fall’s senior class for Airline High School.
I think the team has four sleeper FBS players in WR Bob Patterson (6-1, 200), CB Jeremiah Boudreaux (6-2, 175), OLB Sincere Walker (6-2 200), and athlete/RB Trevon “Tre” Jackson (5-10, 186).
Patterson is a Swiss Army knife for the team playing tight end, receiver and punter. Patterson is quick, a good blocker, and is nimble for a player 195 to 200 pounds. He has nice hands and a good burst of speed. He has scored running the ball as well as catching it. Patterson has an offer from Harding but could be a steal at the FCS and FBS level as a walk-on or TOPS guy.
Boudreaux has the length and athletic ability colleges look for, and attracting interest at 6-2 with 4.5 speed. His track and field resume’ establishes him among the state’s better performers — 21.5 in the 200 meters, 10.8 in the 100 meters, and Boudreaux is a state meet scorer in the high jump. He will have choices, and if he chooses football, keep an eye on him at the next level.
Walker has come on in his senior year, and with his great size he can still cover ground with 4.65 speed. He is a big-time hitter for the Vikings.
Jackson is a three-year starter that coach Justin Scogin says is a cornerstone in the two-year turnaround of the program. He has breakaway speed (4.59), and a great burst colleges look for in a running back. He runs with power for a smaller back and is tough as nails.
There are two other Vikings whom Scogin thinks highly of in the 2024 class, both as productive players and leaders.
WR/DB Bryson Broom (6-0, 175) has 4.55 speed with good hands and the ability to create and exploit space. He has 12 TD catches, best in the Caddo-Bossier area.
All District in basketball, linebacker Champ Endris (5-10, 200) is a tough tackling machine for the Airline defense. They’ve given up a lot of points because with that offense getting off the field fast, the defense is out there a lot – but the defense makes a lot of plays, too.
Those are going to be some significant graduation departures, but Airline’s Class of 2025 has several players with college ability.
It starts, of course, with one of the top quarterbacks in Louisiana in Ben Taylor. He is leading the state in passing this year, makes all the throws, has excellent touch and vision, and will be among the state’s top QB recruits next season.
He’s not alone, but that group will get attention down the road. Now, the Vikes have that big game with Parkway, and soon, begin the playoffs trying to make a run instead of the shocking first-round exit they suffered last year at the hands of District 1-5A rival Haughton.
Working in their favor is the variety of schemes and approaches they see in the district, and the depth of talent on the roster and on the coaching staff.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com