By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine/YouTube TV
It’s a safe bet that in any season, C.E Byrd High School in Shreveport will have college prospects, and while this is a fairly young Yellow Jackets team heading into the playoffs Friday night, there are some Class of 2024 kids who can play at the college level.
This class has its prime-time player going to major college football, another who will wind up at a high level, and there are a numerous guys who have a chance to sign with small colleges — and even a couple at a high level in soccer.
The big name in recruiting for Byrd High School is senior kicker Abram Murray, who at 6-0, 205 has one of the best legs in the United States in the Class of 2024. He has been committed to “The U” in Coral Gables, Florida; yes, the Miami Hurricanes, since last year, and will graduate from Byrd and early-enroll there in January.
He’s a gem. Abram has a 4.7 GPA (5.0 scale), an ACT score of 29, and plans to go into medicine if he doesn’t reach the NFL. His longest field goal in a game is 49 yards in 2022, but I think we will see him kick one from 55 to 60 yards soon in college. He nearly made a 76-yard free kick last year at Natchitoches Central, missing by a yard or two. He’s also a fine punter. Abram will be expected to start as a true freshman for the Hurricanes in 2024.
There’s a second player who will have a chance to go to an FBS program, Grant Johnson, as a deep snapper. He is 6-0, 180 and is considered one of the best deep snappers in the country who is not committed. He’s taken visits to several Power 5 conference colleges, including Memphis, Arkansas, Ole Miss, LSU, and Central Florida and is undecided.
Johnson is also a great student in the classroom, carrying a 4.7 GPA. He is a fine athlete, who is around the ball a lot on defense. He’s a catcher and pitcher for the Byrd baseball team.
Joseph “JD” Gallman started the season as the quarterack for Byrd HS, but moved to cornerback and will be looked at as a WR/DB in college at 5-10, 160. JD is a big Texas Longhorn fan. His dad is from Texas and his mom is from Omaha, Nebraska. JD has a 4.6 GPA.
At linebacker, Ashton Fullwood is a tough guy, a real player for the program at 5-7, 215, but that’s undersized for any FBS or FCS program. He plays bigger but his future is probably at a lower level. Fullwood told me he loves Louisiana Tech, but he is open to whoever gives him a shot. He’s also a fine student with a 3.7 GPA.
Defensive tackle Mattias Franklin (5-11, 265) I think would be a great FCS walk-on and a steal for a program in Division II or Division III. Franklin told me he likes Louisiana Tech, even if it’s not for football. Franklin has a 3.8 GPA and posted a 25 ACT.
Two Yellow Jackets with great soccer credentials who start in football are John Rushing (6-0, 190), a DE/OLB has a chance to sign for soccer at a high level as a goalie, and WR Matthew Booras (6-0, 165). He told me he has Division I offers in soccer from North Carolina and Ohio State. Booras plays defender in soccer and has a 30 ACT score and 3.9 GPA at Byrd.
There’s a long tradition of football success and academic excellence in the Yellow Jackets’ program. Coach Stacy Ballew is one of the more respected coaches around, early in his tenure as head coach, after being the long-time defensive coordinator for the retired legend Mike Suggs.
I’m sure I’ll be writing about more Jackets in the Class of 2025. It also would not surprise me to see this team make some playoff noise. That triple option attack, a resilient bunch, a team that overcame a rough start and has a deceptive record – that’s not a combination to be taken lightly. And if the game comes down to a field goal or extra point, Byrd wins.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com