By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine
It seems every year Shreveport-Bossier produces Division I kickers and this fall, nothing has changed.
In 2023 Aeron Burrell of Parkway signed with LSU and as a true freshman this season, he is one of the top kickers in the NCAA in touchbacks. Also last year, Byrd’s Abram Murray signed with the Miami Hurricanes, and in that program he’ll kick lots of extra points in the next four seasons. (BTW, his younger brother Asher is a junior this season for the Yellow Jackets and has a big leg, too.)
What about the Class of 2025? There’s a bumper crop – not the top national recruits that Burrell and Murray were, but very capable of kicking for FBS and FCS programs in Division I.
Ben Jump at Airline, Evangel’s Kaegan Kent, Zane Wyss of Captain Shreve and two sleepers, Evan Lirette at Loyola Prep, and another Byrd kicker, Jackson Cooper, are next-level talents. Most of these kids are also very capable of being D-I punters, which makes them a great investment for colleges.
Kickoffs are flying into the end zone around Shreveport-Bossier.
The biggest kicker – in size — is Ben Jump of Airline (6-3, 230) with a cannon leg. I saw this kid play his freshman year and he had a D-I leg then and also looked the part as a punter. Ben has missed some games in his career because of injuries, including the entire 2023 season, but he is showing everyone his full potential. His field goal was the difference in a season-opening 52-49 victory at Barbe. He has kicked 60-yard field goals in practice.
The fastest kicker in the state is Captain Shreve’s Zane Wyss, who is a new starter for the Gators. Wyss has been timed in 4.61 in the forty, and is also a pretty good punter on the rare occasions he is called upon with that Shreve offense rolling. Wyss is a three-sport athlete who also plays soccer and lacrosse.
I think two of the biggest sleepers in the state are Evan Lirette at Loyola Prep and Kaegen Kent of Evangel.
Lirette is no sleeper locally because he’s been almost automatic for the Flyers. He went 32 of 34 on extra points in 2023. Next spring Lirette will be one of the best outfielders in District 1-4A.
Kent is a four-year starter for the ECA Eagles. He isn’t big (5-8, 155) but has a big leg. He has several punts over 55 yards already. I was able to see this kid kick in person as a freshman and he has improved big time in four years.
Kent is also a three-time All-District soccer standout along with earning All-District 1-4A (the Eagles moved up to 5A this season) honors in football. His dad is former Louisiana Tech kicker Marty Kent, who had a nice college career and now has become a mentor for several area kickers.
One of the most athletic kicker prospects in Louisiana is Jackson Cooper of Byrd. He’s been a starting receiver and is a four-sport athlete, also competing in soccer, baseball and golf. Cooper is 5-11, 168 and has a leg with range over 55 yards. He made two 57-yarders in camps over the summer.
There are not a lot of opportunities in college for kickers, but these seniors all could find their way forward – if not with some scholarship money, as preferred walk-ons who could work their way forward.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com
Lee Brecheen has been covering high school football and recruiting in Louisiana since the early ‘90s. He is owner of Louisiana Football Magazine and can be followed on X @LeeBrecheen. He hosts a YouTube show, The Sports Scouting Report with Lee Brecheen. Previews of all state high schools are available on lafootballmagazine.com.