By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine
There are big senior classes, and there are the elite big senior classes that have made huge impact in their high school football careers. Case in point: the talented, versatile and very successful seniors at Northwood High School.
I saw them work out and met many of them during a visit in March. Recently I followed up with Falcons’ coach Austin Brown to get updated on his guys in the Class of 2026. Northwood had very high hopes and has not disappointed. The Falcons are 7-1, have played a tough schedule and own the No. 6 power ranking in Non-Select Division I – as a Class 4A school lumped in with the Class 5A programs.
The only loss is to North DeSoto High School in a District 1-4A game that ended with a lopsided final, but was a one-score margin well into the second half before the undefeated Griffins took over with their extraordinary tempo and talent.
When I dropped by in the spring, I taped interviews with a few of the players you can still see on YouTube by finding The Sports Scouting Report with Lee Brecheen. I was super impressed hearing how most of these kids play multiple sports. The most impressive fact is every one has incredible academic credentials to go along with their resumes in football, track, baseball, basketball, powerlifting and more.
This is a very special senior group. But the new framework of college football recruiting, thanks to the transfer portal that results in mass movement every winter and spring from college to college, does not reflect their ability or potential.
“We have players who are college prospects but because of the portal we are not seeing movement in offers,” said Brown. “As of now, only one kid has an offer and that’s (running back) Kyron Johnson, at Louisiana Christian in Pineville.
“Kyron is our best player. He leads us in all purpose yards and has close to 20 touchdowns,” said Brown.
I’d love to spotlight every one, but the focus today will be on Johnson (I list him as an athlete, at 5-7, 145, with a GPA of 3.7) and others.
Falcons who have college upside, I believe, are OL Reilly A. Rogers (6-3, 315, 4.0 GPA), LB Kyron Gladney (5-10, 190, 4.1 GPA), LB Gage Lummus (6-0,195, 4.0 GPA), kicker Alexander Williams (5-8, 193, 4.0 GPA), Justin Thomas (Athlete, 5-11, 160, 4.2 GPA), WR Jayden Murphy White (5-9, 162, 4.3 GPA), WR/FS Jerimiah Johnson (5-11, 160, 3.5 GPA), RB/LB John Sneed (5-11, 220 3.4 GPA),CB Jason Straughter Jr. (5-7, 135, 3.6 GPA), OL Michael Robertson (6-0, 225, 4.3 GPA), DT Braylon Levy (6-0, 240, 3.8 GPA), DE Devin McKenna (5-11, 200, 4.3 GPA) and kicker Landon LaVasseur (5-8, 135, 4.2 GPA).
Yes, some are undersized, but all are smart, tough, well-coached and can find a place on a college roster at some level. Those GPA’s will help them get financial aid that make them very attractive as non-athletic scholarship counters.
Here’s what their coach told me. Bear in mind that Brown worked on the college level a decade ago at Northwestern State, so he knows what it takes to play at the FCS level from first-hand experience.
Jerimiah Johnson is a big-time three-year starter who is leading the team in tackles with over 60 this fall.
John Sneed starts on both sides of the football and has had some incredible blocks at RB and LB. He has several pancake blocks.
Kyron Gladney might be the best college prospect on the team as an outside linebacker. He looks the part and has produced.
Gage Lummus is a really good high school LB who brings it every day. “He is having a great senior season for us, leading our defense,” said Brown.
Alexander Williams has the leg to play college football and deserves a chance.
Justin Thomas is an incredible athlete and competitor. He is All-State on Northwood’s championship 4×100 relay team. He lost a hand as a little boy but has overcome and makes plays with the ball – he leads the Falcons with four interceptions. “Justin can play college ball, no questions,” said Brown.
Jayden White is leading the team in receptions and yards because his hands and route running are really good. White is a next-level player.
Devin McKenna brings toughness to the Northwood defense and is one of the team’s better players.
Landon LaVasseur shares field goals and extra point kicking duties, and Brown says he might be the most improved player on the team. If that continues, he might really be a steal for a smaller college program.
Jason Straughter Jr., says Brown, is “a very important player this year on defense.”
Michael Robertson is one of the strongest kids on the team, third in his weight class at the state powerlifting meet. He’s a force on the Northwood O-line.
Braylon Levy has been an explosive player on the defensive front, and a great defensive anchor. He is also a standout basketball player.
Reilly Rogers missed the first six games with an ankle injury. “We are so glad to have Reilly back on the offensive Line He will help us a lot moving forward,” said Brown.
The Falcons will probably finish 9-1 for the second straight year. They could make some noise playing up in the Non-Select Division I playoffs – and I think we’ll see several of these seniors get their shots to play college football.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com
(Lee Brecheen is the longtime publisher of Louisiana Football Magazine, covering all of the state’s high school teams each year since 1997. He’s been tracking high school recruits since 1992. Free content can be found at the website lafootballmagazine.com. Lee hosts a podcast with guests from around the state — The Sports Scouting Report with Lee Brecheen, available on YouTube).