New Orleans area products seeking college football breakout seasons in 2021

There are quite a few former New Orleans metro area prep stars who are now looking to play key roles at FBS schools.

A few from the bunch below could flourish as collegians more than ever in 2021.

Keytaon Thompson (6-4, 215) was once a four-star prospect at Landry-Walker. He was a four-year starter for the Charging Buccaneers at quarterback and a three-year starter on the hardwood.

The Louisiana 2016 Gatorade Player of the Year accounted for 149 career touchdowns during his prep days that were capped by six touchdown effort in a 50-21 win over West Monroe in the Class 5A title game. He also scored the winning bucket in one of Landry-Walker’s two basketball title game triumphs.

Thompson signed with Mississippi State and made 20 game appearances. After graduating in ’20, he transferred to Virginia where he was utilized as a Wildcat QB last season while finding a home at wide receiver. He snared seven passes including four going for scores while averaging an eye-catching 29.4 yards per catch. He will be a starter at receiver this season as a junior with the Cavaliers.

Willie Allen (6-6, 351) was a four-star prospect at John Curtis who signed with LSU but was redshirted his first season (2016). It was only the beginning of a well-travelled college career.

The offensive tackle next landed at Tyler JUCO before eventually transferring to Louisiana Tech where he started 15 games. Allen continued to pile up frequent flier miles by transferring to Michigan but only stayed one semester in the spring of ’21.

Allen finally transferred to UMass this past April, primed to start at left tackle for the Minutemen. He has enough skill and size to get a long look by NFL scouts following this season.

Quindell Johnson (6-1, 195, Jr.) returns this fall as the leading tackler for the Memphis Tigers in 2020 with 81 stops and three of his five career interceptions. The former Edna Karr star helped the Cougars post a 29-1 mark and snare a pair of state titles in his final two prep seasons.

Chester Kimbrough (5-11, 167, Jr.) transferred to Michigan State after initially playing cornerback at Florida. The Warren Easton alum is expected to grab a starting role in the Spartans secondary.

Donavan Kaufman (5-10, 197, Soph.) excelled at Archbishop Rummel as a game-changing playmaker on offense, defense and special teams. He spent the 2020 campaign at Vanderbilt but Kauffman is slated as the starter at nickelback for Auburn after transferring this past spring.

TCU’s Khari “Duke” Coleman (6-2, 230, Soph.) is growing into a force as a pass rusher in the Big 12. He was named a freshman All-American in 2020 and Freshman Co-Defensive Player of the Year last year, recording the second most tackles for loss in the Big 12 in last season with 15. The Carver alum had 27.5 sacks and 33 hurries as a prep senior.

Strong safety Clifford Chattman (6-6, 192, Sr.) transferred from Texas A&M to UTSA, where a starting role is likely. The former McDonogh 35 standout played in 25 career games for the Aggies.

Tre Swilling (6-0, 205, Jr.) made 21 tackles last season at Georgia Tech. He has 29 starts under his belt for the Yellow Jackets, accumulating 68 tackles and a pair of interceptions as a cornerback. The son of ex-Saints star Pat Swilling was All-Metro in both football and basketball at Brother Martin.

Wide receiver Lawrence Keys (5-10, 173, Sr.) brings an element of electrifying speed to the Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish with 4.33 in the forty. He was an All State performer at McDonogh 35 in 2017.

Cincinnati wideout Michael Young (5-10, 190, Jr.) transferred from Notre Dame to the Bearcats after playing in 29 games with the Irish. A starter at Cincinnati last season, the Destrehan product had a solid campaign with 29 catches for 332 yards and three scores.

Donald Clay (6-0, 190, Soph.) is a former John Curtis cornerback who has made great strides at SMU. After making 36 tackles and three pass breakups last season, Clay expected to gain an expanded role.

Caleb Etienne (6-9, 320, Soph.), a huge Warren Easton alum, is a new arrival at Oklahoma State expected to start at left tackle after transferring into Stillwater from the JUCO ranks.

Ex-Brother Martin wide receiver Jeremy Singleton (6-0, 185, Jr.) has made 13 starts during his career in Houston. He had 19 grabs for 95 yards last year. Singleton caught 76 passes for 1,384 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Crusaders.

Aaron Brule’ (6-1, 235, Jr.) is the returning leading tackler at Mississippi State. In 11 starts, the linebacker totaled 77 tackles, 4.5 for loss, 4.0 sacks and 10 hurries. He was a four-star prospect at Rummel in 2018 who has become one of the more underrated ‘backers in the SEC.

Another SEC linebacker, Edgerrin Cooper (6-3, 215, Fr.), was a two-way star at Covington where he accounted for 118 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and a pair sacks while adding five rushing touchdowns as a senior with the Lions. He played mainly on special teams in 2020 but is penciled in as a starter at Texas A&M this season.

Arkansas has a pair of local starters in their secondary.

Greg Brooks (5-11, 188, Jr.), who has 20 starts for the Razorbacks, is a former West Jeff cornerback. He had 39 stops with three tackles for loss and a pair of interceptions in 2020 including one returned for a score against Mississippi State.

Joe Foucha (5-11, 206, Sr.) is a stalwart at safety who was among the Arkansas team leaders with 60 tackles and two picks. McDonogh 35 has 158 stops and three interceptions during his tenure in Fayetteville.

Kansas has a trio of former New Orleans area prep stars remaining from several years on intensive Louisiana recruiting efforts.

Left guard Malik Clark (6-4, 323, Sr.) is a Warren Easton product who emerged as a three-year starter for the Jayhawks (32 starts).

Defensive tackle Caleb Sampson (6-3, 292, Jr.) is an ex-Northlake Christian standout who has earned a starting role leading into 2021.

St. Augustine’s Taiwan Berryhill (6-2, 220, Jr.) played five games with one start at Kansas last season but had an outstanding spring to become a starter at linebacker for the Jayhawks.

A pair of Louisiana programs in the Southland Conference gained a shot in the arm via transfers as well.

The Southeastern Lions gained a pair of former SEC defensive players who could make instant impacts.

Sci Martin (6-3, 250, Sr.) prepped at McDonogh 35 before he began his college football journey signing with LSU and then transferred to Missouri and eventually East Community College. Back in Louisiana looking to shine again as an edge rusher, Martin recorded an impressive 33.5 sacks for the Roneagles in 2015.

Former LSU defensive tackle Nelson Jenkins (6-4, 300) has found a home in Hammond after entering the transfer portal last year. He played briefly for the Tigers in 2018. The former Plaquemine High star should help solidify the defensive line at SLU.

McNeese head coach Frank Wilson has added some FBS talent to his roster including ex-Louisiana Tech wideout CeeJay Powell (5-7, 170). The grad transfer recorded 102 catches for 897 yards and a TD for the Bulldogs. He prepped at Livonia.

Corione Harris played in 28 games at Kansas. The former Landry-Walker cornerback tallied 70 tackles and one pick for the Jayhawks.

Ex-Tulane running back Stephon Huderson (5-9, 206, Sr.) joins the backfield at McNeese. The Petal, Miss. product led the Green Wave in rushing in 2020 with 773 yards and four touchdowns.

Former LSU and St. Augustine tight end Jamal Pettigrew (6-7, 247) transferred to McNeese in 2020. He started all seven games during the spring schedule for the Cowboys.

Chris Joyce (5-11, 191), a cornerback who made 13 appearances for Tulane in 2018 and 2019, also transferred to McNeese this past spring.

In other area-related notes, a pair of former LSU Tigers are competing for starting roles at their new locations:
– DE Ray Thornton (6-3, 242, Sr) had 45 career tackles and 3.0 sacks for the Tigers. He is expected to grab a starting role as a pass rusher for the Texas Longhorns.
– QB Peter Parrish (6-1, 190, Soph.), a 2019 signee with LSU, transferred to Memphis where he is in a heated battle with Arizona transfer Grant Gunnell and former Zachary High star Keilon Brown (6-1, 184, Fr.) replace multi-year starter Brady White.