State Champion Coach, LSU Signees Headline 2023 LSL 4A All-State Team

The 2023 Louisiana Sportsline Class 4A All-State football team is headlined by a first-time state champion coach and two players bound for Death Valley.

Lafayette Christian quarterback Ju’Juan Johnson is the 2023 Louisiana Sportsline Class 4A Offensive Player of the Year after putting up a historic 2023 campaign. The LSU signee broke the Louisiana state record for total offensive yards in a career, a record that had been held by former Evangel Christian quarterback Brock Berlin since 1999. He finished the season with 5,130 total yards and 66 total touchdowns while leading the Knights to a state-runner up finish.

Evangel Christian defensive lineman Gabriel Reliford is the 2023 Louisiana Sportsline Class 4A Defensive Player of the Year. Another LSU signee, Reliford recorded 122 total tackles, 29 tackles for loss, and nine sacks while helping the Eagles reach the Division II Select playoffs.

Opelousas head coach Jimmy Zachery is the 2023 Louisiana Sportsline Class 4A Coach of the Year after a historic season. In his fifth season at the helm, the Opelousas alum lead his alma mater to their first appearance in the state championship game since 1956 leading to the first state title in program history in a victory over district rival Cecilia. Opelousas was a long struggling program when Zachery arrived in 2019. They went only 9-18 in his first three seasons but are 22-7 since, including a 12-3 finish this season.

The first team running backs consist of D’Shaun Ford of Opelousas (1,836 yards, 19 TD), Xavier Ford of Leesville (2,425 yards, 32 TD) and Jacobi Jefferson of Salmen (1,916 yards, 25 TD).

The three first team receivers are Cole Cory of North DeSoto (1,431 yards, 15 TD), Parker Fulghum of Evangel Christian (1,413 yards, 17 TD), and Kylin Wheeler of Rayne (1,241 yards, 17 TD). The first team tight end is Thomas Campbell of Neville.

On the offensive line, the first team selections are Gage Caskey of North DeSoto, Ashton Helaire of St. Thomas More, Air Force commit Raymond Howard of Archbishop Shaw, Trevor Jeffery of Lafayette Christian, and Joseph Milton of Opelousas.

The first team kicker is Houston commit Trey Furey of Belle Chasse (28/28 PAT, 10/14 PAT) who had one of the longest successful field goals in the state this season with a 56-yarder against West Jefferson, shattering the previous school record of 42-yards and coming only four-yards short of the state record of 60-yards.

At athlete is one of the most dynamic players of the season in Diesel Solari of Cecilia. Solari led Cecilia to the state championship game for the first time since 1995, tallying 2,966 total yards of offense and 50 total touchdowns while also racking up 411 kick return yards and three kick return touchdowns.

Joining Reliford on the defensive line are Texas signee Melvin Hills of Lafayette Christian (82 tackles, 12 sacks), Alfred Kennedy of Assumption (102 tackles, 13 sacks), and Caden Parquette of Lutcher (71 tackles, 10 sacks).

A group of tackling machines make up the first team linebackers with Hayden Hernandez (180 tackles, 1 INT) and Brody Latiolais (162 tackles, 4 INT) of St. Thomas More, Jamal Jordan of Evangel Christian (147 tackles, 3 sacks) and Brody Robichaux of Assumption (145 tackles, 20 tackles for loss).

The first team picks at defensive back are Lake Bates of North DeSoto (127 tackles, 5 INT), Brent Gordon of Cecilia (119 tackles, 4 INT), Ty Lee of Lafayette Christian (74 tackles, 2 INT), and Ja’Corian Norris of Tioga (34 tackles, 9 INT).

At punter is Cameron Ott of Assumption (41.5 average) and at kick returner is Ky’ree Paul of Istrouma (570 return yards, 6 TD). The first team selection at the flex spot is Sam Taylor of Lafayette Christian (148 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss).

FIRST TEAM
QB Ju’Juan Johnson, LCA (5’11 195 Sr.)
RB D’Shaun Ford, Opelousas (6’1 210 Jr.)
RB Xavier Ford, Leesville (5’11 190 Jr.)
RB Jacobi Jefferson, Salmen (5’9 170 Sr.)
WR Cole Cory, North DeSoto (5’9 175 Jr.)
WR Parker Fulghum, Evangel Christian (6’2 180 Sr.)
WR Kylin Wheeler, Rayne (5’11 175 Jr.)
TE Thomas Campbell, Neville (6’2 235 Jr.)
OL Gage Caskey, North DeSoto (6’0 255 Sr.)
OL Ashton Helaire, St. Thomas More (6’3 325 Sr.)
OL Raymond Howard, Archbishop Shaw (6’2 280 Sr.)
OL Trevor Jeffery, LCA (6’5 255 Sr.)
OL Joseph Milton, Opelousas (6’2 280 Sr.)
K Trey Furey, Belle Chasse (6’0 175 Sr.)
ATH Diesel Solari, Cecilia (5’8 170 Jr.)

DL Melvin Hills, LCA (6’3 270 Sr.)
DL Alfred Kennedy, Assumption (6’1 220 Sr.)
DL Caden Parquette, Lutcher (6’0 230 So.)
DL Gabriel Reliford, Evangel Christian (6’2 255 Sr.)
LB Hayden Hernandez, St. Thomas More (6’0 215 Sr.)
LB Jamal Jordan, Evangel Christian (6’3 215 Sr.)
LB Brody Latiolais, St. Thomas More (5’11 195 Sr.)
LB Brody Robichaux, Assumption (5’10 200 Sr.)
DB Lake Bates, North DeSoto (5’10 180 Sr.)
DB Brent Gordon, Cecilia (5’11 180 Jr.)
DB Ty Lee, LCA (6’0 180 Sr.)
DB Ja’Corian Norris, Tioga (6’2 185 Sr.)
P Cameron Ott, Assumption (6’1 170 Jr.)
KR Ky’ree Paul, Istrouma (5’10 175 Jr.)
FLX Sam Taylor, LCA (6’1 205 Sr.)

Offensive Player of the Year: Ju’Juan Johnson, LCA
Defensive Player of the Year: Gabriel Reliford, Evangel Christian
Coach of the Year: Jimmy Zachery, Opelousas

SECOND TEAM
QB Luke Delafield, North DeSoto (6’2 175 So.)
RB Corey Broussard, Cecilia (5’6 175 Sr.)
RB Jaylon Coleman, Vandebilt Catholic (5’9 155 Jr.)
RB Jalen Noel, LCA (5’8 Jr.)
WR T.J. Marzell, LCA (5’10 180 Sr.)
WR Dameon McCloud, McDonogh 35 (5’11 150 Sr.)
WR Landon Strother, St. Thomas More (6’1 180 Sr.)
TE Connor Mathieu, De La Salle (6’3 220 Sr.)
OL Quantravious Bradford, Huntington (6’2 285 Sr.)
OL Nolan Byers, Archbishop Hannan (6’1 300 Sr.)
OL Gresham Perry, Teurlings Catholic (6’4 285 Jr.)
OL Taylor Quinn, Neville (6’1 275 Sr.)
OL Jace Williams, Assumption (6’1 280 Jr.)
K Charlie Mader, Teurlings Catholic (Jr.)
ATH Reece Turner, Assumption (5’10 165 Sr.)

DL Ted Jackson, West Feliciana (5’11 240 Sr.)
DL Peyton McFarland, McDonogh 35 (6’1 200 Sr.)
DL Demarco Roberts, Cecilia (6’4 200 Sr.)
DL Brody Whatley, Neville (6’5 255 Jr.)
LB Matthew Beall, St. Michael (5’10 190 Sr.)
LB Dy’traevous Lively, Westgate (5’10 210 Jr.)
LB Keidrick Richardson, De La Salle (5’10 230 Sr.)
LB Kenias St. Romain, DeRidder (6’3 215 Sr.)
DB Chris Helaire, LCA (5’7 135 Jr.)
DB Elijah Crawford, Northwood (SH) (5’8 160 Sr.)
DB Brock Louque, Lutcher (5’9 185 Sr.)
DB Justin Ross, McDonogh 35 (5’9 165 So.)
P Jackson Cordill, Franklin Parish (6’0 155 Sr.)
KR Brandon Henderson, Woodlawn (SH) 6’0 Jr.)
FLX Travis Esprit, Opelousas (5’9 190 Jr.)