Albany Hornets

By Lee Brecheen

Head Coach: John Legoria (2nd year)

2022 Record: 6-5

Class & District: Class 3A (District 7)

2022 Playoffs: Lost to Lakeshore 27-8 in 1st Round of Division II (Non-Select) Playoffs

Albany QB Aiden Casteel (Photo provided by Aidan Casteel)

“The program had 25 players in 2021 before I got here and went 1-8,” Albany head coach John Legoria said. “By 2022 we were up to 35 players in the program and had a winning season so things are going in the right direction. We had a great summer and our senior class is really good. We have great leadership and a lot of players returning with experience.”

The offense will return one of the best quarterbacks in the district in senior Aiden Casteel (5-10, 165). Casteel has a cannon arm and Coach Legoria thinks he has a ton of ability. Casteel is coming off an All-District season in 2022 with over 1,100 yards passing and 15 passing touchdowns and those numbers should double in 2023. He is also the team captain and has a 4.0 GPA.

The offense will return several kids who will start both sides of the football. Senior WR/DB Zaden Tullos (5-11, 165) has good hands back, senior RB/WR/DB Jace Alford (5-9, 160, 4.6 speed), RB/CB Jamarcus Jackson returns after sitting out the 2022 season and has 4.55 speed and All-District senior TE/LB/FB Seth Hoffman (5-11, 175) was All-District in 2022 with great hands and looks to become one of the best TE’s in the District in 2023. Hoffman had three touchdowns in the spring game. The Hornets also have senior OL Hunter Hernandez (6-1, 295) who is a tough leader, OL Josiah Shockley (6-0, 250) can move too, WR/FS Colton Courtney (6-1, 155) who has great hands and 4.6 speed, senior RB/WB Walker Poe (5-8, 170) is recovered from a injury and senior WR Dalton Schexnayder (5-8, 145) is back as well.

Albany OL Hunter Hernandez (Photo provided by Hunter Hernandez)

The defense will have a lot of the names above but not included in that list was returning starter LB Ethan Hebert who is a leader with 4.7 speed and is capable of over 80 tackles in 2023. You also have DE Cain Tullos (5-9, 200) who has good feet, senior DE Austin McFadden (5-10, 185) and senior LB Bryce Hoyt (5-8, 175).

The special teams will be led by QB Aiden Casteel who is also the team’s punter and a pretty good one. The kicker will be DE Austin McFadden. Albany’s long snapper is senior Parker Westmoreland (6-3, 180), who is one of the best in Louisiana. Westmoreland is a three-year starter coming over from Live Oak HS.

Head Coach John Legoria went to HS at Hammond (Class of 1987). He went to at first Copiah-Lincoln Junior for baseball before transferring to Southeastern Louisiana.

Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, The Sports Scouting Report with Lee Brecheen, and click on the bell to be notified whenever we release a new episode. If you want to listen on the go, follow us wherever you get your podcasts! We have a show three times a week where we interview coaches and recruits statewide in both football and baseball. If you click/press on the logo below, it will take you directly to our YouTube channel!