Amite Warriors

By Lee Brecheen

Head Coach: Zephaniah Powell (9th year)

2022 Record: 10-4, State Semifinalists

Class & District: Class 3A (District 7)

2022 Playoffs: Defeated Rayville 54-0 in 1st Round, Defeated Jena 46-12 in 2nd Round, Defeated Berwick 42-14 in Quarterfinals, Lost to Union Parish 28-8 in Semifinals of Division III (Non-Select) Playoffs

Amite ATH Christian Smith

In the last seven years, they have been a state champion (2018 and 2021), a State Runner-Up (2016 and 2020) and state semifinalists (2019 and 2022). Amite has a spread offense and they are tough to defend in Class 3A with athleticism and size every year. The defense goes multiple with speed and size to defend anyone. It will be interesting to see how far they go in 2023, and I would not be shocked if they do play for a State Title again in 2023.

We had a great three-year run, but we had a lot of players 22 total have graduated from the 2022 team,” Powell said. “We are really excited though because we have a large junior class and a large freshman class of great players to become a great team in 2023. We like our chances to be on Poydras Street in new-orleans competing for a state title in 2023 even though we will be young overall.”

However, the Warriors lost a lot of talent and experience from the 2022 season. This was a three-year run of players who most played in the 2019 Semis-Finals and the 2021 state title game that they won at the Superdome.

Here’s the list of players needing to be replaced who signed with s:

ATH Simeon Powell (will be playing basketball at Bossier Junior )

QB Jalen Robinson (Centenary)

DT Ashton Terrell (Southern)

DT Jeremy Robertson (Holmes Junior -Mississippi)

LB Mikeem Jackson (Graceland Univ. in Wisconsin)

DT Nikelyn Freeman (Graceland Univ.-Wisconsin)

OLB/DE Lemar Harris (Southeastern)

WR Ronneal Harold (will be playing basketball at Bossier Junior )

DT/OL Kyle Brumfield (Southwest Mississippi Junior )

WR/DB Richard Selders (Brown -Minnesota).

For the first time in two years, the team will have a new QB in Jeremy Franklin, who will step in and become the young leader of the

Amite DE/OLB DaRell Frazier

team. Franklin has dual-threat ability with a very good arm. The skill talent around Franklin has a chance again to be at another level for Class 3A football. The run game has many players who will get the football including senior Christian Smith (5-10, 170 with 4.5 speed). Smith is also excellent on the defensive side of the ball as he also had over 100 tackles in 2022. Also, there’s veteran RB Derrian Martin (5-9, 185, Sr.), who also starts on the defensive side of the ball as well where in 2022 he had over 40 tackles. There’s also talented RB Malcolm Patrick and RB Trezman Richardson. The wide receiver corps is deep and you will see many players rotating at this spot. They are led by senior Braylen Jackson (5-11, 160 with 4.5 speed), who does everything well, and WR/TE Jonathan Franklin (6-5, 180 with 4.55 speed) who I think has been slept on by a lot of s. They also have a host of young players Brandon Coleman, Jack Johnson, and Jimmie Hunt. The O-Line will be young but it returns some very talented kids in Pierre Bryant (6-2, 260), Cole Sharkey (6-3, 290), Landon Norman (6-4, 300), and Carey Davis (6-2, 260).

The defense lost a lot of its starters from the 2022 season, but they have a ton of talent back to take their place. The D-Line will be young but they are talented. The unit is led by senior OLB/DE DaRell Frazier (6-1, 190 with 4.6 speed), senior DT K’Den Smith (6-1, 250), DT Latimore Thompson (5-11, 225), DE Lajahren Cyprian (6-6, 175, DE Aaron Smith (6-0, 210), DE Braylen Brumfield (6-0, 210), and a few others.

Amite LB Byron Jennings

The linebacker corps returns the most in terms of experience on the defensive side of the ball. They are led by three-year starter and senior leader Christian Smith (who had 100+ tackles in 2022), senior Byron Jennings (6-1, 200), new starting LB senior Skylar Zanders (6-3, 205 with 4.6 speed) and senior Marquis Downs (5-10, 205, three-year starter). Players such as Earl Tillman, senior Richard Bell (5-7, 210) and LB Osualdo Razo (5-9, 200) will be in the mix as well.

The defensive backfield will be led by senior safety Derrick Thomas (5-11, 165), who led the team in interceptions in 2022 with seven. Thomas also had a 103-yard interception for a touchdown in 2022. There’s also talented second-year starter senior CB Demontaz Taylor (5-10, 160), who can run and cover. CB Franklin Morgan Jr., CB Major Baker and SS Cameron Madison will all rotate in with a few others to make this a very athletic group once again.

The Warriors will have a new kicker in Nathan Graves (6-1, 175), but he’s no stranger to the special teams unit as he was a two-year starter as a long snapper in punting situations. Graves will handle extra points and Field Goals as a kicker.

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