Barbe Buccaneers

By Lee Brecheen

Head Coach: Dennis “Skeet” Owens (1st year)

2022 Record: 5-5

Class & District: 5A (District 3)

Barbe WR Landon Victorian

Barbe hired former McNeese State football player Dennis “Skeet" Owens as its new head coach over the offseason.

“The program has lost a lot of close games in the last two years,” Owens said. “In 2022, we lost in double overtime to Sam Houston and led Acadiana HS late. I have been the offensive coordinator for Barbe HS for the last six years , so I do know the kids and the district. I am still learning the program going into the Summer as a head coach and look forward to this upcoming season.”

Barbe RB Eric Jones

Although Barbe is known more for their nationally recognized 11-time state-champion baseball program, the football program has produced some incredible players over the years as well. Some of the players that I have seen play are RB Justin Vincent (LSU), WR Trey Quinn (LSU & SMU), TE DeSean Smith (LSU), DB Janzen Jackson(Tennessee), QB Kennon Fontenot (UL Lafayette Baseball), QB Mike Miller, RB Kirkland Banks (Lamar U) and QB Slade Nagle (Clemson & McNeese State) to name a few over the years.

The Buccaneers do return a QB with a lot of experience in senior Carson Samford, who has great size at 6-2 185 pounds. Samford did a good job getting a lot of experience in 2022 after he was thrust into action when senior Will McClain was hurt for the season. The offense lost some incredible players that will be hard to replace like ATH Jamaal Levi (signed with McNeese State), WR Kenneth Golla, OL Dillion Payne and TE/HB Reed Boyd (walking on at UL Lafayette) who have all graduated and moved on.

Barbe DE/OLB Classie Ballou

The offense will need players to step up as a group led by senior WR Landon Victorian (6-3, 185), who is a three-year starter. Victorian, who is committed to playing baseball at LSU, is the top baseball player in Louisiana and is Perfect Game’s No.3 right-handed pitcher in the country with a 95 mph fastball. You also have senior HB/FB Collin Harris (5-11, 185), RB Eric Jones (5-10, 172), who is a three-year starter with 4.5 speed, a three-year, two-way starter in WR/CB Dane Dixon who has 4.6 speed, RB/WR DeMarcus Bryant, RB Landon Kirtland (4.6 speed) and WR Luke Lege, who is a talented young player.

The offensive line has a chance to be pretty good as it is led by two-year starters in senior center Ian Evans (5-10, 275) and OT Karnarii Smith (6-0, 285). You also have OL Cooper Hughes (6-2, 250), and OG Jake Leger (5-11, 255).

Barbe WR/CB Dane DIxon

The defense returns some key leaders in CB/SS Darryl Washington (5-8, 155), who is a three-year starter with big-time speed who can run a 4.45 forty or faster. The Buccaneers also have two three-year starting linebackers in seniors OLB/SS Travis Pradia (5-10, 190) and OLB Michael Fulton (6-3, 225), who has big-time upside. You also have DE/OLB Classie Ballou (6-3, 220), who is very strong (can bench press 365 pounds), DT Courtlyn Houston (6-3, 295), and 5-11, 200-pound LB Hayden Bissenberger, who is a very good leader and a tough worker on the defense.

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. 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!

If you want to listen on the go, our show is also in a podcast format wherever you like to listen to your podcasts!