Booker T. Washington (N.O.) Lions

By Lee Brecheen

Head Coach: Wayne Reese Jr (5th year)

2022 Record: 5-5

Class & District: Class 4A & District 9

2022 Playoffs: Lost to George Washington Carver 15-8 in 1st Round of Division II (Select) Playoffs

Booker T. Washington QB Damyren Washington (Photo taken by Louisiana Team Photography)

“2022 was a crazy year for us as we had a ton of injuries at the end of the season and still made the playoffs,” Booker T. Washington head coach Wayne Reese, Jr. said. “Our starting QB did not play in the playoffs because he was injured. We can learn from last year and focus on getting better and we have to grind regardless of what we have to overcome.”

Reese is the son of the late Hall of Fame coach Wayne Reese, Sr., who coached Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk at G.W. Carver High School and OG Nate Livings at Washington-Marion High School (LSU, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys). Before coaching at B.T.W., Wayne Reese Jr was a long-time coach with his dad at McDonogh 35 in new-orleans for a few years.

Booker T. Washington OL Devon Bruce (Photo taken by Louisiana Team Photography)

The offense will have to go through senior QB Damyren Washington (5-10, 185), who is talented and is looking to have a breakout year. Washington will be a three-year starter in 2023. The offense also returns sleeper WR/RB Treshaun Smith (5-8, 185, 4.5 speed), second-year starter RB/WR/CB Demiko Barnes (4.5 speed), senior WR Brian Tillman (5-9, 165, 4.5 speed) who is healthy now and senior WR/CB/SS Layman Foster (6-2, 190, 4.5 speed) third-year to start with 4.5 speed. Another player to watch out for is Jamaaz Nelson. If they can get Nelson back from injury, his 4.45 speed will make this team will be tough to stop with as he is one of the fastest players in the new-orleans area when healthy.

Booker T. Washington FS/OLB Demine Lee (Photo taken by Louisiana Team Photography)

Key linemen for the program are three-year starter senior C/OG/OT Derek Davon (6-3, 220), senior DE/TE Tyrik Fortia (6-3, 250), senior C/OG/DT Toreauna Woodard (5-11, 330), senior DE/OLB Meshone Allen (6-2, 225), senior OT Devon Bruce (6-6, 270) who is a big-time player and DE/TE/OT Charon Burton (6-4, 235) and a team leader in a four-year starter in senior LB/DB Orbin Orcyez (5-9, 205).

Senior FS/OLB Demine Lee (6-3, 200), second-year starter FS Sedale Jackson and senior CB/WR John Darensbourg (5-9, 175) who is a four-year starter with 4.5 speed.

The special teams unit will be led by starting linebacker Orbin Orceyez who will handle both kicking & punting for the team.

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