C.E. Byrd Yellow Jackets

By Lee Brecheen

Head Coach: Stacy Ballow (3rd year)

2022 Record: 8-4

Class & District: Class 5A (District 1)

2022 Playoffs: 1st Round Bye, Defeated Alexandria 49-10 in 2nd Round, Lost to John Curtis Christian 35-14 in Quarterfinals of Division I (Select) Playoffs

C.E. Byrd QB JD Gallman

Third-year head coach Stacy Bellow has done a remarkable job replacing Hall of Fame coach Mike Suggs at C.E Byrd HS. Byrd and its coaches do a great job of developing players because this program usually graduates 22 to 30 kids every year who play and they don’t miss a beat. Former Byrd WR Jackson Dufrene signed with Nicholls after last season, where he will be following his father’s footsteps as his dad, Dustin, was also a wide receiver for the Colonels. His family is from South Louisiana.

“We’re going to look at many different new players to build our starting lineup in 2023. We lost lots of experience on both sides of the ball in 2022. We need to find our identity on offense & defense in 2023.

The offense lost three-year starting star QB Lake Lambert to graduation. Lambert went 25-6 as a starter and led Byrd to a state title game in 2020. In 2022, he ran for 1,021 yards on 132 carries and completed 70% (35/60) of his passes for 713 yards with 20 Touchdowns as led the Yellow Jackets to the quarterfinals.

However, they will have a very mature and talented young kid who will be taking over the QB spot in 2023 as former WR JD Gallman (5-10, 165). Gallman has a good arm and like Lambert has the speed and ability to cause defenses to have fits just like Lambert did. Gallman knows the offense and he should have a great year as a dual QB for one of the top program’s in the state of Louisiana in Class 5A football.

C.E. Byrd Abram Murray

The Yellow Jackets do one thing very well and that’s run the football and don’t look for that to change in 2023 because it has worked for many years and will work again in 2023. The team as always will have other backs rotate in and out for carries in a long season by RB Malachi Johnson (5-5, 150), who may be small but he is a quick and tough runner. Byrd also has FB/RB Desmond Simmons (5-11, 180) and senior FB Dixon Poirier (5-10, 178). There will be more backs getting carries and this will go into competing all thru the Summer and Fall.

However, Byrd cannot run the ball effectively without its offensive line, which is the strength of this team. The O-Line will be led by senior Owen Scott (6-3, 230), senior Noah Slaughter 5-11 240, senior Gehrig Smith (5-11, 275), senior Dylan Gillie (6-2 195) and other young players will get some reps in 2023. Byrd runs the ball a lot but when they need a big play look for returning starter WR Alex Schoonover (6-1, 185) who has good hands and speed. Another wide receiver is senior Matthew Booris (6-0, 160) who also has good hands and runs good routes to make an impact in 2023.

The defense will have players back with experience led by senior DT Darrell Cottonham (5-11, 230), who is strong with good feet and an all-out leader for this front seven in a tough district. The Yellow Jackets also return DT Ian Gray (6-1, 250). Gray has leaned up and changed his body to get quicker and look for a big season from him. You also have senior DT Mattias Franklin (5-10, 250), LB Ashton Fullwood 5-9 200, CB Jordan Moreau (5-11, 155), FS/CB Kristian Roberson (6-0, 165) with 4.5 speed a great athlete and three-year starter, senior DE John Rushing (6-0, 200). Byrd’s defense also hopes to get LB Sam Green (5-10. 185) back from an injury for the 2023 season.

C.E. Byrd Long Snapper Grant Johnson

The special teams will be very strong for Byrd HS in 2023. Not only is Byrd’s special teams unit one of the best in the state of Louisiana, it’s one of the best units in the United States. Long snapper Grant Johnson returns as the #1 long snapper in the country at 6-0, 185 pounds. Kicker Abram Murray comes back as one of the best Kickers in the US at 6-0, 205 pounds and can kick 60-yard field goals if needed to in a game. Abram’s little brother, Asher Murray, is also a kicker for Byrd and he will handle kickoffs. Asher Murray could be the next QB for Byrd HS in 2024.

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