Jennings Bulldogs

By Lee Brecheen

Head Coach: Bret Fuselier (1st year)

2022 Record: 4-8

Class & District: Class 3A (District 3)

2022 Playoffs: Defeated Plaquemine 28-25 in 1st Round, Lost to Leesville 21-7 in 2nd Round of Division II (Non-Select) Playoffs

For the first time in 27 years, Jennings will have a new head football coach. Russell Phelps was the head coach for 27 years and did a great job with this program and I think will be in the Hall of Fame one day. New head coach Bret Fuselier comes over from Kinder HS, where he was for several years and did a great job. I think he will do a great job at Jennings as well.

“We went through spring ball to build our identity with the new offensive coordinator,” Fuselier said. “We worked on installing the flexbone like at Kinder and we had to adjust the skill set to what we have in 2023. We had an intrasquad game in the spring. We have one starter returning on the defensive Line & three starters back on offense.”

The offense has a chance to be pretty good at running the football. If the season started today, they have RB RaJohn Zeno, who has a great combo of power and speed (4.45 forty). There’s a chance Jennings native Humphery Ned might come back to the program by the end of Summer as he had transferred to another school. If these two kids share the ball this team could end up in the state championship game at the Superdome by season’s end.

The offensive line will be tough and quick looking forward to seeing this group. The OL is led by senior Kaleb Touchet (6-1, 210) who is a second-year starter who lettered in 2022. The group also has second-year starter OL/DL Isaac Lejeune (6-1, 260), OL D’Sel Palfrey (5-11, 225) and senior OL Brylun Fontenot (6-0, 265). You also have TE/FB/DE Davien Edwards (5-8, 220) who can also get carries.

At quarterback, the Bulldogs will return J.J Benoit who has the size and speed to help this team win a lot of games in 2023. Benoit started for the team in 2022 and this year should be a great year for him in year two. The passing game has some talent in two-way starters senior WR/FS Wyatt Fontenot (5-8, 165, 4.6 speed) and WR/CB Zanarionne Douglas (6-4, 180, 4.6 speed) is tough to bring down.

Jennings Kicker Peyton Herpin

The defense will also return one of its leaders in senior DE Jude Duhon (6-3, 210) from an injury and has a ton of ability. You also have second-year senior OLB Walter Robinson (5-11, 180, 4.6 speed) and a big-time player, senior LB Darien Edwards (5-10, 180), WR/CB D.K. Sams who is a big-time weapon on both sides of the ball with 4.55 speed. Don’t forget about CB Azire Simon (6-3, 180) who is a tough kid with 4.6 speed.

The special teams unit will be returning kicker Peyton Herpin who has improved after starting in 2022.

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