After the Edna Karr Cougars Win Third Straight Title, the Team Now Focuses on Sending Its Players To The Collegiate Level

by Jace LeJeune

The Edna Karr Cougars are sitting atop of the Class 4A mountain after claiming their third straight state championship. The Cougars have been simply dominant under Head Coach Brice Brown not only winning three straight championships, but also winning 27 straight games spanning back to the 2017 season. A big reason for the Cougars' domination and stranglehold over the rest of the class is the team's ability to not rebuild, but reload on talent each and every season. Louisiana Football Magazine's recruiting expert Lee Brecheen has a ton of appreciation for what the Cougars are doing as a program.

"They have been doing this for four years in a row signing 12 guys a season," Brecheen said. "It is really crazy for what they have been able to do."

For the last four years, the Cougars have ended the season each year in the Super Dome. Even though this senior class has been arguably the greatest in Karr history including players such as Ronnie Jackson and Devin Bush that have played a lot of football throughout these four years, it has not always been easy as the Cougars actually lost in the state championship four years ago. As freshmen, it was sad to see the outcome of the game for the seniors, but this class was motivated to not let that ever happen again. According to Jackson, that was their mission and that is what they accomplished.

"We won three state championships, but we actually went to four," Jackson said. "I was a part of the team that lost in the state championship my freshman year. After the loss, we saw a lot of the upperclassmen cry. Since then, we made it a mission to get back every year. Playing in the Dome three times and winning is amazing. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. You got to have a bond with your brothers in order to win. Coaches always preach to us and ask us how we want to be remembered. Do you want to go out with a bust or do you want to go out in the history books? That is what we preach a lot and that was our mindset no matter what year it was."

The attitude, mindset, coaching, and talent have been four key factors in establishing the Cougars as a Louisiana football powerhouse. All the natural talent and coaching has built these seniors into winners and as a result, they have a chance to play football at the next level. According to Brecheen, there could be plenty of names that find themselves on a collegiate football roster. As of right now after the early National Signing Day period, there were four seniors that signed early. Those seniors are Jackson, Bush, DT Austin Kent, and WR Michael Corner. Below is where each player signed, player analysis from Brecheen, and much more.

RB Ronnie Jackson (6-1, 205)

Edna Karr senior RB Ronnie Jackson signs with the UTSA Roadrunners. (Photo provided by Ronnie Jackson)

• Signed With UTSA
• Bio: Ronnie Jackson has accomplished a lot over his Edna Karr career including winning three state championships and leading the team in rushing twice. After rushing for 1,300 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2017, Jackson followed back with another 1,000 yard season with 1,064 yards and 11 touchdowns. Brecheen has spoken highly of Jackson as he placed him on the cover of our South Louisiana preview magazine edition and also on our 2nd Team All-South Louisiana team.
• Lee Brecheen: "I believe Ronnie Jackson is a SEC running back. The kid has the total package: size, speed, vision, power, the ability to finishes runs, and has the big time burst."
• Ronnie Jackson: "Frank Wilson was a big reason on why I chose UTSA. When I first took my visit to UTSA, Coach Wilson told me that it was going to be a program that would be run similar as to where I was at Edna Karr. I could sit down and tell my story and the coaches would listen to try and help me through it. I just thank Coach Wilson and the rest of the coaching staff including my running back coach for treating me right and accepting me into their excellent program. As far as I want to accomplish at UTSA, I just want to go out there, do what I have to do, put in the hard work, get some playing time, and take it from there."

DT Austin Kent (6-0, 280)

Edna Karr senior DT Austin Kent signs with the Southern Jaguars. (Photo provided by Austin Kent)

• Edna Karr senior DT and Southern signee Austin Kent (Property of LAFM)
• Signed with Southern University

• Bio: DT Austin Kent has got the bloodlines to play football as his father Aaron Kent was a former player for the Southern Jaguars and the Washington Redskins. Austin will try and fill in his father's footsteps by also signing to play for the Jaguars. Over his career, Kent has had two interceptions including one that helped seal the game against the Warren Easton Fighting Eagles in this year's state championship game, eight sacks, ten tackles for loss, and over 50 tackles.
• Lee Brecheen: "Austin Kent is born to play defensive tackle at the level. His dad played as a fullback at Southern and also for the Washington Redskins."
• Austin Kent: "I chose Southern because I believe it's a great fit for me and my parents also went to Southern. That helped me with my decision to carry on a family tradition. At Southern, my goals are to be a freshman All-American and also help the team to win a championship."

CB Devin Bush (5-11, 185)

Edna Karr senior CB Devin Bush signs with the Arkansas Razorbacks. (Photo provided by Devin Bush)

• Signed With Arkansas
• Bio: Everybody knew how special CB Devin Bush was since he started at Edna Karr as a true freshman, which is rare to do. The four star safety had offers from plenty of schools including Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M and many others, but chose the Razorbacks in the end. Bush was named as the LSWA Class 4A Defensive Player of the Year his senior year and ended his incredible prep career with three straight state championships.
• Lee Brecheen: "I saw Devin Bush as a freshman and then, he was the most talented player on a heavy Edna Karr team that played for a state title. He reads as good as anyone in Louisiana, will hit you, and can cover you man on man. What is even scarier is that there are four other defensive backs that are just as good as him."

WR Michael Corner (6-1, 175)

• Edna Karr senior WR and Southeastern Louisiana University signee Michael Corner (Property of LAFM)
• Signed With Southeastern Louisiana University

• Bio: The senior wide receiver has been one of the best receiving targets on a very deep receiving core for the Edna Karr Cougars. Michael Corner chose the Southeastern Lions over plenty of schools including New Mexico State, McNeese State, North Texas, Arkansas Pine-Bluff, and Alcorn State. Corner really came along over the last two seasons accounting for 16 total touchdowns in that span. This season, Corner had his best season yet with 33 catches for 536 yards and nine touchdowns.
• Lee Brecheen: "Michael Corner is a big time player. At 6-1, 175 pounds, Corner is a speedster with 4.45/40 speed. He has a chance to be special for the Lions."
• Michael Corner: "What made me choose Southeastern is the environment and how much love they showed to me during the recruiting process so when you show much love like that, it makes me feel comfortable and feel like a family already."

Those are just four seniors that have signed, but expect a lot more players to sign in the next signing period. Like Brecheen said before, the team is loaded with talent and will just continue to do so over the next couple of years. Here are some names that are expected to sign in February.

Coming Up:

RB Ahmad Antoine (5-10, 195) is the other featured back for the Cougars. According to Brecheen, both running backs can play at the DI level. Antoine has a couple of DI offers including Georgia Tech, South Alabama, Indiana, Boston , Louisiana Tech, Kentucky, Texas State, Kansas, Arkansas State, ULL, Southern Miss, New Mexico State, Troy, Houston, Middle Tennessee, Toledo, Ball State, etc.

Also, other seniors such as WR Khalfani Simmons (5-10, 175), OG Ronnie Lyons Jr. (6-1, 300), CB Chaz Bates (5-8, 165), ATH Lonte Nettles (5-6, 145), WR Dalyn Hill (6-1, 185), WR/Slot Jahii Howard (5-7, 170), SS Baiah Muhammad (5-10, 175), and CB Tyrik Mulmore (5-10, 174) are other seniors that can play at the next level. It is going to be interesting how many sign in the next signing period and how many will sign not only in the next year, but in the future years to come.

Hey football fans. Like our recruiting interviews, stories, and other content on our website? Click on our website daily to view articles on recruits, coaches, and so much more at our website: http://www.lafootballmagazine.com/. Also, we have exciting news that for the second straight year, we will have our North and South LA issues and both are now out! Both issues will continue to cover all the Louisiana s as well as all the high schools in state, but there will be 16 pages that will focus on North Louisiana as well as South Louisiana. For more information, please check the following link to where you can find the magazine in a store near you. Also, below are the two covers as well as where you can order both magazines on our website.

Stores Link: http://www.lafootballmagazine.com/news/c48-recruiting/2018-louisiana-football-magazine-north-and-south-editions-now-available-in-stores-near-you/

North Cover: South Cover:

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South Link: http://www.lafootballmagazine.com/product/la-football-magazine-2018-annual-preview-south-edition/