Recruit Spotlight: QB/CB Lyndell Joseph, East Iberville High School, Class of 2018

by Jace LeJeune

Usually, when a player plays for a team that consistently loses each and every week for the last three years, it is most likely that the player or players would complain and point fingers at others, but not Lyndell Joseph, who is the star quarterback for the Tigers and has not complained or even thought about leaving the program when things were obviously not going the program's way. After two straight winless seasons and a 1-9 season last year, it sure was dark times for the Tigers, but now, there is light at the end of the tunnel for Joseph and the rest of the Tiger team with a familiar face leading the program in Ron LeJeune, who guided the Tigers to one of their best seasons ever in 1999 when the team finished at 6-4. This season, it seems that LeJeune is already showing signs of a complete turnaround with more wins this year than the last three years combined with a 3-4 record. With LeJeune's leadership as well as a great coaching staff around him which includes multi championship winning assistant coach Gary Burnett, the Tigers have shown huge improvement. However, it is the players that really have to do the work on the field in order to win and senior QB Lyndell Joseph has been a key reason on the turnaround. Not only is Joseph a great athlete at quarterback, but he is a great leader as he leads by example, a great student off the field, and just a great person to have in any football program. Louisiana Football Magazine's recruit expert Lee Brecheen believes that Joseph is a very underrated player and could play for some at the next level.

"Lyndell Joseph is a very smart kid and a great athlete," Brecheen said. "He is the team's quarterback, but he has played multiple positions over his career including cornerback. He has 4.6/40 speed and could definitely play for the right D-II or D-III ."

Joseph is not the only family member involved as his dad Lester Joseph Sr. is one of the coaches on the staff and his brother Lester Joseph Jr. is the starting center. The Joseph family have played a big part in the turnaround as much as anybody and their commitment to this program is something that is truly special. In today's recruit spotlight, we caught up with the senior East Iberville star athlete as he talked about the resurgence of the program, the schools he wants to play for, his goals for the rest of the seasons, his thoughts on the new coaching staff, and so much more!

LAFM: What is your name, age, position, and school you play for?

Lyndell Joseph, 17, QB/CB, East Iberville High School

LAFM: What is your current height and weight?

6'0, 175

LAFM: What is your ACT score and GPA?

22: ACT; 3.2 GPA

LAFM: What is your max bench press, max squat, vertical, and 40 yard time?

Max bench press: 215; Max squat: 330; Vertical: 40 inches; and 40 yard time: 4.6

LAFM: Have you received any offers to play football from any schools?

Millsaps has offered.

LAFM: What is your dream school to play for?

My dream school to play for is Southern University.

LAFM: What are the biggest strengths to your game?

The biggest strengths to my game are my explosiveness, elusiveness, and football IQ.

LAFM: What are some areas to our game that you need to improve on?

I need to improve my strength.

LAFM: What is your intended major?

My intended major is Sports Medicine.

LAFM: You are the starting quarterback and your brother is actually the starting center so the communication between the both of you has to be outstanding. What is it like to have your brother block for you?

It’s great being that we can both see things through almost the same light and adjust to things in our own special way.

LAFM: It has been a rough couple of seasons as I believe the team won only one game over the last three years, but the team has already eclipsed that total in one year with three wins this season. What do you think has been the main reason for the big turnaround this season?

The main turnaround on this team was Coach LeJeune bringing the pride back to the program and giving us the courage to believe that we can be something special.

LAFM: I know your dad has been a part of the coaching staff, but how big was it to get veteran coaches such as Ron LeJeune and Gary Burnett to help turn this program around and what has been Coach LeJeune's message to the team?

Having veteran coaches helps a lot being that most of the team is inexperienced and lacks football knowledge. Coach's overall message has been having faith and that no matter what stick together to form a family like bond.

LAFM: Who is a or NFL player that you model your game after?

I try to model my game after Lamar Jackson (Louisville) so that I can give my team a dual threat and also open up other players by drawing attention. Defensively, I model my game after Janoris Jenkins (Florida/New York Giants) because I love his competitiveness.

LAFM: What is the best game of your high school career so far and why is that your best game?

The best game of my high school career defensively was Houma Christian. I was able to shut down a four star prospect and limit him to 3 catches and 37 yards. Offensively, my best game was Grand Lake in my 10th grade year. I was able to accumulate 117 rushing yards and 205 passing.

LAFM: What do you like to do when the football season is over?

I like to play basketball and run track. After those two things, I train with a renowned coach named Jackie Calendar to improve my speed, strength, and coordination.

LAFM: What are your goals for the rest of the season?

My goals for the rest of the season are to host a playoff game and make it at least three rounds in the playoffs.

LAFM: This week is a tough matchup against Southern Lab, but has favorable matchups against St. John and White Castle. What has been the team's attitude like preparing for this week knowing that it is a tough matchup?

The team’s attitude has been to go out and like always no matter what play hard and together as for the following weeks we have to play like there is no season if we lose.

LAFM: Who are some people in your life that you need to thank for putting you in the position that you are in today?

I need to thank my father and mother along with Jackie Calendar, Ron LeJeune, and also former coach Dameion Mills.

LAFM: As a senior leader for this football team, what is your message to the East Iberville fans and the community that have been waiting a long time for some success?

My message to them is that week in and week out, we put in effort to make them a proud community and we will do that by achieving our goals.

LAFM: What do you feel makes you stand out the most as a football player and why should a coach recruit you to come into their program?

What makes me stand out most as a football player is the Football IQ and athletic ability along with the willingness to give everything in the tank and leave it in between the lines.

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 first time in the 21 year history of our magazine, we will have a North and a South edition of the Magazine. 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 on what is in both editions as well as how you can get your copy, click on our store links below. So, what are you waiting for and get your editions today!

North Cover: South Cover:

North: http://www.lafootballmagazine.com/product/la-football-magazine-2017-annual-preview-south-edition/

South: http://www.lafootballmagazine.com/product