With two more Gridiron Football Elite Camps out of state to go, the latest Gridiron Football Elite Camp at East Ascension High School in Gonzales would be the last Elite Camp of the 2024 spring season in the boot, and it was a good camp to do it.
Having not a cloud in the sky and building off the success of the Covington Camp, which had over 80 players present, 58 players came to participate in the East Ascension camp on Saturday, April 6th.
After players registered and got interviewed, it was time for the players to get their times and measurables for the 40, shuttle, and broad jump.
For the 40 yard dash, it was Acadiana High School 2025 LB Amarion Cooper, who paced the way by running a 4.5/40. Just behind the Wreckin’ Rams talented linebacker, there was East Ascension High School 2025 LB Jase Campbell (4.53), Sarah T. Reed High School 2026 ATH Tadell Mosley (4.54), Lafayette High School 2027 QB Richmond Saunier (4.56), and Pineville High School 2025 DB Keith Young (4.59), who ran under 4.6.
Leading the shuttle run was Covington High School 2026 WR Amari Smith, who showed up for his second straight Elite Camp and took advantage of the camp circuit by running a 4.22. Vandebilt Catholic High School 2025 RB Robert Sandolph (4.32) was just behind Smith along with Alexandria High School 2025 WR Jimmie Duncan (4.4), Live Oak High School 2027 QB Kingston Johnson (4.41), U-High 2026 RB Sage Ingram (4.43), Amari Smith (4.44), and Jewel Sumner High School 2027 CB Rashaud Shy (4.47).
Finally, in the broad jump, Pineville’s Keith Young had the second best Elite Camp broad jump of the series so far only trailing Ascension Catholic High School 2025 RB Chad Elzy (10’5) with a 10’4 jump. Amarion Cooper (9’9), Sage Ingram (9’6), Jase Campbell (9’4), Robert Sandolph (9’3), Jimmie Duncan (9’1), Richmond Saunier (9’1), and Wilkerson County 2028 WR Jaylen Cage (9’1) all jumped over nine feet.
After each player got their times, they got the chance to work under a position coach and learn some techniques that can help them with their position in individual drills. The camp ended with some good old fashion competition as the running backs and wide receivers went against the linebackers and defensive backs in 1v1 as well as 7v7 competition with the quarterbacks throwing to them.
Quarterbacks Kingston Johnson, Richmond Saunier, and Dakota McAlister showed why they are three signal callers with bright futures heading only into their sophomore seasons by making a lot of impressive throws including when Johnson completed a deep touchdown pass in 7v7 to Robert Sandolph for the best offensive play of the 7v7, but other receivers such as 2026 WR Jokoby Faria, Amari Smith, Sage Ingram, Tadell Mosley, Jimmie Duncan, and Sophie B. Wright High School 2025 WR De’Markus West all ran impressive routes and had some nice grabs whether in 1v1s or 7v7s.
However, it was not just the offensive players that made plays, but the defense did as well highlighted by two interceptions from Ascension Catholic High School 2027 DB Jacob Julien.
The offensive and defensive linemen were not left out as they competed in 1v1 drills and in the fan favorite tire pull drill. Like at the skill positions, there was some pretty impressive up and coming talent in the trenches. Offensively, there was St. Amant High School 2027 OT Ethan Lebeau, who has a lot of high potential with his 6’3, 280 pound frame, East Ascension High School 2026 center Jayden Berteau, who has steady footwork and a good base, Alexandria High School 2026 Ayden Price, who made it tough for opposing defensive linemen to get past him, and finally, South Lafourche High School 2026 OG Sawyer Wells and St. Martinville High School 2026 OL Kendrick Toussant, who showed off their bullying strength in the tire pull. Toussant was especially impressive as he made it look easy going up against everybody he faced including former Dutchtown and Gridiron Football All-American Defensive MVP Diego Spears, who helped volunteer at the camp.
On the other side, there were some defensive standouts that made it tough for this talented group of offensive linemen including Live Oak High School 2026 DT Gavin Trammell, Jena High School 2025 DE Colten Sharp, Amite High School 2025 DE Braylen Brumfield, and Belaire High School 2026 DE Jordell Baise.
After the competition was all said and done, the coaches got to pick the camp’s top performers. The seven players that were chosen by the coaches were rewarded with some pretty cool Gridiron Football gloves at the camp. The seven Elite Camp Top Performers were Live Oak High School 2026 DT Gavin Trammell, Live Oak High School 2027 QB Kingston Johnson, Ascension Catholic High School 2027 DB Jacob Julien, U-High 2026 RB Sage Ingram, Acadiana High School 2025 LB Amarion Cooper, Alexandria High School 2026 OT Ayden Price, and Sarah T. Reed High School 2026 ATH Tadell Mosley.
It was a great day of competition not only for the coaches and players, but also for some former participants as well. Two of the Gridiron Football All-Americans from this year’s bowl game came back in order to help encourage and teach the players on what got them to be successful. Episcopal High School RB/Navy signee Braeden George and Dutchtown High School/McNeese State signee Diego Spears were two MVPs from the bowl game that are now playing in college. After being a part of Gridiron Football, they wanted to come back and tell the players how much Gridiron Football has helped them.
“It was definitely a fun experience remembering the camps that I went to when I was growing up to get better and trying to get more exposure. I just like being able to give back to the sport that I love and help teaching the kids while getting them some pointers.”
Dutchtown High School and McNeese State signee DT Diego Spears
“My experience at last year’s Gridiron camp was great. There was a lot of good talent there and a lot of good competition. I was able to show it and ended up being one of the camp’s top performers that day. It was good seeing all these kids out here that are trying to get exposure, better themselves, and show college coaches what they can do. It is surreal because I was in that spot a year ago and here I am now signed with a college watching kids in the position I was once in. It is crazy. I wanted to come out here and give these kids some pointers and show them what it takes to be a DI athlete.”
Episcopal High School and Navy signee Braeden George
It was a great experience for all those involved and we couldn’t have done it without the hospitality of East Ascension head coach Brock Matherne, the administration, and Ascension Parish School Board for allowing us to host this amazing event.
To show our appreciation, we will have a special feature on the East Ascension Spartans in our monthly magazine!
Here are some of the photos taken by our lead photographer Jason Saucier at the camp. These photos will also be in our monthly magazine soon!
Although this is our last Gridiron Football Elite Camp of the spring in Louisiana, this will not be our last camp of the spring. For the first time ever, Gridiron Football is going out of the state for back to back camps as we will be in Palestine, Texas, which is the birthplace of future Hall of Fame running back Adrian Peterson, but is also home of the reigning Gridiron Football Player of the Year in Westwood High School 2027 QB Kavian Bryant.
We will be at the camp on Saturday, April 27th so if you want to get some excellent exposure, make sure to click the picture below to sign up!
After that, we will go to Mississippi on Saturday, May 25th for the final camp of 2024.
To see all of the videos from the Gridiron Football Elite Camp at East Ascension, click below!
Each player also got the opportunity to get interviewed. Check out all of the player interviews below conducted by Pierce Hull and Cabe Bond.
