For the last time this year, we let the people decide who was going to be the Gridiron Football Player of the Week. This time, all of the players selected played at the LHSAA Prep Classic in New Orleans. At least one player from all of the 16 teams was selected regardless of that team’s result in their respective state championship game.
Player of the Week: 2024 LB Evan Mickles, Southern Lab
Our final Player of the Week of the 2023 season is Southern Lab senior linebacker Evan Mickles who came in first place with 11,876 votes! Mickles finished out his career at Southern Lab with a bang as his team won the Division IV (Select) State Championship 42-35 over Riverside Academy. Mickles was a force during his team’s victory as he had six tackles, three tackles for a loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery.
Runner–Up: 2025 DB B.J. Gordon, Cecilia
Despite his team having a tough loss to Opelousas in the Division II (Non-Select) State Championship, Cecilia DB B.J. Gordon balled out. Gordon recorded 16 tackles and two tackles for loss. The two memorable plays from the game were when Gordon tackled Opelousas quarterback Zackeus Malveaux at the line of scrimmage on 3rd and 4th down on consecutive plays. Gordon was named Cecilia’s Most Outstanding Player after the game.
Third Place: 2025 ATH Jorden Hill, Union Parish
Union Parish’s Jorden Hill had a masterful performance on both sides of the ball in his team’s thrilling last-second state championship win over St. James. Hill completed six of his 10 pass attempts for 78 yards and an interception while rushing for 109 yards and three touchdowns. On defense, Hill had six tackles and the critical interception right before halftime that set up his 39-yard rushing touchdown with 16 seconds left to take a 21-20 lead going into the locker room. Hill was named Union Parish’s Most Outstanding Player after the game.
Fourth Place: 2025 QB Joshua Brantley, Ruston
Despite not many people knowing who he was before the Division I (Non-Select) State Championship game, Ruston quarterback Joshua Brantley made sure everyone remembered the name. In the Bearcats’ 31-17 victory over Zachary, Brantley completed 11 of his 19 passes for 194 yards and rushed for 134 yards and three touchdowns. Not only did Brantley win the Most Outstanding Player award after the game, he brought home the first state championship trophy to Ruston since 1990.
Fifth Place: 2024 RB Jy’marion Island, Union Parish
Union Parish running back Jy’Marion Island. Island had huge shoes to fill as he was known as current LSU running back Trey Holly’s replacement for most of the year. However, he cemented himself as a legend at Union Parish and ran for 178 yards and two touchdowns in their 36-35 victory over St. James. Island scored the potential game-tying touchdown on a 4-yard run with just 11 seconds. Instead of going for the extra point to tie the game up, they went for the win and Island scored the game-winning two-point conversion.
Sixth Place: 2025 RB D’Shaun Ford, Opelousas
If there is anyone who has boosted his stock in the last few weeks, it has been Opelousas running back D’Shaun Ford. After he won Week 14’s Player of the Week after he rushed for 218 yards and a touchdown in Opelousas’ upset victory over No.1 seed North DeSoto in the semifinals, he rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns in his team’s 26-13 victory over Cecilia in the Division II (Non-Select) State Championship.
Seventh Place: 2024 LB Jadon Mayfield, Ruston
Ruston senior linebacker Jadon Mayfield has been the heart and soul of this program for the last three seasons which has included two trips to the ‘Dome. The two-time All-State selection showed why he is valuable to Ruston as he had 12 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in the Bearcats’ 31-17 victory over Zachary in the Division I (Non-Select) State Championship. What a great way to go out!
Eighth Place: 2025 QB Jackson Bradley: Oak Grove
Although Oak Grove junior quarterback Jackson Bradley didn’t have the best night throwing the rock, he had made up for it by having the highest rushing total of any player at the LHSAA Prep Classic. In Oak Grove’s 62-36 victory over Haynesville in the Division IV (Non-Select) State Championship, Bradley carried the ball 23 times for 211 yards and three touchdowns. For his efforts, he was named the Most Outstanding Player from Oak Grove.
Ninth Place: 2024 QB Daniel Beale, Catholic (Baton Rouge)
Catholic quarterback Daniel Beale arguably had the best performance by a quarterback at the LHSAA Prep Classic. In the Bears’ 55-31 victory over Acadiana, the UL-Lafayette commit completed 73% of his passes for 360 yards and four touchdowns against one of the best defenses in the state. Beale also scored a rushing touchdown, making his touchdown total to five. For his efforts, Beale was named the Most Outstanding Player of Catholic. He finished his career with three state titles as the quarterback of Catholic High.
10th Place: 2025 RB James Simon, Calvary Baptist
James Simon, who is one of the best running backs in the country in the class of 2025, has been a nominee for the Gridiron Player of the Week for the third week in a row. Simon rushed for 191 yards and three touchdowns in the Cavaliers’ 34-28 comeback victory over the two-time defending state champion St. Charles Catholic. For his efforts, he was named Calvary Baptist’s Most Outstanding Player after the game.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
2024 RB Barry Remo, Catholic (Baton Rouge): 18 carries for 126 yards and two touchdowns in 55-31 win over Acadiana in Division I (Select) State Championship
2025 RB Jay Freeman, Oak Grove: 23 rushes for 173 yards and four touchdowns in 62-36 win over Haynesville in Division IV (Non-Select) State Championship
2025 WR Cohen Leblanc, Catholic (Baton Rouge): Seven catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns in 55-31 win over Acadiana in Division I (Select) State Championship
2025 CB Aidan Anding, Ruston: Three tackles and two pass breakups, 54-yard punt return for a touchdown in 31-17 win over Zachary in Division I (Non-Select) State Championship
2025 QB Zackeus Malveaux, Opelousas: 4-7 for 90 yards, 10 rushes for 114 and two touchdowns in 26-13 win over Cecilia in Division II (Non-Select) State Championship
2026 LB Jamorian Daughtery, Opelousas: 5 tackle, two sacks in Division
2024 DL Melvin Hills, Lafayette Christian: 8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack in 35-21 loss to St. Thomas More in Division II (Select) State Championship
2025 DB Gavin Duplechin, St. Thomas More: Seven tackles, interception and pass breakup in 35-21 win over Lafayette Christian in Division II (Select) State Championship
2024 LB Brody Latiolais, St. Thomas More: Five tackles, 80-yard interception returned for a touchdown in 35-21 win over Lafayette Christian in Division II (Select) State Championship
2025 QB Abram Wardell, Calvary Baptist: 24-of-32 for 249 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in 34-28 victory over St. Charles Catholic in Division III (Select) State Championship; threw game-winning 20-yard touchdown pass with 18 seconds left in game
2025 LB Hutch Grace, Calvary Baptist: Eight tackles, tackle for loss and sack in 34-28 victory over St. Charles Catholic in Division III (Select) State Championship
2025 DB Julius Moss, Calvary Baptist: Seven tackles, tackle for loss and sack in 34-28 victory over St. Charles Catholic in Division III (Select) State Championship
2024 DB Logan Barrios, St. Charles Catholic: 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 34-28 loss to Calvary Baptist in Division III (Select) State Championship
2024 QB/ATH Ju’Juan Johnson, Lafayette Christian: 24-of-41 for 270 yards and 2 interceptions, 18 rushes for 187 yards and 3 touchdowns in 35-21 loss to St. Thomas More in Division II (Select) State Championship
2025 DB Chris Helaire, Lafayette Christian: Eight tackles and interception in 35-21 loss to St. Thomas More in Division II (Select) State Championship
2026 LB Chad Jones, Jr. Southern Lab: Six tackles, three tackles for loss and scak in 42-35 win over Riverside Academy in Division IV (Select) State Championship
2026 RB Jerome Harris, Southern Lab: Eight carries for 85 yards and two touchdowns in 42-35 win over Riverside Academy in Division IV (Select) State Championship; Scored game-tying and game-winning touchdowns
2025 ATH Byruss Burns, Haynesville: Four rushes for 91 yards and a touchdown and 11 tackles on defense in 62-36 loss to Oak Grove in Division IV (Non-Select) State Championship
2026 QB Isaiah Washington, Haynesville: 113 passing yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, 63 rushing yards and two touchdowns in 62-36 loss to Oak Grove in Division IV (Non-Select) State Championship
2025 WR Jemarquis Hampton, Haynesville: Two catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns in 62-36 loss to Oak Grove in Division IV (Non-Select) State Championship
2025 RB Jonah Gauthier, Acadiana: 21 rushes for 196 yards and a touchdown in 55-31 loss to Catholic Division I (Select) State Championship
2023 GF Player of the Week Award Winners:
Week 1: LCA 2024 QB & LSU Commit Ju’Juan Johnson
Week 2: Westwood High School (TX) 2026 WR Kaysn Dial
Week 3: St. Martin’s Episcopal High School 2025 RB Harlem Berry
Week 4: Evangel Christian Academy 2024 WR Parker Fulghum
Week 5: Lafayette High School 2025 QB/ATH Kevon’te Landry
Week 6: Ascension Catholic High School 2025 RB Chad Elzy
Week 7: Hutto High School (TX) 2024 WR Alex Green
Week 8: Westwood High School (TX) 2027 QB Kavian Bryant
Week 9: McDonogh 35 High School (LA) 2024 DE/OLB Peyton McFarland
Week 10: Oakdale High School 2024 QB Deekota Johnson
Week 11: Jewel Sumner High School 2026 RB Jamohn Dyson
Week 12: Cecilia High School 2024 RB Corey Broussard
Week 13: Northwest High School 2024 RB Ja’Vain Reese
Week 14: Opelousas High School 2025 RB D’Shaun Ford
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