Gridiron Football Top 300: Da’Shawn McBryde

Earlier, I got the chance to talk to Denham Springs cornerback Maison Vorise, who has received an offer from Mississippi State, but the biggest star on this Yellow Jackets team also just so happens to be Vorise’s partner in the secondary and one of the best defensive players in Louisiana for the 2024 class. That player happens to be safety Da’Shawn McBryde, who leads quite arguably the most talented defensive backfield in the state.

“I do believe we have to best secondary in the state. Me and Maison are both very talented athletes that will continue to get better.”

At 6’2, 200 pounds with 4.49/40 speed and a 34-inch vertical, there is not a lot that Da’Shawn McBryde cannot do as he is big, physical, athletic, and has a great football IQ.

“I’m very good at reading the quarterback and going up for the ball.”

McBryde fooled a lot of quarterbacks last season as one of the best defenders in the state last season. In fact, McBryde was not only named 1st Team All-District, but he was also named District Defensive MVP. He stuffed the stat sheet with 49 tackles, two forced fumbles, and an incredible nine interceptions including returning two of those interceptions for touchdowns. The Denham Springs ball magnet made a habit of making interceptions all season and that trend started in the pre-season when he picked off Woodlawn High School star quarterback/LSU signee Rickie Collins. However, it was even before that moment dating back all the way to the spring that McBryde knew that the 2022 season was going to be different.

“I would have to say the spring game at the beginning of the season because it truly woke me up of how much better I’ve became.”

McBryde rode that momentum from the spring to not only have a dominant season individually, but at the same time, become a driving force behind the program’s best season to date making the Class 5A Quarterfinals.

“I believe that season was truly special and the reason for our success is the effort all the seniors put in knowing it’s their last high school season.”

Already establishing himself as a star in 2022, McBryde wants to establish himself as a program great in 2023 and he wants to do that by becoming an even more dominant player, which is truly scary for the local competition around the Baton Rouge area.

“I would like to improve on being more physical and one of my goals is just to get faster and put some more muscle on.”

“My message to this year’s team is just trust the process and always try and out work everyone around you as that makes every team better.”

Being physical and being intense is something that McBryde idolizes in watching a NFL Hall of Famer at safety.

“I would have to say I idolize Brian Dawkins because of his intensity.”

McBryde’s intensity and competitiveness translates not only to sports, but video games as well.

“The main thing I do when not playing football is to play video games. I’m a huge gamer.”

Of course, a player like McBryde that is coming off a dominant season and has the physical skills necessary to become a Power Five Division I player will make some noise in recruiting and so far, he has. Currently, the three-star recruit has received offers from Texas Tech, Tulane, UIW, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Houston, Baylor, FAU, ULL, Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, Missouri, and most recently, Mississippi State just a couple of hours ago.

“I think the recruiting process has been going very well for me and I believe it’ll pick up some more come my senior year.”

A couple of schools that McBryde has visited with and has been impressed with so far have been schools like Tennessee, LSU, Mississippi State, and Florida State. Having grown up in Louisiana, LSU has always been a dream school for the local Denham Springs product.

“I would have to say LSU because it’s not only my dream school, but a school close to my family so they can come and watch me.”

McBryde has also been very impressed with the recent success of the Georgia Bulldogs after Kirby Smart is coming off back-to-back national championships. Although McBryde has not yet to receive offers from some of the top-notch SEC schools, there is a really good chance that those schools will be officially offering as those programs have already inquired about his talents. Finally, also add in the fact that McBryde’s dad played football at Alabama, then, you have yourself a Bonafide SEC playmaker. Still, he is going to embrace the summer by going on the offseason recruiting trail one more time.

“I will be doing a lot of camps and maybe some visits.”

After a record-breaking season in which he had the most interceptions in one season at Denham Springs, if colleges have not gotten the chance to know the name Da’Shawn McBryde, they will get a chance to see his sting this upcoming season.