'Jacks will be young but explosive in 2015

The 2015 Patterson Lumberjacks will be young but explosive.
The Lumberjacks, who finished the 2014 season with a 9-4 mark and advanced to the Class 3A quarterfinals, have several holes to fill on offense. Returning are District 9-3A Most Valuable Player, quarterback Sirbatian “Chubb” Charles, and top collegiate recruit Mykel Jones at receiver, among others.
Patterson has to replace four starters on the offensive line and three starters at wide receiver because of injury.
Charles, a first-year starter in 2014, led the ’Jacks’ offense by completing 107-of-176 passes for 2,100 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions.
He also rushed for more than 500 yards with four scores.
In 2014, he was a Class 3A honorable mention All-State selection by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association and the Louisiana Football Coaches Association.
“We expect a lot out of him, and he expects even more from himself,” Patterson Coach Chad Blanchard said. “He has always been very involved in the offense, but he’s gonna have a pretty big workload for us early on. He’s worked hard, and he’s a good leader, so he’s prepared for it. Chubb has intangibles that you can’t coach. He’s a natural quarterback, and he does a great job of getting himself out of trouble.”
The senior will be backed up by junior Dillan Giandelone, who is also a starter on defense.
Jones, a 6-foot, 180-pound prospect, is rated the No. 32 receiver and the No. 184 overall player in the country, per the 247Sports Composite.
Jones recently released his top four schools: Alabama, LSU, Tennessee and Ole Miss, in no specific order.
Jones, however, will be sidelined early this season because of injury, Blanchard said.
“Mykel can do it all,” Blanchard said. “His rehab has been going great, and we expect him back in the early part of the season. Until he returns, others will have to step up and perform.”
Jones had 35 catches for 622 yards and nine scores in 2014.
In addition to first-team all-district honors, he was a second-team Class 3A All-State selection by the Louisiana Football Coaches Association and an honorable mention Class 3A All-State selection by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Gone, however, is Jones’ receiving partner from last season, Alabama freshman Daylon Charlot. He had 27 catches for 626 yards and 12 touchdowns.
In addition to first-team all-district honors, Charlot was a first-team Class 3A All-State selection by both the Louisiana Sports Writers Association and the Louisiana Football Coaches Association.
Another big-time Patterson recruit, Nehemiah Augustus, will spend more time on offense this season. The senior has offers from Georgia, Nebraska, Arizona State, Louisiana Tech and Tulane, among others, according to 247Sports. The self-proclaimed
“Menace” will be just that for opponents in 2015.
“He’s one of the best athletes in the state, and we have to find ways to get the ball in his hands, not just until Mykel returns, but all season,” Blanchard said.
Also expect to see seniors D.J. Jones and Brennan Gouaux, sophomore Aydin Leblanc, juniors K’hyri Harris and Jordan Butler, senior De’Sabrian Benjamin and junior Matthew Dardeau in the mix at receiver.
Blanchard said senior Shay Ragas also will be out due to injury but is expected back about mid-season. He started both ways last season, and he’s one of the team’s most athletic players.
Ragas was a second-team all-district selection in 2014 at wide receiver and defensive back.
The offensive line will be the youngest unit for Patterson this season.
Among the losses from last season are first-team all-district selections Malik Garrett and Clay Benoit. Garrett signed with Southwest Assemblies of God University. Garrett also was an honorable mention Class 3A selection by the Louisiana Football Coaches Association in 2014.
The lone returning starter is left tackle Sean Stewart (6-foot, 235 pounds). The senior was a second team all-district selection in 2014.
Junior Aarion Hartman (6-foot, 245 pounds) will be the left guard while sophomore Zack Burke (6-foot, 235 pounds) is the center. Sophomore Deondre Diggs (6-foot, 2-inch, 220 pounds) will start at right guard and senior Jaylon Johnson (6-foot, 240 pounds) will be at right tackle. Johnson started three games last season.
“We expect a lot from Sean and Jaylon, both from their play and leadership wise,” Blanchard said. “They’re inexperienced but they want to get better, and they’re hard-working kids. They’re also very athletic, and we are trying to get them to mesh right now.”
Other linemen include senior Jaylon Antoine, junior Dariont’e Brown and senior defensive lineman Charlie Kelly also may see time at tackle.
The offensive line will be counted on to open holes for electric senior running Tristen Ausama, a first-team all-district selection in 2014. The senior rushed for more than 1,300 yards in 2014 with 20 touchdowns.
“He’s an important part of what we do offensively,” Blanchard said. “Tristen is not only a good outside runner, but he runs well between the tackles, too. He also catches the ball well out of the backfield. We expect a lot from him.”
Sophomore Dontre’ Nicholas, who flashed late in games last year, will spell Ausama. D.J. Jones also will see more time in the backfield this season. The senior played mainly defense in 2014. Freshman Dajon Richard and Augustus will see time also in the
’Jacks’ backfield.
Defensively, Patterson returns the majority of its starters from its 2014 squad.
The centerpiece of the ’Jacks’ defensive unit is linebacker Augustus. He will be counted on to be a huge disruption for Patterson off the edge in 2015.
“We will move him around some this season, too,” Blanchard said. “He will be counted on heavily.”
In 2014, Augustus earned first-team all-district and second- team Class 3A All-State honors at the FLEX position by the Louisiana Football Coaches Association.
The other outside linebacker is senior Kenneth Washington. Washington, a basketball standout, has made an impact in his first season on the gridiron.
“He is learning our system really quick, and he’s super athletic,” Blanchard said. “He’s gonna turn some heads.”
Returning starter, senior Blake Dreyer, will helm one inside linebacker spot, while senior Dominique Washington and Brown will split time alongside him.
Dreyer was a second-team all-district selection in 2014.
Other linebackers include sophomore Jaylon Jennings and Dardeau.
Gone from last year’s squad due to graduation was District 9-3A MVP Malik Bass, who is walking on at McNeese State this fall. Bass was a second-team Class 3A All-State selection by the Louisiana Football Coaches Association and an honorable mention all-state choice by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
The defensive line features two returning starters, senior Charlie Kelly and junior Tyric Garrett. Kelly was a first-team all-district selection in 2014, while Garrett was a second-team all-district selection.
“They’re both good football players,” Blanchard said. “They’re both quick, and they do whatever we need them to do on the D-line.”
Senior Tyrik Singleton also will man the defensive line, and Antoine also will see snaps there.
Gone from last year’s defensive line due to graduation is Earl Johnson, a first-team all-district selection and an honorable mention Class 3A All-State selection by the Louisiana Football Coaches Association.
The defensive secondary will feature D.J. Jones and Giandelone at the safeties, while Nicholas and junior Brandon Ramagos will start at the corners.
Other defensive backs include Richard, Harris, Leblanc and Benjamin.
Ragas’ return will solidify the defensive back field.
Gone from last year’s backfield is Charlot, who earned first-team all-district honors.
Junior Christian Soria, a second-team all-district performer in 2014, returns at kicker. He will do all the kicking for Patterson this season.
“He worked hard this offseason, and he’s a lot stronger,” Blanchard said. “He will even kick off this season.”
The kick returners are Augustus and D.J. Jones to start the season and Mykel Jones and Ragas when they return. Augustus was a first-team all-district and second-team Class 3A All-State selection in 2014 by the Louisiana Football Coaches Association
as a return specialist.
Patterson will have its final preseason tune-up when it faces Morgan City Friday at 8 p.m. in the Morgan City High School Jamboree.
Additional reporting by Sports Editor Geoff Stoute.