Javon Vital Jr. has been as electric with the football in his hands as any Louisiana high school athlete in recent memory.
Hamilton Christian has leaned heavily on that dynamic with their multisport, three-phase standout at quarterback where he is a highlight- and touchdown-threat on any given offensive play.
But the junior star has also been as lethal and efficient on special teams as anyone — in the limited instances in which opponents make the mistake of kicking the ball anywhere that allows him an opportunity.
That game-breaking explosiveness earned Vital the vote as Louisiana vs. All Y’all’s first D.J. Chark Return Weapon of the Year on the heels of his second straight all-state season and some comparisons as eye-catching as his highlight reel.
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“This is gonna really make you laugh, because I never saw it until the referee told it to me after the St. Fred’s playoff game,” coach Dexter Washington said. “He said when they were walking off the field what they had just witnessed, he said, ‘I hope you videoed what you just watched, because this is the last you’ll see of (former Oklahoma State and Detroit Lions legend) Barry Sanders on the football field.
“Then I had to go back and start looking, because I remember Barry, and I had to look at how he could stop and start and find a hole and explode through it so well, it was amazing, you know. And I think it was also amazing to the other teams as well based on what they saw on tape. I don’t know who they compared him to, but (Vital) was just a dynamic return guy, man.”
Hamilton Christian tallied Vital at six punt returns for 394 yards, a 65.7-yard average and five touchdowns and six kickoff returns for 215 yards, a 35.8-yard average and a touchdown.
The 5-foot-10, 185-pound speedster earned his LSWA Class 1A all-state selection as a sophomore in 2024 in the return-specialist slot with his combined 460 return yards and two touchdowns each on punts and kicks.
He was even more effective in 2025 with the opportunities he did have in that phase despite opponents increasingly trying to avoid him, which itself also proved to be an asset to the Warriors.
“Javon really controlled the kickoffs and the punt, which allowed us to really always have good field position,” Washington explained. “Having him back there, they never would kick him the ball. And every now and then, they’d make a mistake and kick him the ball. And when they did, I can assure you most of the times he touched it he was either putting us at the goal line or over it for a touchdown. Just the fact that his explosiveness and his ability to change a game any time he had the ball in his hands, especially in the return game, I think he’s really, really dangerous.”
Other finalists for Louisiana vs. All Y’all’s inaugural D.J. Chark Return Weapon of the Year included Jeanerette athlete Kobe Gage, Madison Prep athlete Landon Johnson, St. Charles Catholic return specialist Chrisd’on McClain and Edna Karr wide receiver Greg Wilfred.
The award is named for former Alexandria and LSU star D.J. Chark, whose explosiveness on special teams was another major asset to his game at both levels in addition to his work at wide receiver.
Chark reportedly racked up more than 1,500 yards in returns as a senior, former Alexandria coach Brad Chesshir told The Advocate, in addition to his rushing and receiving totals as a two-time LSWA Class 5A all-state honorable-mention selection.
That phase remained a key piece as he gradually worked his way into bigger opportunities during his four college seasons in Baton Rouge.
Chark, who earned LSU’s coveted No. 7 jersey as a playmaker, returned 18 punts as a senior in 2017, including two for touchdowns.
His two return scores that season tied him for second-most in a season in program history and included a 75-yarder Oct. 14, 2017, that helped the Tigers score 20 unanswered points to stun and upset No. 10 Auburn.
