2024 Results: 11-1 overall record, lost to Edna Karr in the Division-I Select semifinals.
Biggest Strength: Catholic should be one of Louisiana’s top-tier teams once again this season with plenty areas of confidence all over the field. But the combination of talent, depth and variety in its running back room is rare and has a strong case to be the best in the state. Junior Jayden Miles, a highly ranked national recruit with a long offer list, is the headliner, but the Bears have talent in every class. Senior Christian Moody, fellow juniors Justin Batiste and Lamond Robinson and sophomore Gregory Williams Jr. will all be in the mix to know and bring a mix of sizes, athletic profiles and skillsets that could provide some versatility.
Biggest Question: The most glaring areas of roster turnover are at cornerback and wide receiver where the Bears have to replace a pair of Division-I signees at each position. Catholic is among the programs around the state that seems to do the most consistent job of having the next group of players behind the scenes well-prepared to step into bigger roles and make those turnovers as seamless as possible. But the early schedule is loaded with perennial title contenders in Destrehan, St. Thomas More, University Lab and West Monroe. So how those next players up respond and settle into greater responsibility and pressure will be an interesting aspect of the team to monitor.
Key Returners: Sr. DB Blaine Bradford (6-2, 205), Jr. TE Jude Chamberlain (6-5, 220), Sr. QB Turner Goldsmith (5-10, 170), Sr. QB Baylor Graves (6-0, 185), Sr. LB/S Harrison Kidder (6-1, 205), Sr. LB Maxwelll Maurer (5-10, 190), Jr. RB Jayden Miles (6-2, 205), Sr. OL Blaise Thomassie (6-5, 275), Jr. EDGE/DL Jayden Vessell (6-2, 200).
Breakout Candidate: As mentioned above, while Catholic may have to replace some key pieces from the 2024 roster, the coaches and players have high levels of confidence in some of the successors in those positions. One of those guys is senior defensive back Pierson Carmouche, a cornerback and free safety who appeared to be all over the field during offseason 7-on-7 work and constantly getting his hands on interceptions and deflections. He doesn’t bring the size on the perimeter that last year’s corners possessed, but he’s quick, instinctive and entering his final high school season playing with surging confidence.
Newcomer to Watch: Running back Justin Batiste didn’t get a chance to play varsity last season in his first year at the school, but he looks the part of a future FBS prospect from his impressive and explosive junior-varsity film to his offseason training and 7-on-7 work. Batiste has good size for the next level at over 6-feet tall and 200 pounds and sophomore tape consistently blowing through attempted tackles with his burst and balance.
Top College Prospects: Catholic boasts two of the state’s top 15 senior prospects in Louisiana vs. All Y’all’s class rankings. Safety Blaine Bradford has been one of the nation’s top prospects throughout his high school career and announced a commitment March 31 to Ohio State, and offensive lineman Blaise Thomassie emerged last year as a major Power-Four target on his way to a Stanford commitment June 10. Senior strong safety/linebacker Harrison Kidder is committed to Louisiana (Lafayette). Running back Jayden Miles, a highly ranked 2027 prospect, has headlined the Bears’ junior class with his long offer list that includes LSU, Texas A&M and Auburn. Tight end Jude Chamberlain and defensive end Jayden Vessell started to earn offers this past spring as well and are both ranked in LVAY’s top 30 for 2027. And the aforementioned Justin Batiste should see his recruiting profile gain steam sooner than later.
Key Game: The schedule is loaded with matchups with good opponents with ranging implications. But an annual Week 10 date with Zachary has served as somewhat of a de facto district championship game since the perennial powers joined the same league in 2022. Division-I Non-Select champion Central is starting to force that dynamic into more of a three-team conversation moving forward. But the Broncos have presented the Bears as consistent of challenges as anyone in recent years and bring district late playoff-seeding implications to the equation.
Coach Quote: “For us, kind of no matter how the previous year ended, our standard starts in January, and it builds from there. And those things, we’re constantly looking on ways to improve and do things better, but at the end of the day that foundation’s gonna start the same either way. It didn’t take a lot of effort to motivate these guys to come to work, though — I know that. A lot of progress in terms of the strength guys and those kind of things in January, February and March and then coming out to spring ball, just laying the foundation and trying to get better. A lot of young players in the program we know can help us, so a lot of effort to get those guys kinda caught up to speed.” — coach Hudson Fuller
Player Quote: “I would say this is the most fun year of your high school career. You know all the plays. You’re the big dog as they would say. It feels good. It feels confident. It feels fun. Yeah, I’m excited for it.” — senior safety Blaine Bradford