2024 Results: 13-1 overall record, beat Ruston in Division-I Non-Select championship game.
Biggest Strength: Central’s answer to this category could honestly be the swelling energy and belief around the program after its somewhat-fairytale run in 2024 to its first state title since 1966. But, from an on-field/player perspective, the middle of the defense has a chance to be solid when all the pieces finish falling into place. Junior safeties Marvin Joseph Jr. and Mason Moore are a dynamic duo capable of making highlight and high-impact plays all over the field. Senior linebacker Jake Jarreau returns, now has Live Oak transfer Lane Billings alongside him and should have highly ranked prospect JaMichael Garrett joining him if the LHSAA approves his eligibility following his move from Alabama. Houston commit Scott Smith Jr. is working back from injury, but will add one of the state’s top-ranked seniors to the front when he does.
Biggest Question: How steadily can the Wildcats’ maintain their newly ascended status among the top contenders in Louisiana’s highest classification after graduating a legendary 2025 class? And, so, hand-in-hand: How quickly can some of the next cast of players stepping into bigger roles this year be ready to play with the level of consistency necessary to win at that level?
Key Returners: Sr. OL Graham Harris (6-2, 295), Sr. LB Jake Jarreau (5-8, 195), Jr. S/ATH Marvin Joseph Jr. (6-0, 170), Jr. DB Mason Moore (5-10, 170), Sr. DL Scott Smith Jr. (6-5, 220), Jr. WR Tyrann Williams (5-11, 205), Sr. WR Keithon Womack (6-1, 180).
Breakout Candidate: Quarterback Jackson Firmin, now at Nicholls State, is one of a key senior leaders and playmakers on the title run who leaves big shoes to fill. But coach David Simoneaux and company have been pleased with the progression of a pair of junior quarterbacks in JaCori Platt, Firmin’s backup last season, and Max Gassiott, who moved earlier this year from Alexandria and is still awaiting his LHSAA eligibility clearance. In the team’s first scrimmage of the preseason, Platt showed some intriguing flashes of downfield passing with a couple of well-thrown touchdowns. The night featured some ups and downs against a good Madison Prep team. But if the Wildcats can protect and Platt can settle in and work out some of the kinks, he has the potential to be one of the better quarterbacks in the Baton Rouge area.
Newcomer to Watch: Transfer linebacker JaMichael Garrett is still awaiting his eligibility confirmation from the LHSAA following his move early this year from Alabama. But once he’s able to take the field on a Friday night, he’s obviously an immediate difference-maker. The one-time Auburn commitment is an athletic, sideline-to-sideline linebacker who flies around the field and is effective dropping into covering or breaking down and tracking down ball-carriers for (often hard-hitting) tackles.
Top College Prospects: Defensive lineman Scott Smith Jr., who committed this summer to Houston, was the headliner of the Wildcats’ senior class from a recruiting standpoint. Additionally, offseason arrival JaMichael Garrett, a one-time Auburn commitment back home in Alabama, is now the state’s highest unranked senior. Offensive lineman Graham Harris and wide receiver Keithon Womack are among other Division-I talented in their final high school seasons, including a July commitment by Harris to Northwestern State. And junior safeties Marvin Joseph Jr. and Mason Moore have both received early college offers.
Key Game: The Wildcats’ short trip to District 4-5A rival Zachary feels like a pivotal game in not only this year’s league race, but in the bigger-picture posturing between the two programs. Central won the matchup last season, 14-3, to end a six-game skid in the series and send a bit of a message. Potentially going back-to-back against the Broncos for the first time since 2012 and 2013 — despite graduating so many key seniors this offseason — would be a notable sign that the Wildcats have staying power as contenders.
Coach Quote: “A lot of good energy, man. Just excited about this group of kids. It’s a high-character group, a bunch of hard-working dudes. We’ve had a tremendous offseason so far, so hopefully the standard each year just gets a little bit higher, and we’re excited about where we’re at.” — coach David Simoneaux
Player Quote: “We’re scratching and clawing at every single little thing. We’re getting after it in the weight room. I know a bunch of people have put on a bunch of weight, and everybody’s lifts have been going up tremendously. So I feel like that will translate onto the field and show how powerful and explosive we are in the long run.” — senior OL Graham Harris