Best of the Best: Louisiana Archbishop Rummel 2015 Football Preview

Written by Ryan Wright

When the 2014 high school football season had come to a close Archbishop Rummel High School (Metairie) steamrolled to an 11-1 record before falling 28-14 to eventual Louisiana state champs Jesuit in the semifinals. The deep run into the playoffs was not surprising but breaking a streak of two consecutive Division I state championships (2012, 2013) was difficult to overcome for Raiders’ fans.

Rummel enters the season on national radars with a MaxPreps Xcellent ranking of 22 and a PrepNation spot at No. 25.

Offense
The Raiders offense appears to be set with returning senior starter Chase Fourcade (Nicholls State) under center and speedy Israel Tucker at tailback. When Fourcade (5’11”, 180) drops back to pass he has David Hensley III and Colby Brunet as top targets streaking down the sidelines.

All eyes will be on Tucker to see how he bounces back from a torn ACL injury suffered in August of last year. Splitting time in the backfield with Tucker is Maurice Bailey.

Opening holes up front and keeping Fourcade upright are Joe Oliver (6’3”, 308) and Larry Robinson (6’5”, 300). Oliver will join Fourcade at Nicholls State and Robinson is an early commit to Southern Miss.

A player to watch is athlete Devin Hutton and wide receiver Rummel Johnson.

Defense
Rummel has a couple of the best at their position in the 2016 recruiting class helping secure an always dominating defense. In 2014 the Raiders held opponents to an average of 12 points per game and have the talent to do it again this season. Defensive tackle Briston Guidry (Arkansas) is a monster up front listed at 6’3”, 275 pounds. Locking down opposing offense’s top wideouts is Kristian Fulton (6’0”, 175). Fulton, like Guidry, is considered a 4-star recruit with over 20 scholarship offers to top schools like LSU, Texas A&M, Arkansas, TCU, Texas, UCLA, Florida, Cal, Arizona State, and Notre Dame among others.

Joining Guidry up front is Robert Hudgins and Rick McClendon. At outside linebacker/defensive end Jacob Macaluso is expected to lead the defense. Look for safety/linebacker Derrick Munson and outside linebacker Shahid Reece (6’0”, 220) to have standout junior seasons for Rummel.

A player to watch is defensive back Jakobi Jones.

Schedule Overview
Not that playing a Louisiana high school football schedule is tough enough but the Raiders add a road game against national power Don Bosco Prep (New Jersey) and Wayne County (Mississippi) to the docket in 2015. The in-state games that jump out are University Lab, Curtis, and a rematch against Jesuit on Oct. 17.

2015 Rummel Schedule
Aug. 19 Catholic vs. Rummel
Sept. 4 Rummel at University Lab
Sept. 12 Covington at Rummel
Sept. 18 Rummel at Wayne County (Waynesboro, MS)
Sept. 26 Rummel at Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ)
Oct. 3 Archbishop Shaw at Rummel
Oct. 9 Rummel at Holy Cross
Oct. 17 Rummel at Jesuit
Oct. 24 Brother Martin at Rummel
Oct. 31 Rummel at Curtis
Nov. 7 St. Augustine at Rummel

Photo credit: sportsnola.com; No. 96 Briston Guidry.
Photo credit: sportsnola.com; No. 19 Chase Fourcade.