Terrebonne standouts rolling in big offers

High school coaches dream for elite-level talent — the types of players that colleges around the country fawn over getting at the next level.

Terrebonne High School currently has two of those guys.

The Tigers have two players getting national recruiting attention, rising senior receiver Jakhi Douglas and rising junior lineman Maason Smith — guys who are pulling offers from colleges around the country.

Douglas has SEC offers from LSU, Alabama, Florida and dozens of others.

Smith, too, has seen his recruiting grow in recent weeks. He has offers from LSU, Alabama, Texas A&M, Tennessee and others.

Coach Gary Hill said he wants folks to know that his guys are just as good off the field as they are on it, saying that collegiate coaches will be getting steals by signing both young men.

“The thing when you have those types of players is you want to make sure they’re humbled and committed to the team first and these guys embody that,” Hill said. “They’re being looked at and they’re getting attention, but they show up ready to work, they’re coachable and they’re doing everything we ask of them. They’re great kids and we’re excited and blessed to have them.”

For Douglas, his recruiting bubble has grown immensely in the past 12 months.

Last summer as a member of the Louisiana Bootleggers, Douglas started to generate attention — hype he paid off in 2018 with a huge junior season for Terrebonne.

As a quarterback/halfback/receiver, Douglas posted video game-like numbers for the Tigers, helping lead the team to the Class 5A State Quarterfinals.

Douglas completed 77-of-127 passes for 965 yards and 8 touchdowns. He also carried 149 times for 685 yards and 11 scores. As a receiver, he posted 12 grabs for 251 yards and four scores.

This offseason, he’s back with on the 7-on-7 circuit and is establishing himself as one of the top receivers in the country.

He’s already risen to a 4-star prospect on 24/7 Sports and is one of the Top 6-ranked players in Louisiana.

“It’s just been like a dream come true,” Douglas earlier this season of his quick ascent in the rankings. “It shows me that hard work is paying off and it motivates me to keep working hard.”

For Smith, his recruiting profile has grown in the past few weeks.

Smith had a monster season for the Tigers, dominating at the line of scrimmage for Terrebonne. The massive, 6-foot, 4-inch, 300-pound interior lineman also has scored high marks at camps, which has helped him to earn 16 scholarships total throughout his recruitment.

Smith said his big break came with the University of Florida offered him a scholarship. After that, several other big-name programs followed suit.

“Once Florida offered me a scholarship, other big-name schools started to come around,” he said. “It is definitely a dream come true.”

But Smith also still has a lot of time at the prep level with two full seasons of eligibility left at Terrebonne.

He said that while he’s focused on his recruitment, his No. 1 priority is on his team and his development as a player, adding that he has big goals in mind.

“I want to get better in every aspect of my game,” Smith said. “Something I have to work on most is my lateral quickness. … This season really showed everyone what we can do. This season was very fun — playing with some of my closest friends. We didn’t get to where we wanted to and that’s state, but I want to win state — not only in football, but also power lifting, as well.”

WARD, CARTER SOLIDIFY SPOTS AT NEXT LEVEL

While Douglas and Smith continue to sort through a long list of offers, two of their teammates made their collegiate picks last week.

Halfback Chaz Ward signed with Lamar and lineman Johnny Carter III signed with Louisiana College — both at a ceremony in their honor on Terrebonne’s campus.

Hill said both players deserve their spot, adding that he thinks they’ll both make impacts at the next level.

“I think they’re great kids and they deserve the opportunity to keep playing. They’ve earned it,” Hill said.

Ward was arguably Terrebonne’s most productive player last year — a bell cow halfback who pushed the pile forward for 1,500 yards and more than 20 touchdowns.

Hill said at Lamar, he will have the opportunity to be featured like he was in high school — as a bruising, downhill power runner.

“He had options and he decided he wanted to wait until a little after signing day to make his choice,” Hill said. “But I think he’s going to a place where he can make an impact. He’s a tough-nosed, physical kid and I think he will have a great career there.”

For Carter, the chance to play at Louisiana College will mark an opportunity to compete both on the field and in the classroom.

Hill said Carter is a quality student who will be impress his new coaches with his athleticism and strength at the line of scrimmage.

“They play a competitive schedule and in a very tough conference,” Hill said of Louisiana College. “He will go in there and have a chance to compete and I think he’s up to that challenge.”

Jakhi DouglasDENO THERIOT

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