By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine/YouTube TV
The Pineville football program is working hard to get back in the playoffs in 2023. The key reason this could happen is the return of three-year starting quarterback Jaylan Witty, who at 6-3, 187 has the physicality along with the experience to spark improvement this fall.
Witty is a leader, a student of the game, and also a fine student with a GPA of 3.0 and an ACT score of 21.
Here’s much more about this young man in a program that is off to a 1-1 start.
His favorite game is an easy pick.
“I love playing against Alexandria Senior High School every year. They are our cross river rival. A lot of those players I’ve played with or against since junior high and I’ve built a friendship with a lot of them. It’s always a high intensity game for us.”
As he looks toward college, he starts his wish list with his childhood favorites.
“I grew up liking Mississippi State, Louisiana State (LSU) and Florida State. Those are my dream schools,” he said.
Whatever his choice is and whether or not he’s playing football, his college priorities are clear.
“I do want to go to college to major in engineering or accounting,” said Witty. “I’m a big math geek in school.”
He’s very appreciative of his Pineville coaches.
“My head coach, Bryant Bell, is a great guy, a real old school kind of guy, a great coach who loves and cares for all of his players. He has made a lot of the cultural changes for the better of this program and has built a good relationship between us as players and him as a coach.
“My QB coach Christian Adams for my first three years, is now a coach at Breaux Bridge. He’s taught me so much of what I know today and I still use his teachings,” said Witty. “He was almost like a father to me, picking me up and dropping me off at home from practice. He also helped me with school work.
“My position coach now is technically our offensive coordinator, Justin Webb. He’s also a kind of an old school guy and a great person and coach. He’s giving me and the rest of the offensive guys advice every day,” said Witty. “He may not have taught me physical techniques or anything dealing with my position but he has taught me ways to improve my mental skills on the field and has really helped me as a QB to lead the team.”
Not that he’s looking past football but based on last winter and the next season ahead, Witty is full of anticipation for hoops. He’s expected to be a starter on the Rebels’ basketball team that went 21-7 and was No. 7 in the state, reaching the state quarterfinals where powerful St. Thomas More ended their season.
“I’ve been a major rotator in the varsity lineup since my 10th grade year, when we had a record of 15-13 and made it to the playoffs where we lost in the first round. In my 11th grade year, I got a lot of important minutes being the sixth man, averaging 9 points and 5 rebounds,” he said. “I’m ready for my 12th grade season looking for the ‘ship this year.”
First things first. It’s football season, and Witty loves it when the game comes down to the wire.
“What I like most about football is that moment when you know this game is about to be a high paced, high intensity game. It’s late in
the fourth quarter and your team has to go down and score. In those moments when it’s fourth down and you have to dig down to make it happen for your team, I love the pressure of the game.”
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com