By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine/YouTube TV
Today we will talk not only about Class of 2024 Buckeye players who might sign college scholarships but also consider a comment from Panthers’ coach Ben McLaughlin about his entire senior class.
What the man said: “We have 13 seniors in this class. This group of kids means a lot to me, as it’s the first group of seniors, since the 2017 seniors, to lead this program back to the playoffs.
“This being my second year as head coach, the progress we have made from last year to now happened because of the hard work and leadership of this class.”
There are two Buckeye players who have a chance to sign or earn the opportunity to play college ball from the Panthers’ Class 2024 — OT/DE Gage Vercher (6-3, 270), a four-year starter, and OG/DT/NG Jathen Lachney (6-1, 285), who has started the last two seasons.
Their coach is very bullish on Vercher as a capable Buckeye team starts what could be a playoff run.
“Gabe plays every snap on offense, and still plays crucial situations while on defense.”
He has received a scholarship offer from local Louisiana Christian College in Pineville. Vercher has 19 tackles on the season and five tackles for loss in nine games – but it’s tough for a player in his position to stack up big stats. He plugs it up and directs traffic to the linebackers.
As for Lachney, McLaughlin is also a big fan.
“He is extremely athletic for his size, Jathen , like Gage, plays every snap on offense, and plays in crucial defensive snaps,” his coach said.
Lachney has 17 tackles, 5 of them solo and 5 tackles for loss in nine games. Lachney is in talks with Louisiana Christian, East Texas Baptist, and others about his football future.
There are other Buckeye seniors who have upward mobility.
This group of possible college players include RB/CB Jesse Standlee, RB/LB Christian Morace, TE/LB Jacob Young — a tough kid I like – plus center Ian Ricketts (a good leader), OG/DT Kade Morace, OT/DT Dalton Paul, DT Colton Grimm, CB Ethan Glaze, K Harrison Nugent, along with two more Class of 2024 guys who had their senior years cut short because of injuries: Sean Beck and Lucien Fiasconaro.
The Buckeye program is trending forward. Playoff success is possible and there are other younger Panthers who could bear long looks from college recruiters in 2024 and beyond. THey will be well-coached – of that, there’s no doubt.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com