Bayou Boys: The Quarterbacks of the South

Ethen Meyers • September 19, 2023

    It may be a biased take, but when I think of the "Bayou" I think about Louisiana and only Louisiana. Sure, there are swamps and bayous around the world, but there's no place like home. That brings us to the point of this article, our very own Bayou Boys: Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB), Michael Pratt (Tulane Green Wave QB), and Jayden Daniels (LSU Tigers QB). Carr has already had the up and downs of a QB that you would expect to see from a player on a brand new team. Pratt has been injured, but the hype around the Wave is just waiting to explode. Jayden Daniels on the other hand, has been on a tear and showing exactly what he can offer to any potential NFL teams watching. Now that we know the purpose, let us dive into the people.


Derek Carr

        The former Raider turned Saint has seen two full games under center in the black and gold and his highs have been as equal as his lows. It is no secret that the Saints are winning because of the near perfection on defense, but this article isn't about the defense. Carr has thrown two questionable picks, but I am willing to chalk those up to a QB in a new environment trying to make something happen and potentially trying to do too much. Just one touchdown, two interceptions, 533 yard and a sub 65% completion percentage he has not wowed anyone and has primarily looked like a glorified game manager. While that may sound negative, I say all of that to say this: Carr is just getting started. Most of the throws just feel off for timing, which is a comforting feeling. He has missed guys because they went flat or long when he guessed the opposite. There is no amount of training camp or practice reps that can prepare players for in game timing, that will come with real game reps. My favorite thing about Carr so far is his emotion, you can tell he WANTS this, you can tell his eyes are set on more than regular season.


Michael Pratt

        Unfortunately, Pratt has been injured and it feels like the "day to day" status has increased to "week to week" but the Green Wave has stayed rolling in his absence at 2-1. Basing my overreaction purely off of his only game against South Alabama, I would think the Heisman race is between Pratt and Daniels. Pratt threw for an impressive 294 yards on just 15 attempts, managed to score 4 touchdowns and post a clean 93.3% completion percentage. Even more, he posted a respectable 3.5 yards a carry on the ground over 11 attempts. Pratt put on his Superman cap last season and at this point it feels like he plans on keeping it on when he returns. While Tulane fell out of the graces of the voters, they still have been receiving votes just not enough to get back in the Top 25. When Pratt returns, I expect him to take a few less hits and remember that while the Wave can roll without him, it is a more complete program with him healthy.


Jayden Daniels

        Where Pratt left off, Jayden Daniels picked up. The first game against FSU you could tell LSU was just not "there". Maybe it wasn't enough practice, not enough mental commitment, who knows, but they showed the world that was not the identity of LSU going forward and have climbed to #8 on the Top 25 after sure handed victories over Louisiana product Grambling and not so friendly neighbor in Mississippi State. Daniels has posted 9 touchdowns (7 Passing/2 Rushing) and over 600 yards since his less than desirable first game and does not show any intention of looking back. I thought about giving Superman to Daniels, but I decided to go with Batman, why you ask? Because Malik Nabers exist and what is Batman without Robin? Winning Co-SEC Player of the Week Daniels and Nabers are a dynamic duo LSU should ride into the sunset with. Daniels is playing like every NFL scouting departments dream, and I can't wait to see what else he shows off for the rest of the season as it seems his ceiling is still higher than we have seen.


        It feels like we are due some good QB play down in the bayou. When Drew Brees and Joey B left we had a gap, but the new Bayou Boys have us all the way BACK. Black and Gold, Green and Blue, or Purple and Gold your team has something to cheer about this season and it is (mostly) thanks to the revitalizing these QBs are doing, or have done for their respective organizations. As a fan of football and all things Louisiana, I am happy our trio of teams is balling and I hope the same continues to happen around the state for the smaller programs like Nicholls, Grambling, LA Tech, McNeese, SLU, Southern, ULL and ULM! #WhoDat #RollWave #GeauxTigers


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Why Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton RoyalWhy Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton Royal

By Auston Taylor • July 8, 2026
 LSU has made it clear that five-star wide receiver Easton Royal remains one of its top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class. Although Royal is currently committed to Texas, LSU has continued to recruit him aggressively. Based on recent recruiting events and public reporting, one factor that could strengthen the Tigers' position is the presence of quarterback commit Peyton "Pop" Houston. While no outcome is guaranteed in recruiting, Houston's relationship with Royal has become one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding LSU's 2027 class. According to recruiting coverage from The Opening and reports from And The Valley Shook, Houston and Royal showcased noticeable chemistry while competing together on the national stage. Houston also drew attention by winning the event's longest throw competition with a reported 67-yard throw, further reinforcing why many evaluators consider him one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. In my view, Houston has the potential to become much more than another highly rated offensive commitment. Elite quarterbacks often become magnets for other top recruits, and early signs suggest Houston could have that kind of influence on LSU's 2027 recruiting class. Why Houston Matters in Royal's Recruitment Quarterback and wide receiver relationships have become one of the most influential factors in modern recruiting. Elite receivers aren't simply choosing a school—they're choosing an offense, a coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, the quarterback who will help maximize their abilities. If Royal ultimately views Houston as LSU's quarterback of the future, it gives the Tigers another compelling selling point. Rather than asking Royal to imagine what the offense could become, LSU can point to chemistry that has already been displayed during national recruiting events. That doesn't guarantee a commitment flip, but it does provide LSU with something tangible that few recruiting pitches can offer: an established connection between two elite prospects. LSU's History Shows Why This Matters LSU's greatest offensive seasons have consistently featured elite quarterbacks throwing to elite receivers. During the Tigers' historic 2019 National Championship season, Joe Burrow captured the Heisman Trophy while throwing to arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. That offense rewrote NCAA record books and remains the standard for modern college football offenses. A few years later, history repeated itself. Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy while benefiting from one of the nation's most explosive receiving duos in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels' remarkable development was certainly his own, but LSU's elite receiving talent allowed the offense to reach another level. The lesson is clear: great quarterbacks elevate receivers, but elite receivers also help quarterbacks reach championship-level production. That history gives LSU a compelling message for recruits considering Baton Rouge. Peyton "Pop" Houston's Development Houston's rise as one of Louisiana's premier quarterback prospects is backed by more than recruiting rankings. Evaluators consistently praise his arm strength, touch, ability to extend plays outside the pocket, and willingness to attack defenses vertically. His continued development at Evangel Christian Academy has made him one of the foundation pieces of LSU's 2027 recruiting class. The Bigger Picture If LSU eventually pairs Peyton Houston with Easton Royal, it would represent much more than another recruiting victory. It would signal that LSU landed a quarterback capable of attracting elite talent around him while adding a receiver willing to build alongside that vision. Programs that consistently compete for championships often see recruiting momentum build this way. Elite quarterbacks attract receivers. Elite receivers attract additional offensive talent. Once that cycle begins, recruiting classes can quickly become special. None of this guarantees that Easton Royal will flip his commitment. Texas remains in a strong position, and recruiting decisions can change for countless reasons. However, Houston's emergence gives LSU something every elite program hopes to have: a quarterback capable of becoming the centerpiece of an entire recruiting class. LSU has already witnessed what happens when championship-caliber quarterbacks are paired with elite receivers. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. If Peyton "Pop" Houston eventually helps bring Easton Royal to Baton Rouge, it could become one of the defining recruiting stories of LSU's 2027 class—and perhaps the first step toward building another explosive Tiger offense.

Tight End Room Outlook: Revamped and Ready To Roll

By Kaden Arkeder • July 4, 2026
The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.
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