One moment he’s there, and the next he’s 70 yards down the field.
With an athletic ability and an on-field personality that are as enormous as the country that is his last name, Loranger High School’s Jeryl Brazil is a sight to behold on a football field.
Brazil has made a name for himself as Division 3A Loranger’s quarterback, and standing at 5-foot-10, 176 pounds, he has garnered attention from LSU as a defensive back because of his blazing speed.
“I’ve been coaching for 23 years, and I’ve been fortunate to coach some good ones, but he’s the fastest kid I’ve ever been around,” said Loranger Head Coach Sam Messina.
Brazil’s name has been plastered on the likes of Scout.com and ESPN.com, and he’s clocked as fast as 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He compliments his football talents as the reigning Class 3A state outdoor track champion in the 100 and 200 meter events.
ESPN ranked him the No. 59 recruit in the 2013 class, and he has committed to be a Tiger, but he’s currently busy showcasing his skills during his senior season at Loranger.
So when Brazil’s squad went toe-to-toe with the University Lab School Cubs and LSU recruit Tim Williams, Tiger fans watched to see if Brazil would impress.
And impress he did.
Brazil’s first pass was a 30-yard touchdown. He would tack on 178 yards rushing and two scores, including a 70-yard run in a 26-21 victory for Loranger.
“My performance tonight went well,” Brazil said after the game. “We did what we had to do as a team. I did what I had to do as a quarterback. We had to execute our offense and get the job done, and we did that tonight.”
Throughout the night, the senior pounded his chest and pointed to the crowd following his scoring plays. When a teammate failed to execute, Brazil would be shouting words of encouragement or rooting for them off the field.
With the purple and gold lights of Tiger Stadium looming in the distance behind the U-High football field, Brazil can envision himself there someday.
“I can definitely see myself there next year,” he said.
