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


Make sure you are following us everywhere @BeInTheKneaux so you don't miss a thing!

A quick share helps us a lot!

By Tina Howell April 28, 2025
After a weather-delayed kickoff, loyal NOLA Gold fans were treated to a rollercoaster of a match that ended with a well-earned 44-36 victory over the Seattle Seawolves at the Shrine. This win moved NOLA Gold into 3rd place in the Major League Rugby Eastern Conference standings. Coach Danny Lee said of the team's response to the delay, “We just had to control the controllables. Once we told the boys the definitive time for kickoff, we had a plan ready to go. In terms of game plan, we had to be a little bit more direct, and we had to kick and adapt quickly.” NOLA Gold set the tone early, taking an initial 3-0 lead thanks to a steady penalty kick from Dorian Jones. Though Seattle answered quickly with a try to make it 7-3, the Gold launched into a dominant scoring stretch. Isaac Te Tamaki powered across the try line to ignite the offense, followed by back-to-back tries from the relentless Jonah Mau’u. Jones continued to add points from the tee, stretching the Gold’s lead to 27-7. Just before halftime, the Seawolves found a breakthrough and scored at the buzzer, narrowing the margin to 27-14. However, NOLA emerged from the locker room with purpose. Xavier Mignot wasted no time reestablishing momentum with a try that pushed the lead to 34-14. Seattle fought back with intensity, capitalizing on back-to-back tries to bring the score to 34-24. But NOLA responded with composure, as Jones added another penalty to keep the visitors at bay, 37-24. The closing stages of the match saw both teams exchanging blows. Seattle’s try was met by a decisive moment from Joe Taufete’e, who muscled through defenders for a critical score. Luke Campbell’s conversion extended the lead to 44-29. Though Seattle scored one final try at the buzzer, it wasn’t enough. With a final score of 44-36, NOLA Gold walked away with a crucial five-point win in front of a roaring home crowd and strengthens their postseason hopes with a firm grip on 3rd place in the East. Their next match will be on the road against the San Diego Legion on May 4th at 4:00 PM CT. For tickets and more details, please visit www.nolagoldrugby.com
By Tina Howell April 24, 2025
The 10th annual Covington Antiques & Uniques Festival will be held this Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27, at the Covington Trailhead Museum. This two-day, juried festival features over 60 vendors offering an eclectic mix of antique furnishings, period collectibles, architectural salvage, and vintage-inspired fine crafts, as well as a live auction, car show, good food, music, and more. The Covington Heritage Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to preserve the city’s culture, character and community. Founded in 2015, the festival is coordinated with the support of the City’s Department of Cultural Arts and Events. As the festival grows and evolves each year, their goal remains the same- to offer a first-class juried event that reflects the unique charm and history of the city of Covington. The festival is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. For more details, please visit https://www.covingtonheritagefoundation.com/
Show More