By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
The last two seasons, we’ve watched Jamarcea Plater earn his place in the conversation about the best running backs ever to play in Shreveport-Bossier.
He broke Captain Shreve’s career rushing yardage record in just his 16th game at running back. He’s rushed for 1,657 yards and 21 TDs this season, averaging 9 yards per carry, following a school-record 2,234 yards and 29 TDs (at 10.1 yards per run) last season – in an All-State campaign once he made the move across the ball from playing cornerback in his first two years with the Gators.
He still plays there some, locked down on the other team’s top receiver. He also has made a huge impact in the kicking game — by blocking an amazing 12 field goals or extra points from off the edge.
Plater is justifiably proud of those sparkling credentials as Shreve (6-4) heads to Hammond tonight for a first-round Select Division I playoff game against the 7-3 Tornadoes.
But what you might not know is what Plater, and his mom, hold in even higher regard than his football stats.
His unweighted 4.6 grade point average, and his lifelong track record of academic success.
“Since kindergarten, my momma said, ‘if it ain’t an A, or at least, an A-minus, I don’t want to see it.’ She instilled that good grades will get you far in this world, so I’ve always tried to take my education seriously, and the older I get the more I’ve seen that doing well academically is very beneficial,” said the 17-year-old senior.
He will be playing college football next fall. Where is to be determined – Plater recently decommitted from Wake Forest and is weighing plenty of options. He will be working on a major leading him into a medical profession – probably nursing, or an anesthesiologist, or a computer technician.
“It all depends on what the school I choose has to offer. I can adopt to anything, but I am strong set on being in the medical field,” he said.
His criteria for his college choice begins with his relationship with the coaches, and the academic opportunities.
“I love my education, and a good, transparent, solid relationship with the coach is all I need,” said Plater, “and I love a school that runs that ball.”
He is getting a jumpstart on his future career, doing an internship in patient care at the LSU Medical Center, working Monday-Friday, putting in about 14 hours weekly.
“This internship is also helping me understand my body. It’s really helpful right now, because you can get banged up and I have a much better awareness of what might be wrong and what to do about it,” he said.
He is on the North Louisiana McNaughton Chapter’s Scholar-Athlete Watch List for the 2025 season, and will certainly be Shreve coach Jeremy Wilburn’s nominee for next spring’s NFF Scholar-Athlete Scholarship awards.
He’s probably the only Scholar-Athlete nominee who would absolutely enjoy watching his team’s games from the stands – in the Shreve band.
Plater plays three instruments. He joined the band in the sixth grade, but had to drop out because it conflicted with junior high football. He was playing the trombone then, and is self-taught on the trumpet and the baritone.
His grandmother’s husband is a professional musician, playing the trumpet and baritone. Talking to him on the phone helped Plater broaden his repertoire during the Covid shutdown, when he had time to hone his skills.
Like his musical range, his athletic attributes come from family ties.
His late grandfather gave him his nickname – “Champ.”
“He always called me that, based on the fact that I inherited his football skills, and I always won championships when I was younger,” said Plater, whose Captain Shreve bonds trace back two generations.
“He played running back, and three of his other younger brothers all played football at Shreve (for coach Lee Hedges). The others were receivers, or quarterbacks. He was the one who ran through somebody’s face, and I wanted to be like him.”
His grandmother was a state track champion four years in a row.
“Generational talent, right there,” he said, proudly.
He attributes his exceptional agility to footwork drills from his days as a junior high quarterback.
“I don’t like getting hit, so I didn’t have a choice but to get quick on my feet. I’ve always been fast but I had to put 2 and 2 together.”
Plater admits he keeps track of his statistics — during games.
He sets specific targets for his performance. For example:
“I’m always going to have a goal in mind. This game, I plan to go for 250 (yards) plus, if not four (hundred), but I’ll stop at three because three’s the lucky number.”
That leads us to why he wears jersey No 3.
“I told my middle school coach I wanted No. 1, because I knew I was No. 1, but he humbled me. He said, ‘you need No. 3 for these three reasons – keep God first, put your mother second, and yourself third.’ I’ve carried that with me.”
What is there about “Champ” Plater that he doesn’t believe many people realize?
“I talk a lot. I’ll say that for a fact,” Plater said. “With all this football skill, and my little touchdown celebrations make me seem a little crazy, so people probably don’t see me as a smart person, but I am a real intellectual guy.”
No opponents have been smart enough to stop him.
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