‘It’s Been Awesome So Far’ U High 2025 QB Emile Picarella Quickly Adjusting to Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Not many people in South Louisiana were familiar with U High quarterback Emile Picarella heading into the 2023 high school football season. That’s because the signal caller recently moved to Baton Rouge from Madison, Mississippi (near Jackson, MS). Despite the perhaps unconventional move ahead of Picarella’s junior season, the highly recruited quarterback hit the ground running in the 225.

“My dad got an opportunity to come here and work and we wanted to move out of state, we didn’t want to stay in the same spot,” Picarella said. “My sister is at LSU right now and that played a huge part in transferring here, so we made the move and it’s been great so far, new atmosphere, new people, get to make new friends, so its been awesome so far.”

Picarella seemed to enter the season as the backup quarterback, but after a dazzling performance in the jamboree against Dunham to begin the year that depth chart placement was short-lived. The three-star QB prospect took the reigns as the starter and led the Cubs to a District Championship winning season including victories over Catholic High, Parkview Baptist, and several other well respected programs.

The Cubs, led by head coach Andy Martin, saw their season come to an end in a 10-7 overtime loss at St. Charles Catholic in the LHSAA division three select semi-finals. However, Picarella believes that was the foundation for a huge senior season.

“We’re not going to have some of the guys we had last year, so we’re going to have to change things up and adjust like every other team does in the offseason and see what we have and if that’s big plays then it is and if it’s not then we got to dip and dunk and then hand the ball off then it is what it is. Anything you got to do to win,” Picarella said.

With Picarella at the controls, U High’s offense averaged nearly 40 points per game last season. Production like that has caught the eyes of many recruiters across the country. Picarella owns offers from Kentucky, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, and Pittsburgh according to 247sports.

Picarella has a busy spring full of planned trips to visit several universities across the United States. As far as local teams go, Emile seems interested in the Green Wave down in New Orleans.

“Going to Tulane this weekend, hopefully can get an opportunity to play for them one day,” Picarella said.

While junior and senior year are big for recruiting, Picarella is steadfast in his belief that U High comes first and the Cubs are his first priority in the present moment.

“I just want to put it out there and play my senior season because the main thing right now is U High and winning the state championship, that’s the main thing. It’s U High first.” Picarella said.

Picarella hopes to commit before the season starts either at the end of spring or sometime in the summer. As for the 2024 season, the rising senior has the early season game against Archbishop Rummel circled as one he’s very excited for. The Raiders topped the Cubs 20-17 in week two last season.

“In want to get back on Rummel, I need to get my revenge on them. That one’s circled on my schedule,” Picarella said.

U High will host Archbishop Rummel during the 2024 season.

For more on Picarella’s recruitment, quest for a state championship in 2024, and much more check out the full interview above or on YouTube!

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