In a country yearning for football's return amid COVID delayed seasons, the Netflix series "Last Chance U" offers solace for girdiron-starved fans. The fifth season, which dropped July 25, features Laney College of Oakland and its colorful band of players and coaches.
And in a season of strong personalities and inspiring stories, the brash, confidence of cornerback
Rejzohn Wright might stand apart from all others. "Last Chance U" follows the Eagles a season after winning the state junior college championship.
It features legendary East Bay coach John Beam, who spent almost two decades at Skyline High School in Oakland before moving to Laney. The eight-episode season also chronicles former Deer Valley (Antioch, Calif.) player Dior Walker-Scott, De Anza (Richmond, Calif.) receiver RJ Stern and Hayward (Calif.) lineman Nu'u Taugavau.
The
James Logan (Union City, Calif.) two-sport athlete was the No. 1 cornerback in the state and wasn't afraid to let opponents and referees know it ... or how many offers he had. The younger brother of Laney alumni Nahshon Wright has "Sunday talent," but Beam seemingly spends time during each episode coaxing the talent while reigning in the mouth.
"Part of that was because he was a sophomore," Beam told MaxPreps. "We had to let the freshmen know some things couldn't be tolerated."
That said, Beam welcomed the swagger and knows it comes along with the cornerback position. He was given more rope also because his father was shot and killed trying to break up a fight at a nightclub while Wright was in high school.
"He's had some tough times and keeping him focused and in school was our top priority," Beam said.
Wright's play and confidence were key in leading the Eagles win the 2018 state junior college championship.
The 2019 season doesn't follow quite that trajectory. Still, Wright's play lands him offers from schools across the country. And while he looked at Central Florida, he ultimately opted to follow his brother to play at Pac-12 school Oregon State.
"We were lucky to have him," Beam said of the younger Wright. "He was big time at Logan. He was an ultra smooth athlete who ran track and had all the tools. We had (Nahshon) and had built a trust with him and his family at Laney. It all worked out for the best. He'll be great at Oregon State with his brother. He's still big time."
Rezjohn Wright, James Logan
File photo by Samuel Stringer
