For the past 20 years, the Bayou Bowl has been one of Texas’s premier All-Star football games. The game, which was played on June 8 at Barbers Hill Stadium in Mont Belvieu, Texas, featured several top players from Greater Houston and surrounding areas. One of those players was senior Alief Taylor edge rusher Pierre Yamba.
“The game gives senior football standouts one last time to showcase their talents to their families and college coaches,” said Bayou Bowl director Dick Olin.
“I felt blessed, honored and grateful that someone acknowledged my skills,” said Yamba.
Yamba, a two-time 6A Region III District 23 Unanimous 1st team all-district award winner, hopes to show coaches he has something to add to their program.
“I wanted to show I can put pressure on the quarterback no matter what situation I’m in. I have a high motor, but I’m a smaller edge rusher so I didn’t meet the eye test for many schools,” said Yamba.
Pierre Yamba
IG: @ball0utp
Twitter: @PierreYamba1
Position: Edge rusher
Height & weight: 6-feet, 240 pounds
Player he studies: James Harrison (retired NFL)
Favorite artist: Lil Uzi Vert
Status: Walking on at Texas State
Favorite subject: Precalculus
Shout-outs: Jesus, family, teammates and coaches
Yamba is highly active as an edge rusher, showcasing his strength with a 350-pound bench press, a 315-pound power clean, and a 550-pound squat. Last season, he recorded 56 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 11 hurries, 1 pass deflection, 5 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.
“Yamba was the strongest man on our team and our team captain. As a great leader with a great work ethic, he helped change not only the culture of how the team approached games and workouts but also how they carried themselves as student-athletes,” said Alief Taylor head football coach Shawn Gray.
Yamba didn’t begin playing football until his freshman year of high school. Unfortunately, the season was heavily impacted by COVID-19. In his sophomore year, he became more familiar with the sport and earned playing time on the junior varsity level. The next season, Yamba became a varsity starter and never looked back.
“My summer of junior year I worked like a maniac in the weight room to earn my spot on varsity,” said Yamba.
“He’s become an instant impact player who will make a difference, not only off the field but on the field as well,” said Gray.
Yamba has had several schools interested, but passed up offers, making a decision that surprised some, but made sense to him.
“I chose to attend Texas State [University], where I hope to become a walk-on because I want to be a part of the amazing rebuilding program they have,” said Yamba. “I believe I can grow as a student, and they can help me become the best athlete I can be.”
Although last season Alief Taylor didn’t have any players in the 2023 Bayou Bowl All-Star game, Yamba helped to change the narrative in the 2024 Bayou Bowl All-Star.
“Alief has a lot of talented kids, but we’re one of the smallest districts, so we don’t get a lot of recognition. As coaches, we try to do the best we can and get the best from our players. Having players selected for the 2024 Bayou Bowl All-Star game shows the work ethic and goals we’ve set for our players and program,” said Gray.
When looking back to inspire the next group of athletes, Yamba recalls the advice his parents gave him.
“Put God first in everything you do,” said Yamba.
