Mr. Clean’s 2019 Top 100 Players
HONORABLE MENTION: DL Sonny Hazard (Sr., Jesuit), RB LC Benjamin (Sr., Catholic-Baton Rouge), RB D’Ante Gallashaw (Sr., Leesville), RB Jai Williams (Sr., Ascension Catholic), ATH Jameian Buxton (Frosh., Thibodaux), FB Brian Hibbard (Sr., Catholic-BR), QB Jai Eugene (Frosh., Destrehan), LB Carl Glass (Sr. Ouachita), TE Luke Howard (Sr., St. Thomas More), RB Chaunzavia Lewis (Sr., Ouachita), QB Collin Guggenheim (Sr., John Curtis Christian)
100. Tyrell Lockett DT Lafayette Christian 6-2, 275 Jr. – Began his career at Catholic-New Iberia before transferring to LCA, where he sat out last season for eligibility purposes. Related to Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses. Camped at LSU over the weekend and is now camping in Tuscaloosa. Expected to combined with sophomore DT Fitzgerald West on what should be a powerful defensive line for LCA, which will get tested against the veer at Acadiana in week three.
99. Devonta Grogan ATH Morgan City Sr. – Grogan was named second-team all-district athlete in District 7-4A. Plays quarterback and running back. Also named to the all-district defensive team in basketball. Has a penchant for making big plays whether it’s taking a direct snap or catching a screen pass. Recently camped with UL. Had a 73-yard touchdown reception versus E.D. White and also scored on a 67-yard fumble return.
98. Keydrain Calligan DB Westgate 6-1, 185 Sr. – Had a great spring, picking up his first offer from Louisiana Tech on May 14 and following with three more, including ULM, Southeastern Louisiana and South Alabama. Class 4A state champion in the triple jump. Honorable-mention all-state in basketball, where he led the Tigers to the Class 4A quarterfinals. Honorable-mention Best of the Teche Defense last year.
97. Joseph Mason LB Green Oaks 6-3, 220 Sr. – Committed to Louisiana Tech on May 11. Added an offer from Southern Miss on May 18. Placed fifth in the shot put at the 3A state track meet in early May. Ranked second all-time in school history in both the shot put and discus. Helped Green Oaks secure a No. 15 seed in last year’s playoffs. Plays linebacker for the Giants but could grow into a defensive end.
96. Steven McBride WR East Ascension 6-1, 165 Sr. – Ran the 40-yard dash in 4.62 seconds and recorded a 35.10 vertical at The Opening Regional in March. Named the Louisiana Sports Scene Offensive Player of the Week in week three. Ran for 21 yards on two carries with a touchdown and caught three passes for 76 yards in a 35-0 win over Thibodaux. Helped the Spartans clinch a No. 5 seed in the 5A bracket, where they advanced to the quarterfinals.
95. Harlon Dixon RB Slidell 6-0, 180 Sr. – Clocked a 4.33 shuttle at The Opening Regional. Had a 63-yard reception versus East Ascension. Rushed for 1,445 yards and 12 touchdowns on 187 attempts during the regular season. Added 37 catches for 708 yards and seven TDs. Helped Slidell garner a No. 12 seed in the 5A bracket. Tigers lost to East Ascension in the second round. Rushed for 247 yards and five TDs in a 59-22 win over Ponchatoula.
94. Bryce Cooper LB Kentwood 5-9, 225 Sr. – Holds a Tulane offer. Helped Kentwood to a Class A state championship win over Oak Grove. Had 139 tackles and 11 TFL entering the championship game. Anchored a defense that held 10 opponents to 14-or-fewer points. Hit .373 as a sophomore for the baseball team, which finished as state runner-up to Oberlin in May. Named second-team all-district in baseball as a junior.
93. Geron Hargon LB Captain Shreve 6-2, 235 Sr. – Posted solid numbers for a player his size at The Opening Regional with a 4.90 in the 40, a 4.49 shuttle, and a 32-inch vertical. First-team all-district last season. Expected to choose between UAB, Navy, Rice and Yale when he announces his commitment on August 31. Helped the Gators to a 5-1 start last year, which culminated in a second-round loss to West Monroe in the 5A playoffs.
92. CJ McWilliams WR Haughton 5-8, 160 Sr. – Received an offer from Louisiana Tech in early February and committed to the Bulldogs two months later. Ran a 4.50 in the 40 at The Opening Regional. Has drawn comparisons to former Evangel Christian and current NFL WR Trent Taylor, who starred for Tech. Caught 30 passes for 484 yards and seven touchdowns while alternating between receiver and quarterback. Batted .333 and led the team in stolen bases this spring for Haughton baseball, which earned a No. 12 seed and advanced to the second round of the 5A playoffs.
91. Nicholas Hilliard OL/DL Ascension Catholic 6-1, 295 Sr. – Key two-way player for the Division IV state runner-up Bulldogs. Class A first-team all-state offensive lineman. 4.0 grade point average with a 26 ACT Paved the way for running back Jai Williams to rush for 2,948 yards, and for Ascension Catholic’s offense to score 50-plus points in six games. Reports offers from Kansas, Colorado, Tulane, Southern Miss, Yale, Princeton, and the Cajuns.
90. Quinton Cage DB Archbishop Rummel 5-9, 185 Sr. – Recorded 73 tackles with seven sacks and four forced fumbles for Rummel, which limited five foes to single-digit scoring in 2018. Played extremely well in district as the Raiders held Shaw, Holy Cross, Jesuit and Brother Martin to 13 combined points. An integral part of arguably the state’s best defense in 2019, Cage will team up with fellow senior stars Jordan Williams and Donovan Kaufman. Ran a 4.81 in the 40 at The Opening. Performed better in the vertical (32.3-inches).
89. Darian Riggs ATH Lafayette Christian 5-8, 165 Soph. – Member of the National Champion Louisiana Bootleggers 15U 7v7 team. Hauled in a 50-yard TD reception versus Gueydan. Will get a chance to show what he can do in a week one matchup vs. Westgate, which features top-rated WR Kayshon Boutte and blue-chip WR Makholven Sonn. Team went 14-0 last year and scored a minimum of 54 points in 10 games
88. Arch Manning QB Newman 6-1, 160 Frosh. – The son of Cooper and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning burst onto the scene with three touchdown passes in the Greenies’ spring game versus Archbishop Shaw. Skipped baseball season in order to spend time in the weight room. In a battle for the starting job with senior Beau Adams, according to Garland Gillen with Fox8 News.
87. Trevonte Citizen RB Lake Charles College Prep 6-0, 205 Soph. – Ran a leg on the first-place 4X100 relay team at the Class 3A regional track meet. Averaged 8.4 yards per carry for the Blazers, who went 11-2 and reached the 3A quarterfinals. Recently turned in an impressive performance at LSU camp. Will have a chance to shine in week two at Class 4A semifinalist Leesville.
86. Shamar Smith ATH St. James 5-10, 175 Sr. – Added seven offers in April-May, including UNLV on May 30. Timed at 4.73 in the 40 at The Opening. Recorded a 32-inch vertical and a 4.45 in the shuttle. Sparked the Wildcats to a 28-0 win over McMain in the spring game with a 25-yard touchdown pass to receiver Shazz Preston. Completed 8-of-11 attempts for 186 yards and four touchdowns in a 43-7 win over Haynes Academy last year.
85. Keon Coleman WR Opelousas Catholic 6-4, 185 Jr. – Two-sport star who recently received his first basketball scholarship offer from McNeese State. Scored 17 points in a semifinal loss to eventual state champ Lafayette Christian at the Top 28. Named first-team all-state in hoops as a sophomore after averaging 23.1 ppg. Helped football team reel off eight straight wins before falling to LCA in the playoffs. Had four catches for 77 yards in a 26-23 loss to Vermilion Catholic.
84. Jordan Williams DE Archbishop Rummel 6-0, 245 Sr. – Recovered a fumble and had a pair of sacks in a 17-0 win over Brother Martin. Two-year returning starter who led the Raiders in sacks and forced fumbles last season. Holds a total of 18 offers, including Louisville, ULM, South Alabama, Southern Miss and Navy. Showed good speed for his size with a 4.76 in the 40-yard dash at The Opening.
83. Adonis Friloux DT Hahnville 6-1, 270 Sr. – Had 33 solo tackles and 51 assists with four forced fumbles and five sacks as a sophomore. Very agile (4.70 shuttle). Colorado State, Houston, ULM, Memphis, Tulane, Toledo and the Cajuns have all offered. Led the 22nd-seeded Tigers to a convincing 35-9 win over No. 11 Walker in the first round of the 5A playoffs. Hahnville lost to eventual state champion Zachary the following week.
82. Jarmone Sutherland WR Newman 5-11, 175 Sr. – Broke the school’s single-season TD record last year. Caught two of QB Arch Manning’s three TD passes in the spring game versus Shaw. Ran a 4.53 in the 40 at The Opening. Navy, Tulane, Southern Miss and Princeton are among his offers. Had TD catches of 15, 50, and 53 yards in a 28-6 win over East Jefferson. Had 13 receptions for 203 yards and three TDs in a 41-14 win over Riverside Academy.
81. Cory Marshall OL/DL Northwood 6-3, 320 Sr. – Became the first commitment for the Ragin’ Cajuns in March. Marshall told Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports that the Cajuns are recruiting him as an offensive tackle. Led the Falcons to a No. 7 seed and quarterfinal appearance in the Class 4A playoffs. Will get an opportunity to excel in intriguing non-district games against crosstown foe Evangel Christian and Leesville, which went undefeated in the 2018 regular season. Both Northwood and Leesville were knocked out of the playoffs by Warren Easton.
80. Jabar Triplett LB Southern Lab 6-0, 205 Sr. – Registered 121 tackles and 11 sacks for one of the state’s powerhouse small-school programs. Lists offers from Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Memphis, Louisville, Louisiana Tech, ULM and Colorado State, among others. Opportunistic and instinctive player who blocked a punt that led to the touchdown, and recovered a fumble at this team’s one-yard line to prevent a score in a 22-19 win over district rival Ascension Catholic.
79. Tyler Grubbs LB Holy Cross 6-0, 220 Sr. – Four-year starter at inside linebacker for the Tigers, who will get their defensive unit tested in week one against explosive St. Thomas More. Grubbs will also get an opportunity to make a big showing in week six versus Warren Easton, which features blue-chip offensive lineman Sedrick Van Pran and top-rated running back Ashaad Johnson. Earlier in June, Grubbs committed to Louisiana Tech. Named first-team freshman All-American by MaxPreps. As a sophomore, Grubbs was named Player of the Week by The Advocate after racking up 14 solo tackles in a one-point win over Archbishop Rummel.
78. Kyren Lacy WR Thibodaux 6-3, 215 Sr. – Lacy, who played his first year of football since the seventh grade last season, has a lot of upside. Was a star basketball player earlier during his career for Thibodaux, which won the Class 5A state championship this spring. Lacy was forced to sit out most of the hoops season for academic reasons. Has made strides in the classroom since then. Committed to UL in early June over offers from Virginia, ULM and Louisiana Tech, among others. Has an 80-inch wingspan, according to recruiting expert Jeremiah Gray of gosportsz.com.
77. Fitzgerald West DT Lafayette Christian 6-2, 330 Soph. – The key cog along the defensive front for the defending state champion Knights. Colorado and Tulane have already offered West, who had a good showing at LSU’s OL/DL camp earlier this summer. Could be dominant if he gets in ideal shape (ran a 5.59 in the 40-yard dash at The Opening, along with an respectable 4.88 shuttle). After running roughshod over opponents in 2018, LCA has beefed up its schedule with intriguing games against 4A playoff team Westgate, 5A power Acadiana, Division I Evangel Christian, and defending state champs Notre Dame and Welsh.
76. Keenan Landry DT Jennings 6-3, 310 Jr. – Jennings is home to a pair of underclassmen – Trevor Etienne and Landry – who both hold offers from LSU. In addition to the Tigers, Texas A&M and Tulane have offered Landry, who will be on a big stage in the first two weeks with games against Leesville (2018 Class 4A semifinalist) and Eunice (defending 3A state champion). Jennings entered last year’s 3A playoffs as the No. 30 seed and gave No. 3 Kaplan a stern test in the first round before falling, 28-13.
75. Dontrell Cobbs DE West Monroe 6-4, 260 Sr. – Louisiana Tech commit who also lists offers from Arizona and Kansas, among others. Can alter plays at the line of scrimmage – batted down three balls in one game last year. Named honorable-mention all-district as a junior for the Rebels in basketball, helping lead team to a No. 18 seed in the 5A bracket and a first-round upset of No. 15 Covington. Along with defensive back Brooks Miller, Cobbs will attempt to help the Rebels upset national power Longview (TX) in week three.
74. Cornelius Dyson DB Kentwood 6-2, 185 Sr. – Dyson, who along with LB Bryce Cooper led Kentwood to the Class A state championship in 2018, originally committed to the Ragin’ Cajuns in July of last year before re-opening his recruitment in October. Eventually committed to Tulane in May of this year. Maintains a 3.5 grade point average. Played a pivotal role as the Kangaroos took first at the state track meet, finishing second in the long jump and triple jump and third in the 300-meter hurdles. Kentwood steps up a class to 2A this fall.
73. Dustin Dyson TE St. Thomas Aquinas 6-4, 210 Sr. – Grabbed an early offer from LSU in 2016. Added offers from Tennessee and Missouri last year. Broke his collarbone during his sophomore campaign. Could get the chance to go head-to-head with Newman star defensive end Brandon Williams in a week six non-district game. STA went 5-6 last year, losing in the playoffs on the road at Catholic-New Iberia. Camped with Mississippi State earlier this summer and received an offer from the Bulldogs.
72. Trenton Grow WR West Saint John 6-3, 185 Sr. – Ran a 4.78 in the 40-yard dash and a 4.47 shuttle with a 29.2-inch vertical at The Opening. Helped the Rams to the Class A state title as a sophomore, and an appearance in the semis last year. Caught two touchdowns (20 and 21 yards, respectively) in his team’s spring game against Booker T. Washington. As a sophomore, intercepted two passes at free safety to help preserve a 20-14 win over Kentwood in the finals. Had 21 receptions for 685 yards and five touchdowns during his sophomore season.
71. Joseph Alexander OL Catholic-Baton Rouge 6-3, 295 Sr. – Will face an array of tough opponents this season, including Parkview Baptist, North Little Rock (12-1 in Arkansas 7A last year), University Lab, Edna Karr, St. Thomas More and East Ascension (all in the first six weeks). Rivals.com lists 18 offers for Alexander, including West Virginia, Navy, Army, Air Force, ULM and several Ivy League programs. Helped the Bears to an 11-2 mark in 2018, including a win over eventual 5A state champion Zachary in week two. Team was the No. 2 seed in Division I, losing to John Curtis Christian in the finals.
70. DeSanto Rollins DT Parkview Baptist 6-3, 270 Sr. – Displayed nice athleticism at The Opening, running a 5.05 in the 40, a 4,76 shuttle, and a 27.4-inch vertical. Transferred to PBS from Natchez (Miss.) following his sophomore season. Took an official visit to Colorado last week after getting an offer from the Buffs in May. Camped with Ole Miss earlier in June. Colorado, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Houston, Virginia, Southern Miss, Rutgers, ULM, Louisiana Tech and the Cajuns are listed along with several others on his offer sheet. Could get matched up one-on-one with Catholic-Baton Rouge OL Joseph Alexander in week one.
69. Brooks Miller DB West Monroe 6-1, 195 Sr. – Named the “Alpha Dog” by Jeremy Clark with the TCU 247Sports site after a sensational camp with the Horned Frogs. Ran a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash and had the top shuttle time (4.04) in Fort Worth. Currently holds offers from Baylor, ULM and Grambling State. Considerably lowered his 40 time, which had previously been listed at 4.6. Picked off 12 passes last year for the 14-1 5A state runner-up Rebels. Has a 3.8 grade point average and was an honorable-mention all-state selection as a junior.
68. Khi Mathieu WR St. Augustine 5-11, 160 Sr. – Chose Memphis on June 16 over reported offers from Tennessee, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Colorado State and Southern Miss. Posted a 37-inch vertical at The Opening, where he turned in a 4.67 in the 40 with a 4.46 shuttle. The cousin of current Kansas City Chiefs & former LSU DB Tyrann Mathieu. Had 16 catches for 365 yards and four touchdowns as a junior for the Purple Knights, who entered the Division I playoffs as the No. 10 seed before upsetting No. 7 Holy Cross in the first round.
67. Tyler Kirkwood WR Holy Cross 6-1, 190 Sr. – Boston College, Houston, Louisiana Tech and Memphis are among the schools that have offered. Caught seven passes for 100 yards with three touchdowns in a 35-6 win over Archbishop Shaw last year. Hauled in seven catches for 153 yards in a 59-0 rout of Higgins. Named honorable-mention 5A all-state as a junior. Grabbed a 36-yard TD reception in a 24-14 win over Live Oak in the final game of the 2018 regular season. Pencil in October 18 on the calendar, as Kirkwood will test arguably the state’s best secondary in Archbishop Rummel.
66. Trey Amos ATH Catholic-New Iberia 6-0, 175 Sr. – Plays quarterback and defensive back for one of the state’s best coaches, Brent Indest. Led the Panthers to a state title two years ago and a runner-up finish in 2018. The Ragin’ Cajuns and Louisiana Tech are co-leaders at this time for Amos, who has pulled in at least a dozen offers. Named to the Class 2A honorable-mention all-state team as a junior. Will attempt to engineer wins over large-school opponents Breaux Bridge and Barbe in non-district competition. Rushed for 313 yards and scored six TDs in a semifinal win at previously-undefeated No. 2 Country Day.
65. Terrence Williams RB Many 6-0, 215 Jr. – Powerful back who often lines up in the wing for another top 2A coach, Jess Curtis. Durable, with 1,587 yards on 170 attempts with 28 touchdowns as a sophomore for Many, which reached the semifinals. Currently ranked as the No. 28 junior running back in the nation by 247Sports, which lists Williams 12th overall among in-state players in his class. ULM, Nicholls State and South Alabama have offered Williams, part of an offensive unit that scored 129 combined points through the first two rounds of the postseason.
64. Jacoby Mathews ATH Ponchatoula 6-0, 185 Soph. – Mathews is listed as a dual-threat quarterback by 247Sports, although he’ll primarily be catching passes this season from four-star senior QB T.J. Finley (and defending passes in the secondary as well as returning kicks). Rivals.com, on the other hand, projects Mathews as a safety. He’s expected to attend The SHOW in late June at IMG Academy, an event described by 247 as “one of the top showcase events in the country for underclassmen.”
63. Noah Taliancich DE Destrehan 6-2, 260 Sr. – Originally committed to the Cajuns before switching to Tulane in May. Collected 10 sacks as a junior for the Wildcats, who reached the 5A semifinals before falling to Zachary. Spearheaded a defensive unit that limited seven opponents to 15-or-few points.
62. Raek’won Starks DB Helen Cox 5-10, 175 Sr. – Committed to UTSA over offers from Arkansas, Southern Miss, Houston, Utah State, Tulane, Louisiana Tech and the Cajuns. Has a very quick first step. Helped Cox to the second round of the 4A playoffs last year where they lost to an undefeated Northwood team. Cougars entered the playoffs as the No. 23 seed and upset No. 10 North DeSoto in the first round, 19-14.
61. Donovan Kaufman ATH Archbishop Rummel 5-9, 195 Sr. – Vanderbilt, Memphis, Tulane, Southern Miss, Colorado, ULM and Arkansas State are among the top 10 for Kaufman, who took an official visit to Boulder to check out the Buffs earlier in June. Accounted for seven sacks and 65 tackles during a junior season that saw him earn first-team all-district and all-metro honors. Finished fourth in the state in his first-ever season wrestling. Memphis could have the edge in his recruitment. Served as team captain and made big plays at both linebacker and in the secondary, as well as a returner on special teams.
60. Reginald Johnson WR Southern Lab 6-0, 180 Sr. – Took an official visit to Houston earlier in June and promptly committed to the Cougars. Also officially visited Virginia in April and reported a Penn State offer in April. Clocked a 4.64 in the 40 and a 4.45 shuttle with a 31.3-inch vertical at The Opening. Grabbed the game-winning touchdown catch in the closing seconds of a dramatic come-from-behind 22-21 win for the top-seeded Kittens versus Ouachita Christian. Had five receptions for 55 yards and also intercepted a pass in a semifinal loss to Lafayette Christian Academy.
59. Alven Johnson DE Thrive Academy 6-4, 250 Sr. – An exceptional athlete, Johnson measured a legit 6-4, 250 pounds at The Opening Regional, where he turned in a 4.83 in the 40-yard dash, a 4.84 shuttle, and a 31.4-inch vertical. More than half of his tackles last year came behind the line of scrimmage (42 stops, 22 TFL). Also had 11 sacks and scored on a safety. Thrive will be competing on the varsity level this fall with games against small-school powers Southern Lab and Dunham. Johnson is committed to Baylor.
58. Cedric Woods ATH Carroll 5-9, 165 Sr. – This Louisiana Tech commit is explosive, recording a 40.8-inch vertical at The Opening to go along with a 4.52 in the 40 and a 4.35 shuttle. Projected as a cornerback by 247Sports, Woods is the starting quarterback for the Bulldogs, who went through a rebuilding (2-8) season in 2018. Ranked as the No. 33 senior in Louisiana by 247 (No. 46 in the 247 Composite). Unranked by Rivals.
57. Kershawn Fisher LB Northshore 6-2, 210 Sr. – Fisher originally committed to Louisiana Tech before switching to Kansas and Les Miles in early June. Had a 4.33 shuttle with a 32.3-inch vertical at The Opening. Led the charge on defense for a 4-6 team that narrowly missed the Class 5A playoffs. Edge rusher who could grow into the defensive end position in college. Collected 70 tackles and 15 sacks during his junior campaign.
56. Josh Remetich OG Holy Cross 6-4, 270 Sr. – 247Sports lists his favorites as Kentucky, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Virginia with 32 total offers. First-team All-Catholic League selection as a junior. Ranked as the No. 37 senior in Louisiana by 247, No. 29 by Rivals. Holy Cross, which started 5-0 last year before dropping games to John Curtis, Archbishop Rummel and Jesuit, was upset in the first round of the playoffs by St. Augustine.
55. Walker Howard QB St. Thomas More 6-0, 165 Soph. – Even though he hasn’t been a starting quarterback on the varsity level yet, Howard has offers from SEC programs such as Alabama and Texas A&M. Camped with LSU, where his father Jamie played QB, this summer and also received an offer from the Tigers. 4.46 shuttle and a 4.76 in the 40 with a 31-inch vertical at The Opening. Will backup Caleb Holstein at STM this fall and should get considerable reps. Expected to be the QB for the EPS Blaze 7-on-7 team next year after serving as backup to Ponchatoula’s T.J. Finley.
54. Justin Ibieta QB Country Day 6-5, 215 Sr. – Tulane commit who is ranked as the No. 52 pro-style quarterback in the country and the No. 64 senior in the state by 247. (No. 56, No. 68 in 247 Composite). Named metro player of the year by Crescent City Sports. Completed 65 percent of his passes as junior with 2,870 yards and 38 touchdowns with only five interceptions. Also rushed for 1,023 yards and 17 touchdowns. Named Class 2A Offensive MVP as team reached the Division III semis before falling to Catholic-New Iberia. Engineered a huge non-district win over Amite.
53. Aaron Anderson WR Edna Karr 5-9, 180 Soph. – Electric receiver and return man who already holds offers from Virginia and Colorado. Scored three times in Karr’s 48-19 rout of Bastrop in the Class 4A quarterfinals, catching three passes for 44 yards with two touchdowns and adding a 70-yard punt return for another TD. Will get the opportunity to make an impact in some high-profile games including tilts against John Curtis, Warren Easton and Catholic-Baton Rouge.
52. Detraveon Brown WR Northwood 6-0, 180 Sr. – Ranked as the No. 21 senior in the state by 247 (No. 38 in 247 Composite). Kansas, Kentucky, ULM, Southern Miss and the Cajuns are among Brown’s offers. The No. 32 senior in the state according to Rivals. Big-play receiver who caught 43 passes for 813 yards and 13 touchdowns for a team that went undefeated during the 2018 regular season. Grabbed 39 passes for 697 yards as a sophomore.
51. Taiwan Berryhill LB St. Augustine 6-1, 200 Sr. – Kansas commit ranked 31st in the state and 42nd nationally at his position by 247. Ranked 33rd in the state among seniors and 50th at outside linebacker in the 247 Composite. Jumped 34.5 inches with a 4.31 in the shuttle and a 4.79 in the 40-yard dash at The Opening. Ranked 31st statewide and 51st nationally at his position by Rivals. One of four Louisiana prospects currently committed to the Jayhawks, who are benefiting from recruiter Tony Hull, the former head coach at Warren Easton.
50. Daran Branch DB 6-1, 170 Amite Sr. – Miami commit. 247 ranks Branch as the No. 32 player in the state and the No. 59 cornerback in the country. Rivals has him as the 20th overall senior in Louisiana and the 43rd-ranked CB nationally. Picked Miami over offers from Oklahoma, Auburn and Colorado, among others. Posted a 33.1-inch vertical with a 4.62 in the 40 and a 4.44 shuttle at The Opening. Helped the Warriors capture the Class 2A state title in 2018. Miami’s first commitment from Louisiana since Standish Dobard (Karr) in 2013, although DT Gerald Willis (Karr) transferred to the Canes from Florida in 2015.
49. Caleb Anderson ATH East Feliciana 6-2, 185 Sr. – Wears a variety of hats for the 2A Tigers, who advanced to the second round of the Class 2A playoffs last year as the number 15 seed before falling to eventual state champion Amite. Serves as the starting quarterback for EFHS but could make the switch to the secondary in college. Virginia is listed as the favorite, according to 247Sports, which ranks Anderson as the No. 41 senior in the state. He’s ranked 55th statewide in the 247 Composite. Took an official visit to Virginia in June.
48. Dontae Fleming WR East St. John 6-0, 160 Sr. – This recent Ragin’ Cajuns commit could emerge as one of the state’s breakout performers this fall. Last year, led the Wildcats to a No. 28 seed in the 5A bracket and a near-upset of No. 5 East Ascension in the first round (EA won, 17-13). Smooth receiver with deceptive strength for his frame who goes up and snares the football in tight spaces. Caught 30 passes for nearly 600 yards last year. First-team all-district wideout who also excels in baseball. Appears faster than the 4.74 he clocked at The Opening, where he also recorded a 4.39 shuttle.
47. Kenean Caldwell DT Oak Grove 6-2, 320 Sr. – Small-school star committed to Kansas in late June. Rivals.com ranks Caldwell as the No. 43 senior in the state, while 247Sports has him No. 39 in Louisiana and the No. 61 player in the nation at his position. Ran a 5.68 40-yard dash at The Opening Regional with a 4.88 shuttle. Picked the Jayhawks over offers from Oregon, Texas A&M, TCU and Ole Miss, among others. Led Oak Grove to the top seed in the 2018 Class A playoffs, where the Tigers finished as runner-up to Kentwood.
46. Kelin Burrle LB Helen Cox 6-0, 205 Sr. – Committed to UTSA all the way back in June 2018. Has since received offers from programs such as Kentucky, Kansas, Texas A&M, Tennessee and Colorado. The 22nd-best senior in Louisiana according to Rivals.com and No. 26 per the 247Sports Composite, which lists Burrle as the No. 33 outside linebacker in the nation. Helps comprise what should be one of the state’s best defenses along with safety Donovan Johnson, cornerback Raek’won Starks and safety Jacoby Wells. Starks is also committed to UTSA.
45. Khari Coleman DE Carver 6-2, 215 Sr. – Louisiana’s No. 48 senior according to 247Sports, Coleman is an edge rusher combo DE/OLB who committed to Kansas in June on the heels of an official visit with the Jayhawks approximately two weeks earlier. Responsible for 165 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 10 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries, and 10 sacks over the course of the past two seasons. Rivals ranks Coleman 27th overall among Louisiana seniors. Turned in a 4.74 40-yard dash with a 4.50 shuttle at The Opening. Reportedly holds offers from West Virginia, Tennessee, Southern Miss, Kansas State, Houston and Boston College, among others.
44. Tanner Hooker CB Calvary Baptist 6-0, 175 Sr. – Has great instincts with a penchant for being around the football at the right moment. Listed as the No. 37 senior in Louisiana by 247Sports and the 68th-best cornerback in the nation. Should feast on small-school competition during his senior campaign. Colorado, Kansas, Kansas State, Louisiana Tech and the Ragin’ Cajuns are among his top offers. Could be one of the most underrated players in the state – not ranked statewide or nationally at his position by Rivals. Calvary Baptist, which will drop down to Class A this season, reached the Division III quarterfinals as the No. 5 seed where the Cavaliers were eliminated by No. 4 Newman, 31-28.
43. Nick Turner S Brother Martin 5-11, 180 Sr. – Ranked 57th overall in the state by 247Sports and No. 23 by Rivals. Committed to Georgia Tech in mid-June after visiting Atlanta in late May. Has also visited Penn State and Memphis, both of whom have offered. Also has SEC offers on his resume, including Tennessee, and most recently, Arkansas. Has a verified time of 4.48 in the 40 with a 4.40 shuttle and a 32.8-inch vertical. Helped Brother Martin to the No. 6 seed in the 2018 Division I playoffs, where the Crusaders reached the quarterfinals before losing 27-23 to Archbishop Rummel.
42. Malik Nabers WR Comeaux 6-1, 185 Jr. – Caught nine passes for 255 yards and four touchdowns from Louisiana Tech commit Tre’ Harris versus Kaplan in the spring game. Rated three stars by Rivals and could see that elevate if he improves his straight-line speed. Physically advanced at only 15-years-old. Sparked the Louisiana Bootleggers to the Pylon 7-on-7 national championship in the 15-and-under age division recently in Atlanta. Has great strength and explosive leaping ability that enable him to win most battles when the ball is up for grabs. Received an offer from Tennessee in late May and then camped with the Volunteers in June. Kansas, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Monroe and the hometown Ragin’ Cajuns have all offered.
41. Caleb Holstein QB St. Thomas More 6-4, 210 Sr. – Holstein is the highest-ranked prospect to commit to Harvard since 2017. Picked the Crimson after spots filled up at his position at Louisiana Tech and with the hometown Ragin’ Cajuns, and Boston College decided it apparently wasn’t going to take a quarterback in this recruiting cycle. Threw for close to 4,000 yards last year with 47 touchdowns and only seven interceptions as the Cougars reached the Div. II finals, where they were runner-up to University Lab. Also plays basketball at STM, the reigning state champs in that sport. The 28th-ranked senior in Louisiana and No. 26 pro-style QB in the country, according to Rivals.com.
40. Tygee Hill DT Edna Karr 6-3, 265 Soph. – Hill officially exploded onto the recruiting scene in May with offers coming in unison from Alabama, Tennessee and Miami, the latter a destination for former Karr standouts Standish Dobard and Gerald Willis. Hill will anchor the defensive line for the Cougars, who are ranked No. 51 in the nation in the preseason by highschoolfootballamerica.com. The Cougars, who swept through the Class 4A playoffs as the no. 1 seed in 2018, finished last season as the No. 30 team in the country, according to the same site. Karr will face John Curtis Christian, the only Louisiana school ranked higher entering the season, on September 5.
39. Byron Turner DE St. Augustine 6-4, 230 Jr. – Ranked as a three-star prospect by Rivals, Turner holds early offers from Florida, Mississippi State, Kansas, Tulane, Virginia and Tennessee, among others. Part of a stout front seven for the Purple Knights, along with Kansas linebacker commit Taiwan Berryhill and Bishop Thomas, a 6-2, 290-pound sophomore defensive tackle. Circle September 14 on your calendar, when the St. Aug defense will meet Warren Easton with star running back Ashaad Johnson and top offensive lineman Sedrick Van Pran.
38. Destyn Pazon WR Edna Karr 6-0, 170 Jr. – Karr is up there with Westgate in the running for the state’s best group of wide receivers, thanks to Pazon and sophomore Aaron Anderson. Listed by the 247 Composite as a four-star prospect and the ninth-ranked junior in Louisiana, Pazon’s offer sheet is impressive (Alabama, LSU, Miami, Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi State, among others). Rivals, which also rates him four stars, lists Pazon as the number seven junior in the state and No. 31 wide receiver in the nation. Goes by the nickname “Fat”.
37. Shazz Preston WR St. James 5-11, 180 Soph. – The sky is the limit for this underclassman, who starred on the national champion Louisiana Bootleggers 7-on-7 team. Pulled in an LSU offer already, which is impressive at this stage of his career. Has a verified time of 4.61 in the 40-yard dash with a 4.39 shuttle. His older brother, Shawn, plays for Mississippi State, which is listed as an early favorite for Shazz, along with LSU. Caught numerous touchdowns from QB Shamar Smith versus Newman and John Ehret at the Alvin Kamara 7-on-7 held earlier this summer, according to George Becnel with vsnlouisiana.com.
36. Makholven Sonn WR Westgate 5-10, 165 Sr. – Sonn was originally set to take an unofficial visit to the University of Kansas this spring when the Kansas State staff heard about it – and convinced him to visit their campus, as well. Sonn, who is described by Westgate head coach Ryan Antoine as the “hardest working kid” he’s ever known, fell in love with Kansas State and committed to the Wildcats shortly thereafter. Makes up part of arguably the state’s top receiving corps at Westgate with teammates Kayshon Boutte and Jordan Doucet. Caught 58 passes for 877 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior.
35. Patrick Jenkins DT John Ehret 6-2, 285 Sr. – Jenkins, an LSU commit, saw his stock soar following an impressive camp performance in Baton Rouge earlier this summer. Ranked as the No. 20 senior in Louisiana by 247Sports and No. 24 by Rivals. The 247 Composite has Jenkins 17th in Louisiana. Spearheaded Ehret’s run to the Class 5A semifinals last year as the Patriots’ defense recorded four shutouts. Faces off with University Lab and blue-chip defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy in week one.
34. Edgerrin Cooper LB Covington 6-2, 200 Sr. – This inside linebacker committed to Oklahoma in June. Ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 26 senior in Louisiana (No. 22 ILB in the country) by Rivals. Ranked as the No. 27 senior in the state by 247Sports. Racked up 85 stops with 10 tackles for loss last year for Covington, which struggled to a 3-7 mark. Was the first linebacker in the 2020 recruiting class for Oklahoma. Visited Oklahoma State, which also offered, one week before committing to the Sooners.
33. Jamie Vance DB Edna Karr 5-10, 155 Sr. – Vance, who goes by the nickname “Greedy,” committed to Arkansas in February. He was timed at 4.25 in the shuttle with a 34.7-inch vertical at The Opening Regional. Took his official visit to Fayetteville in early April. Other programs on his offer sheet include Auburn, Arizona State, Mississippi State and Virginia. Ranked as the 30th overall senior prospect in Louisiana by 247Sports and the No. 46 cornerback in the country. Rivals lists Vance 18th overall in Louisiana. Don’t count out Auburn, which reportedly will get an official visit from Vance, who has already been to the campus on an unofficial trip.
32. Donovan Johnson DB Helen Cox 6-2, 180 Sr. – Johnson, who pledged his services to Virginia in mid-June, is a rangy ball-hawk who already seems to be in perfect position on the field. Visited Arizona in April and Kansas shortly after his commitment to UVA. Picked the Cavaliers over a long list of other programs, including West Virginia, Oklahoma, Miami, Georgia Tech, Baylor, Arkansas and Arizona State. Ranked as the 19th-best senior in Louisiana and the No. 25 safety in the country by Rivals. Ranked as the No. 28 senior statewide by 247Sports (and the No. 41 safety in the nation).
31. Keilon Brown QB Zachary 6-0, 185 Sr. – Sparked Zachary to two straight Class 5A state titles. Committed to Memphis to play both baseball and football. 247 has Brown as the No. 18 senior in the state and the 12th-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the country. Rivals, meanwhile, lists him as the No. 30 prospect in the state in his class and the 20th-ranked dual-threat QB in the country. At The Opening Regional, Brown ran a 4.49 in the 40 with a 4.37 shuttle and a 35-inch vertical. Chose Memphis over Houston. Named as the Boys Athlete of the Year by The Advocate, Brown threw for 2,700 yards and rushed for 1,354 yards with 30 total touchdowns as a junior. Selected for the 5A all-state baseball team after hitting .395 with eight doubles, four triples and four homers for the Broncos, who reached the quarterfinals.
30. Angelo Anderson DL John Curtis Christian 6-2, 260 Sr. – Anderson, the No. 16 senior in Louisiana according to 247Sports, is a huge recruit for Tulane, which got a commitment from him in late May. He is the second-highest ranked all-time commit for the Green Wave per 247, second only to East St. John product Darion Monroe in the Class of 2012. The 20th-ranked defensive end in the country, according to 247. Listed as the No. 25 player in Louisiana by Rivals, which ranks Anderson as the 36th-best defensive end in the nation. Picked Tulane over Arkansas, Colorado, Houston, Kansas State, Tennessee, Missouri and West Virginia, among others.
29. Kevin Bickham DB Amite 6-1, 180 Sr. – Don’t be fooled by his average size. Bickham delivers a tremendous bang for the buck when he puts a lick on an unfortunate opponent. Excels both in run support and blitzes off the edge. Lines up all over the field for Amite and is usually near the line of scrimmage or in the box. Outstanding athleticism with a 41.7-inch vertical, a 4.25 shuttle and a 4.60 in the 40-yard dash. His offer sheet, at this point, doesn’t match his brilliant production. Kentucky and Southern Miss are his two biggest offers. Projected as an outside linebacker by Rivals and a safety by 247Sports. He’s ranked 24th in the state by 247 but only 44th by Rivals. Doesn’t even appear to have an ESPN profile.
28. CamRon Jackson DT Haynesville 6-5, 275 Sr. – Massive small-school star that committed to LSU in December. Will follow in the footsteps of former teammate Joseph Evans, who signed with LSU in the last recruiting cycle. Jackson is the 17th-ranked senior in Louisiana by ESPN and 247. Rivals lists him 35th in the state. All rate Jackson as a three-star prospect, although he was a four-star recruit at the time he committed to the Tigers. Helped Haynesville to the No. 2 seed in Class A last year. The Tornado lost to No. 3 Kentwood, the eventual state champ, in the semifinals.
27. Corey Wren ATH John Curtis Christian 5-9, 170 Sr. – Speedster who plays running back for the Patriots. Has phenomenal speed and quickness that enables him to frequently break off long runs in the split-back veer offense. Committed to Georgia in June. Ranked 17th in the state by Rivals, 20th by 247, and 23rd by ESPN. Georgia has 14 commitments with only three recruits, including Wren, ranked below four stars, so the Bulldogs feel that he’s underrated. His recruitment took off during the spring when Tennessee, Ohio State, and Ole Miss followed Florida State with offers.
26. Will Campbell OT Neville 6-5, 250 Soph. – Campbell has the size and tools to become a five-star prospect. As a freshman, he routinely mauled and pancaked older, more experienced defenders on the large-school level. Picked up his initial batch of offers this summer when ULM pulled the trigger, followed by Louisiana Tech and the Cajuns. Neville reached the Class 4A semifinals last year before falling to top-ranked Edna Karr, the eventual state champs. Could go head-to-head versus elite senior defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy when the Tigers take on University Lab in week two.
25. Eric Reed DB Calvary Baptist 6-0, 190 Sr. – 247Sports is very high on Reed, ranking the Ole Miss commit as the state’s No. 3 senior. He committed to the Rebels in late June – and is the highest-rated of their 21 pledges, according to 247. Auburn recently extended an offer to Reed, who posted a 4.34 shuttle, 4.62 in the 40, and a 32.7-inch vertical at The Opening Regional. Makes up a stellar secondary – especially for a small school – alongside teammate Tanner Hooker. Calvary went into last year’s Division III playoffs as the No.4 seed and was eliminated by No. 5 Newman in the quarterfinals. The Cavaliers drop down to Div. IV this season.
24. Koy Moore WR Archbishop Rummel 6-1, 175 Sr. – Moore committed to USC last August before opening up his recruitment again in early February. Most experts expect Moore to commit to LSU in the near future. Listed as the No. 3 player in the state by Rivals, which ranks him ahead of Westgate WR Kayshon Boutte. 247, on the other hand, ranks Moore No. 16 overall while ESPN has him at No. 19. Recorded a 4.62 in the 40 with a 4.51 shuttle and a 36-inch vertical at The Opening. The No. 3 Raiders lost to No. 2 Catholic-Baton Rouge 13-10 in last year’s Division I semifinals.
23. T.J. Finley QB Ponchatoula 6-6, 250 Sr. – The jumbo-sized LSU commit has a rocket arm and is the consensus number one quarterback in the state. Ranked 15th in Louisiana by Rivals, 14th by 247, and 13th by ESPN. He is a four-star on Rivals & ESPN and a three-star on 247. Recruiting expert Gabe Brooks compares Finley to Florida QB Feleipe Franks. Brooks wrote, “Fires it with zip in the short to intermediate passing game…footwork needs to tighten and become more consistent…big-framed, big-armed pro-style QB with raw tools and high ceiling.”
22. Joel Williams DB Madison Prep 6-1, 180 Sr. – In May, Williams committed to Florida on the heels of an unofficial visit to Gainesville. However, after earning an Alabama offer at the Crimson Tide’s June camp, he withdrew his commitment from the Gators and will announce a new pledge in September. Took an official visit to Houston in June and traveled to Tuscaloosa twice in a three-week span that month. Ranked as the No. 15 player in the state by 247, No. 14 by Rivals, and No. 10 by ESPN. Madison Prep entered the 3A playoffs as the No. 26 seed and upset No. 7 Jewel Sumner in the first round & No. 10 Caldwell Parish in the second round before losing to eventual state champ Eunice.
21. Bud Clark DB Alexandria 6-1, 180 Sr. – Clark is a well-built defensive back who is an important recruit for Virginia, which secured a commitment from him in April. In fact, Clark is the highest-ranked of the Cavaliers’ 10 commits and the only four-star among the group. Ranked as the No. 13 player in Louisiana by 247, No. 14 by ESPN, and No. 16 by Rivals. Projected as a cornerback by 247 and a safety by Rivals. At one point, Clark held an offer from LSU. ASH advanced to the second round of the 5A playoffs last year where the Trojans were eliminated by Ruston in a 61-60 shootout.
20. Major Burns DB Madison Prep 6-2, 175 Sr. – An LSU commit, Burns has been moving up the rankings of the recruiting services in recent weeks. Ran a 4.51 in both the 40 and the shuttle with a 35.8-inch vertical at The Opening Regional. Burns first committed to Texas A&M in February after an unofficial visit to College Station. After grabbing offers from Oklahoma, LSU, and Florida in rapid succession in March, he decommitted from the Aggies on March 25. Took official visits to Georgia in April and Florida in May before announcing for LSU in early June.
19. Ashaad Johnson RB Warren Easton 6-0, 200 Sr. – Ranked as the No. 4 senior in the state and the No. 14 running back in the nation by 247Sports. Ranked as the No. 5 player in the state and No. 9 RB in the nation by Rivals. Ranked as the No. 7 player in the state by ESPN. All four recruiting services rate Johnson as a four-star prospect. Scored two touchdowns in Easton’s 45-0 rout of No. 15 Breaux Bridge in the Class 4A playoffs. Easton earned the No. 2 seed last year and reached the finals before losing to Karr, 28-20.
**18. Theodore Knox WR The Woodlands (TX) 5-10, 170 Jr. – Knox transferred to the Houston area after spending last season at Southern Lab. He’s ranked as the No. 16 prospect in the entire state of Texas by 247, which lists Knox as the nation’s 12th-best wide receiver. 247 recruiting expert Gabe Brooks compares Knox to New England Patriots receiver Phillip Dorsett, who played his college ball at Miami. With 4.42 speed in the 40-yard dash, Knox has tremendous top-end speed. A few of his biggest offers are from Alabama, Arizona State, Mississippi State, and Texas. Rivals ranked Knox 8th overall among juniors in Louisiana before his transfer (and 34th nationwide at his position). Placed 2nd in both the 100 & 200 at the Class A state track meet in May.
17. Brian Thomas WR Walker 6-4, 185 Jr. – Ranked as the No. 5 junior in the state by both 247 and the 247Composite, which lists Thomas as the no. 12 wide receiver in the country. Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Florida, Miami and Georgia have all offered Thomas, who also stars in basketball for the Wildcats. Helped Walker to the Class 5A finals in hoops earlier this year, where they lost to No. 1 Thibodaux. In the 70-60 loss to Thibodaux, Walker accounted for 29 points, including 20 in the first half. Opponents of Walker on the gridiron face the puzzle of how to guard both Thomas and senior WR Jalen Cook, an LSU basketball commit.
16. Quincy Brown WR Destrehan 6-3, 185 Jr. – According to reports, Brown is currently classified as a junior although he’s in his final year of eligibility. If that’s the case, he could go the route of former Vanderbilt Catholic and current New York Jets running back Elijah McGuire, who made up enough credits in a similar situation to enroll at Louisiana-Lafayette and not miss a year on the field. Brown is ranked as the No. 5 senior in the state by ESPN. 247 and Rivals, on the other hand, group Brown with the 2021 class. 247 lists Brown as the No. 6 junior in the state and the No. 28 wide receiver in the nation in his class.
15. Brandon Williams LB Newman 6-3, 220 Sr. – Williams missed last season due to an injury. He’s projected by 247 as a linebacker and by Rivals as a defensive end. His favorites, according to 247, are Florida, Tennessee, and LSU. The Gators and Vols have both offered. 247 ranks Williams as the No. 12 senior in the state, No. 22 OLB & No. 275 overall player in the country. As a sophomore, he recorded 45 tackles and 11 tackles for loss with seven sacks. Rivals ranks Williams 13th in the state and 12th in the nation at weakside defensive end. He is ranked 11th in the state by ESPN.
14. Ahmonte Watkins RB Riverside Academy 5-10, 175 Jr. – Watkins, who recently visited Virginia, turned in a 4.58 in the 40-yard dash with a 37.7-inch vertical at The Opening Regional. 247 ranks Watkins seventh in the state among juniors – and as the No. 9 running back in the country. Rivals, likewise, lists him as the No. 12 athlete in the country and the No. 6 junior in Louisiana. ESPN has Watkins at No. 3 in the state. All three services rank him four stars. Placed first in the 100 (10.71) and the 200 (200.71) at the Class 2A state track meet earlier this year. Riverside garnered the No. 10 seed in the 2018 Division III playoffs and was ousted by No. 7 Ascension Episcopal in the first round.
13. Ja’Khi Douglas WR Terrebonne 5-9, 190 Sr. – This Florida State commit has a verfied time of 4.57 in the 40-yard dash with a 4.31 shuttle and a 37-inch vertical. As a quarterback, he has thrown for almost 1,800 yards over the past two years with 20 touchdowns and only three interceptions, while rushing for 1,283 yards and 16 scores. Ranked as the No. 7 senior in Louisiana by 247Sports and the No. 34 wide receiver in the country. Listed as the No. 12 athlete in the nation by Rivals, which ranks Douglas 10th in the state. ESPN ranks him No. 9 in Louisiana.
12. Jalen Lee DT Live Oak 6-4, 295 Sr. – Lee committed to LSU earlier this summer. He is ranked as the No. 8 senior in the state and No. 15 defensive tackle in the nation by Rivals, which lists Lee as the No. 218 overall player in the country. 247 ranks Lee 10th overall in Louisiana and 19th nationwide at his position. He is ranked four stars by both Rivals and 247 and three stars by ESPN, which lists Lee as the No. 20 prospect in Louisiana. Helped Live Oak to the No. 30 seed in last year’s 5A playoffs, where the Eagles gave No. 3 Acadiana a challenge before falling, 22-7.
11. Soloman Lewis WR Lake Charles College Prep 5-8, 150 Jr. – Lewis is a big-name player for one of the state’s new up-and-coming power programs. Has a verified time of 4.54 in the 40-yard dash. Holds offers from Miami, Houston and Texas Tech, among others. Ranked as the No. 9 junior in the state by 247 and the No. 40 wide receiver in the country. 247 ranks Lewis four stars, while Rivals gives him a three-star ranking. He’s the No. 10 junior in the state, according to Rivals. Caught 36 passes for 562 yards with six touchdowns and had a pick-six during his sophomore season. Ranked eighth in the state by ESPN.
10. Kyle Edwards RB Destrehan 6-0, 210 Sr. – We’re giving the nod as the top senior running back in the state to Edwards, who shared touches last year with John Emery, now at LSU. Edwards accounted for two of his team’s three touchdowns in a first-round playoff win over Hammond. Ranked as the No. 19 senior in the state by 247Sports and the No. 27 running back in the country. He’s listed as a three-star by 247 and a four-star by Rivals, which lists him No. 12 in the state and No. 19 in the country at his position. Alabama, Notre Dame and Michigan are among the programs that have offered Edwards, who is not listed in ESPN’s rankings. Will try to carry Destrehan, the No. 2 seed in last year’s 5A playoffs, to another deep postseason run. The Wildcats lost to state champ Zachary in a 67-57 semifinal shootout in 2018.
9. Iverson Celestine RB Fontainebleau 5-10, 200 Jr. – He may not have the lofty rankings on the prominent recruiting services of some other Louisiana running backs, but we believe Celestine is currently the top back in the state. Celestine is rated three stars by both Rivals and ESPN, and four stars by 247, which lists him as the No. eight junior in Louisiana. Has rushed for close to 3,000 yards over the past two years with 27 touchdowns for Fontainebleau, which reached the first round of the Class 5A playoffs last year as a No. 20 seed.
8. Sage Ryan ATH Lafayette Christian 5-11, 195 Jr. – Ryan has moved up the rankings of the recruiting services over the summer. He’s now the second-ranked junior in the state according to 247Sports and Rivals. He’s ranked fifth by ESPN. Ryan, who is related to former LSU greats Trev and Kevin Faulk, is versatile. He’s projected as an athlete by 247 and ESPN, and a cornerback by Rivals. Helped his team to a perfect season in 2018. With a 4.45 in the 40-yard dash, Ryan posted the top score of any 2021 prospect at The Opening Regional. His favorite schools are LSU and Michigan.
7. Jacobian Guillory DT Alexandria 6-2, 330 Sr. – On December 20, this Cenla strongman will announce his college choice. It’s widely believed that LSU will sign the consensus four-star prospect, who is ranked fifth in the state by 247, sixth by ESPN, and sixth by Rivals. According to Louisiana Gridiron Football, Guillory has a 370-pound bench, 625-pound deadlift, and a 740-pound squat. He’s part of ASH’s national championship powerlifting team and is a two-time national champion lifter. He is also a two-time state champion in the shot put with a throw of 55 feet, 5 inches, this spring.
6. Jaquelin Roy DT University Lab 6-4, 280 Sr. – Roy, who recently committed to LSU, has been climbing the recruiting ranking over the past few months. He’s now the No. 1 prospect in Louisiana on both 247 and Rivals, and is No. 3 on ESPN. Ran the 40-yard dash in 5.05 seconds with a 4.90 shuttle and a 26.9-inch vertical at The Opening Regional. Helped lead U-High to two consecutive state championships. According to the Baton Rouge Advocate, Roy has lost nearly 20 pounds in an effort to increase his quickness and durability.
5. Kaine Williams DB John Ehret 6-2, 190 Jr. – When it comes to the eye test, Williams could be the best-looking player in the state. Camped with Alabama in June and received an offer from the Crimson Tide. LSU is listed as the favorite for Williams, according to 247Sports, which ranks him 4th among Louisiana juniors. He is listed 3rd in the state and second in the nation among safeties, per Rivals, while ESPN ranks him 7th in Louisiana. Last year, Williams recorded 40 tackles, four interceptions, five PBU, and a forced fumble as the Patriots reached the 5A semis.
4. Maason Smith DT Terrebonne 6-4, 315 Jr. – According to the 247Composite, Smith is the number one junior in the state. On 247’s own rankings, Smith is third overall in Louisiana. Rivals ranks him fourth in Louisiana while ESPN has him No. 1. Smith displays unbelievable athleticism for his size and has great footwork, although he needs to improve his 40 time (5.6). Won MVP honors at his position at The Opening Regional over Jaquelin Roy. Sparked No. 7 seed Terrebonne’s run to the Class 5A quarterfinals last year (lost to Destrehan).
3. Sedrick Van Pran OL Warren Easton 6-4, 305 Sr. – Van Pran is ranked as the No. 9 senior in Louisiana by 247 Sports. ESPN ranks him 2nd, as does Rivals. He’s projected as a center but could realistically excel at every position on the interior. Georgia has been the long-term leader for Van Pran, although some believe that LSU could be picking up steam, especially if Van Pran’s teammate, running back Ashaad Johnson, commits to the Tigers. Van Pran is an exceptional student who hopes to bring Easton to the state finals for the second straight year (lost to Karr in 2018).
2. Chris Hilton WR Zachary 6-0, 170 Jr. – Currently a four-star prospect on 247, Hilton dropped on that service from a previous five-star ranking. He’s listed 2nd in the state among juniors by 247 and the No. 5 wide receiver in the nation. Ran a 4.45 in the 40-yard dash with a 4.33 shuttle and a 36.4-inch vertical at The Opening Regional. 247 talent evaluator Gabe Brooks compares Hilton to Corey Coleman of the Buffalo Bills and predicts him to be an eventual first-round NFL draft pick. Two-time state champion in the high jump. Has played an integral role on Zachary’s two consecutive football state championships. Hilton is ranked 1st in the state by Rivals and 6th by ESPN.
1. Kayshon Boutte WR Westgate 5-11, 185 Sr. – In March, Boutte clocked a 20.87 in the 200 meters, which at the time was third-best in the nation. He is ranked fourth in the state by Rivals, second by 247, and first by ESPN. Boutte grabbed 50 receptions for 805 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior while adding 421 yards and six scores on the ground. What’s even more impressive is that he was able to post those numbers with three different starting quarterbacks. He also plays defense at times for Westgate, which reached the Class 4A playoffs as a No. 25 seed in 2018 and upset No. 8 Plaquemine in the first round. In that game, Boutte returned a kick 93 yards for a touchdown and added 169 yards receiving on 11 catches (and 20 yards on 4 carries). He is committed to LSU, which is trying to fend off a big push by Alabama.