2021 Louisiana prospects poised for potential breakouts

This year’s unusual calendar caused anxiety for plenty of athletes and families around Louisiana. But no group’s concern was more understandable than the Class of 2021 worried about potentially losing their senior seasons. Some athletes who never expected to play beyond high school worried their careers might have already ended prematurely. Others had turned their calendars to 2020 as potential Division-I athletes on many colleges’ recruiting boards for "senior evaluation" whether to extend the scholarship offer. The absence of 7-on-7 season, spring football practice and college camps or visits slowed a typically busy spring and summer on the recruiting trail. But now that Louisiana is playing football again this fall, here are 10 standouts to watch for potential break-out performances that should build a lot of momentum and opportunities for the next level. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63573" first="Cyrus" last="Allen"] — 6-1, 175 WR — L.B. Landry</strong> The 6-foot-1, 175-pound athlete entered this offseason largely under the radar after playing just four games as a junior. He caught 25 passes for 458 yards and nine touchdowns in those limited opportunities, though, and was showing major flashes for the Bootleggers, Louisiana’s elite 7-on-7 organization, this spring before the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly shut down competition. Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State, Hawaii and Oregon State became the first colleges to jump on board for the pass-catcher, but many more figure to be on the way. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63582" first="Terrence" last="Williams"] — 6-1, 215 RB/LB — Many</strong> The 6-foot-1, 215-pound star at rural Many has often flown under-the-radar among a glut of fairly similar level running backs around the state. But a few colleges have Williams, the biggest body of the bunch, on their boards as their third-best prospect at the position behind Notre Dame commitment [player_tooltip player_id="63560" first="Logan" last="Diggs"] and one-time Louisiana Tech commitment [player_tooltip player_id="63570" first="Ke’Travion" last="Hargrove"], who reopened his recruitment following a couple new Power Five offers. The physical Williams, also a talented linebacker, has worked extensively this season on his footwork and pass-catching and looks impressively smooth in each regard for a player his size. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63596" first="Jase" last="Williams"] — 6-2, 220 LB — Slidell</strong> The 6-foot-2, 220-pound athlete is among the state’s most versatile on defense. His Class 5A school Slidell utilizes him on its defensive line, where his speed and quickness wreak havoc on opposing blockers, but he also took his 4.6-second 40-yard speed to the 7-on-7 circuit this spring as he continued working on his coverage skills. Depending on his college landing spot and how the program continues to develop his body, he could potentially fit into a variety of roles at the next level, as well. But he looks to have the potential to be special. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63609" first="Dylan" last="Mehrotra"] — 6-3, 195 QB — Episcopal (Baton Rouge)</strong> The 6-foot-3, 195-pound quarterback was among the top players in the Baton Rouge area at his position last fall and garnered some recruiting attention this spring, including his UAB commitment, as a result. Still, he worked extensively this offseason to raise his arm and shorten his throwing motion and appears poised to prove himself among the best passers in the state as a senior.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63620" first="Jency" last="Riley Jr."] — 6-5, 225 TE/DE — St. Helena</strong> The St. Helena big man spent most of his time in middle school and high school thus far on the basketball court and hadn’t played football since childhood until his junior season. He used his long 6-foot-5 frame to his advantage to frustrate defensive backs with high-light reel jump-ball catches. And he focused heavily this offseason on bulking up and getting more physical on the field. Now at 225, he’s shaping up into an intriguing tight end prospect. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63625" first="George" last="Hart III"] — 5-11, 198 RB — Catholic (Baton Rouge)</strong> The 5-foot-11, 198-pound running back patiently waited his turn behind Division I-bound teammates Joshua Parker and Braelen Morgan last season and made the most of his smaller volume of carries when called upon. Now, his time has come to lead the way for another talented Catholic — Baton Rouge backfield, and the smart, tough runner appears poised to be one of the more consistent rushers in Louisiana’s entire 2021 class. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63636" first="Clarence" last="Emery"] — 6-5, 225 DE/TE — West Feliciana</strong> West Feliciana saw some flashes from its long, lean pass-rusher and tight end as a junior. And Emery has bulked his 6-foot-5 body up more than 35 pounds to 225 and counting, as he develops into an increasingly intriguing college prospect. He’s on a few radars already, with even an SEC program or two waiting to see how he looks now after the offseason work. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63675" first="Troy" last="Golmond"] — 6-2, 175 WR — Denham Springs</strong> The younger brother of former Denham Spring star running back Tyre Golmond provided a couple highlights as a junior, but has his new coaching staff and new quarterback excited to see what the 6-foot-2, 175-pound pass-catcher can do as a senior as his development continues. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63694" first="Ralph" last="Walker III"] — 5-11, 170 DB — Zachary</strong> The cousin of former St. Augustine and LSU running back Leonard Fournette was always a smart defensive back and determined worker. The biggest knock was his height at 5-foot-7. But Walker hit a growth spurt this winter and measured almost 5-foot-11 later this spring with a 73-inch wingspan. He’s worked in the weight room to try to keep tacking more muscle to his growing frame and enable him to play more physically this fall. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63702" first="John" last="McDaniel"] — 6-2, 200 QB — Denham Springs</strong> The new coaching staff at Denham Springs loves what their quarterback, who moves up from junior varsity. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound passer has excelled throughout the offseason and left no question that 2023 prospect Reese Mooney, already with offers from Ole Miss and others, would have to be patient behind the senior leader positioning the Yellow Jackets into an interesting team to watch in a district with Zachary, Scotlandville and Walker among others.