Louisiana State Championships: Uncommitted Prospects in Class 4A

A Louisiana high school football season once uncertain to even occur will close this week with nine final intriguing matchups. Northwestern State in Natchitoches will host the LHSAA’s Prep Classic event — as opposed to its usual home at the Superdome in New Orleans — because of concerns related to COVID-19. But, for all the abnormalities and adjustments, the significance, excitement and levels of talent remain high as ever. Prep Redzone Louisiana will look at three to seven of each matchup’s remaining unsigned and uncommitted prospects. &nbsp; <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PK6h2rflrGg" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe> &nbsp; <strong>Clas 4A</strong> <strong>No. 1 Carencro vs. No. 2 Edna Karr</strong> <strong>Tuesday, 6 p.m.</strong> Edna Karr arrives to Natchitoches in search of a fifth straight state championship. The Cougars are already one of just six programs to have ever claimed four straight titles and would solidify themselves as just the second to extend a streak to five. But top-seeded Carencro, with its stout defensive front and effective rushing attack, could be as well-suited a challenger as could take the opposite sideline. Each team is loaded with talent, including several already committed prospects such as Karr senior edge rushers [player_tooltip player_id="63669" first="Cahn" last="Meads"] (Texas Southern) and [player_tooltip player_id="63633" first="Karl" last="Odrick Jr."] (Ball State) and junior wide receiver Aaron Anderson (LSU) or Carencro senior defensive back [player_tooltip player_id="63586" first="Bailey" last="Despanie"] (Tulane), senior offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id="63649" first="John" last="Miller"] Jr. (Southern) and senior running back [player_tooltip player_id="63580" first="Kendrell" last="Williams"] (Louisiana (Lafayette)). And those lists extend deep on each side, including into younger classes. <strong>2021 Recruiting Class</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63553" first="Destyn" last="Hill"] — 6-1, 180 WR — Edna Karr</strong> "Fatt" will be one of the top Louisiana prospects to watch for his college decision in the late signing period. He has been a hot name on the recruiting trail for the past three years and one of the up-and-coming stars on the New Orleans football scene, who has continued to improve his game to a senior campaign in which opposing defenses have not been able to find an answer for him. <strong>Trenton Jolivette — 6-3, 290 OL — Carencro</strong> The Bears’ skill position guys gain the notoriety for racking up the yards and points, but the success starts up front on both sides of the ball. And Olivette joins Miller among the top prospects on the offensive side. Louisiana College and Trinity International have been the first two programs to offer. Tayvion Faulk — 5-10, 180 ATH — Carencro Starting quarterback Tayvion Faulk, former star LSU running back Kevin Faulk's nephew, may be Carencro's best athlete on both sides of the ball. And watching his work, both ways, against an opponent of the Cougars' caliber — as well as coach Tony Courville's balance of his roles at quarterback and in the secondary — will be an intriguing part of the matchup. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63719" first="Destin" last="Refuge"] — 5-9, 170 DB — Edna Karr</strong> The final high school game for one of Louisiana's most productive and underrated defensive backs. The run-heavy Carencro offense will limit Refuge's opportunities to show his ball skills and instincts in coverage, but the undersized slot corner's consistently quick diagnosis, closing speed and willingness to hit can be significant in helping contain perimeter runs. &nbsp; <strong>2022 Recruiting Class</strong> <strong>Tygee Hill — 6-3, 275 DL — Edna Karr</strong> Against an effective, even dominant Carencro rushing attack, Karr's highly touted junior defensive tackle will have to set the tone inside in his one-on-one matchups or eating double teams to free up the many other athletic defenders around him to make plays. <strong>Tory Morgan — 5-10, 210 LB — Edna Karr</strong> The junior linebacker has made as many of those aforementioned plays as anyone all season, flying around the box and disrupting opposing offenses, and his role looms large Tuesday in filling run gaps and containing the Bears' talented stable of backs. <strong>2023 Recruiting Class</strong> <strong>A.J. Samuel — 5-11, 180 QB — Edna Karr</strong> The first-year starter has quickly etched his name into conversation among the top few members of Louisiana's talented 2023 class. His performance distributing the ball to his talented weapons, moving the ball with his legs at times and, most importantly, avoided turnovers will be a major determining factor in the title game. But Samuel has excelled in those areas throughout the season, including victories against stiff competition from opponents such as Catholic (Baton Rouge), John Curtis and Warren Easton, and shown poise throughout.