2022 Rankings: LSU targets lead WR group deep with Power 5 talent

Louisiana boasts another strong class of wide receivers in 2022. The state's lone Power Five program, LSU, looks to be the major beneficiary once again after signing four of its top five prospects at the position in 2021. Three of the top five this cycle are currently committed to the Tigers, who are firmly in the top options for another and closely monitoring a couple more entering the summer. But, regardless of which signatures make their way to Baton Rouge, the wealth of talent will provide plenty more to go around to other in-state and regional destinations. Twelve to 15 players appear to be talented enough to compete at the SEC or other Power Five level, and another eight or 10 could be Group of Five guys. We look more closely at the top 10 names to know. <strong>No. 7 — [player_tooltip player_id="128240" first="Shazz" last="Preston"] — 6-1, 190 WR — St. James</strong> The son of former Southern running back and longtime area coach Shawn Preston and younger brother of Mississippi State safety Shawn Preston Jr. hopped onto the radar at early age as one of the state’s top young playmakers — a sure-handed pass-catcher with a knack for the game and the speed and quickness to run himself open for receptions and big gains. He continued to work consistently with his family, coaches, teammates, trainers and older athletes to develop both physically and technically into one of the state’s fiercest competitors, an alpha dog who wants the ball in his hands any time his team needs a big play and proves that confidence well-founded time and time again. He released a top seven in early April of LSU, Alabama, Texas, Georgia, USC, Mississippi State and Miami. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4mMXE5oM0QY" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>No. 11 — [player_tooltip player_id="128242" first="Aaron" last="Anderson"] — 5-10, 180 WR — Edna Karr</strong> The Edna Karr star has been among Louisiana’s most electric players with the ball in his hands since his early opportunities as a freshman as a return man for the New Orleans powerhouse. And, particularly after an up-and-down state championship game as a sophomore, he focused himself on becoming a more well-rounded receiver and one of the top prospects in the state. Anderson came back exactly as a junior exactly that, including an eventual Class 4A state championship game in which even a stingy Carencro defense couldn’t slow him down from catching seven passes for 172 yards and two highlight-reel touchdowns in tight coverage and getting outside on a run for another 17-yard score. He committed to LSU in December. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sPAmPS8w3Pk" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>No. 13 — [player_tooltip player_id="128245" first="Landon" last="Ibieta"] — 6-0, 190 WR — Mandeville</strong> Ask Louisiana’s top prospects their opinion on the best wide receiver in the 2022 class and, after his absolute tear through 7-vs-7 season, many will quickly raise the Mandeville star’s name into that conversation. He has grown to a legitimate 6 feet and 190 pounds and has consistently shown his ability to route up defenders to create open space out of his breaks or after the catch, make receptions in physical coverage and go up and over players for impressive, highlight-reel grabs — no matter who is lined up across from him. Even against some of the nation’s most coveted defensive backs, Ibieta produced one of the most dominant days ever by a Louisiana Bootleggers receiver — company that includes names such as Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, DeVonta Smith, Ja’Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall Jr. — in Miami in late January. And a slew of offers, including the Hurricanes and Virginia, followed, with even LSU, Alabama and company monitoring closely as campus visits reopen in June. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wgTf-IG-P6w" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>No. 19 — [player_tooltip player_id="128243" first="DeColdest" last="Crawford"] — 6-2, 170 WR — Green Oaks</strong> The Shreveport standout is the longest tenured commitment in LSU’s 2022 class after quickly accepting the home-state program’s scholarship offer in October 2019 amid a breakout, nearly 1,000-yard sophomore season. Crawford with another 800-yard campaign as a junior to earn back-to-back all-state honors and help lead his Giants to victories in back-to-back postseasons after rarely making appearances in the decades prior. He possesses good size and speed, reliably catches just about any pass thrown his way and rises to the occasions of physical, competitive coverage or clutch, high-pressure moments. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B6wFebnuj4E" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>No. 24 — [player_tooltip player_id="128241" first="AJ" last="Johnson"] — 6-3, 205 WR — Newman</strong> The long, springy athlete garnered an LSU offer during a heavily anticipated and ultimately productive junior campaign this fall and committed early in the spring despite strong pushes from Georgia and others. Johnson’s potential had piqued interest as early as the heels of his freshman season at Eleanor McMain before having to sit out 2019 because of his transfer. He immediately became the top receiver for friend and 2023 star [player_tooltip player_id="138484" first="Arch" last="Manning"], the nephew of former NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli, with 41 catches for 587 yards and six touchdowns before a disappointing finish in the Division III semifinals. <strong>No. 35 — [player_tooltip player_id="136508" first="Curtis" last="Deville"] — 6-0, 180 WR — Iowa</strong> The most under-the-radar name on this list began opening a few college eyes with a strong junior year on the football field in the fall and the track in the spring. Early in the spring ranking process, one SEC staffer said, "Rank the kid from Iowa, and thank me later," even referencing 2021 star and eventual LSU signee [player_tooltip player_id="63555" first="Malik" last="Nabers"] as a comparison for his physicality and proficiency in going over defenders for jump-balls. Southern, Purdue, Tulane, North Texas and Western Kentucky became his first scholarship offers in April. And the two-way, three-sport star capped his school year by running the second leg of the Yellow Jackets’ 4x100-meter relay team, first leg of their runner-up 4x200-meter group and finishing third with a 1.87-meter high jump. <strong>No. 36 — [player_tooltip player_id="128661" first="O’Ryan" last="James"] — 6-2, 190 WR — AJ Ellender</strong> The bayou parishes star’s continued physical development, drive and work ethic have firmly solidified him as one of the state’s top prospects. The three-sport athlete with 4.5-second 40-yard speed has always been an explosive threat for Ellender who takes more pride in his route-running than most high school receivers and also showcases the consistent ability to go up in tight coverage and come down with contested catches. Mississippi State, Virginia, Tulane, Louisiana Tech, Southeastern, Southern, Nicholls State and Houston Baptist have all extended offers. <strong>No. 38 — [player_tooltip player_id="136509" first="TJ" last="Johnson"] — 6-3, 175 WR — Alexandria</strong> The tall, athletic receiver was among <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/05/2022-stock-risers-in-louisiana-end-of-junior-year/">the biggest risers in recruiting stock this junior year</a> after ending the fall with a strong performance in Alexandria’s state championship game against Acadiana and starting the spring excelling in a series of 7-on-7 and showcase events. Johnson was among the Trojans’ leading pass-catchers in that December contest with four receptions for 53 yards and a 16-yard touchdown that pulled his team back to within one point in the final minute. And he hasn’t shied away from any big-time competition when able to match up against top cornerbacks such as <a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/laterrance-welch/"><span class="name-pointer">[player_tooltip player_id="136627" first="Laterrance" last="Welch"]</span></a> and Khamauri Rogers (Mississippi) throughout the spring. Virginia, Florida State, Mississippi State, Tulane, Louisiana (Lafayette), ULM, Southern, McNeese State and Arkansas State have been among the offers. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i1rZR6T50nY" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>No. 40 — [player_tooltip player_id="128244" first="Keshlon" last="Jackson"] — 6-0, 175 WR — Lake Charles College Prep</strong> LCCP coaches compared "Spidey" to undersized, but dynamic 2021 stars [player_tooltip player_id="63575" first="Solomon" last="Lewis"] (5-10, 160), [player_tooltip player_id="63600" first="Glynn" last="Johnson III"] (5-10, 155) and [player_tooltip player_id="63715" first="Jaylen" last="Joseph"] (5-8, 170), but with better size for the next level. That trio ultimately signed with Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State and Grambling State. Their younger teammate holds offers from across the country that include Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Michigan State, Virginia, Washington State, Ole Miss, Colorado, West Virginia, Houston, Memphis, Louisiana (Lafayette), Tulane, Louisiana Tech, Indiana, Kansas State, Troy, South Alabama, Marshall and many more. <strong>No. 57 — [player_tooltip player_id="128247" first="Zyion" last="Claville"] — 6-3, 180 WR — Huntington</strong> The Huntington star’s story thus far has been a battle between intrigue and injury. Claville possesses prototypical height and frame, has run sub-4.5-second 40-yard dashes at school and has put together some of Louisiana’s most exciting highlights — when healthy. He caught 22 passes for 414 yards (18.8 yards per catch) and five touchdowns (finding the end zone every 4.4 touches) in just six games as a junior before having a leg injury end his season for the second straight year. Kansas, Virginia, Tulane and South Alabama all extended offers prior to the most recent injury, and Purdue, Marshall, ULM, Western Kentucky, New Mexico and Central Michigan have done so since then. His health and performance this summer and fall could quickly boost his stock and ranking.