2022 Stock Risers in Louisiana (End of Junior Year)

Junior year often proves the most pivotal for the majority of high school recruits. And the COVID-19 pandemic’s nixing of spring football, 7-on-7 season and the college camp circuit only further underscored that dynamic for the Class of 2022. Several prospects around Louisiana made the most of their opportunities during the past six or seven months — whether on the field for their high school teams or hitting camps or tournaments this spring. Here is more information on 10 of the most notable leaps. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136573" first="Quency" last="Wiggins"] — 6-7, 270 DL — Madison Prep</strong> Coaches convincing the basketball-focused big man to return to the football field looks poised to pay big dividends for his future prospects and for whichever college program ultimately nets his increasingly sought-after signature. The Madison Prep program has certainly already been pleased with the early returns. Wiggins was opening eyes with his long, athletic frame from the moment he suited up for preseason pregame warmups, showed flashes early and became a notably more consistent force off the edge during the Chargers’ first-ever state championship run. The long list of offers that’s followed includes hometown LSU, Florida, Auburn, Baylor, Florida State, USC, Tennessee, Texas, Texas Tech, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech and Louisville among about three dozen options. He’s broke all the way into the top 10 at No. 9, with a slight edge on Ascension Catholic’s [player_tooltip player_id="136574" first="J’Mond" last="Tapp"] and Acadiana’s [player_tooltip player_id="136576" first="Walter" last="Bob"] Jr. as the top defensive end in the rankings. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F3haN8j23e8" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136575" first="Maxie" last="Baudoin"] — 6-3, 290 DL — Ascension Episcopal</strong> Another little-known prospect before this academic and athlete year, Baudoin has exploded into one of the most heavily recruited prospects in Louisiana on the heels of a dominant junior season. Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Arizona State, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Texas A&amp;M, USC, Virginia and Ole Miss were among the more than two dozen colleges clearly impressed with the Lafayette big man and his ability to explode off the line and into the backfield at his size. Baudoin skyrocketed all the way to No. 12 in the class rankings, including becoming the top-ranked defensive tackle. And he’ll have an opportunity this summer to make a case for even stronger positioning by competing against top competition at camps. Seven of the Gators’ eight games coming against Class 2A opponents with a combined 26-35 record might be the biggest question mark. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11871267/5fb006a7d468b7099c4d8d7f" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128245" first="Landon" last="Ibieta"] — 6-0, 190 WR — Mandeville</strong> The recruiting trail had been largely quiet for the Skippers’ pass-catcher after a couple of early offers last year from Tulane and South Alabama. But Ibieta hit the 7-on-7 circuit this spring with a vengeance that left even most of his peers crediting him as the best wide receiver in the state this spring. 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. A slew of offers, including the Hurricanes and Virginia, followed. And many more Power Five programs figure to follow suit this summer as he the dead period finally ends and allows prospects on campuses. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wgTf-IG-P6w" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136576" first="Walter" last="Bob"] Jr. — 6-4, 250 DL — Acadiana</strong> The long, lean pass-rusher made the most of the opportunities his junior year provided by working in a loaded Acadiana front seven led by standout seniors such as Division I defensive end [player_tooltip player_id="63579" first="Cameron" last="George"] and uber-productive linebackers [player_tooltip player_id="63747" first="Derreck" last="Bercier"] Jr. and [player_tooltip player_id="63685" first="Caleb" last="Arceneaux"]. Bob made his way into opposing backfields week in and week out to rush passers, and his hard-hitting ability, aggressive pursuit and quickness left their mark on the Wreckin’ Rams’ one-point state championship victory. A couple college staffs started recruiting him early in the new year with what figured to be a big summer ahead, and then Alabama blew the cover off his recruitment with a Feb. 1 offer to which he immediately committed. Bob enters his final high school offseason in the top tier of Louisiana’s edge rushers in the 2022 class at No. 16 overall. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pGZ3uezd7Nk" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136479" first="Austin" last="Ausberry"] — 6-1, 205 ATH — University Lab</strong> Similar to Ibieta’s recruitment, a couple of colleges had extended offers to Ausberry prior to his junior season. But his strong year in the fall tackle season for U-High, the spring 7-on-7 season with F3 Elite and in some notable workouts and camps raised his stock considerably. Ausberry has played roles all over the field, in all three phases, and repeatedly showcased a rare combination of some of Louisiana’s most impressive speed and a level of intensity and physicality that can’t be coached. The older of the two Ausberry brothers — with rankings for Jaiden and his 2023 classmates scheduled to be released next week — climbed his way to No. 20 in the latest rankings and is one of the state’s most versatile athletes. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-fpux32Q510" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136578" first="J’Mari" last="Monette"] — 6-4, 270 DL — Alexandria</strong> Alexandria surprised most of the state with a run to its first-ever state championship appearance that included upending perennial powerhouses West Monroe and Zachary and putting a late scare into reigning champion Acadiana before a controversial flag on a pivotal two-point play late. But, by season’s end, the talent making its way through the Trojans’ program, in ever position group, was impossible to ignore. The versatile defensive lineman was among the headliners on that list. Monette played every position on the ASH front in the state championship game — from one end to the other and inside and out — and showed good burst and quickness at his size that could make him a flexible prospect at the next level. He climbed to No. 28 in these rankings among the top defensive linemen in another decent class at one of Louisiana’s top positions annually. Monette has compiled an offer list that includes Power Five programs such as Texas, Mississippi State, Baylor and he enters the summer as a sleeper candidate to catch the attention of home-state LSU and others. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2hhqSF-4qZM" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="127701" first="Landry" last="Lyddy"] — 6-0, 190 QB — Calvary Baptist</strong> Lyddy had shown intriguing potential at the junior varsity level and on the 7-on-7 circuit, but didn’t get his first crack as a varsity starter until this fall. He proceeded to complete 166 of 252 passes (65.9 percent) for 3,566 yards and 43 touchdowns to the lead the state, including a record-setting 464 yards and four scores in Calvary Baptist’s state championship victory, and show impressive leadership, a quiet swagger and a fierce competitiveness from start to finish and during the spring that followed. ULM, McNeese State, Western Kentucky, Nevada and Louisiana Tech all recently joined UAB on his list of offers, with Boise State, SMU, Fresno State, TCU, Texas Tech, Mississippi State, Duke, Virginia, Syracuse among others of notable interest, before committing Wednesday to Louisiana Tech. He is the second-highest rated quarterback in the state, at No. 34 overall, behind only LSU commit [player_tooltip player_id="127700" first="Walker" last="Howard"] of St. Thomas More, with the two seeming likely to land on the same camp field this summer in Baton Rouge. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f8PVk8WSppo" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136509" first="TJ" last="Johnson"] — 6-3, 175 WR — Alexandria</strong> Johnson hit radars even more aggressively this spring than his teammate Monette. The tall, athletic receiver was among Alexandria’s leading receivers in the Class 5A state championship game with four receptions for 53 yards and a 16-yard touchdown that pulled the Trojans back to within one point in the final minute, then excelled in a series of early-spring 7-on-7 and showcase events. And Virginia, Florida State, Mississippi State, Tulane, Louisiana (Lafayette), ULM, Southern, McNeese State and Arkansas State have been among the offers since then. An opportunity to finally get to college campuses this summer should further fuel the recruitment of a player who hasn’t shied away from any big-time competition when able against top cornerbacks such as [player_tooltip player_id="136627" first="Laterrance" last="Welch"] and Khamauri Rogers (Mississippi). <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i1rZR6T50nY" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136580" first="Enyce" last="Sledge"] — 6-4, 300 DL — Neville</strong> Neville’s big man, who also competes in basketball and track, saw more action on the offensive line as an underclassman, but felt the really started to come into his own with a bigger opportunity in the middle of the defensive front as a junior. Sledge carries his 300 pounds well and moves well, as his multisport background would suggest, and is a positive and hungry young athlete eager to be coached and continue to improve his craft. Louisiana (Lafayette), Tulane, Memphis, Southern Miss, SMU, Marshall, Troy, Ohio, McNeese State, Marshall, Southeastern Louisiana, Western Kentucky, Nicholls State, Akron, Jackson and Jacksonville State have all been impressed enough thus far to extend offers, and Sledge’s best football appears ahead with big strides still likely. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oHyvp64_rZs" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136551" first="Kaden" last="Moreau"] — 6-4, 270 OL — Pineville</strong> The recruiting front remained slow this winter even after a quietly strong junior campaign. Northwestern State offered in early March, with Illinois State, Southeastern State and Nicholls State all following in late March and early April after an impressive camp performance. Moreau measured at 6-foot-4 1/2 and 260 pounds at the event, had one of the day’s top standing broad jumps and earned MVP honors after a dominant showing in one-on-ones. Oklahoma State, Baylor, Louisville, Louisiana (Lafayette) and Louisiana Tech have been among the other programs to take notice during the past month. And Moreau — a quiet, humble young man off the field, but fierce, nasty competitor on the line of scrimmage — has continued to work on his body, bulking up to nearly 270 pounds, and began working on snapping the ball to potentially give himself the opportunity to move inside to center if necessary. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CY_84NJXAqM" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>