2024 Rankings: Early headliners for another talented class

Louisiana is on the verge of two of its most anticipated recruiting classes in recent memory in 2022 and 2023. The rising seniors’ talent and depth has been compared to some of the state’s best cohorts, and a historically impressive quarterback group headlines a group of rising juniors starting to garner some similar consideration. And a few standout freshman performances — even earning several Power Five offers — have 2024 showing early potential as being similarly highly regarded in the coming years. Here’s some more information on 10 of the first names to know among the rising sophomores. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139258" first="Daniel" last="Beale"] — 6-1, 180 QB — Catholic (Baton Rouge)</strong> "Baby Beale" was unexpectedly tossed into action against reigning Class 5A champion Acadiana — who went on to repeat — just two weeks after being elevated to the varsity roster. And the freshman performed admirably in place of injured senior Landon O’Connor to help lead to Bears to the Division I title and pique the interest of coaches and fans around Louisiana as one of the state’s top prospects to watch in his class. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139471" first="Cullen" last="Charles"] — 6-0, 180 ATH — St. Martinville</strong> The athletic young pass-catcher already possesses good size and speed for his age and a track record that includes clutch, physical game-winning receptions on both the high school and 7-vs-7 fields. Charles is drawing some early consideration as arguably Louisiana’s top offensive skill player in the class. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139491" first="Wallace" last="Foster"] IV — 5-11, 160 DB — Warren Easton</strong> Foster has grown up alongside talented older defensive backs in the city, such as Easton predecessors Chester Kimbrough (transferring from Florida to Michigan State) and Ronald "Champ" Lewis (a rising senior) and Edna Karr standouts Jamie Vance (now at Louisville), [player_tooltip player_id="138313" first="Ryan" last="Robinson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="138319" first="Michael" last="Richard"] (rising juniors). And the confidence the energetic, athletic young cornerback has gained from his years of competition with older athletes shows in his constant confidence and aggressive and physical play. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139473" first="Aubrey" last="Hermes"] — 6-2, 165 WR — Calvary Baptist</strong> Alongside the gaudy numbers racked up by seniors Jordan Wallace and [player_tooltip player_id="63668" first="Joseph" last="Wilson"] — more than 2,500 yards and 31 touchdowns in a shortened season — a freshman arose as junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="127701" first="Landry" last="Lyddy"]’s third-most productive receiver. Hermes caught 10 passes for 316 yards (31.6 yards per catch) and three touchdowns in four of the Cavaliers’ last six games, including three receptions for 89 yards and a score in the Division IV state championship game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139492" first="Lavorziesa" last="Houston"] — 6-3, 190 DL — Calvary Baptist</strong> The Cavaliers have a slew of talented young underclassmen coming up behind Wallace, Wilson, Landry and company. And the early leading candidate to be the highest-profile college prospect is the big defensive end. "Tre" showed up and showed out at a showcase event this March among the top overall performers despite being one of the youngest linemen in a talented group headlined by rising seniors such as [player_tooltip player_id="136580" first="Enyce" last="Sledge"], [player_tooltip player_id="136551" first="Kaden" last="Moreau"] and [player_tooltip player_id="136560" first="Ethan" last="Clark"]. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139506" first="Jaylin" last="Johnson"] — 6-2, 165 DB — Alexandria</strong> Mississippi State became the first program to extend a scholarship to the young Alexandria defensive back, who is the early headliner of the 2024 class on a still-talented Trojans roster. Johnson and 2023 prospect [player_tooltip player_id="138309" first="Chris" last="Clark"] give coach Thomas Bachman and company one of the state’s best young DB duos for the next two years. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139261" first="Ju’Juan" last="Johnson"] — 5-10, 175 QB — Lafayette Christian</strong> Another freshman quarterback thrown into action earlier than expected, Johnson was forced to take the field in the first quarter of the season when the Knights’ senior quarterback was injured against — coincidentally — Acadiana. He continued to play throughout the season — even earning some series once Ryan Roberts’ eventually returned — en route to a Division III state championship. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139490" first="Keidrick" last="Richardson"] — 5-11, 220 LB — De La Salle</strong> Richardson was Louisiana’s first 2024 prospect to start earning college attention with an LSU offer even before his freshman season after coach Ed Orgeron and the Tigers’ staff got a glimpse of the big linebacker’s physicality, quickness and fluidity in space. Nicknamed "Paw Paw" for his laid-back "old-soul" personality, he has been working from a young age with older players on his techniques to an extent beyond many of his cohorts. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139482" first="Tylen" last="Singleton"] — 6-1, 180 DB — Many</strong> Another freshman called on to play a notable role for a state championship team, Singleton actually earned Outstanding Player honors for his Tigers after sealing the Class 2A crown with a late pick-six. The long frame, track speed, athleticism and ball skills are there — enough so that Mississippi State and Arkansas both extended early offers this spring — and his offseason work with his coaches and teammates to continue to add muscle and become more consistent in his angles and technique could position him for an even more breakout sophomore campaign. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139495" first="Kyle" last="Williams"] — 5-10, 165 DB — Northshore</strong> The long, physical cornerback may be the most under-the-radar prospect on this list, but has also shown flashes of potential that could earn him a position among the most highly regarded players in the class sooner than later. He finished his freshman year seeing noteworthy 7-vs-7 action with the Louisiana Bootleggers’ New Orleans area regional team and often proving himself among the top performers on the field.