Louisiana 2022 Rankings: Defensive Sleepers, Steals

The final preseason rankings for Louisiana’s 2022 class featured a shaken-up top 100 with its share of new faces and big stock-risers. But one of the deepest cohorts in the state’s recent history includes plenty of talent even a little farther down the list and prospects that could prove steals for the right Division-I programs. Here’s more information on half a dozen of those potential sleepers on the defensive side of the ball. And check out <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/08/louisiana-2022-rankings-offensive-sleepers-steals/">the details on six of their counterparts on offense</a>. <strong>No. 134 — [player_tooltip player_id="187018" first="Jabari" last="Johnson"] — 6-3, 235 DL — University Lab</strong> The U-High defense is full of long, versatile athletes all over the field, such as Purdue commitment [player_tooltip player_id="136609" first="Roman" last="Pitre"], McNeese State target [player_tooltip player_id="136641" first="Justin" last="Collins"] and Johnson, whose speed and agility at his size make him a handful to slow down attacking off the edge. Davidson became the first college to extend a scholarship offer. <strong>No. 140 — [player_tooltip player_id="136591" first="Denham" last="Smith"] — 6-1, 230 DL — Calvary Baptist</strong> Smith has the potential to be one of the reigning Division IV state champions’ best prospects, flashes of which he showed in a disruptive title-game performance harassing Ouachita Christian quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="63595" first="Hunter" last="Herring"] in his last high school game before heading to Louisiana (Lafayette). The possibility of playing college football hadn’t seemed to register to Smith until receiving offers from Ouachita Baptist and East Texas Baptist and interest from TCU and others this offseason. The talent is there to develop into an impact player on the defensive front if the right fit and focus are there at the next level. <strong>No. 145 — [player_tooltip player_id="187020" first="Christopher" last="Scott"] — 6-3, 240 DL — Hahnville</strong> One of the best prospects on a Class 5A title-hopeful squad in the River Parishes, Scott is a strong and versatile defensive lineman able to bring pressure from anywhere on the defensive front. He lines up on the inside and consistently powers through and sheds multiple blockers to generate push up the middle, or bounces outside where he is able to effectively set the edges to contain running backs or show quickness and good closing speed to break free and pursue opposing passers. Arkansas-Monticello and Louisiana College are his first two offers. <strong>No. 148 — [player_tooltip player_id="187021" first="CamRon" last="Spencer"] — 6-2, 180 DB — Westgate</strong> Highland Community College in Kansas and Louisiana College became the first offers for Spencer this summer, with additional notable interest from Tulane, South Alabama, Louisiana (Lafayette) and others. He is a tall, long-limbed cornerback with high-end speed, including a 21.25-second 200-meter on the track, who showed the confidence and reliability to provide tight coverage and big breakups in key moments during 7-on-7 season. <strong>No. 154 — [player_tooltip player_id="187022" first="McKinsey" last="Nicholas"] — 6-0, 160 DB — Abbeville</strong> The Wildcats’ standout earned all-district first-team and all-state honorable-mention recognition this past fall in his first season back on a football field since middle school even in the unusual and challenging circumstances 2020 provided. His instincts and physicality were impressive for his first time playing the sport in high school, and seeing the ultra-confident cornerback’s progress this fall with the benefits of his junior experience and a complete offseason is intriguing. <strong>No. 168 — [player_tooltip player_id="136589" first="Luke" last="Ydarraga"] — 6-3, 230 DL — Live Oak</strong> Ydarraga’s quickness and active hands give opposing centers, guards and tackles trouble keeping the Eagles’ versatile defensive lineman out of the backfield where he flashes good closing speed to quarterbacks and ball-carriers and a high-motor to keep pursuit after plays to the perimeter or that break free into the second level and beyond. Montana Tech, Graceland, Clarke and Culver Stockton were the first programs to extend offers, but his older brother Matthew Ydarraga, a former walk-on at Louisiana Tech, has already laid out a potential blueprint to go from under-recruited defensive lineman to eventual scholarship and impact player at the next level.