10 Ascension Parish prospects colleges are visiting

Several colleges have stopped through Ascension Parish, just southeast of Baton Rouge, in the first days of high schools’ spring football practice. And rightfully so. On the east side of the Mississippi River, three Class 5A rivals Dutchtown, East Ascension and St. Amant have produced a fairly steady stream of signees to the next level. And on the other side, Donaldsonville in Class 3A and Ascension Catholic in Class 1A have developed their shares of talent as well. Here are 10 of Ascension Parish’s top prospects at the moment — with a focus on seven rising seniors, but also a nod to trio of rising juniors who should be Power Five recruits sooner than later. They won’t be the only players in the area who end up playing college ball. But for college coaches or fans looking for names to know, they’re a good place to start. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138361" first="Dickson" last="Agu"] — 6-2, 220 LB — Dutchtown (2023)</strong> One of three players on this list to earn a top-100 spot in Prep Redzone Louisiana’s most recent 2023 rankings update this winter, and he’s likely only on the rise. Purdue extended the hard-hitting, but well-rounded linebacker’s first scholarship offer in December. And more than a dozen others have followed suit, including all three service academies, Tulane, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana (Lafayette), Southeastern Louisiana and Northwestern State. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138420" first="LaShawn" last="Bell"] — 6-2, 305 OL/DL — Ascension Catholic (2023)</strong> A few Bulldogs — including twin quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="138498" first="Bryce" last="Leonard"] and receiver [player_tooltip player_id="138463" first="Brooks" last="Leonard"], or 2024 lineman Travis Cedotal — would’ve been viable candidates to include here as well, but give a nod to the big man in the trenches set for his fourth season as a starter. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138290" first="Akyrian" last="Burrell"] — 5-11, 190 DB — Dutchtown (2023)</strong> Another member of the senior trio leading the recruiting charge for the Griffins, as 2022 star running back [player_tooltip player_id="127860" first="Dylan" last="Sampson"] departs for Tennessee. "AK" is an athletic and versatile free safety who excels on the back end of the defense, is fast and physical coming downhill on runs and screens and a reliable cover man in the slot. Northwestern State and Furman have been his first two offers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="275578" first="Dylan" last="Carpenter"] — 6-4, 245 DL — St. Amant (2023)</strong> The big defensive end debuted at No. 53 in the most recent rankings and may not be done climbing. Watching Carpenter fire off the line and overpower opposing blockers in a highly competitive Class 5A district, it’s not difficult to see what’s intriguing colleges such as Tulane, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana (Lafayette), Arkansas State Utah State and Charlotte to have extended offers thus far. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138414" first="Ethan" last="Fields"] — 6-4, 315 OL — Dutchtown (2023)</strong> The highest-ranked rising senior of this bunch since a breakout camp performance at LSU last June has been a busy recruit this spring fielding offers, visiting programs and chatting with the many college coaches prioritizing Dutchtown as a stop during their recruiting travels this month. Fields is a strong, big-bodied mauler working consistently on his flexibility and agility as he prepares for his senior season and a potential Power Five future with Purdue, Louisville and Indiana among the first programs trying to poach him from Louisiana (Lafayette), Tulane, Louisiana Tech and other in-state options. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="188940" first="Robert" last="Kent"] — 6-1, 200 ATH — Donaldsonville (2023)</strong> Northwestern State and Southern have been the first two colleges to recognize some of the potential of the Tigers’ under-the-radar multisport and three-phase star who could be an interesting running back, linebacker or safety prospect at the next level. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="285655" first="Jacorey" last="Mitchell"] — 5-11, 160 WR — East Ascension (2024) </strong> A half dozen or so of his peers a couple inches taller or in more prolific passing offenses have garner Louisiana’s first scholarship offers for 2024 receivers, but "Chop" showed some intriguing flashes his sophomore season and should be an interesting prospect to watch continue to develop and gain exposure. Mitchell made some big catches, returns and runs for East Ascension this past fall and showed good body control, balance and toughness with the ball in the air or in his hands. <strong>Raiyen Oatis — 5-11, 165 DB — Donaldsonville (2024)</strong> Another of the rising juniors on this list, Oatis remains an under-the-radar prospect still awaiting his first college offer. But the long, athletic and physical defensive back should change that dynamic pretty quickly as he hits the camp circuit this spring with stops to campuses such as LSU and Mississippi State. <strong>Walter Samuel — 6-0, 200 RB — East Ascension (2023)</strong> The Spartans’ other two players on this list are speedy perimeter weapons. But Samuel, a member of the running back duo that helps provide their physical ground presence, has good speed in his own right with a 40-yard dash he lists as 4.38 seconds and a burst on some of his top highlights that looks like he’s shot out of the backfield by a cannon. South Alabama, ULM, Tulane, Northwestern State, Nicholls State and Incarnate Ward have extended his first six offers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139480" first="Brennon" last="Thompson"] — 6-0, 180 ATH — East Ascension (2024)</strong> A high school teammate of Mitchell and 7-on-7 teammate of Oatis who is similarly awaiting a first offer that is far more a matter of when than if. Thompson returned from an injury this past year to have an electric sophomore campaign in all three phases showcasing potential as a high-level college prospect on either side of the ball.