Louisiana 2023 Rankings Update: Seven prospects debut 51-100

Prospect rankings are an ever-evolving work in progress throughout the high school timelines of a given class.   Players develop, break into lineups, dive into camp participation and garner college attention at different times during their teenage years.   Seven Louisiana prospects made strong debuts between No. 51 and No. 100 in this week's Louisiana update, along with <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/08/louisiana-2023-rankings-update-five-prospects-make-top-50-debuts/">a handful in the top 50</a>.   [player_tooltip player_id='405721' first='Nick' last='Jacobs'] — 6-2, 190 DB — Jesuit   The Tulane commitment should have been included in the previous rankings update on the heels of a fantastic junior season for the Division-I runner-up. Jacobs is a long, rangy cornerback with good instincts and change of direction to break on passes and make plays on the ball or elude attempted blocks to come downhill for tackles. And he has the size, strength and willingness to play strong in the box fitting run gaps or making his way into the backfield for disruptive plays. Jacobs holds at least half a dozen offers, but has remained locked into the hometown Green Wave throughout the summer despite pushes from other programs.   [player_tooltip player_id='361377' first='Troy' last='Smith'] — 6-4, 290 OL — St. Augustine   Another talented member of the Edge Assassins linemen training group that has worked with many of the state's top trenchmen in recent years, including 2022 Georgia signee Shone Washington and 2023 LSU commitment [player_tooltip player_id='188944' first='Tyree' last='Adams'] among others. The big-bodied guard's junior highlights are like an all-you-can-maul buffet whether driving opposing defensive linemen straight back from the point of attack, pulling across the formation and halting and dropping rushers in their tracks or getting out in front of screen plays to free his teammates for big gains. Smith committed to Louisiana Tech in July out of a list of offers that included most several in-state schools, Florida International, Lamar and Alcorn State.   [player_tooltip player_id='361378' first='Walter' last='Samuel'] — 6-0, 200 RB — East Ascension   Samuel's performance as part of a running back tandem along with fellow junior Jacorey Johnson last fall earned all-district first-team honors and a string of offers in the spring that included South Alabama, ULM, Tulane, Northwestern State, Nicholls State and Incarnate Word. Alcorn State, Louisiana Tech and Southern Miss — along with interest from Mississippi State — followed during a productive spring practice period. Samuel possesses good size for physical between-the-tackle runs, makes sharp cuts to elude would-be tacklers near the line and breakaway speed, which he lists at a 4.38-second 40-yard dash, and has shown an ability to make big plays as a receiver out of the backfield in the screen game or routes downfield.   [player_tooltip player_id='405722' first='Ja'Marion' last='Kennedy'] — 6-4, 295 OL — Northwood (Shreveport)   Defensive stars [player_tooltip player_id='138387' first='TaDerius' last='Collins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='138327' first='Mar'Jayvious' last='Moss'] have been steady stock-risers for the last year as the top prospects for a talented senior class that has the Falcons optimistic in their chances to contend for a potential Class 4A state championship. But that duo is far from alone. The big "Sugar Bear" in the trenches is a two-way lineman for Northwood who is explosive off the snap and at the point of attack and, as the team's left tackle, a tenacity to finish blocks and put his opponents on the ground or well out of the play, as well as impressive agility and speed at his size to pull across the line or take off full-steam as a lead blocker all the way downfield out-running defenders.   [player_tooltip player_id='405763' first='Jacavion' last='Jacob'] — 6-4, 215 LB — Westgate   Outside of Texas-committed safety Derek Williams Jr., many of the reigning Class 4A champions' most well-known prospects are smaller, quick receivers and defensive backs. But the long, athletic edge-rushing Jacob started to generate some buzz with some strong impressions during spring ball as college coaches made their rounds, including offers from Northwestern State, Memphis, Florida International and Southern.   [player_tooltip player_id='404521' first='Christian' last='McNees'] — 6-2, 205 WR — St. Thomas More   The Cougars' pass-catcher looked like Jack Bech Jr. late in a productive junior campaign in which he hauled in 45 passes for 825 yards and nine touchdowns, including an 249-yard, two-score regular-season finale. McNees has similar physical measurables to the program's recent record-setter did near the end of his own junior season two years ago and seems to have some of the same willingness to get physical that helped set Bech apart from so many of his peers. And the current St. Thomas More standout actually boasts a little better speed, right at a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, at this point in his career. Army extended his first scholarship offer early in the summer, but more could be in store quickly as McNees feels poised for a monster senior season with rising junior quarterbacks [player_tooltip player_id='139260' first='Will' last='Taylor'] and [player_tooltip player_id='285278' first='Sam' last='Altmann'] each returning with some experience under their belt stepping in last fall while LSU-bound quarterback Walker Howard worked back from injury.   [player_tooltip player_id='361379' first='Colin' last='Boldt'] — 6-1, 195 DB — Dunham   Boldt is an imposing force in the middle of his Tigers' defensive backfield, staying patient and keeping routes in front of him, making his reads and then taking off like a heat-seeking missile for interceptions, deflections or often vicious hits that break up would-be receptions or jar loose fumbles. Army extended his first scholarship offer in May, followed soon thereafter by Air Force and then Southeastern Louisiana.

Prospect rankings are an ever-evolving work in progress throughout the high school timelines of a given class.