10 sleepers to watch outside Louisiana's 2023 top 100

Even in the modern recruiting landscape of the transfer portal, Louisiana sent well over 100 high school prospects to Division-I college homes during the 2023 cycle.   And, as always, several players outside of the elite, Power Five-bound athletes will figure to have productive, impactful careers at the next level.   Check out more information on 10 players outside of the final top 100, including a couple preferred walk-ons, that should be among the "sleepers" to watch among the likeliest the excel on Saturdays.   [player_tooltip player_id='405724' first='Barrett' last='Newman'] | 6-1, 215 LB | Parkway   Liberty landed the multisport standout from Parkway this winter, one of the Shreveport area's most impactful defensive players the past two seasons with a combined 259 total tackles, including 20 for loss, and four interceptions and three forced fumbles. Newman, also a baseball player for the Panthers, provided an intimidating, hard-hitting presence in the middle of the field for his defense. The 4.1 GPA student-athlete has always played fast with his quick, decisive reads and worked during his career to improve his closing speed, down into 4.6-second 40-yard range, to get to more plays all over the field.   [player_tooltip player_id='639709' first='Jayden' last='Milton'] | 5-10, 205 RB | Berwick   Nicholls State benefits from the local standout remaining largely under-the-radar despite a productive high school career. Milton is a solidly built, powerful running back who is difficult to bring down or even slow down and also flashed good speed in the open field once he got through traffic and contact. He carried 219 times this fall for 1,473 yards and 27 touchdowns, with no fumbles, and was also a smooth and confidence receiver out of the slot with 22 receptions for another 425 yards and four scores. His style and versatility should fit well into a Colonels offense that has relied heavily on big, physical back from southeast Louisiana high schools to lead a power running game in recent seasons.   [player_tooltip player_id='276316' first='Mark' last='Fielder'] | 6-2, 270 DL | Woodlawn (Baton Rouge)   The versatile defensive lineman didn't garner the recruiting and media fanfare as early as or to the volume as some of his teammates in the Panthers' loaded 2023 class, but he developed and played his way into one of the team's most consistent bright spots during their up-and-down final season together. Fielder is a strong, smart, hard-working and high-character player and leader on and off the field, who quickly picks up new information and tendencies in a way that should support a smooth transition to college and a notable role in the defensive line rotation sooner than later.   [player_tooltip player_id='138332' first='Peyton' last='Woodring'] | 5-10, 165 K | Ascension Episcopal   The Georgia signee wound down his high school career with a state record 60-yard field goal in his final regular-season game after 56- and 54-yarders earlier in the season. Woodring finished went 11-for-17 on field-goal attempts this fall with four of his six misses coming from 54 yards are longer. He could have some low-pressure time to acclimate himself to college with Bulldogs kicker Jared Zirkel returning for a fourth year, but also possesses to the talent to push for opportunities in his first or second year for a program that figures to remain among college football's elites for years to come.   [player_tooltip player_id='138456' first='Tristan' last='Goodly'] | 6-0, 170 ATH | Westlake   The hyper-athletic Goodly played all three phases in high school as well as standing out in basketball and track and field and plans to continue long-jumping in college. He lists a 4.51-second 40-yard dash, 4.29-second shuttle and 34-inch vertical leap to go with a taller, longer frame than another recent Southeastern Louisiana multisport signee, Gage Larvadian, who worked out at a high level, all-conference performer as both a receiver and returner before transferring to Miami (Ohio). Goodly finished his senior season with 1,328 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns, including 29 catches for 555 yards, and only slipped slightly from the previous top 100 (at No. 99) because of other prospects' notable rises. But he has the potential to be a difference-maker in Hammond.   [player_tooltip player_id='138503' first='Clayton' last='Lonardo'] | 6-3, 210 ATH | Brother Martin   The versatile athlete who embraced Taysom Hill comparisons during a senior season in which he helped lead his New Orleans private school back to Caesars Superdome for the first time since 1989 stays close to home with a nearby program that seems interested in continuing to use him in a variety of roles. Lonardo was among Brother Martin's top receivers the past three seasons — including a junior campaign of 31 catches for 824 yards and five scores — and helped the Crusaders' rushing attack excel when he brought his decision-making and athleticism to the backfield to complement running back [player_tooltip player_id='138282' first='Torey' last='Lambert'] and run the RPO attack. He arrives to Southeastern Louisiana as the biggest receiver in the class, which doesn't list a true tight end and includes one smaller, quicker running back.   [player_tooltip player_id='138450' first='Pearce' last='Russell'] | 6-0, 180 WR | Benton   Watching Russell's trajectory at Arkansas State will be interesting and may prove more a storyline of patience than any other attribute as he arrives to Jonesboro, Ark., with a class that lists seven scholarship wide receivers. But the Benton pass-catcher can flat-out play and has the hyper-productive track record of success that tends to accompany walk-ons who end up working their way into more prominent opportunities. Russell finished this fall second in Louisiana in receiving yards with 89 catches for 1,566 yards and 19 touchdowns and also returned 10 kickoffs for 334 yards and a score to earn LSWA Class 5A All-State honors and a 1,000-yard, 12-score junior season as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='138458' first='Tylon' last='Williams'] | 5-9, 150 WR | Zachary   The Grambling State signee was lightning in a bottle this season for his Broncos with 41 catches for 511 yards and seven touchdowns on offense and being a consistent threat in the return game. The electric Williams proved frustratingly difficult for defenders to try to corral even in tight quarters — the proverbial phone booth — as he often danced his way free somehow of seemingly sure tackles and opened up his 4.4-second 40-yard and 10.9-second 100-yard track speed. Williams heads north to the Tigers expected to be a potentially immediate difference-maker on special teams and earn increased opportunities on offense as he continues to develop.   David Kency Jr. | 5-9, 180 RB | Archbishop Shaw   The speedy, agile running back chose to bet on himself with a walk-on opportunity at Penn State where he joins the Nittany Lions in a signing class with two scholarship backs of similar size. Kency is an explosive and powerful runner through contact with thick thighs and reported a 425-pound squat and 39-inch vertical leap and clear breakaway speed with a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and 10.83-second 100-yard and 22.38-second 200-yard sprints for his Eagles' track team. He racked up 1,213 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior as his district's Offensive MVP and appears to have the attributes and attitude to be a productive college running back and returner.   [player_tooltip player_id='405736' first='Khaled' last='Waliagha'] | 5-11, 205 LB | Franklinton   The Demons' linebacker flew largely under the recruiting radar whether because of his height being a bit short of prototypical, the rural school's location on the outskirts of media coverage areas or any other reason. But Army found a smart, physical and productive potential diamond in the rough who reads, reacts and plays fast and should fit well into the middle of its defense. Waliagha racked up a combined 248 tackles, including seven sacks, and four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries during his final two high school season.

Even in the modern recruiting landscape of the transfer portal, Louisiana sent well over 100 high school prospects to Division-I college homes during the 2023 cycle.