2nd straight strong Louisiana OL class places 15 in top 100
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Former LSU coach Ed Orgeron and his staff ultimately didn’t get the chance to reap the benefits of Louisiana’s 2022 class, to which they had long looked forward for its rare offensive line talent. The Tigers signed four in-state offensive…
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Continue ReadingFormer LSU coach Ed Orgeron and his staff ultimately didn’t get the chance to reap the benefits of Louisiana’s 2022 class, to which they had long looked forward for its rare offensive line talent.
The Tigers signed four in-state offensive lineman for that cycle — alone as many high school linemen (from any state) as the program had signed since 2017 — and ultimately saw two Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr. earn starting tackle spots early in their true freshman year.
The state’s 2023 class includes 15 offensive linemen in the final Prep Redzone Louisiana rankings — nearly as many as the previous cohort’s 17 — including two LSU signees, three other SEC signees and eight others joining in-state programs.
NEXT TIGERS UP
For the second straight year, Louisiana’s top offensive lineman comes from Neville, where Zalance Heard Zalance Heard 6'6" | 300 lbs | OL Neville | 2023 State LA follows his former and future teammate in Campbell. And the impressively explosive athlete at his size, a former defensive lineman as an underclassman, has shown enough talent that his potential to push for immediate playing time in a group that returns all of its starters is already a topic of discussion. Joining heard in Baton Rouge will be St. Augustine standout Tyree Adams Tyree Adams 6'5" | 275 lbs | OL St. Augustine | 2023 State LA , a long and athletic tackle in his own right who isn’t far down the overall rankings list at No. 13. Between the 2022 and 2023 groups, the Tigers appear to have the foundation for success up front offensively for years to come.
AROUND THE SEC
Three other senior offensive linemen, each of whom drew varying recruiting interests from LSU through the years, will head elsewhere around the SEC. Longtime De La Salle starter Caden Jones Caden Jones 6'7" | 255 lbs | OL De La Salle | 2023 State LA , breakthrough Natchitoches Central talent Tyler Johnson Tyler Johnson 6'8" | 300 lbs | OL Natchitoches Central | 2023 State LA and decorated Dutchtown standout Ethan Fields Ethan Fields 6'4" | 315 lbs | OL Dutchtown | 2023 State LA signed with Florida, Auburn and Ole Miss, respectively. Jones and Johnson bring big, athletic frames with basketball backgrounds to the Gators and Tigers, while Fields is expected to be a guard in Oxford, Miss.
LA TECH RACKS UP
Ten of Louisiana’s top 15 offensive linemen for the 2023 class are staying in state for college, and four of them are heading to Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs signed Tioga tackle Hayden Christman Hayden Christman 6'6" | 300 lbs | OL Tioga | 2023 State LA , versatile Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) lineman Roy Brackins III Roy Brackins III 6'3" | 295 lbs | OL Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) | 2023 State LA , St. Augustine guard Troy Smith Troy Smith 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL St. Augustine | 2023 State LA and athletic two-way Northwood (Shreveport) lineman Ja’Marion Kennedy Ja’Marion Kennedy 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL Northwood (Shreveport) | 2023 State LA as part of first-year coach Sonny Cumbie’s first full cycle in Ruston, which includes five offensive linemen in all.
AROUND THE BOOT
Tulane, Louisiana (Lafayette), McNeese State and Southeastern Louisiana each signed a top-100 offensive linemen in the 2023 cycle. Big, mobile guard Landry Cannon Landry Cannon 6'3" | 345 lbs | OL Destrehan | 2023 State LA will make the short trip from Destrehan to New Orleans, and the Ragin’ Cajuns land underrated E.D. White leader Matthew Broussard Matthew Broussard 6'4" | 270 lbs | OL E.D. White | 2023 State LA . The Cowboys will keep one-time Houston commit Jamall Franklin Jr. from Scotlandville in-state in Lake Charles, and the Lions bring Edna Karr standout Brandon Spincer Brandon Spincer 6'2" | 280 lbs | OL Edna Karr | 2023 State LA to Hammond.
TALENTED TACKLES OUTSIDE THE BOX
Colorado State managed to pull arguably one of the top half-dozen offensive linemen out of Louisiana this year in long, athletic Destrehan standout Christian Martin Christian Martin 6'6" | 260 lbs | OL Destrehan | 2023 State LA , the left tackle on a strong state championship unit up front. Meanwhile one-time Air Force target Tyler Kimble Tyler Kimble 6'5" | 280 lbs | OL Denham Springs | 2023 State LA of Denham Springs, an underrated tackle and quiet leader for the Yellow Jackets often this winter to forego college football options and focus on academics at the next level.