7 seniors join 2023 Louisiana rankings in top 125

The traditional February signing day has now come and gone, and Louisiana's 2023 class rankings have been finalized.   A handful seniors — some previously on the watch-list radar, but not ranked, and some catching our attention late — make their debuts on the list with top-100 positions.   Here's a closer look at those five prospects, as well as another two making top-125 debuts whose college careers could be particularly intriguing to watch in the years to come.   [player_tooltip player_id='639641' first='DeMardrick' last='Blunt'] | 6-1, 190 ATH | Carroll   The most versatile athlete on a list full of versatile athletes leads the way. Blunt participated in three sports at Carroll during his high school career, including all over the football field as a quarterback and athletic tight end or big wide receiver when on offense, with over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns, or all over the secondary when on defense. Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Cumbie has projected him as a linebacker in Ruston, where another former Carroll standout Cedric Woods quickly provided himself a steal of a cornerback in the 2020 class.   [player_tooltip player_id='639600' first='Shermar' last='Carter'] | 5-11, 170 DB | Plaquemine   Nicholls State offered the Green Devils speedster last summer and was able to land him last week despite other notable interest that included Southeastern Louisiana and a reported Mississippi State offer in late October. He covers a ton of ground in a hurry with his 4.43-second 40-yard speed whether closing on a pass or a ball-carrier or bringing interceptions back the other direction, has quick feet and change of direction and plays physically both with the ball in the air or as he arrives for a tackle. The Colonels added a pair of top-100 speed demons, in Carter and E.D. White corner [player_tooltip player_id='275584' first='Matthew' last='Melancon'], to their secondary and potential return game, each of whom might have snuck their way into an FBS class in years past.   [player_tooltip player_id='638087' first='Jeremiah' last='Moses'] | 6-0, 175 ATH | Belle Chasse   The Ragin' Cajuns' signee played more basketball growing up in Shreveport, but quickly became a standout on the football field since arriving to Belle Chasse for high school. Moses boasts 4.4-second 40-yard speed, which he put on display in all three phases with a highlight reel full of breakaway runs past opponents as a receiver and return man and runs to interceptions, breakups and tackles as a defensive back. That speed paired with his long, rangy frame make him an intriguing cornerback prospect to watch as he continues to get more comfortable and confident in his skillset with college coaching.   [player_tooltip player_id='638086' first='Jay'veon' last='Haynes'] | 5-9, 175 RB | Woodlawn (Baton Rouge)   One of nine college-bound members thus far of the Panthers' talented senior class committed to the Ragin' Cajuns last spring and made that pledge official with a December signing. Haynes showed flashes of his burst and toughness for his size during the fall, but had some nagging injuries limit his typically high-level track speed, which includes records of 10.79-second 100-meter and 22.05-second 200-meter sprints. Back to full health and entering a college weight program, he could be a candidate to surprise a lot of fans with his performance at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='639642' first='Mike' last='Mitchell'] | 5-11, 180 ATH | Plaquemine   The Southeastern Louisiana signee might be just shy of his Plaquemine teammate's straight-line speed, but showed impressive suddenness as the Green Devils' quarterback and offensive catalyst with a season full of making making quick decisions in the RPO game, making defenders miss and taking off for huge gains with his legs. Mitchell and Carter land with Southland Conference rivals and both on the defensive side of the ball as the Lions announced Mitchell as a defensive back signee.   [player_tooltip player_id='639709' first='Jayden' last='Milton'] | 5-10, 205 RB | Berwick   Another promising signing for Nicholls State, the nearby Berwick product hits his running lanes with confidence and purpose and has the muscular frame and powerful style to lower his shoulder and keep churning through arm tackles without losing much momentum, but also deceptively breakaway speed once he gets free in the open field. Milton racked up 1,473 yards and 27 touchdowns on 219 carries, all with no fumbles, as a senior and also caught 22 passes for another 425 yards and four scores as a smooth receiver out of the slot, catching the ball with his hands out away from his body and keeping his stride for big runs after the reception.   [player_tooltip player_id='638896' first='Tylin' last='Johnson'] | 6-1, 185 ATH | Lutcher   Johnson's stature and athleticism in some limited practice footage caught our attention nearly two years ago, before a missed junior year dropped him off college and media radars alike. He returned more mature and motivated than ever, though, as a senior with 42 catches for 750 yards and 11 touchdowns, all capped by an eye-opening state championship performance of 141 yards and two scores on nine receptions. He also returned a punt for a touchdown on special teams and snatched an interception on defense for the Bulldogs during the season. His missed time and late breakout put him behind the eight ball from a recruiting standpoint, particularly in the new era of both the early signing period and the transfer portal. But Johnson appears to possess fairly clear Division-I potential and has shown signs of a commitment to continuing his player career that could make him a steal and an interesting story if he can find a prep, JUCO or walk-on home and keep working.

The traditional February signing day has now come and gone, and Louisiana's 2023 class rankings have been finalized.