Strong DL, LB groups among strongest in Louisiana’s 2023 class

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Louisiana's 2023 class was headlined from start to finish by its rare quarterback talent by its standards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But the apparent impact prospects headed to the college front sevens near and far could end up being among the biggest lasting storylines the cohort produces at the next levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nearly a quarter of Prep Redzone Louisiana's final top 100 prospects for 2023 are either defensive linemen or linebackers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their destinations span almost coast to coast, but with the heaviest contingent staying close to home as potential difference-makers around the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HIGH-LEVEL BRANCHING OUT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The three highest-ranked front-seven prospects are all headed out of state to some of the country's most notable programs. Historical blue-bloods USC and Notre Dame made rare dips into The Boot for the 2023 cycle to land linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138353' first='Tackett' last='Curtis']</strong> of Many and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138276' first='Jaiden' last='Ausberry']</strong> of University Lab, respectively — each of whom earned LSWA Defensive MVP honors for his classification, including top honors by Curtis as the state's Mr. Football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another all-state performer, Edna Karr edge rusher <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138390' first='Jonathan' last='Bax']</strong>, signed with national runner-up TCU after his own dominant senior season. The New Orleans native becomes one of the latest and one of the best prospects in a long-standing recruiting pipeline from Louisiana to Fort Worth. The Horned Frogs and aforementioned Trojans and Fighting Irish all finished this past season within the top 18 in the AP Poll and are among the country's most highly touted teams in the early outlook for 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HOMETOWN TIGER</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The flagship, Power Five program in Louisiana's state capital didn't have to look far for a big defensive signing of its own in St. Amant star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275578' first='Dylan' last='Carpenter']</strong>. The one-time Louisiana (Lafayette) commitment had a breakout senior year in which his Gators moved him around their defensive formation to counter opponents' attempts to stay clear of his disruptive presence. And, hailing from just a few miles outside of Baton Rouge and making several trips to campus during his recruitment, he begins his college career already among some fan favorites in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AROUND THE STATE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carpenter is one of 10 defensive linemen or linebackers in Prep Redzone Louisiana's final top 100 to be staying in-state for college. Shortly down Interstate 10 in New Orleans, Tulane landed an impressive quartet in Dutchtown linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138361' first='Dickson' last='Agu']</strong> and edge rushers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275575' first='Matthew' last='Fobbs-White']</strong> of Neville, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='276211' first='Jahrie' last='Garner']</strong> of St. Augustine and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275581' first='A.J.' last='Thomas']</strong> of Zachary — four core members of what looks to be a historically strong Green Wave class overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Louisiana Tech will bring big, versatile West Feliciana standout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138354' first='Delvin' last='Whitaker']</strong> and Sterlington edge rusher <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='405765' first='Charlie' last='Robinson Jr.']</strong> to Ruston, and hard-hitting Warren Easton veteran <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138358' first='Jirrea' last='Johnson']</strong>, disruptive Lake Charles College Prep standout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138355' first='Daylon' last='Sibley']</strong> and converted Homer safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138314' first='Brendon' last='Harris']</strong> signed with Southeastern Louisiana, Louisiana (Lafayette) and Northwestern State, respectively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HEADING WEST</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arizona State has landed three of Louisiana's top 70 prospects for the class in Zachary teammates <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='188936' first='Ashley' last='Williams Jr.']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138373' first='Landen' last='Thomas']</strong> and St. Augustine defensive tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275574' first='Kyran' last='Bourda']</strong>. That trio joins former Franklin star Gharin Stansbury on the defensive front and former University Lab defensive back Jordan Clark as recent defensive standouts from the state on the Sun Devils' roster. And each fills a different role from the long-framed edge rusher in Williams, to the 300-pounder in Bourda to the potentially versatile Thomas in between.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Texas Tech brought a pair of Louisiana defenders to Lubbock in big Natchitoches Central tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138424' first='Tre'Darius' last='Brown']</strong> and quick John Curtis linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275579' first='Justin' last='Horne']</strong>, along with Captain Shreve receiver [player_tooltip player_id='404520' first='Macho' last='Stevenson']. The only returning member of the Red Raiders roster listed from Louisiana is "super senior" Myles Cole from Evangel Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In addition to Bax, Brown and Horne, another pair of Louisiana defensive linemen in Warren Easton defensive tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138386' first='Jameian' last='Buxton']</strong> and McDonogh 35 edge rusher <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='276208' first='Alex' last='Sumler']</strong> will head to Texas with scholarships to UTSA and Lamar, respectively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SEMI-SLEEPERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of longtime Prep Redzone Louisiana "favorites" in Northwood (Shreveport) defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138387' first='TaDerius' last='Collins']</strong> and John F. Kennedy edge rusher <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138370' first='Deshaun' last='Batiste']</strong> could — and should — prove to be steals for their respective programs in Indiana and Troy. Both players garnered SEC interest during their recruitments, wrapped up their high school careers as all-state honorees and head to the next level as big athletic prospects who appear to have the potential to excel on their levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->