Strong DL, LB groups among strongest in Louisiana’s 2023 class
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Louisiana’s 2023 class was headlined from start to finish by its rare quarterback talent by its standards. But the apparent impact prospects headed to the college front sevens near and far could end up being among the biggest lasting storylines…
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Continue ReadingLouisiana’s 2023 class was headlined from start to finish by its rare quarterback talent by its standards.
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.
Nearly a quarter of Prep Redzone Louisiana’s final top 100 prospects for 2023 are either defensive linemen or linebackers.
Their destinations span almost coast to coast, but with the heaviest contingent staying close to home as potential difference-makers around the state.
HIGH-LEVEL BRANCHING OUT
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 Tackett Curtis Tackett Curtis 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Many | 2023 State LA of Many and Jaiden Ausberry Jaiden Ausberry 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB University Lab | 2023 State LA 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.
Another all-state performer, Edna Karr edge rusher Jonathan Bax Jonathan Bax 6'3" | 235 lbs | LB Edna Karr | 2023 State LA , 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.
HOMETOWN TIGER
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 Dylan Carpenter Dylan Carpenter 6'4" | 245 lbs | DL St. Amant | 2023 State LA . 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.
AROUND THE STATE
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 Dickson Agu Dickson Agu 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Dutchtown | 2023 State LA and edge rushers Matthew Fobbs-White Matthew Fobbs-White 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Neville | 2023 State LA of Neville, Jahrie Garner Jahrie Garner 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB St. Augustine | 2023 State LA of St. Augustine and A.J. Thomas A.J. Thomas 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Zachary | 2023 State LA of Zachary — four core members of what looks to be a historically strong Green Wave class overall.
Louisiana Tech will bring big, versatile West Feliciana standout Delvin Whitaker Delvin Whitaker 6'3" | 250 lbs | LB West Feliciana | 2023 State LA and Sterlington edge rusher Charlie Robinson Jr. Charlie Robinson Jr. 6'3" | 235 lbs | LB Sterlington | 2023 State LA to Ruston, and hard-hitting Warren Easton veteran Jirrea Johnson Jirrea Johnson 5'11" | 210 lbs | LB Warren Easton | 2023 State LA , disruptive Lake Charles College Prep standout Daylon Sibley Daylon Sibley 6'0" | 180 lbs | LB Lake Charles College Prep | 2023 State LA and converted Homer safety Brendon Harris Brendon Harris 6'2" | 195 lbs | LB Homer | 2023 State LA signed with Southeastern Louisiana, Louisiana (Lafayette) and Northwestern State, respectively.
HEADING WEST
Arizona State has landed three of Louisiana’s top 70 prospects for the class in Zachary teammates Ashley Williams Jr. Ashley Williams Jr. 6'5" | 225 lbs | DL Zachary | 2023 State LA and Landen Thomas Landen Thomas 6'3" | 260 lbs | DL Zachary | 2023 State LA and St. Augustine defensive tackle Kyran Bourda Kyran Bourda 6'3" | 300 lbs | DL St. Augustine | 2023 State LA . 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.
Texas Tech brought a pair of Louisiana defenders to Lubbock in big Natchitoches Central tackle Tre’Darius Brown Tre’Darius Brown 6'4" | 310 lbs | DL Natchitoches Central | 2023 State LA and quick John Curtis linebacker Justin Horne Justin Horne 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB John Curtis | 2023 State LA , along with Captain Shreve receiver Macho Stevenson Macho Stevenson 6'0" | 170 lbs | ATH Captain Shreve | 2023 State LA . The only returning member of the Red Raiders roster listed from Louisiana is “super senior” Myles Cole from Evangel Christian.
In addition to Bax, Brown and Horne, another pair of Louisiana defensive linemen in Warren Easton defensive tackle Jameian Buxton Jameian Buxton 6'3" | 270 lbs | DL Warren Easton | 2023 State LA and McDonogh 35 edge rusher Alex Sumler Alex Sumler 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL McDonogh 35 | 2023 State LA will head to Texas with scholarships to UTSA and Lamar, respectively.
SEMI-SLEEPERS
A pair of longtime Prep Redzone Louisiana “favorites” in Northwood (Shreveport) defensive end TaDerius Collins TaDerius Collins 6'4" | 245 lbs | DL Northwood (Shreveport) | 2023 State LA and John F. Kennedy edge rusher Deshaun Batiste Deshaun Batiste 6'3" | 250 lbs | LB John F. Kennedy | 2023 State LA 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.