Which schools finished 2023 with the most PRZLA Top-100 players?
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From North Caddo to Oak Grove, Barbe and southeast to Belle Chasse, the final Prep Redzone Louisiana rankings for 2023 featured prospects from 59 different schools in the top 100 alone. Twenty-four different programs placed multiple representatives in that number,…
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Continue ReadingFrom North Caddo to Oak Grove, Barbe and southeast to Belle Chasse, the final Prep Redzone Louisiana rankings for 2023 featured prospects from 59 different schools in the top 100 alone.
Twenty-four different programs placed multiple representatives in that number, led by seven who managed three or more.
These were the leaders of the pack.
Zachary Broncos (6)
The perennial powerhouse Broncos fell short of the Division-I nonselect state championship game this season, but not for lack of top-end college talent. Zachary was the only program to have more than five prospects ranked in the top 100 of Prep Redzone Louisiana’s final list for the 2023 class, led by Alabama quarterback signee Eli Holstein Eli Holstein 6'3" | 215 lbs | QB Zachary | 2023 State LA , who finished at No. 4 after a high school career in which he lived steadily within the top five spots of his cohort. LSU-signed safety Kylin Jackson Kylin Jackson 6'3" | 195 lbs | DB Zachary | 2023 State LA (No. 15) gives the Broncos a pair of SEC signees. For a few months, defensive end Ashley Williams Jr. (No. 28) planned to be a third before decommitting from Auburn and joining fellow defensive lineman Landen Thomas Landen Thomas 6'3" | 260 lbs | DL Zachary | 2023 State LA (No. 69) en route to Arizona State. Cornerback Cody Smith Cody Smith 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Zachary | 2023 State LA (No. 86) and edge rusher A.J. Thomas A.J. Thomas 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Zachary | 2023 State LA (No. 88) signed with McNeese State and Tulane, respectively. And several other Broncos, led by Grambling State-signed wide receiver Tylon Williams Tylon Williams 5'9" | 150 lbs | WR Zachary | 2023 State LA at No. 124, also earned rankings.
Destrehan Wildcats (5)
The talented and cohesive 2023 class at Destrehan began breaking its way into the varsity lineup early in its collective high school career with a state championship always the mission, and the group completed that job before heading off to a slew of colleges around the country. Colorado State-signed left tackle Christian Martin Christian Martin 6'6" | 260 lbs | OL Destrehan | 2023 State LA (No. 38) led the way in the final rankings, but nearby Tulane will benefit most heavily from the talent pool in St. Charles Parish with defensive back Kevin Adams Kevin Adams 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Destrehan | 2023 State LA III (No. 40), right guard Landry Cannon Landry Cannon 6'3" | 345 lbs | OL Destrehan | 2023 State LA (No. 41) and athlete Jai Eugene Jr. (No. 49) all headed to uptown New Orleans. Wide receiver Daniel Blood Daniel Blood 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Destrehan | 2023 State LA (No. 47) will represent the school in the SEC at Missouri. And the Wildcats’ list of ranked prospects continues with receiver Leslie Jefferson III Leslie Jefferson III 6'4" | 180 lbs | WR Destrehan | 2023 State LA (No. 110) and defensive back Lynard Harris Lynard Harris 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Destrehan | 2023 State LA (No. 113) going to Southwest Mississippi Community College and ULM, respectively.
Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) Panthers (5)
Zachary’s new district foe in southeast Baton Rouge placed a handful of prospects in the final top 100, led by its own SEC-bound defensive back and quarterback duo. Tennessee-signed corner Jordan Matthews Jordan Matthews 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) | 2023 State LA (No. 7) leap-frogged LSU-signed passer Rickie Collins Rickie Collins 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) | 2023 State LA (No. 10) to make Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) the only program with multiple top-10 prospects. Center Roy Brackins III Roy Brackins III 6'3" | 295 lbs | OL Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) | 2023 State LA (No. 55), running back Jay’veon Haynes Jay’veon Haynes 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) | 2023 State LA (No. 87) and defensive back Dezaray Delmore Jr. (No. 100) joined them in the top 100 on their respective ways to Louisiana Tech, Louisiana (Lafayette) and Southeast Missouri State. The Panthers’ next player in the rankings overall was McNeese State-bound defensive lineman Mark Fielder Mark Fielder 6'2" | 270 lbs | DL Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) | 2023 State LA at No. 109.
Edna Karr Cougars (4)
The longtime Division-I select favorites placed four prospects in the top 100, led by TCU-bound edge rusher Jonathan Bax Jonathan Bax 6'3" | 235 lbs | LB Edna Karr | 2023 State LA (No. 14) following his dominant senior season. Three other Cougars in the top 100, defensive backs Ryan Robinson Jr. (No. 62) and Michael Richard Michael Richard 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Edna Karr | 2023 State LA (No. 76) and offensive lineman Brandon Spincer Brandon Spincer 6'2" | 280 lbs | OL Edna Karr | 2023 State LA (No. 94), will all stay in state for college at LSU, Louisiana Tech and Southeastern Louisiana, respectively.
Isidore Newman Greenies (4)
The only small school on this list with four top-100 prospects also boasts the wire-to-wire No. 1 in Arch Manning Arch Manning 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Newman | 2023 State LA . Joining the Texas-bound quarterback were tight end Will Randle Will Randle 6'4" | 220 lbs | TE Newman | 2023 State LA (No. 45), a fellow Longhorns signee), and defensive back Austin Guillory Austin Guillory 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Newman | 2023 State LA (No. 57) and wide receiver Makai Donaldson Makai Donaldson 6'4" | 200 lbs | WR Newman | 2023 State LA (No. 93), who will attend Harvard and Louisiana (Lafayette), respectively.
St. Augustine Purple Knights (4)
The resurgent Catholic League program that handed Zachary its first loss in the regular season and battled Division-I select state runner-up Brother Martin to within a field goal in the second round of the playoffs was led by its big men in the trenches. Offensive linemen Tyree Adams Tyree Adams 6'5" | 275 lbs | OL St. Augustine | 2023 State LA (No. 13) and Troy Smith Troy Smith 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL St. Augustine | 2023 State LA (No. 56) signed with LSU and Louisiana Tech, respectively, and defensive lineman Kyran Bourda Kyran Bourda 6'3" | 300 lbs | DL St. Augustine | 2023 State LA (No. 35) and edge rusher Jahrie Garner Jahrie Garner 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB St. Augustine | 2023 State LA (No. 66) are headed to Arizona State and Tulane, respectively.
Northwood (Shreveport) Falcons (3)
A few north Louisiana schools placed two prospects in the top 100, with a few others close to it, but only Northwood (Shreveport) managed three: defensive end TaDerius Collins TaDerius Collins 6'4" | 245 lbs | DL Northwood (Shreveport) | 2023 State LA (No. 18), an Indiana signee; defensive back Mar’Jayvious Moss Mar’Jayvious Moss 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Northwood (Shreveport) | 2023 State LA (No. 27), a Memphis signee; and offensive lineman Ja’Marion Kennedy Ja’Marion Kennedy 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL Northwood (Shreveport) | 2023 State LA (No. 61), a Louisiana Tech signee. Quarterback Mason Reed Welch, who will begin his college career at Blinn College, was next up on their list just outside the top 100 at No. 116.
Seventeen teams (2)
Several teams around the state placed two prospects in the top 100 of the final rankings — including Neville with two top-16 prospects, and Denham Springs, Dutchtown, Warren Easton and Westgate, each of whom had additional talented prospects who narrowly missed the cut.