Fifteen 2024 prospects debut in Louisiana’s top 100
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Fifteen rising seniors made their Prep Redzone Louisiana rankings debuts this week in the top 100 of the latest update. Click here to read more about the seven that managed to crack the top 50, and learn more about the…
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Continue ReadingFifteen rising seniors made their Prep Redzone Louisiana rankings debuts this week in the top 100 of the latest update.
Click here to read more about the seven that managed to crack the top 50, and learn more about the eight from No. 51 to No. 100 below.
No. 61 Jayden Scott Jayden Scott 6'4" | 240 lbs | DL Archbishop Shaw | 2024 State LA | 6-4, 240 DL | Archbishop Shaw
The big defensive end is the first of a couple representatives on this top-100 list and a few in the rankings update as a whole from a talented Archbishop Shaw defensive class. Scott is a big, physical defensive end with good size, get-off and motor who appears on film to do a great job staying disciplined and balance in his pursuit. Texas Tech and Louisiana (Lafayette) have been the first colleges to recognize his talent and potential, but won’t be the last.
No. 69 Matt Mayfield | 6-2, 185 WR | Beau Chene
A big-play receiver, notable performer for a solid basketball program and one of the best high-jumpers (5 feet, 4 inches) and triple-jumpers (39 feet, 4.75 inches) in his school’s history, Mayfield might be in the top 10 or 20 of a “Freaks” list (à la The Athletic) in Louisiana’s 2024 class. The transfer from nearby Teurlings Catholic lists a 4.6-second 40-yard dash and 12.05-second 100-meter that help him create separation vertically, and he uses his length and leap to excel making plays over defenders with the ball in the air. He has also played defensively during his high school career, even including some snaps in the trenches and traffic that showed his strength and toughness as he helped create pressure on opposing backfields.
No. 70 Eli Head | 6-5, 270 OL | Caldwell Parish
Head is the first of three new offensive linemen on this list, paired with three peers debuting in the top 50, that are starting to make Louisiana’s 2024 class of blockers look like another sneaky talented and deep group by comparisons to some years past. The versatile Spartans offensive lineman with the 80-inch wingspan manned the right tackle spot this season where he was a powerful run-blocker and showed good quickness and balance to pull across the formation and create numbers to the left or stay in front of smaller, faster edge rushers in pass protection.
No. 74 DJ Thomas DJ Thomas 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Isidore Newman | 2024 State LA | 5-11, 170 DB | Isidore Newman
The aptly nicknamed “Shifty” has somewhat followed the path of teammate Austin Guillory Austin Guillory 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Newman | 2023 State LA , a longtime Prep Redzone Louisiana favorite in the 2023 class, as an underrated a patient corner for the Greenies prepared to smoothly step in and step up as an upperclassman. Thomas blankets opposing receivers with his solid frame, quick feet and fluid transitions to remain seemingly constantly in phase and closing fast for 17 breakups and a pair of interceptions this junior season. And like Guillory, the well-rounded student-athlete has started to gain major recruiting traction in the Ivy League with offers rolling in from Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Columbia, Cornell and Penn.
No. 75 Ryder Bentley Ryder Bentley 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL Ouachita Christian | 2024 State LA | 6-6, 270 OL | Ouachita Christian
Tulsa, Memphis, Louisiana Tech, ULM and Lamar have been the first string of offers for Ouachita Christian’s big two-way lineman with an upcoming Tulane visit also on the schedule. Bentley was an all-state performer as the left tackle on the Eagles’ state championship team with a quick first step and good overall mobility and motor at his size that also made him a disruptive rusher on defense and special teams. He has also been a well-rounded student-athlete throughout his career as a basketball players, shotput- and discus-thrower on the track and field team and a high-GPA student.
No. 76 Damian Reed Damian Reed 6'2" | 270 lbs | OL Iowa | 2024 State LA | 6-2, 270 OL | Iowa
Another all-state offensive lineman, “Pancake” has been a versatile blocker for the Yellow Jackets during his career — inside and outside, on both sides of the line and in the backfield, but always aggressive and tenacious as he explodes through and finishes his blocks. Louisiana (Lafayette) became the first college program to make its move in February, followed by Mississippi Valley State and Lamar.
No. 77 Javion White Javion White 5'11" | 180 lbs | ATH Franklin Parish | 2024 State LA | 5-11, 175 ATH | Franklin Parish
The Patriots’ three-phase and multi-sport standout looks like one of Louisiana’s hidden gems in the 2024 class out in Winnsboro, which folks in south Louisiana or out of state might know best as Anthony “Booger” McFarland territory. White, also a top performer on Franklin Parish’s impressive quarterfinal basketball team, showed explosiveness and breakaway speed on special teams and offense to be a consistent home run threat against even the Patriots’ most elite competition. But his instincts, physicality and versatility in the secondary make him look like an ideal fit on defense at the next level. Most, if not all programs, around the state and region should be taking a closer look this spring and summer at young athlete who appears to have the makings of one of the biggest steals in the class.
No. 90 Louis Foster Jr. Louis Foster Jr. 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Archbishop Shaw | 2024 State LA | 6-0, 180 DB | Archbishop Shaw
The second Archbishop Shaw representative on this list is the explosive and physical rising senior safety whose first offer came from Marshall in January. Foster has a long, strong frame and lists a 4.49-second 40-yard dash, 38-inch vertical and 405-pound squat that he pairs great instincts, vision and change of direction to navigate traffic, blow up blocks and make plays all over the field. He should be an interesting player to watch during the next few months as 2024 recruiting hits its peak.