First 2026 Louisiana rankings countdown: Nos. 20 to 11

Prep Redzone Louisiana will release its first full rankings for the 2026 recruiting class this week.   More than a handful of young prospects already hold college offers before the end of their freshman years, with several likely to soon follow in the coming months, in what is shaping up as a strong cohort in the state.   Leading up to the complete top 50, Prep Redzone will count down from No. 20 with more details on the early leaders.   Check out <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/03/first-2026-louisiana-rankings-countdown-20-11/">more on Nos. 20-11 below</a>.   And <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/03/first-2026-louisiana-rankings-countdown-10-1/">click here for more on Nos. 10-1</a>.   No. 20 [player_tooltip player_id='710969' first='Gregory' last='Wilfred'] — 5-8, 160 WR — Destrehan   Even with a legendary 2023 class heading to college, the undefeated Division-I nonselect state champion Wildcats appear primely positioned to remain among the state's top contenders moving forward with a slew of talented young prospects near the top of the early 2025 and 2026 rankings. Wilfred, one of the quickest freshmen in the state with breakaway speed, was good enough to earn varsity playing time, particularly in the return game, in his first high school season and should see a bigger role on offense this fall.   No. 19 [player_tooltip player_id='740982' first='Chris' last='Addison'] — 6-2, 210 ATH — Franklin Parish   The Patriots have a nice run of potential Division-I prospects coming through Winnsboro at the moment with rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='681280' first='Javion' last='White'] leading the way and another multisport standout and potentially versatile athlete in Addison on the rise. Addison was an impact player already this fall as a big, athletic pass-catcher on the outside. But already at 6-foot-2, 210-pounds as a freshman, he may only be a growth spurt away from developing into a more likely tight end or edge rusher at the next level.   No. 18 [player_tooltip player_id='401947' first='Christian' last='Speight'] — 6-2, 285 DL/OL — Evangel Christian   The Shreveport-based two-way lineman is one of the top handful or so largest prospects in the initial freshman top 50 being released this week and earns a ranking in the top third of the list with his good quickness for his size. When football season finished, Speight turned the page to an all-state performance for the Eagles' wrestling team that in addition to showcasing his all-around athleticism should offer beneficial offseason work on his leverage and hand-fighting.   No. 17 [player_tooltip player_id='401985' first='Ty' last='Dominique'] — 6-3, 225 DL — St. Augustine   Dominique is one of the next notables up in the Purple Knights' run of talented young standouts, particularly in the trenches, that have the Catholic League program talking state-title aspirations in the coming years. The tall edge rusher has a long wingspan, great quickness and explosiveness closing in on and unloading through ball-carriers for big plays at or behind the line of scrimmage. He and star defensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id='212341' first='Jahkeem' last='Stewart'], one of the nation's top prospects for the class, should represent a lethal combination for St. Augustine's opponents to attempt to block for the next three years.   No. 16 [player_tooltip player_id='283983' first='Christopher' last='Sheppard'] — 6-1, 170 WR — North Caddo   The young pass-catcher has been on our radar since seventh-grade for his highlight-reel high-point touchdown catches in offseason training and seven-on-seven settings that earned him some early comparisons to North Caddo star [player_tooltip player_id='138439' first='Omarion' last='Miller'], who signed with Colorado this winter. Sheppard has grown into a solid frame for his age and a willing, physical blocker to go with his ball skills.   No. 15 Montrell Conner Jr. — 5-10, 150 ATH — St. Frederick   The son of former Ouachita Parish star and Mississippi State signee Montrell Conner is now in high school and already well in the process of putting together an impressive résumé of his own. The younger Conner has a case among the state's fastest and most explosive underclassmen with a youth track-and-field background, including a record-breaking 21-02 long jump at the AAU Olympics two summers ago and a list of blazing track times — and 11.09-second 100-meter, 22.86-second 200-meter and 13.4-second 110-meter hurdles — before even beginning high school this year. The young quarterback has a strong arm to go with his elite speed, but still has both the talent to play all over the field and also three years of development before landing on an eventual college position.   No. 14 [player_tooltip player_id='401980' first='RJ' last='Fleming-Ricard'] — 6-3, 185 LB/DL — Catholic (Baton Rouge)   The multisport standout, who is also a member of the Bears' newly minted state championship basketball team, has a tall, long frame with great lateral quickness and closing speed for his height and age that allowed his football coaches to trust him to perform a variety of rushing, spying and coverage responsibilities consistently enough to stay on the field in one of the state's top Class 5A districts.   No. 13 [player_tooltip player_id='401763' first='Jackson' last='Fields'] — 6-2, 185 QB — Destrehan   The young quarterback was already starting to open some eyes this fall as a freshman back-up for the undefeated state champion Wildcats. Fields already has good size for the position, makes quick decisions and can deliver sharp, accurate darts all over the field from multiple arm angles. He earned his way into a handful of varsity contests in his first high school season and completed 12 of his 14 passes (85.7%) for 146 yards (10.4 yards per attempt and 12.2 yards per completion) and four touchdowns and another rushing.   No. 12 [player_tooltip player_id='401967' first='Jalan' last='Chapman'] — 6-4, 275 OL — Warren Easton   The Eagles' young lineman earned varsity reps at the ever-critical left tackle position with a tall, trim frame and impressively explosive step — whether kicking out in pass protection, driving forward or getting out to a linebacker — and quick feet and violent hands at his age. But Chapman has appeared driven to attack his offseason of weight-lifting and technical drills to continue developing as one of Louisiana's most intriguing prospects in the trenches for the coming cycles.   No. 11 [player_tooltip player_id='401969' first='Jamarcea' last='Plater'] — 5-8, 170 ATH — Captain Shreve   Some buzz is starting to build in Shreveport for the Gators' dynamic freshman, whose explosiveness, 4.44-second 40-yard speed and ball skills make him an intriguing young prospect on either side of the ball. The bulk of Plater's freshman highlights came on defense where that combination and his good strength and physicality for his size allowed him to excel all over the secondary from corner, to nickel to safety playing the back end or near the line of scrimmage. But his big plays as a returner on special teams and on interceptions also provide some glimpses into his special potential with the ball in his hands.

Prep Redzone Louisiana will release its first full rankings for the 2026 recruiting class this week.