Louisiana’s top 2025 prospects countdown: Nos. 30 to 21

Prep Redzone Louisiana will release its updated 2025 rankings Monday   Leading up to the complete, 100-player list, we will count down the top 30 in greater detail.   And make sure to check back throughout the week following the release for additional features and positional breakdowns.   Read more about <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/03/top-louisiana-2025-prospects-30-21-spring-update/">Nos. 30-21</a> below.   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/03/top-louisiana-2025-prospects-20-11-spring-update/">Click here to read more about Nos. 20-11</a>.   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/03/louisianas-top-2025-prospects-countdown-nos-10-to-1/">Click here to read more about Nos. 10-1</a>.   30. [player_tooltip player_id='710079' first='Xavier' last='Ford'] | 5-11, 190 RB | Leesville   Ford powered his way to a prolific sophomore performance this fall with 2,581 yards and 34 touchdowns to earn Class 4A all-state honors and begin etching his production into high standing for a Wampus Cats program with some notable running back lineage, including former LSU running backs Cecil Collins and Michael Ford, Xavier's uncle. Ford excels with his vision and strong running through attempted arm tackles without losing momentum and shows the consistent ability to make defenders miss with quick side-steps between the tackles and smart uses of his angles through the second level.   29. [player_tooltip player_id='145334' first='Quincey' last='McKay Jr']. | 6-2, 195 WR | Terrebonne   The Tigers' young pass-catcher has started to come into his own as a nice complement to 2024 standout [player_tooltip player_id='421515' first='Kylan' last='Billiot']. McKay is the biggest target in a pack of a handful of receivers in this range of the rankings, including being listed another 10 pounds stronger than last summer, but also pair good long speed — whether after the catch, in the kick-return game or for his school's track team — with his large catch radius and good hands. Southern Miss and Troy recently extended a pair of Division-I offers.   28. [player_tooltip player_id='291089' first='Jackson' last='Bradley'] | 6-3, 200 QB | Oak Grove   In a quarterback class in which many of his peers seem to be shy of 6-feet tall, still awaiting their turn as starter or both, Bradley is a two-year starter already with both a state championship and a tall, thick frame to his credit. Oak Grove isn't going to set records for pass attempts, but the traditionally run-heavy Tigers have entrusted the young quarterback to lead a more balanced attack, including a 2,049-yard sophomore season on 115-for-201 (57.6%) passing with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. Bradley added another 803 yards and 13 touchdowns on 158 carries, including 113 yards and a score in the title game.   27. [player_tooltip player_id='710078' first='Steven' last='Ranel'] | 6-1, 170 DB | Central (Baton Rouge)   The versatile defensive back is one of the bigger sleepers in the top 30 in the early stages of what feels like a breakout year. Ranel is an athletic multi-sport standout for his Wildcats' football, basketball and track and field teams with good size, length and speed to play corner or safety. He does a good job getting opposing receivers off-balance with his hands, blanketing them throughout the route and making well-timed plays on the ball for interceptions and deflections. He is earning some notable offseason reps in a star-studded F3 Elite 7-on-7 secondary, and Central recently recognized his offseason work in the weight room as its "lifter of the day" as he continues to develop physically.   26. Nehemiah Philip | 6-0, 170 WR | St. Augustine   The Purple Knights' sophomore is another of the receivers with better size in a tightly packed group in this range of the rankings. Philip is a smooth route-runner with good length and catch radius and some of the best hands in the class so far. His sophomore season was full of firsts as he started to break into St. Augustine's talented rotation, and he appears poised for further breakthroughs this offseason and fall as he continues to get earn further opportunities and continues to get stronger and more aggressive.   25. [player_tooltip player_id='145331' first='Semaj' last='Pierre'] | 5-8, 160 WR | Madison Prep   One of the first names on the radar for the 2025 as a middle-schooler, the lightning-quick slot receiver has continued to make consistent strides early in his high school career, including a productive sophomore season this fall with 46 catches for 787 yards and 17 touchdowns. His 17.1 yards-per-catch average speak to both his ability to make defenders miss and rack up major yards after shorter catches and to stretch defenses vertically up seams with his 10.9-second 100-meter speed.   24. [player_tooltip player_id='144906' first='Jerry' last='Horne'] | 6-2, 185 QB | Denham Springs   The rising junior started high school a year and a half ago with a combination of talent, skillset and impressive maturity that enabled him to push one of Louisiana's most heavily recruited prospects in its highly regarded 2023 quarterback class: [player_tooltip player_id='138487' first='Reese' last='Mooney'], a Power Five target and eventual Liberty signee. Horne has great poise and confidence, good size and a high release point and a strong arm to drive the ball downfield or continue to make accurate throws on roll-outs. He'll take the reins of the offense this year with a new coordinator in longtime college and NFL staffer Kyle Caskey, but has already proven himself both a quick study and a calm competitor on big stages.   23. [player_tooltip player_id='710077' first='Nate' last='Sheppard'] | 5-10, 180 RB | Mandeville   The younger brother of former Skippers receiver Will Sheppard, a once-underrated prospect turned breakout Vanderbilt receiver, picked up his own Commodores offer early in a highly productive sophomore campaign of more than 1,700 yards and 25 touchdowns. The younger Sheppard has great balance, strength and acceleration that allow him to power through contact and pull away when he gets a seam and has also showcased smooth and reliable receiving ability that can make him a dangerous weapons in the screen game or potentially out in the slot.   22. [player_tooltip player_id='145335' first='Riley' last='Verdin'] | 5-10, 155 DB | H.L. Bourgeois   One of a couple underrated 2025 H.L. Bourgeois teammates who earn top-25 spots in the new rankings update. Verdin has quick feet, good hips and a long, lean frame and does not shy away from high-level competition or physical play in press-man, in the box or as a tackler. Verdin has continued to build on a solid sophomore season with a confident start to the offseason 7-on-7 circuit blanketing top receivers from all over the country, making few mistakes and seeming to bounce back from each with his own big plays.   21. [player_tooltip player_id='291153' first='Johnnie' last='Thiel IV'] | 5-11, 170 WR | Destrehan   The many shoes the Wildcats will have to replace from a talented and veteran 2023 class that help lead an undefeated state championship run will include a pair of college-bound wide receivers. But coach Marcus Scott and company remain confident in the still-stocked cupboard in that area, and Thiel is among the notable pieces of that equation. In a receiver class a bit heavier on smaller, quick slot guys, Thiel pairs good size, strength, track speed, the athleticism and hands to make acrobatic and contested catches and a pride in his blocking that all combine to make him a more versatile weapon with a seemingly high floor.

Prep Redzone Louisiana will release its updated 2025 rankings Monday