Louisiana’s top 2026 prospects countdown: Nos. 20 to 11
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Prep Redzone Louisiana will release its updated 2026 rankings this week, with some notable new additions entering their sophomore seasons. Leading up to the complete, 100-player list on Thursday, we will count down the top 30 in more detail. And…
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Continue ReadingPrep Redzone Louisiana will release its updated 2026 rankings this week, with some notable new additions entering their sophomore seasons.
Leading up to the complete, 100-player list on Thursday, we will count down the top 30 in more detail.
And make sure to check back throughout the week following the release for additional features.
20. Christopher Sheppard Christopher Sheppard 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR North Caddo | 2026 State LA | 6-2, 175 WR | North Caddo
The tall, athletic target, who has flashed talent since middle school as one of the top jump-ball catchers in the state, remains in the top 20 of the latest Prep Redzone Louisiana. Sheppard is a young prospect we look forward to seeing more of this year, but in addition to his great size at this age and high-pointing ability, his freshman film highlighted a strong willingness to block on the outside that also stands out among his peers.
19. Kaleb Campbell Kaleb Campbell 6'7" | 305 lbs | OL Lafayette Christian Academy | 2026 State LA | 6-8, 280 OL | Lafayette Christian
The first of a pair of debuts in the No. 20-11 range, the big tackle was among the buzzes of the Knights’ spring as one of the next budding stars for the perennial power program. Campbell’s frame immediately stands out, and multiple of his defensive teammates referenced his quick, violent hands as standing out among the blockers they’ve faced in practices or games. Tulane is the first program to extend an offer.
18. Montrell Conner Jr. Montrell Conner Jr. 5'10" | 150 lbs | ATH St. Frederick | 2026 State LA | 5-10, 150 ATH | St. Frederick
The Warriors’ hyper-athletic and versatile multisport standout with the extensive track and field resume remains in the mid-teens of the 2026 list in this latest rankings update. Conner picked up his first two offers this May from nearby ULM and Grambling State.
17. Julian Burns Julian Burns 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Neville | 2026 State LA | 6-2, 190 DB | Neville
The other new face among this group appears to be among the next budding stars coming through 600 Forsythe Ave. Prep Redzone Louisiana plans to see more of “JuJu” this fall, but the young safety’s LSU camp appearance and limited freshman film show a tall, rangy frame, good lateral quickness and patient play in the secondary.
16. Jackson Fields Jackson Fields 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Destrehan | 2026 State LA | 6-2, 185 QB | Destrehan
The rising sophomore quarterback had a solid offseason following the big shoes of state championship-winning and all-state athlete Jai Eugene Jr. and stepping into the lead role for a once again title- minded Wildcats group. Fields was accurate and impressive already in his handful of varsity appearances this past fall and continued to be so through heavy 7-on-7 and spring reps.
15. Jamarcea Plater Jamarcea Plater 5'9" | 180 lbs | ATH Captain Shreve | 2026 State LA | 5-8, 170 ATH | Captain Shreve
The speedy, versatile young Gators standout remains in the top 15 after a nice offseason of work at school, on the 7-on-7 and camp circuits and on the track. Notably strong and physical for his size, Plater is an impact playmaker in a range of positions in all three phases who should be fun to watch continue to develop and see his recruitment take off as more colleges see him work in person.
14. RJ Fleming-Ricard RJ Fleming-Ricard 6'3" | 210 lbs | DL Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2026 State LA | 6-3, 200 DL/LB | Catholic (Baton Rouge)
The Bears’ standout young edge rusher is among the most notable physical developments from the previous rankings update to this week’s. Fleming-Ricard has reportedly bulked up about 15 pounds from his breakout freshman season during an offseason in which he said early that those sort of strides would be a priority as he worked to take his next steps as a playmaker for the defense and a college prospect. Even with a couple notable debuts in the top 10, he holds steady at No. 14.
13. Jalan Chapman Jalan Chapman 6'4" | 275 lbs | OL Warren Easton | 2026 State LA | 6-4, 275 OL | Warren Easton
The Eagles’ left tackle is a mature young prospect driven to continue building upon a strong freshman campaign anchoring the offensive line with his college frame, quick feet and violent hands. Chapman has become one of the first eight or nine prospects in Louisiana’s 2026 to begin really blowing up on the recruiting trail with 10 offers in the past three months, including four SEC programs.
12. Chantz Babineaux Chantz Babineaux 6'0" | 185 lbs | ATH Carencro | 2026 State LA | 6-0, 185 ATH | Carencro
The Golden Bears’ four-sport star athlete broke records as a freshman receiver this fall, but has likely only started to scratch the surface. The high-level potential as either a pass-catcher or a safety stood out throughout his first high school seasons, but coaches posited that he may end up with offers at quarterback as well after watching his solid offseason of work at the position. Wherever he plays in college, he’ll head into this fall as one of the state’s most promising all-around athletes with the ball in his hands on nearly every offensive snap.
11. Luke Delafield Luke Delafield 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB North DeSoto | 2026 State LA | 6-0, 170 QB | North DeSoto
The next talented Delafield coming through Stonewall, following his three softball star sisters, is the highest-ranked quarterback prospect in what looks early to be a potentially promising class at the position. Legendary coach Dennis Dunn and the staff expressed the utmost confidence in the young passer as a freshman this fall, and Delafield lived up to — or, more likely, exceeded — expectations with an all-state honorable-mention season that helped pace the Griffins to their first-ever title appearance where he made some of the week’s most impressive throws downfield.