6 Lafayette, Lake Charles freshmen in upcoming 2027 watch list

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone Louisiana's first 2027 watch list of the cohort's high school career is scheduled to come out this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we prepare for the complete list heading into the student-athletes' fast-approaching freshman season, we'll look a little more closely at six particular standouts from five different areas of the state — loosely determined by area codes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The next half dozen promising young players in the process hail from across the 337 in the Lafayette/Acadiana area and out into Lake Charles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934555' first='Braylon' last='Calais'] | 6-3, 185 ATH | Cecilia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone Louisiana had the opportunity this spring to see several eighth-graders around the state already practicing with their high school teams, but Calais may have had the best respective day of the bunch with big plays on both sides of the ball. Calais has good size, already plays fast and physically from his safety spot and has a promising combination of traits as a big-play receiver with his athleticism and ball skills in the air and ability to make defenders miss and open up his long, smooth stride and track speed for yards after the catch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934558' first='Ansinneo' last='Charles Jr.'] | 6-4, 195 TE/DE | Lafayette Renaissance</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of Louisiana's top young tight end prospects hit the Prep Redzone Louisiana and college radars this offseason with strong showings on the 7-on-7 and camp circuits —&nbsp;including earning his first offer from Grambling State. Charles is already a tall, athletic target with an impressive catch radius for any high school prospect, let alone a new freshman, and his early clips at defensive end are also intriguing. Whatever his next-level position as he continues to develop physically, he figures to be among the state's notably prospects to watch in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934589' first='Collin' last='DiBetta'] | 5-9, 170 WR | Acadiana</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This summer's 7-on-7 competition showed that rising junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='913931' first='Caden' last='DiBetta'] has some capable weapons — and chemistry with them — when the traditionally run-dominant Wreckin' Rams offense does decide to take to the air. And one of the top performers in that regard was actually younger brother Collin, who tore up much of the mid-July "Air It Out" tournament at St. Thomas More as he shook free for numerous big plays downfield, but also showed the ability to make tougher, contested catches with reliable hands out away from his body and up over his head.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406748' first='Franky' last='Frank Jr.'] | 5-10, 150 ATH | Cecilia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Calais isn't alone among the new freshmen expected to play a notable role for a Cecilia team confident in its ability to surprise some people and make some potential championship-contention noise in the Division-II Non-Select bracket. Franks is another smart and tough young multisport and two-way standout for the Bulldogs to watch this fall with speed to stretch defenses vertically and the vision, hands and strength to make tough catches through contact. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='592357' first='Sky' last='Ryan'] | 5-9, 165 DB | Lafayette Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The younger brother of LSU nickel Sage Ryan appears to be poised to follow some similar early footsteps as a notable and versatile player to watch in all three phases at the varsity level right off the bat. The younger Ryan is a long, quick defensive back and wide receiver with track speed and intangibles with regards to his competitiveness, work ethic, tenacity and anticipation that may also remind fans and media of Sage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934559' first='Javon' last='Vital'] | 5-9, 150 ATH | Hamilton Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unlike most of the his peers on the 2027 watch list, Vital actually played varsity football and basketball this past school year as an eighth-grader. And the young athlete not only didn't back down from the veteran competition, he excelled as a dynamic playmaker across the board including helping lead his Warriors' offense on the football field. Vital's quickness and explosiveness make him a headache for opposing defenses to corral as an athletic quarterback, but also give him the foundation to be a special cornerback or slot receiver. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->