Where Louisiana's top 2024 prospects are heading

The traditional football signing period is just 12 days away with some definite movement still on the horizon.   But the shifts in the recruiting timeline in recent years, such as the implementation of the early signing period and the transfer portal, means much of the drama is already in the rearview mirror.   Twenty-three of the top 25 players in Prep Redzone Louisiana's preseason ranking for the 2024 class, prior to their senior campaigns, signed in December.   And the state's top prospect announced his firm commitment on New Year's Eve to in-state LSU.   Here's a lay of the land of where the top 25 seniors are heading, including a dominant performance by coach Brian Kelly and his staff this cycle keeping Louisiana's most promising prospects home.     No. 1 [player_tooltip player_id='421603' first='Dominick' last='McKinley'] — 6-7, 270 DL — Acadiana —> LSU   The Boot's big fish took most of the remaining drama out of the state's 2024 recruiting cycle with his New Year's Eve announcement of his commitment to LSU. McKinley had announced Sept. 1 a commitment to Texas A&M over the Tigers, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio State and many others. But the coaching change in College Station re-opened the door, and the momentum toward bringing Blake Baker, Bo Davis, Corey Raymond and other key staffers back to Baton Rouge didn't hurt.   No. 2 [player_tooltip player_id='139482' first='Tylen' last='Singleton'] — 6-2, 210 DB — Many —> LSU   The Tigers finally dipped back into Sabine Parish for the first time in years to keep Many star [player_tooltip player_id='139482' first='Tylen' last='Singleton'] in-state with a his December signing, a huge recruiting win both from the talent and regional trends standpoints.   No. 3 [player_tooltip player_id='285192' first='Kolaj' last='Cobbins'] — 6-3, 215 LB — Destrehan —> LSU   The quick, fierce edge rusher was another of the key faces of LSU's early-signing haul with a clear trend of in-state defensive additions to a unit that certainly needed reinforcements. Cobbins has the chance to be as good as anyone in the group.   No. 4 [player_tooltip player_id='675887' first='Da'Shawn' last='McBryde'] — 6-3, 195 DB — Denham Springs —> LSU   The Yellow Jackets' safety didn't seem to garner the same heights of fanfare as some of his incoming classmates, but he brings an intriguing frame, set of athletic traits and track record for takeaways with him on the short drive to Baton Rouge with his December signing.   No. 5 [player_tooltip player_id='285194' first='Trey'Dez' last='Green'] — 6-7, 230 ATH — Zachary —> LSU   This fall offered new levels of competition and exposure for the multisport standout in his move from East Feliciana to Class 5A powerhouse Zachary, and he excelled with an all-state senior season punctuated by a highlight-reel performance in the state championship game. Green signed with LSU in December and keeps star potential close to home. For as much anticipation as there has been for the athleticism he would bring to the tight end room, Green appeared to show he may very well be capable of being a full-time, high-level wide receiver at the next level.   No. 6 [player_tooltip player_id='139477' first='Wardell' last='Mack'] — 6-1, 180 DB — John Ehret —> Texas   The Patriots' standout surprised many coaches, media and fans in the recruiting world in August when he announced his commitment to Florida over Texas and LSU. But he eventually flipped those plans and signed and enrolled really with the Longhorns. Meanwhile the aforementioned Raymond is now back in Baton Rouge working with his alma mater Tigers.   No. 7 [player_tooltip player_id='139261' first='Ju'Juan' last='Johnson'] — 5-11, 180 ATH — Lafayette Christian —> LSU   The Baton Rouge-bound athlete capped his decorated and celebrated high school career as the state's all-time leader in total yards and touchdowns and as much the face of the Tigers' incoming class as anyone. The expectation is for Johnson to play defensive back, though he wowed — particularly as an upperclassman — with his playmaking ability with the ball in his hands.   No. 8 [player_tooltip player_id='421520' first='Ahmad' last='Breaux'] — 6-4, 250 DL — Ruston —> LSU   The versatile defensive lineman, a vocal leader for his Bearcats and in the Tigers' class, helped Ruston complete its mission to win its first state championship since 1990, then signed with LSU a week and a half later.   No. 9 [player_tooltip player_id='421515' first='Kylan' last='Billiot'] — 6-4, 185 WR — Terrebonne —> LSU   The multisport standout continued his work to develop as more complete and polished receiver this fall and showed exciting flashes in his all-state honorable-mention senior campaign before signing with LSU in December.   No. 10 [player_tooltip player_id='285654' first='Melvin' last='Hills III'] — 6-4, 265 DL — Lafayette Christian —> Texas   LSU dominated Louisiana recruiting for the 2024 cycle, but Texas was among the next most successful programs on that list with the December signings of Hills and Mack representing a nice continuation of the pipeline coach Steve Sarkisian, recruiting director Brandon Harris and company have been working to build.   No. 11 [player_tooltip player_id='421606' first='Joel' last='Rogers'] — 6-1, 185 ATH — West Feliciana —> LSU   The versatile athlete, expected to play in the secondary in Baton Rouge, made good on his commitment with a December signature.   No. 12 [player_tooltip player_id='421518' first='Koby' last='Young'] — 6-1, 180 WR — Holy Cross —> Houston   The speedy New Orleans standout recruited by SEC schools for much of his process announced his decision on early signing day to head to Houston for college, a notable victory for longtime Tulane coach Willie Fritz in his first weeks taking over the Cougars program.   No. 13 [player_tooltip player_id='285618' first='Gabriel' last='Reliford'] — 6-2, 250 DL — Evangel Christian —> LSU   Another one time Texas A&M commitment who will now instead remain in-state for college, Reliford announced his new pledge to the Tigers in early January and signed a week and a half later..   No. 14 [player_tooltip player_id='139627' first='Michael' last='Turner'] — 6-1, 140 ATH — John Curtis —> LSU   The Patriots' two-way standout, who earned his Tigers offer with an impressive summer camp, signed with the in-state program this winter as a receiver. But his notable defensive potential, of which Raymond is well-aware, should be kept in mind as he begins his college career.   No. 15 [player_tooltip player_id='675888' first='Tristan' last='Santoro'] — 6-6, 270 OL — Evangel Christian —> Baylor   The Eagles' promising offensive lineman stuck with his longtime commitment to the Bears with his December signature.   No. 16 [player_tooltip player_id='139491' first='Wallace' last='Foster IV'] — 5-11, 160 DB — Warren Easton —> LSU   Foster was back on the field this fall after missing his junior year with an injury and made good on a year-plus commitment in December when he signed with the Tigers.   No. 17 [player_tooltip player_id='285195' first='Khayree' last='Lee Jr.'] — 6-6, 310 OL — John Ehret —> LSU   The fierce, physical offensive lineman signed with the home-state Tigers in December as part of a huge recruiting haul up front for the program in 2024.   No. 18 [player_tooltip player_id='285269' first='De'Myrion' last='Johnson'] — 6-2, 280 DL — Westgate —> LSU   "Ma9" wrapped up his high school career in December with his Tigers' second-round battle on the road at eventual champion Ruston and signed with home-state LSU a few weeks later.   No. 19 [player_tooltip player_id='421614' first='Rahji' last='Dennis'] — 6-0, 170 WR — Edna Karr —> Louisiana (Lafayette)   The one-time Ole Miss commitment became a huge in-state win for the Ragin' Cajuns football and track programs in December when he signed off on college plays in Lafayette.   No. 20 [player_tooltip player_id='675889' first='Kavion' last='Broussard'] — 6-6, 270 OL — Zachary —> Ole Miss   The Broncos' big, physical tackle flipped his college commitment from Miami to Ole Miss days before early signing day and then officially inked with the Rebels to secure his SEC future.   No. 21 [player_tooltip player_id='421604' first='Albert' last='Smith III'] — 6-2, 205 LB — Ponchatoula —> Arizona State   Ole Miss had flirting some with Smith during the recruiting process, but the Green Wave standout ultimately kept with his plans to join the Sun Devils with his December signature.   No. 22 [player_tooltip player_id='675890' first='KJ' last='Daniels'] — 5-10, 155 WR — Franklinton —> Oklahoma   The Demons' speedster stuck with his Sooners commitment from the summer and officially signed in December.   No. 23 [player_tooltip player_id='285271' first='Anthony' last='Robinson III'] — 6-0, 185 ATH — Destrehan —> Ole Miss   The Rebels' recruiting efforts in Louisiana saw lots of movement during the final months of the 2024 cycle, including the Broussard flip from Miami and two previous commits flipping to LSU. But Robinson remained steady throughout and takes his versatile, explosive and intelligent game to Oxford, Miss.   No. 24 [player_tooltip player_id='678290' first='Jayden' last='Scott'] — 6-4, 240 DL — Archbishop Shaw —>   The top-ranked player on the preseason Prep Redzone Louisiana list still determining his college plans heading into December. Scott reopened his recruitment from a previous Tulane commitment during a senior season in which he battled some injury. His most recent offer came Thursday from Kilgore College, as he looks likely to potentially go the JUCO route.   No. 25 [player_tooltip player_id='675891' first='Dylan' last='Day'] — 6-0, 170 DB — Southern Lab —> Miami   The Kittens' star defensive back capped his high school football career with a second state championship in three years before inking with Miami in December.

The traditional football signing period is just 12 days away with some definite movement still on the horizon.