Grambling, NW State headline late D-I FCS recruiting updates

The final days leading up to this week's traditional signing period have featured a flurry of late commitments to further settle the class heading into Signing Day.   Prep Redzone Louisiana is continuing to monitor all the recruiting movement as the clock winds down on the 2024 cycle.   Here's a look at more than two dozen new NCAA Division-I FCS announcements that caught our eye, headlined by strong in-state pushes by a pair of new coaches in north Louisiana in Grambling State's Mickey Joseph and Northwestern State's Blaine McCorkle.     [player_tooltip player_id='678290' first='Jayden' last='Scott'] — 6-4, 240 DL — Archbishop Shaw —> Grambling State   The highest-ranked remaining uncommitted prospect on Prep Redzone Louisiana's preseason list shared his updated college plans last week as a headliner in a rush of Grambling State wins in New Orleans and specifically at Archbishop Shaw. Scott, a one-time Tulane pledge, looked this past offseason to have the potential to be one of the state's most underrated prospects in the class before being hampered by injury this fall. But other coaches' hesitations or doubts opened the door for Joseph to land potentially one of the steals of Louisiana's class.   [player_tooltip player_id='678291' first='Louis' last='Foster Jr.'] — 6-0, 180 DB — Archbishop Shaw —> Grambling State   Another of the Tigers' trio of nice additions from Shaw and from the city, the hard-hitting safety was another leader for the resurgent Eagles and another top-100 prospect in Prep Redzone Louisiana's preseason rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='1203306' first='Kilas' last='Francis'] — 6-2, 300 DL — Archbishop Shaw —> Grambling State   The big defensive tackle hadn't been evaluated or ranked heading into this fall, but had a huge senior campaign that earned District 10-4A Defensive MVP honors, an all-metro selection, all-state honorable mention and, ultimately, a few college overtures. Grambling State could prove a great fit for the productive linemen whose quickness in the middle made him a disruptive force this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='901112' first='Tyrone' last='Wilson'] Jr. — 5-10, 150 WR — Edna Karr —> Grambling State   Just a few short miles away on the New Orleans West Bank, Joseph and company added an offensive weapon in the crafty Cougars slot receiver and younger brother of promising Florida State pass-catcher Destyn Hill.   [player_tooltip player_id='675898' first='Orion' last='Duplessis'] — 6-5, 360 OL — John Curtis —> Grambling State   The Tigers' swing through New Orleans also netted a big body to their offensive line from across the river at John Curtis, providing a late Division-I home for one of the Patriots' handful of top prospects still looking down the stretch.   [player_tooltip player_id='285197' first='Jay'Shaun' last='Johnson'] — 5-11, 165 ATH — Franklin —> Grambling State   Joseph and company added another potential steal and former FBS commit in the explosive Franklin athlete, who had previously pledged to UTSA. Johnson has been a big-play standout for his Hornets in all three phases, as well as on the basketball court, during his high school career.   [player_tooltip player_id='285657' first='Abram' last='Johnston'] — 6-0, 200 QB — Parkview Baptist —> Northwestern State   The all-district passer in a league that included recent state champions University Lab and Madison Prep found a late home in Natchitoches with McCorkle and the Demons' new staff. Like many quarterbacks coming through Louisiana, Johnston's height doesn't check bigger college's prototypical boxes, but he brings a solid build and ability to make plays with his arm and his legs. He finished senior year with 2,128 yards, 29 touchdowns and six interceptions on 133-for-222 passing and another 493 yards and 11 scores on 78 rushes.   [player_tooltip player_id='677671' first='Kayden' last='Tureaud'] — 5-10, 210 RB — Parkview Baptist —> Northwestern State   Johnston will bring his backfield mate from Baton Rouge in the stout, physical 1,000-yard rusher. Tureaud's 1,042 yards and 17 touchdowns this fall marked his second consecutive 1,000-yard season for the Eagles, a workhorse and leader that provided some traditional attitude on the ground and balance to a program opening up its offense more in recent years.   [player_tooltip player_id='139481' first='Jeremiah' last='James'] — 5-11, 195 RB — Many —> Northwestern State   McCorkle and company didn't have to look far to add one of Louisiana's most productive running backs to their backfield, landing the Many workhorse from just 20 miles down Highway 6. James racked up 2,187 yards and 25 touchdowns this fall in a more open Tigers offense under a new staff, including a program-record seven scores in a single playoff game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1203315' first='Trevon' last='Bradford'] — 6-7, 230 TE — Ouachita Parish —> Northwestern State   The Demons also added a tall, athletic target to the offense this week with the multisport Ouachita Parish standout from east on Interstate 20   [player_tooltip player_id='139480' first='Brennon' last='Thompson'] — 6-0, 180 WR/DB — East Ascension —> Northwestern State   Another longtime Prep Redzone Louisiana favorite and highly ranked prospect in the three-phase East Ascension playmaker found a late college home in Natchitoches. The Demons announced the singing of Thompson as a wide receiver where he was an electric playmaker at times during his high school career, while also showing potential as one of the state's top defensive back prospects.   [player_tooltip player_id='904841' first='Gylen' last='Ford'] — 6-0, 190 DB — Teurlings Catholic —> Northwestern State   The Teurlings Catholic leader officially signed Wednesday with Northwestern State after becoming one of the initial members of the Demons' late wave of commitments with his Jan. 20 announcement. Ford is a smart, physical defensive back coach Dane Charpentier praised for his work ethic and the example he set within the program.   [player_tooltip player_id='677675' first='Joseph' last='Milton'] — 6-1, 270 OL — Opelousas —> Northwestern State   The Demons added Wednesday one of the senior leaders in the trenches from a hard-nosed, physical Opelousas team that won the first state championship in program history this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1203310' first='Camryn' last='Davis'] — 5-10, 160 WR — Natchitoches Central —> Northwestern State   and [player_tooltip player_id='1203331' first='Braden' last='Woods'] — 6-3, 225 DL — Natchitoches Central —> Northwestern State   Northwestern State kept a pair of leaders for the Chiefs in hometown Natchitoches with Wednesday's signings of Davis, the prolific pass-catcher who led the state in receiving much of the season, and Woods, an all-district defensive end who also chose the Demons out of a mix of other late opportunities.   [player_tooltip player_id='902132' first='Conner' last='Long'] — 6-5, 300 OL — Sam Houston —> McNeese State   In south Louisiana, McNeese State rounded out its class with its own set of solid late additions, including a few from particularly close to home. Big, versatile Sam Houston lineman announced a pledge Jan. 30 to the nearby Cowboys after a previous commitment to Centenary.   [player_tooltip player_id='900868' first='Trey' last='Tate'] — 6-1, 190 WR — St. Louis Catholic —> McNeese State   The tall, speedy St. Louis Catholic receiver announced his commitment to the hometown Cowboys this week after earning an offer on the heels of his senior season.   [player_tooltip player_id='901032' first='Treanders' last='Marzell Jr.'] — 5-9, 160 WR/ATH — Lafayette Christian —> McNeese State   The Cowboys added another speedy offensive weapon from just a short drive down Interstate 10 this week, tapping back into a perennial power Lafayette Christian program where they've found some talent in recent years (including this December). "T.J." was a shorter, but solidly built, explosive and reliable receiver in the Knights' deep corps.   [player_tooltip player_id='139625' first='Kylin' last='Smith'] — 5-9, 150 DB — West St. John —> McNeese State   The Rams' cornerback brings some of that speed to the Cowboys' defense with his decision to head to Lake Charles for college. Smith was a three-phase playmaker during his high school career with a knack for making plays on balls thrown anywhere in his general vicinity with his anticipation and break.   [player_tooltip player_id='285287' first='Lynkon' last='Romero'] — 6-3, 220 QB/ATH — Erath —> McNeese State   The versatile, physical multisport athlete announced his plans Tuesday to sign with McNeese State. The Bobcats' passer finished his career as the program's all-time leader in offense with 6,571 yards, including some work as a tight end and receiver in addition to his primary role as a dual-threat quarterback.   [player_tooltip player_id='145325' first='Ty' last='Lee'] — 6-0, 180 DB — Lafayette Christian —> Southern University   The Jaguars brought one of the state's top remaining uncommitted prospects to The Bluff on signing day with the addition of Lee, the versatile defensive back and longtime leader for perennial power Lafayette Christian.   [player_tooltip player_id='139472' first='Barry' last='Remo'] II — 5-10, 180 RB — Catholic (Baton Rouge) —> Southern University   Another top-75 plays from just a couple miles away in hometown Baton Rouge joined Southern's class Wednesday in Remo, a contributor to his Bears' varsity backfield since he was a freshman and capped by a huge performance in December's state championship game to bring a third title in four years to the program.   Jermal Callio — 5-11, 175 DB — John Curtis —> Southern University   Another top-100 to top-125 prospect throughout the development of Louisiana's 2024 class will join Lee in the Southern secondary. Callio, the versatile defensive back with good ball skills, became the second member of his perennial power Patriots to lock in on college plans in Baton Rouge, joining teammate [player_tooltip player_id='421525' first='Jason' last='Gabriel Jr.']'s previous commitment.   [player_tooltip player_id='285286' first='Ethan' last='Jupiter'] — 6-2, 225 LB — Southern Lab —> Southern University   Southern didn't even have to look past its own campus to find defensive help from a leader on a state championship team in Jupiter, the standout linebacker from the university's lab school just across the street from Mumford Stadium.   [player_tooltip player_id='139511' first='Amyrion' last='Mingo'] — 5-11, 170 WR/DB — Alexandria —> Arkansas-Pine Bluff   Another of Prep Redzone Louisiana's highest-ranked still-available prospects entering February picks Arkansas-Pine Bluff this week as his college home. One of the more versatile and realistically two-way prospects in Louisiana's 2024 class, Mingo was a playmaking receiver from early in his high school career and showed notable potential this fall as an all-state defensive back.   [player_tooltip player_id='1203186' first='Reece' last='Turner'] — 5-10, 165 ATH — Assumption —> Nicholls State   One of the key leaders in his Mustangs' resurgent seeding, including a No. 3 seed and quarterfinal trip in the Division-II Non-Select bracket, found a late home with the nearby Colonels, a steady Southland program built heavily on local talent. Turner is a tough, versatile athlete who entered his senior season as a receiver before taking over quarterback duties for an injured teammate and excelled as a dual threat in the role.   [player_tooltip player_id='1203319' first='Enzo' last='Marino'] — 6-5, 325 OL — The Willow School —> Nicholls State   The big, physical Willow School offensive lineman picked up his first Division-I scholarship offer Feb. 3 from Nicholls State and signed with the Colonels this week over other offers and interests from Graceland, Kentucky State, McNeese State and Alabama State.   [player_tooltip player_id='1203355' first='Bernard' last='Jones'] — 5-11, 255 OL — Edna Karr —> Alabama State   The Cougars' interior linemen announced his commitment Wednesday to join tackle [player_tooltip player_id='144889' first='Kriston' last='Bell'], who signed in December, in Alabama State's 2024 class.

The final days leading up to this week's traditional signing period have featured a flurry of late commitments to further settle the class heading into Signing Day.