La Tech, Cajuns headline La.'s late D-I FBS 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 a dozen new NCAA Division-I FBS announcements that caught our eye with Louisiana Tech and Louisiana (Lafayette) landing a slew of in-state prospects with notable talent to a mixture of scholarship and preferred walk-on opportunities.     [player_tooltip player_id='139489' first='Luke' last='Wisham'] — 6-2, 170 DB/WR — Zachary —> Louisiana Tech   The highest-ranked prospect on this list is actually somewhat of a delayed flip from the Ragin' Cajuns to the Bulldogs. Wisham backed off a prior pledge to Louisiana (Lafayette) in December amid a renewed recruiting surge during a senior season working — and impressing — more on defense after playing receiver the bulk of his high school career. Despite some notable out-of-state interest in recent months, Wisham ultimately decided to make another in-state move.   [player_tooltip player_id='139473' first='Aubrey' last='Hermes'] — 6-2, 175 WR — Calvary Baptist —> Louisiana Tech   The Bulldogs also landed one of the state's top remaining uncommitted receivers this week as the Cavaliers' all-time leader in receptions, yardage and touchdowns made his announcement. Hermes caught touchdowns in state championship games as a freshman and as a senior to help highlight a decorated four-year career of 188 catches for 3,775 yards and 42 scores and will take his talents the short trip down Interstate 20 for college.   [player_tooltip player_id='421524' first='Riley' last='Small'] — 6-0, 190 RB — University Lab —> Louisiana Tech   Coach Sonny Cumbie and company added a productive piece to their offensive backfield Tuesday as well with the announcement that Small would head to Ruston for college. The tough, physical runner surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for his Cubs as a senior, carrying 143 times for 17 scores as a workhorse for the Division-III Select semifinalist.   [player_tooltip player_id='902128' first='Alonzo' last='Jackson Jr.'] — 6-1, 210 LB/ATH — Haynesville —> Louisiana Tech   The Bulldogs added another notable in-state prospect from a winning program to its defense with the versatile Golden Tornado standout, a three-way playmaker for this winter's Division-IV Non-Select runner-up who projects as an athletic, hard-hitting linebacker with good ball skills.   [player_tooltip player_id='139475' first='Joshua' last='Jackson'] — 6-3, 180 WR — St. Augustine —> UAB   One of Louisiana's top receiver prospects signed Wednesday with UAB after a recruitment that had heavily featured Michigan and Mississippi State last spring and summer before a commitment to Tulane under its previous staff. Jackson had been a consistent playmaker and leader for his Purple Knights throughout his high school career, a sure-handed receiver and multisport standout who stretched the field vertically and won 50-50 balls with his size, leap and timing.   [player_tooltip player_id='285278' first='Sam' last='Altmann'] — 6-2, 175 QB — St. Thomas More —> Louisiana (Lafayette)   The Ragin' Cajuns added a second state championship quarterback to their 2024 class Monday with Altmann's announcement. The hometown standout, a back-to-back Division-II Select champion with the Cougars, felt like one of the state's more under-recruited prospects in the class down the stretch and gives coach Michael Desormeaux and company arguably Louisiana's top two quarterbacks in the cycle, joining three-time Catholic (Baton Rouge) champion [player_tooltip player_id='139258' first='Daniel' last='Beale']. Altmann completed 195 of his 350 passes this fall for 2,812 yards, 30 touchdowns and four interceptions.   [player_tooltip player_id='145326' first='Landon' last='Strother'] — 6-0, 160 WR — St. Thomas More —> Louisiana (Lafayette)   Altmann will keep his top target home with him with the announcement by Strother, a pass-catcher scheduled to be a notable riser in the final Prep Redzone Louisiana 2024 rankings after a breakout senior season of 59 catches for 992 yards and 13 touchdowns in a bigger role.   [player_tooltip player_id='289901' first='Hutch' last='Swilley'] — 5-11, 200 RB — St. Thomas More —> Louisiana (Lafayette)   The former Navy commitment, another leader on those back-to-back Division-II Select state championship runs, completed the Ragin' Cajuns' raid of the hometown Cougars' offense for their top passer, receiver and rusher with his announcement Tuesday. Swilley carried 120 times for 963 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior despite missing time with injury and splitting carries in an increasingly deep and well-rounded attack.   [player_tooltip player_id='900867' first='Bradley' last='Wright'] — 5-9, 160 WR — Catholic (Baton Rouge) —> Louisiana (Lafayette)   Speaking of keeping dynamic teammates from state championship teams together, the Bears' speedy slot receiver announced his plans this week to head to Lafayette with brother [player_tooltip player_id='421643' first='Brooks' last='Wright'], who signed for baseball, and the aforementioned Beale, a childhood friend and longtime teammate. Hometown LSU had offered a P.W.O. opportunity just days earlier.   Ja'Corian Norris — 6-2, 185 DB/WR — Tioga —> Louisiana (Lafayette)   The Indians' two-way standout hadn't been evaluated prior to the Prep Redzone Louisiana's preseason rankings update, but is scheduled to earn solid positioning in the final update this month. An all-state senior season highlighted by nine interceptions and five defensive touchdowns garnered some late college push, but the Cajuns managed to keep him close to home with his announcement this week.   [player_tooltip player_id='678298' first='Ben' last='Bienvenu'] — 6-3, 200 ATH — St. Mary's —> Louisiana (Lafayette)   Another longtime leader on a consistently competitive program, Bienvenu was a true all-around athlete during his high school career in all three phases and in multiple sports. The versatile standout missed much of junior year because of injury, but returned this fall as an all-district tight end.   [player_tooltip player_id='1203317' first='Dylan' last='Dicharry'] — 6-5, 225 TE — Dutchtown —> Louisiana (Lafayette)   The big Dutchtown tight end helped kickoff the Cajuns' late run with his announcement Saturday. Dicharry epitomized the hard-nosed, physical attitude that the Griffins carried all the way to the program's first-ever semifinal appearance as a willing and nasty blocker, but with the speed and reliable hands to hurt defenses as a receiver over the middle and provide his offense some flexibility to move him around the formation.   [player_tooltip player_id='1203333' first='Christian' last='Pillette'] — 5-11, 175 WR/DB — Erath —> Louisiana (Lafayette)   The Cajuns added another versatile weapon with a productive and decorated high school resume from about 20 miles south in Pillette, the leading receiver and two-way standout from Erath.   [player_tooltip player_id='285208' first='Seth' last='Gale'] — 5-10, 160 WR — University Lab —> Tulane   The Green Wave and new coach Jon Sumrall added a notable in-state P.W.O. option to a priority position in this 2024 class this week with the announcement of the all-state U-High receiver and returner, who caught 42 passes this fall for 988 yards and 12 touchdowns and returned a combined 20 punts and kickoffs for a total of 670 yards — an average of more than 33 yards per attempt — and four more scores.

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.