High-level DBs continue to emerge in Louisiana’s 2025 class
Louisiana’s 2023 quarterbacks and 2025 running backs classes have garnered notable coverage in recent cycles as talented groups exceeding typical expectations from their respective positions. But high-level production of defensive backs is the norm for the state, a big factor…
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Continue ReadingLouisiana’s 2023 quarterbacks and 2025 running backs classes have garnered notable coverage in recent cycles as talented groups exceeding typical expectations from their respective positions.
But high-level production of defensive backs is the norm for the state, a big factor in home-state LSU’s foundation as “DBU” for decades nows.
And the 2025 cohort appears poised to provide the Tigers and other programs around the state and region with another strong group of prospects in the secondary.
Here’s a look at a few of the clear leaders near the top of the rankings, as well as some of the biggest stock-risers in the latest round of updates and half a dozen new top-100 debuts who appear to be D-I talents in their own right.
FAMILIAR FACES ATOP THE LIST
Jaboree Antoine Jaboree Antoine 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Westgate | 2025 State LA — 6-2, 180 DB — Westgate
Widely considered Louisiana’s top defensive back in the class, Antoine has lived in the top tier of the state’s overall rankings for a few rounds of updates now. The LSU commitment is a long, but strongly built athlete with background at both corner and safety on defense — while also showing his quickness and speed on the other side of the ball as his team’s quarterback. Antoine is smooth and confident in man coverage, using his hands well at the snap, blanketing opposing receivers and making well-time plays on the ball and showing good recovery or closing speed when necessary. And, with good ball skills, he consistently maximizes his opportunities for takeaways.
Tre Fuller Tre Fuller 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Captain Shreve | 2025 State LA — 6-2, 180 DB — Captain Shreve
One of the top remaining uncommitted prospects in the class, Fuller’s length and range on the back end of the defense stood out early in the class’s development and have became even bigger strengths with his feel for the game and disciplined play as he’s matured through the years. He is smooth and efficient with his motion, seeming constantly in good position and anticipates well to make his breaks and plays on the ball.
Lennis Finister Jr. Lennis Finister Jr. 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Archbishop Rummel | 2025 State LA — 6-0, 170 DB — Archbishop Rummel
and Jayden Gloston Jayden Gloston 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB University Lab | 2025 State LA — 5-11, 175 DB — University Lab
These two southeast Louisiana cornerbacks have been among the top prospects in our class rankings for a few rounds of updates now, including Finister going back to the first set of rankings. Both players possess good speed and similar strong builds that have caught the attention of numerous Division-I programs. Arkansas and Georgia Tech have been among the programs to recruit Finister, while Texas Tech, Louisiana (Lafayette) and Arkansas State have been the offers for Gloston.
HIGH-RISERS BOLSTER TOP TIER(S)
Aidan Anding Aidan Anding 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Ruston | 2025 State LA — 5-11, 165 DB — Ruston
A whirlwind past 10 months for Anding has been well-documented. The basketball and track standout joined the Bearcats’ football team last offseason, earned a Louisiana Tech offer with a strong camp showing and then played a major, all-state role in his high school’s first state championship run in more than three decades. The fast, springy athletic profile is eye-catching, but Anding’s ability to play his best in his and Ruston’s biggest matchups in just his first season was also notable.
Landon Hammond Landon Hammond 6'2" | 160 lbs | DB Opelousas | 2025 State LA — 6-2, 160 DB — Opelousas
Like Anding, Hammond has been a consistent name during this round of rankings updates as one of the top stock-risers overall and now top cornerbacks in the class. The Tigers’ star is one of the fastest defensive backs in the class and has a long, wiry-strong frame that he uses to blanket receivers in coverage and be a reliable, physical tackler after the catch or helping in run support.
Jacob Bradford Jacob Bradford 6'0" | 190 lbs | DB Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2025 State LA — 6-0, 190 DB — Catholic (Baton Rouge)
After working at receiver this past offseason, Bradford ultimately ended up having somewhat of a breakthrough — or at least next-step — junior season as a cornerback. He emerged as one of the Bears’ top playmakers and leaders on defense, including stepping up and playing impressively against opponents’ top receivers, largely forcing teams to avoid his side of the field, but coming snatching three interceptions and several pass breakups when tried.
Brent Gordon Jr. Brent Gordon Jr. 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Cecilia | 2025 State LA — 5-11, 175 DB — Cecilia
The Bulldogs’ star played primarily at safety this fall, excelling in the role that allowed the instinctive, physical athlete with a nose for the ball to fly around the field for 119 tackles, four interceptions, eight breakups and five forced fumbles. Gordon has also shown ability in man coverage that makes him potentially one of the more versatile defensive back prospects in this group.
THE FULL ‘DB’ LIST FROM NEW UPDATE
Rank
|
Player
|
Height
|
High School
|
Commitment
|
Weight
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
6’2″
|
Westgate
|
||||
2 |
6’2″
|
Captain Shreve
|
||||
3 |
5’11”
|
Ruston
|
||||
4 |
6’2″
|
Opelousas
|
||||
5 |
6’0″
|
Archbishop Rummel
|
||||
6 |
6’0″
|
Catholic (Baton Rouge)
|
||||
7 |
5’11”
|
University Lab
|
||||
8 |
5’10”
|
Parkway
|
||||
9 |
5’11”
|
Cecilia
|
||||
10 |
6’0″
|
Opelousas
|
||||
11 |
6’0″
|
Neville
|
||||
12 |
6’1″
|
Central (Baton Rouge)
|
||||
13 |
6’1″
|
St. Amant
|
||||
14 |
5’9″
|
Brother Martin
|
||||
15 |
5’11”
|
Bonnabel
|
||||
16 |
6’0″
|
John F. Kennedy
|
||||
17 |
6’1″
|
Huntington
|
||||
18 |
5’10”
|
Covington
|
||||
19 |
6’0″
|
Thibodaux
|
||||
20 |
5’9″
|
Neville
|
||||
21 |
5’11”
|
Edna Karr
|
||||
22 |
6’2″
|
Liberty Magnet
|
||||
23 |
5’11”
|
McDonogh 35
|
||||
24 |
6’1″
|
Oak Grove
|
||||
25 |
6’2″
|
Jewel Sumner
|
||||
26 |
5’10”
|
Mandeville
|
||||
27 |
6’1″
|
St. James
|
||||
28 |
5’10”
|
H.L. Bourgeois
|
||||
29 |
6’0″
|
Parkway
|
||||
30 |
6’2″
|
Pine
|
||||
31 |
6’0″
|
Breaux Bridge
|
||||
32 |
5’10”
|
Acadiana
|
||||
33 |
5’10”
|
St. Thomas More
|
||||
34 |
6’2″
|
St. Augustine
|
||||
35 |
5’10”
|
Frederick A. Douglass
|
||||
36 |
5’9″
|
Woodlawn (Baton Rouge)
|
||||
37 |
6’0″
|
St. James
|
||||
38 |
5’11”
|
Barbe
|
||||
39 |
5’10”
|
Acadiana
|
||||
40 |
6’1″
|
St. Thomas More
|
||||
41 |
5’9″
|
Lafayette Christian
|
||||
42 |
5’10”
|
Dutchtown
|
||||
43 |
5’9″
|
Opelousas
|
||||
44 |
5’10”
|
Westgate
|
||||
45 |
5’10”
|
Covenant Christian
|
||||
46 |
5’10”
|
Southside
|
||||
47 |
5’9″
|
Jeanerette
|
||||
48 |
6’0″
|
Denham Springs
|
||||
49 |
5’10”
|
John Curtis
|
||||
50 |
5’10”
|
Westgate
|
||||
WL |
5’11”
|
John Curtis
|
||||
WL |
5’10”
|
Bonnabel
|
||||
WL |
5’10”
|
McDonogh 35
|
||||
WL |
5’11”
|
Salmen
|
||||
WL |
5’11”
|
East Ascension
|
||||
WL |
6’1″
|
Ville Platte
|
||||
WL |
5’9″
|
John Curtis
|
||||
WL |
5’10”
|
Opelousas
|
||||
WL |
5’9″
|
Kentwood
|
||||
WL |
5’11”
|
North Webster
|
||||
WL |
5’9″
|
Holy Cross
|
||||
WL |
5’10”
|
Riverside Academy
|
||||
WL |
5’11”
|
Riverside Academy
|
||||
WL |
5’10”
|
Acadiana
|
||||
WL |
Port Barre
|
|||||
WL |
6’0″
|
Bogalusa
|
||||
WL |
6’0″
|
St. Charles Catholic
|
||||
WL |
5’8″
|
Hahnville
|
||||
WL |
5’9″
|
Catholic (Baton Rouge)
|
||||
WL |
5’11”
|
Destrehan
|
||||
WL |
5’9″
|
Zachary
|
||||
WL |
5’9″
|
Lutcher
|
||||
WL |
5’11”
|
Dutchtown
|
||||
WL |
6’2″
|
St. Frederick
|
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Continue ReadingOTHER NEW ADDITIONS TO TOP 100
Kyran Moore Kyran Moore 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Opelousas | 2025 State LA — 6-0, 170 DB — Opelousas
The Tigers’ safety is smooth in his back pedal and transitions, staying in consistently good position with his quick feet and disciplined play and shutting potential passing windows in a hurry with his well-timed and explosive breaks for interceptions and deflections. Grambling State, Arkansas State and Arkansas have been among his first offers.
Cam Riley Cam Riley 6'0" | 165 lbs | DB Neville | 2025 State LA — 6-0, 165 DB — Neville
Neville has a long, consistent track record of producing notable Division-I talent, and Riley is one of the next men up in continuing that tradition with Louisiana (Lafayette), ULM and Arizona State among his first offers. The multisport standout’s 4.4-second 40-yard speed on the outside may catch the eye first, but he also shows good patience in his coverage and looks just as confident and effective crashing down to help in run support or identifying and blowing up screens as he is defending passes downfield.
Treshoun Ware Treshoun Ware 5'9" | 175 lbs | DB Brother Martin | 2025 State LA — 5-9, 175 DB — Brother Martin
Ware may not have the height and length of some of his counterparts on this list, but uses his strong build, quick feet, instincts and anticipation to match up well with bigger opponents and make well-timed breaks on balls in his direction. In additions to the interceptions he snatched, he also showed his burst and athleticism in some running back snaps on which he made defenders miss and accelerated to the second level on his way to the end zone.
David Perry Jr. David Perry Jr. 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Bonnabel | 2025 State LA — 5-11, 180 DB — Bonnabel
Another quick, confident New Orleans area defensive back who plays well in press coverage, Perry possesses speed and ball skills have made him a playmaker in all three phases, including several of his top highlights coming as a return man. Marshall, Penn, Georgia State and ULM have been among the first schools recruiting the Bonnabel standout.
Ernest Lyons Ernest Lyons 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB John F. Kennedy | 2025 State LA — 6-0, 165 DB — John F. Kennedy
We haven’t yet seen as much of Lyons in person as most of the other players on this list, but his film shows an athlete with good length, listed 4.4-second 40-yard speed to recover and close windows quickly and hands he uses well — disrupting receivers’ releases, but trusting his eyes, feet and ability to lean and locate to make plays on the ball without risking penalty for being two handsy at the top of the route or before the ball arrives.
Tyler Welch Tyler Welch 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Huntington | 2025 State LA — 6-1, 185 DB — Huntington
Whether catching passes or defending them in the fall or hooping in the winter, the multisport standout’s length, athleticism and ball skills make him a difference-maker year-round for his Raiders and an intriguing prospect for Tulsa, Louisiana Tech and other programs recruiting. Welch is light on his feet, explosive in his breaks and leaps and shows the ability to consistently make even challenging leaping and diving interceptions and deflections.