Louisiana 2026 rankings update countdown: Nos. 30 to 21
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The latest 2026 rankings are up next in Prep Redzone Louisiana’s spring updates process. Leading up to the complete, 150-player list on Monday, we will count down the top 40 in more detail. And make sure to check back following…
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Continue ReadingThe latest 2026 rankings are up next in Prep Redzone Louisiana’s spring updates process.
Leading up to the complete, 150-player list on Monday, we will count down the top 40 in more detail.
And make sure to check back following the release for additional features and notes on the 2026 cohort, including looks at debuts, stock-risers and top positional groups.
No. 30 Dezyrian Ellis Dezyrian Ellis 6'2" | 160 lbs | ATH Franklin Parish | 2026 State LA — 6-2, 160 ATH — Franklin Parish
Meet “Pook,” the Franklin Parish quarterback who set school records this fall with 2,395 yards and 26 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. But plays this fall on which he’s taken off and made plays with his legs and and opportunities this 7-on-7 season as a receiver and defensive back have shown additional flashes of intriguing college potential with his athleticism, speed, vertical leap and ball skills.
No. 29 Roderick Tezeno Jr. Roderick Tezeno Jr. 6'2" | 170 lbs | WR Opelousas Catholic | 2026 State LA — 6-1, 160 WR — Opelousas Catholic
The more we see of the Vikings’ multisport star, the more intrigued we are about his next-level football potential. Tezeno earned a top-50 rankings last offseason based as much off the athleticism he showed in his basketball film as anything. And more available football footage from this fall appears to show some good vertical speed and the abilities to track the ball and make some relatively challenging catches in stride out away from his body, including over-the-shoulder catches deep downfield displaying both.
No. 28 Kaleb Campbell Kaleb Campbell 6'7" | 305 lbs | OL Lafayette Christian Academy | 2026 State LA — 6-8, 280 OL — Lafayette Christian
Campbell stood out this past spring with his huge frame, strength and violent, heavy hands that had his college-bound older teammates talking. He appeared to spend most of the fall working at guard and more than holding his own against older competition from a physicality standpoint. He also showed some mobility on a few highlights pulling across the formation. How his footwork continues to develop and whether he gets some opportunities to transition outside to tackle will be worth monitoring this year, but Campbell has been notably hard-working and competitive thus far in his career by all accounts.
No. 27 Cole Bergeron Cole Bergeron 6'4" | 210 lbs | QB St. Thomas More | 2026 State LA — 6-4, 180 QB — St. Thomas More
The heir apparent to big shoes at the helm of the Cougars’ offense remains steady in the mid-20s, even with some of the new additions and big leapers in this round of updates. We’ve seen limited varsity reps from Bergeron yet — a common timeline for St. Thomas More’s deep and consistent program — but what we have seen in those moments and in junior varsity and 7-on-7 action is a combination of a college build, confident demeanor and strong, accurate arm with good touch that has him very much in the mix of top quarterbacks in the class.
No. 26 Kenny Darby Kenny Darby 6'1" | 170 lbs | WR Airline | 2026 State LA — 6-1, 170 WR — Airline
Another notable, high-ranking and high-ceiling debut, the Vikings’ receiver started his sophomore season on a prolific early-season pace before being sidelined by injury, but has looked good in his return this far this spring in 7-on-7 settings. Darby caught 35 passes for 561 yards and nine scores in just four games this fall for huge per-game and per-catch averages. His size, leap, timing and ball skills on leaping have been early highlights to his game, but the rest of this year should provide a more complete picture.
No. 25 Montrell Conner Jr. Montrell Conner Jr. 5'10" | 150 lbs | ATH St. Frederick | 2026 State LA — 5-10, 150 ATH — St. Frederick
Conner’s impressive track résumé and athletic profile have been well-documented for years now on both Prep Redzone Louisiana and Prep Redzone Next, and he was flat-out electric with the ball in his hands this fall quarterbacking his Warriors. What position or side of the ball he ends up playing at the next level remains to be seen, and we look forward to seeing some 7-on-7, camp or workout reps to get a more complete feel for his skillset in other areas. But the speedy and explosive Conner possesses a sleep of elite traits.
No. 24 Jackson Fields Jackson Fields 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Destrehan | 2026 State LA — 6-1, 195 QB — Destrehan
Fields took over the reins of the then-defending Division-I Non-Select champions’ offense and played well this fall in his first year as the varsity starter. His 134-for-211 (63.5%) passing and 23 touchdowns to just seven interceptions marked impressive efficiency for a sophomore, first-year starter in Louisiana’s highest classification level, and the Wildcats did not shy away from taking some shots downfield on the way to 2,404 passing yards (17.9 yards per attempt) for Fields.
No. 23 Desmen Jefferson Desmen Jefferson 5'10" | 175 lbs | ATH Ferriday | 2026 State LA — 5-10, 175 ATH — Ferriday
The Trojans’ speedster makes huge leaps up the rankings with every update, as he produces more on the field and on the film. Jefferson caught 52 passes for 933 yards and seven touchdowns this fall as a sophomore — nearly 18 yards per catch in an all-district first-team and all-state honorable-mention campaign. His explosiveness in his release, out of his breaks and with the ball in his hands after the catch pop off the film, as well as his ability to track the ball and be a big-play threat on routes at every level and to every area of the field from breaking quick screens and making catches in stride over the middle and over his shoulder deep downfield.
No. 22 Hayward Howard Jr. Hayward Howard Jr. 6'1" | 160 lbs | DB Edna Karr | 2026 State LA — 6-1, 160 DB — Edna Karr
The long, lean and speedy cornerback is another prospect we unfortunately didn’t see much of this fall as he moved multiple times in 2023, but he has grown another inch or two and added some muscle since the summer rankings update and excelled in 7-on-7 opportunities at both the 15U and 18U levels as a highly talented and confident prospect even at a young enough age to still play in either age group.
No. 21 Damari Drake Damari Drake 6'0" | 215 lbs | ATH Evangel Christian | 2026 State LA — 6-0, 215 ATH — Evangel Christian
Spoiler alert for the rest of the rankings countdown: The Eagles’ speedy running back (and linebacker) prospect is the highest-ranked new debut in this round of updates. Another promising young prospect we look forward to seeing more of this offseason, but Drake is listed already with great next-level size and boasts a highlight reel full of impressive clips of hitting the hole with a purpose, outright trucking defenders, keeping his balance and accelerating away for huge gains with good open-field speed.