Ruston Bearcats | Offseason 3-2-1 Spotlight

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ruston's impressive 2024 class finished its high school career in storybook fashion by finally completed the program's mission to win its long-awaited first state championship since 1990.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And despite several notable graduations from the roster, the Bearcats look likely to be among Louisiana's top teams again this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ruston is among the first stops of Prep Redzone Louisiana's series of "Offseason 3-2-1" spotlights looking at three key returning standouts, two notable breakout candidates and one underclassman to know sooner than later.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 WELL-KNOWN RETURNERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914207' first='Aidan' last='Anding'] — 5-11, 165 DB — Ruston (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The hyper-athletic cornerback was among the most notable breakout players this past fall not only for the Bearcats, but in the state. Anding went from a basketball and track standout new to the football team to an all-state performer and one of Louisiana's fastest-rising 2025 recruits with major college offers from coast to coast. Anding was already an impressive, largely lockdown playmaker this fall and should be a leader in the secondary as a senior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710076' first='Joshua' last='Brantley'] — 6-4, 200 QB/ATH — Ruston (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rising senior quarterback returns as a headliner of an experienced core that includes Brantley, center <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221032' first='Sam' last='Nations']</strong> and running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710271' first='Jordan' last='Hayes']</strong> at the helm in critical positions on offense. Brantley's running ability provides a dynamic counterpart to Hayes and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='618676' first='Dylone' last='Brooks']</strong> on the ground, and he also showed in some of the Bearcats' biggest games — including the state title game — his big-play ability when necessary through the air. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710083' first='Zheric' last='Hill'] — 6-0, 210 LB — Ruston (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bearcats have to replace several leaders and playmakers from last year's loaded defense — including Louisiana Tech-signed linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='285613' first='Jadon' last='Mayfield'], a three-year all-state performer and engine at the center of the stout unit. Hill has been a key piece of that success the past two years with his versatility to stuff the run, rush the passer or snatch takeaways in coverage. But, now a senior and with Mayfield moving down the road to the next level, Hill figures to play an even more prominent leadership role in his final high school season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2 BREAKOUT CANDIDATES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1257121' first='Ahmad' last='Hudson'] — 6-7, 225 ATH — Ruston (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of Louisiana's top young athletes was more polished on the court as a freshman — including basketball all-state honors this spring — than he was on the field. But Hudson earned early playing time this past fall and showed a couple flashes of his wide catch radius and acrobatic playmaking ability and, with some varsity experience already under his belt, has a chance to be a more consistent difference-making weapon as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joran Parker — 6-1 WR — Ruston (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another talented multisport standout for the Bearcats should also be among the team's notable candidates for a big step forward this fall. Parker was already involved in the offense as a junior as an athletic outside target with good size and will have the opportunity to be more of a go-to as a senior as the team replaces 2024 standouts such as Zhy'Avion Scott, Jamar Woods and [player_tooltip player_id='1202538' first='Logan' last='Malone']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1 UNDERCLASSMAN TO KNOW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1356159' first='Jayden' last='Anding'] — 5-11, 160 DB — Ruston (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The younger brother of the aforementioned Aidan, the younger Anding has the chance to be one of the Bearcats' biggest breakout players this season as just a sophomore. Jayden adds another spring multisport athlete with basketball and track backgrounds to the secondary where he has positioned himself this spring as a potential starter at safety.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->