10 top-ranked prospects to watch in the CenLa region in 2024

Louisiana's 2024 high school football season is now in its final countdown to its official kickoff Sept. 5, 6 and 7.   And the always talent-loaded state will once again feature a long list of future college talent in every region and corner.   As much time as we spend looking at top prospects specifically by class, we thought we'd take a look at the best by area — mixing together seniors, juniors and sophomores — to help preview on which student-athletes fans might want to keep an eye in their area or when their team hits the road or hosts a less-familiar foe from elsewhere in the state.   We continue the 10-region tour with central Louisiana, which has a good wave of talent coming through at the moment.   Each list will focus specifically on the 2025, 2026 and 2027 cycles and hold off on further evaluation and consideration of the 2028 group until more of those players have some high school competition and film to their resume.   Also note, while the list has to be cut off somewhere — for CenLA, we broke at 10 — between 100 and 200 Louisiana prospects sign with Division-I colleges every year, so these lists just represent the leading tips of The Boot's notable talent iceberg.     [player_tooltip player_id='915073' first='Dillon' last='Compton'] — 6-2, 190 QB/ATH — Bunkie (2025)   The dual-threat quarterback for the resurgent Panthers program was one of the most prolific players to watch in Central Louisiana this past year as a junior with video-game numbers put up week in and week out with both his big arm pushing the ball downfield to his outside weapons and his legs cutting through traffic and breaking away in the open field. Whether he finds his best college fit in that role or as an athlete on either side of the ball, Compton is a playmaker with a winning mentality.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8uWuXD4xfk </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='1221029' first='TJ' last='Hullaby'] — 5-11, 165 WR/ATH — Peabody (2025)   Another talented standout from a resurgent CenLa program, Hullaby has been not only a dynamic, big-play receiver with college offers from ULM, Central Arkansas, Northwestern State and Texas Southern, but a difference-maker in all three phases with a track record of also reaching the end zone on interceptions and special teams returns.   [player_tooltip player_id='457340' first='Desmen' last='Jefferson'] — 5-10, 175 WR/ATH — Ferriday (2026)   Ferriday is a solid hike from the CenLa core in Alexandria, but still closer than to any other main Louisiana metro area or region. And, regardless of region or class, the Trojans boast one of the state's most intriguing receiver prospects with his quick feet and explosiveness to consistently create separation, make catches at every level of the field and make defenders miss to rack up huge gains after the catch.   [player_tooltip player_id='291084' first='Kyle' last='Johnson'] — 6-0, 170 DB/ATH — Bunkie (2025)   Compton's fellow senior leader for the talented Bunkie team, Johnson is a three-way playmaker for the Panthers and a Houston commit as one of Louisiana's top defensive back prospects in the 2025 class. The multisport standout with track speed and basketball athleticism with good instincts and ball skills has primarily played cornerback on that side of the ball, but has shown the versatility to play anywhere in the secondary in addition to his school-record receiving performances.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzlPU33I3QE </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='1237778' first='Kevin' last='Jones'] — 5-9, 165 DB — Avoyelles (2026)   Jones is a smaller, but quick, fluid corner who does a nice job mirroring receivers, playing in phase and making instinctive, well-timed plays on the ball with reliable hands to make the most of interception chances. And like many of the other players on this list, he's a multiphase guy for his Mustangs as a big-play running back with breakaway speed.   [player_tooltip player_id='934563' first='Devin' last='Lavalais'] — 5-11, 165 ATH — Marksville (2027)   The Tigers' budding young multisport star put his name squarely on the map in the region as a player to watch for the years to come with an eighth-grade season as a starting varsity quarterback in which his arm talent and all-around athleticism were on display. Much of freshman year was relatively quiet for "Bam" because of a leg injury, but he returned late in the spring to play a key role in helping the basketball program win a state championship.   [player_tooltip player_id='914208' first='J.T.' last='Lindsey'] — 5-11, 190 RB — Alexandria (2025)   The LSU commit is fittingly the highest-ranked prospect in central Louisiana entering what figures to be a busy and productive senior season as the bellcow — albeit with a reliable, senior No. 2 and another talented young back alongside him — for an offense replacing a graduated quarterback. Lindsey has been known for his home-run track speed throughout his high school career, but has also shown the willingness and power to lower his shoulder and run through and over contact.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i0eo5iQB-w </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='934571' first='Bryson' last='Phoenix'] — 6-2, 210 LB/ATH — Alexandria (2027)   The transfer from Pineville is among the more under-the-radar prospects on this list heading into this season, but that is likely to change sooner than later as he gets more opportunities on the field and on the college camp circuit. Phoenix looks in some of his early footage to be one of the state's top young edge rushers with good size, an explosive get-off and active hands.   [player_tooltip player_id='1250281' first='Karsen' last='Sellers'] — 6-1, 160 QB — Alexandria (2027)   The higher-ranked prospect and apparent leader of the freshman battle for that aforementioned Alexandria quarterback responsibility appears poised for an interesting fall ahead full of both opportunity and challenge. Sellers boasts notable potential for the years to come and plenty of confidence for a young passer, but is still early in his development and will be thrown into the fire against a gauntlet of a schedule during which he will have to show his poise against many of the state's top opponents.

Louisiana's 2024 high school football season is now in its final countdown to its official kickoff Sept. 5, 6 and 7.