10 top-ranked prospects to watch in River Parishes 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 the River Parishes, one of the state's most traditionally talent-rich areas.   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 the eight-school traditional River Parishes, 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.   A pair of the state's perennial power and one-again top title-hopeful large schools dominated this list, though keep an eye on the young group at St. James this fall as well with a slew of notable breakout candidates.     [player_tooltip player_id='710286' first='Trenton' last='Chaney'] — 5-9, 160 WR/ATH — Lutcher (2025)   The first of a pair of speedy Bulldogs weapons on this list that look poised to help headline what has the potential to be an explosive offense with Zach Jenkins now at the helm football after splitting duties a year ago. Chaney, the Louisiana (Lafayette) commitment as a slot receiver, is a constant home-run threat as a ball-carrier or swing or screen target out of the backfield and vertical threat downfield when split out.   [player_tooltip player_id='401958' first='Frederic' last='Downing Jr']. — 6-3, 275 DL — Hahnville (2026)   The big junior defensive tackle is one of the Tigers' top talents as alumnus Greg Boyne takes the reins of the program. Even as an underclassman, Downing had the size and power to his game to create problems at the point of attack for opponents. And in addition to continuing to show strides in the weight room, all accounts are that he has had a strong offseason overall developing his craft.   [player_tooltip player_id='401763' first='Jackson' last='Fields'] — 6-1, 195 QB — Destrehan (2026)   The second-year starter is one of Louisiana's top junior quarterbacks, a returning district MVP and all-state candidate with an elite cast of weapons (see below) that should give him ample opportunity this fall, now with that experience under his belt, to build notably on his impressive debut campaign. Fields just needs to quickly get the ball to his slew of weapons, but has also shown his abilities to strike downfield and to keep opposing defenses honest with his legs.   [player_tooltip player_id='212340' first='Jabari' last='Mack'] — 6-0, 185 WR — Destrehan (2026)   The first of that aforementioned list of Wildcats pass-catchers at Fields' disposal and the top prospect on this list if it were ranked, Mack seems to boast offers from most of the nation's power programs. The fellow 2026 star is a freak athlete with his combination of solid, muscular build and explosiveness and track speed, and he has remained dedicated on continuing work toward perfecting his craft rather than rest on that elite natural ability. Mack is in Louisiana's top-tier of pass-catching prospects, but could also realistically excel in a handful of positions and on either side of the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='723530' first='Ashton' last='Stark'] — 5-9, 160 WR/ATH — Lutcher (2027)   Like his older teammate, the standout sophomore is a speedy receiver with the ability to turn even short, quick passes into huge gains in a hurry. Stark also does a nice job of sitting in and exploiting pockets in opposing defenses to keep the chains moving and showcases some of his versatility as a potential three-phase playmaker as a starter in the secondary as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='710270' first='Reshad' last='Sterling'] — 6-3, 235 DL — Lutcher (2025)   The Houston-committed and LSU-targeted defensive lineman is the biggest name from a recruiting standpoint, a disruptive force in the trenches that is one of the top prospects in Louisiana's strong 2025 defensive line class and the top trench prospect overall in the River Parishes entering the season.   [player_tooltip player_id='291153' first='Johnnie' last='Thiel IV'] — 6-0, 180 WR/ATH — Destrehan (2025)   Picking back up the Destrehan riches, the Louisiana Tech-committed Thiel has been as productive the past couple seasons as any member of the loaded receiving corps as a speedy route-running technician with a catch radius that allows him to play as an ever bigger target than his measurables. And like Mack, Thiel has the athleticism and mentality to be a playmaker on either side of the ball and in all three phases.   [player_tooltip player_id='710272' first='Jhase' last='Thomas'] — 6-2, 170 DB/ATH — Destrehan (2025)   The son of former New Orleans Saints defensive back Fred Thomas has exploded up the ranks the past year since settling (mostly) full-time into his own role in the secondary and enters senior season as the River Parishes' top-ranked prospect and an LSU commit. The long, rangy safety's combination of instincts, fluid hips, speed and springy leaping ability allows him to cover huge ground (and air) in a hurry and either flex his ball skills that have also made him a solid receiver during his development or unload his underrated explosive tackling ability.   [player_tooltip player_id='710969' first='Gregory' last='Wilfred'] — 5-9, 165 WR — Destrehan (2026)   Sticking with the Wildcats, but getting back to offense and the unreal recovering corps, "G-Smoke" is a quick, sure-handed slot receiver with a knack for creating consistent separation and making the most of his opportunities to slice up opposing defenses over the middle. His recruiting process has started with several offers from top Group of Five programs around the country, giving him a solid foundation of options heading into junior year.   [player_tooltip player_id='426964' first='Phillip' last='Wright III'] — 6-0, 160 WR — Destrehan (2025)   The elite track speedster recently joined Thomas in LSU's 2025 commitment class, a notable flip for the Tigers from Wright's previous commitment to Michigan. His field-stretching ability not only with vertical routes, but also quick screens and sweeps have piqued college programs from his early days of varsity action, and Wright has worked throughout his high school career to round out his game into a more complete route-runner and receiver.

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