12 top-ranked prospects to watch in Acadiana 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 kick off the 10-region tour with Lafayette/Acadiana, which is in the midst of a great multi-cycle wave of talent.   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 Lafayette/Acadiana, we broke at 12 — 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='710273' first='Corey' last='Amos'] — 6-3, 205 LB — Opelousas (2025)   No team has more players on this list than the reigning Division-II Non-Select champions, so the explosive edge-rusher among the Tigers' key defensive leaders is a great person to lead things off. That unit boasts Division-I college talent at every level, and Amos is a disruptive playmaker at the forefront of that attack. He recommitted to Ole Miss in late July after having backed off a previous pledge to the Rebels to reevaluate his options.   [player_tooltip player_id='710071' first='Jaboree' last='Antoine'] — 6-2, 180 DB — Westgate (2025)   The highly sought-after national recruit as a defensive back — and also his Tigers' quarterback much of his high school career — has been a top-five prospect in Louisiana's 2025 class throughout and marked a notable recruiting win for Miami this summer. Westgate provided eventual Division-I Non-Select state champion Ruston one of its toughest battles of its title run in the second round, and that seeding and storyline may have looked different had Antoine not been sidelined by injury much of the fall and only narrowly able to return in time to face the Bearcats.   [player_tooltip player_id='710967' first='Chantz' last='Babineaux'] — 6-0, 185 ATH — Carencro (2026)   Another star quarterback whose college future more likely projects at another position (or another sport), the Golden Bears' record-setting receiver as a freshman and record-setting passer as a sophomore is also a promising safety prospect and a four-sport standout with next-level baseball potential. Babineaux has proven himself one of the most dangerous and productive playmakers in the area no matter where he's lined up, and this fall's junior campaign should further add to that growing legacy.   [player_tooltip player_id='426961' first='Russell' last='Babineaux'] — 5-9, 160 WR/ATH — Acadiana (2025)   Another versatile Babineaux from across the Bears-Rams district rivalry, the Louisiana (Lafayette) wide receiver commit played a few different positions for Acadiana as a major leader and on-field difference-maker for the eventual Division-I Select runner-up. The bulk of the starting lineup returning — including the a healthy, veteran quarterback and emerging young star of receiver in the DiBetta brothers — should be not only a reason to consider the Rams once again among the state's top contenders, but also to expect more pass-catching opportunities for Babineaux.   [player_tooltip player_id='934555' first='Braylon' last='Calais'] — 6-3, 185 ATH — Cecilia (2027)   The first — and highest-ranked — of three sophomores who make the cut on this list. The 2023 Division-II Non-Select runner-up and 2024 title-hopeful Bulldogs have notable college talent in each of the coming recruiting cycles, but the highest ceiling belongs to the Calais, the multisport athlete already with prototypical song, high-end ball skills, breakaway speed and a willingness to play physically.   [player_tooltip player_id='710072' first='D'Shaun' last='Ford'] — 5-11, 210 RB — Opelousas (2025)   The bruising workhorse of a running back has been the most well-known name and face around the state to the Tigers' emergence as one of its top contenders and, barring an announcement in the next week, appears poised to enter his senior season as one of Louisiana's top remaining uncommitted prospects. Ford has been one of the state's most steady and prolific rushers the past two years, rising to every occasion and high expectation, and looks to cap his high school career with more of the same — and potentially further team history as Opelousas chases a repeat.   [player_tooltip player_id='912270' first='Landon' last='Hammond'] — 6-2, 160 DB — Opelousas (2025)   The long, wiry cornerback wraps up the Tigers' contingent on this list, although this top trio is joined by several more college prospects in their senior class as well as the next couple. Hammond's frame, speed and ball skills have intrigued several college programs around the country, and he's shown a notable willingness to play physically when called upon to make tackles in the open field or help in run support.   [player_tooltip player_id='914092' first='Davian' last='Jackson'] — 6-2, 170 ATH — Westgate (2025)   One of Antoine's classmates and best friends, "Diamond" is another of both the Acadiana area and Louisiana's top rising senior prospects to watch this fall. The Mississippi State commitment with a great combination of size and speed has been a versatile weapon for his Tigers as a running back and receiver and has also shown promise as a potential defensive back at the next level. As with the Opelousas players, the Westgate duo is far from alone in terms of college talent on the roster, but Antoine and Jackson have led the way.   [player_tooltip player_id='920606' first='Darryus' last='McKinley'] — 6-3, 265 DL — Acadiana (2026)   The younger brother of the state's top-ranked 2024 prospect is their region's highest-ranked 2026 prospect. Darryus had a solid debut season as a sophomore defensive end listed at 225 pounds and begins his junior year an eye-catching 40 pounds stronger, a difference that should grant him some positional versatility across the front line for the 2023 Division-I Select runner-up and 2024 title-hopeful Wreckin' Rams.   [player_tooltip player_id='592357' first='Sky' last='Ryan'] — 6-0, 175 DB — Lafayette Christian (2027)   Another younger brother of a notable member of LSU's defense, Sky is one of Louisiana's top young cornerback prospects early in his high school career with his long frame, track speed, instincts and ball skills. He broke into his Knights' lineup as a freshman making plays all the way to the Caesars Superdome for the Division-II Select runners-up and should be a top player to watch this fall as a sophomore.   [player_tooltip player_id='283987' first='Roderick' last='Tezeno Jr.'] — 6-2, 170 WR — Opelousas Catholic (2026)   The explosion the past couple years of Vikings' two-sport star from the 2021 cycle into one of the nation's top college receivers in 2023 and a media darling in the 2024 NFL Draft class has set the stage and a high bar for Tezeno, and the fast, bouncy athlete has made the most of his opportunities thus far as a highlight-reel pass-catcher.   [player_tooltip player_id='1137410' first='Morris' last='Walters'] — 6-1, 180 WR — Jeanerette (2027)   The talent coming through Jeanerette was headlined this past fall by their eventual 2024 Houston signee, but doesn't end there or with this year's 2025 seniors. The Tigers' highest-ranked prospect entering the new season is speedy pass-catcher already with a productive freshman season under his belt.

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