12 top-ranked prospects to watch in Monroe/NELA 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 Monroe/Northeast Louisiana, 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 NELA, 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='740982' first='Chris' last='Addison'] — 6-2, 210 LB/TE — Franklin Parish (2026)   The Patriots graduated a Prep Redzone Louisiana favorite in the 2024 class in Tulane signee Javion White, but return some notable talent to watch for the coming years. Addison has been a ranked 2026 prospect from our initial lists for the class and, while not alone, is once again the top Franklin Parish player on the most recent update heading into the season. The two-way junior standout's first two offers arrived this offseason from Texas Tech and Houston, and he has piqued the interest of SEC programs as both a tight end and an edge rusher.   [player_tooltip player_id='914207' first='Aidan' last='Anding'] — 5-11, 165 DB — Ruston (2025)   and [player_tooltip player_id='1356159' first='Jayden' last='Anding'] — 6-0, 165 DB — Ruston (2027)   Both Anding brothers, expected to start alongside one another in reigning Division-I Non-Select champion Bearcats' secondary, make the cut. Aidan, the hyper-athletic cornerback and multisport star for Ruston, is among Louisiana's top senior prospects with a commitment announcement looming for Saturday between a final three of LSU, Texas and Arkansas, while Jayden is a promising young sophomore still very much on the front end of his high school career but with Miami and Arkansas offers already in hand.   [player_tooltip player_id='401954' first='Dylan' last='Berymon'] — 6-3, 305 DL — Ouachita Parish (2026)   The Lions' big, disruptive defensive tackles has developed into one of Louisiana's top 2026 prospects with a long list of high-level college programs, including home-state LSU, intrigued enough by his impressive combination of size and explosiveness up front to prioritize him with early offers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1331262' first='Kenneth' last='Boston'] — 6-8, 315 OL — River Oaks (2025)   The transfer from nearby Rayville, just east down Interstate 20 is the first River Oaks player ranked in the Prep Redzone Louisiana's fifth recruiting cycle covered. And rightfully so with his quick ascension this offseason that included a Louisiana (Lafayette) offer and eventual Ole Miss commitment. The big, physical blocker should be a dominant force for the small private school this fall in his final high school season.   [player_tooltip player_id='291089' first='Jackson' last='Bradley'] — 6-3, 200 QB — Oak Grove (2025)   The Louisiana Tech commitment has been in the mix as one of the state's most effective and successful starting quarterbacks throughout his high school career and yet still seems to fly somewhat under the radar at times compared to peers at bigger schools or in more pass-heavy offenses. Bradley has been dangerous as a runner and a passer when called upon — better at the latter than he tends to receive credit for — and, above all else, has been a leader and a winner for his Tigers.   [player_tooltip player_id='710076' first='Joshua' last='Brantley'] — 6-4, 200 QB/ATH — Ruston (2025)   The athletic quarterback who helped the Bearcats finally get back over the hump to their first state championship since 1990 in his first year at the helm of the offense now returns as one of the leaders of a team hoping to make further history if it can repeat that job. Brantley, who committed to Tulane this summer, was such a consistent threat on the ground throughout his junior campaign and showed in key moments, including the state title game, his ability to burn opponents with a strong arm when called upon as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='920694' first='Julian' last='Burns'] — 6-2, 190 DB — Neville (2026)   The first of a trio of representatives for the talented Tigers roster which moves up in class to join Ruston, West Monroe and Ouachita (and Central Louisiana's Alexandria and Pineville) in a stout District 4-5A. Burns has been a highly ranked safety prospect in Louisiana's 2026 class with each addition of Prep Redzone Louisiana's updates with his size, length and instincts on the back end of the Neville defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='283985' first='Montrell' last='Conner Jr.'] — 5-10, 150 ATH — Ouachita Parish (2026)   A familiar face in a new place, the hyper-athletic and versatile athletic moves for his sophomore year from St. Frederick over to his father's alma mater. The younger Conner has an elite youth track background and some highlight-reel early varsity action for the Class 1A Warriors as a dynamic quarterback with the ball in his hands. Now, he moves up to Class 5A and into one of Louisiana's toughest districts.   [player_tooltip player_id='1257121' first='Ahmad' last='Hudson'] — 6-7, 225 ATH/TE — Ruston (2027)   The fourth Bearcat on the list and, notably, the resurgent powerhouse program's second sophomore on the list, Hudson looks early in his high school career to be one of Louisiana's — and potentially the country's — top prospects in both football and basketball. The tall, athletic pass-catcher showed flashes of his highlight-reel ability this past fall, came into his own throughout the winter and into the spring as an all-state hooper as just a freshman and looked this summer poised to take the next step on the football field as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='710074' first='Brody' last='Whatley'] – 6-5, 250 DL — Neville (2025)   The Tigers have several intriguing prospects on their roster on both sides of the ball, even beyond the top three on this list. But the big, Baylor-committed defensive lineman is the team's lone returning LSWA all-state selection. Whatley has been among the top-ranked defensive linemen with each round or Prep Redzone Louisiana rankings updates in a solid class for the position group with his strong build and explosive burst to shoot gaps into opposing backfields.   [player_tooltip player_id='1238574' first='Ze'land' last='Young'] — 6-4, 190 WR — Neville (2026)   Wrapping up both the Neville contingent and the dozen-man Monroe area list, the early footage and reps we've had a chance to see on Young have been somewhat limited, but highly intriguing. Young is a tall, long pass-catcher with a basketball background, vertical speed and quick stops and starts in his route-running to help create separation at any level in between.

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