Top-50 debuts in Louisiana’s latest 2026 update

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone Louisiana's winter rankings process continued this past week with the latest 2026 update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And another slew of talented prospects joined the list on the heels of productive junior seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at the seven new top-50 debuts on the latest list, each of whom possesses potential Division-I FBS talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 17 [player_tooltip player_id='1602194' first='Tavon' last='Bell'] — 6-3, 255 DL/EDGE — Franklin Parish</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top-ranking debut in this round of 2026 updates, the Patriots' multisport standout is a tenacious edge-rusher on the football field with a good initial burst to often beat blockers to the outside and the strength, balance and active hands to beat them in a number of ways. Bell has the frame and athleticism to be a versatile defensive lineman at the next level and should be on the verge of a big spring and summer on the recruiting trail. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 31 [player_tooltip player_id='1601751' first='Jeremiah' last='Bushnell'] — 6-3, 185 WR — Iowa</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another talented multisport standout, the younger brother of 2024 Air Force signee Josiah Bushnell debuted as the highest-ranked player from southwest Louisiana on the 2026 list, already a prominent name locally and gaining steam on the recruiting trail. The tall, athletic pass-catcher shows good burst and vertical speed and provides a huge catch radius with his long arms, leap, body control and great hands to make even highlight-reel grabs. He caught 61 passes for 1,103 yards and 13 touchdowns and carries 36 times for another 392 yards and four scores. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 41 [player_tooltip player_id='1414464' first='Jiwaun' last='Brock'] — 5-11, 160 WR/ATH — Covington</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brock racked up big numbers as a junior as a dynamic playmaker for his Lions — 54 catches for 887 yards and Deven touchdowns, plus another six rushing scores — with the quickness and speed to stretch the field vertically or make defenders miss and rack up huge gains after the catch or in the run game. And while he's not one of Louisiana's several notable taller targets in the class, he possesses good Division-I size and has the ability to play big with his leap, athleticism and ball skills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 42 [player_tooltip player_id='1243414' first='Jayden' last='Reed'] — 5-11, 175 DB — Neville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The next name for recruiting fans to know in a loaded Neville secondary, Reed earned Class 5A all-state recognition as a sideline-to-sideline tackle machine and disruptive playmaker for the top-ranked Tigers with 124 tackles, including two sacks, and two interceptions and a forced fumble. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 44 [player_tooltip player_id='1602018' first='Scott' last='Smith Jr.'] — 6-5, 220 EDGE/DL — Central (Baton Rouge)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith was one of the breakout performers this fall for the state-champion Wildcats as a tall, powerful defensive lineman — another multisport standout — who was particularly effective in run defense with explosive first contact to pop blockers backward, shed them and pursue and wrap up ball-carriers, often for plays behind the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 45 [player_tooltip player_id='1601945' first='Trez' last='Davis'] — 6-0, 185 WR — West Monroe</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another receiver with good physical size and an even bigger game with his leaping and high-pointing skills, Davis broke West Monroe's program record this fall with 1,008 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 53 catches. The Rebels' standout is also a strong and willing blocker on the perimeter to be a difference-maker in the run game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 48 [player_tooltip player_id='1602024' first='Torrence' last='Sanders'] — 6-1, 180 DB — Edna Karr</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Toe" emerged this season as another key playmaker on a loaded Cougars defense that helped the perennial power return back to its state-championship throne for the first time since 2019. He is a long, versatile defensive back with the combination of size, physicality, athleticism and cover skills to play outside, on the back end or nearer the line of scrimmage. Sanders' debut gives Karr's secondary alone four prospects in Prep Redzone Louisiana's top 50 for the class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->