Biggest top-50 stock-risers in Louisiana's latest 2026 rankings

Prep Redzone Louisiana's winter rankings process continued this week with the latest 2026 update.   And a few familiar faces made additional pushes further up the list heading into their final high school offseason.   Here's a look at the eight prospects within the top 50 who made the biggest leaps, each moving up at least five spots from their preseason position.     No. 8 [player_tooltip player_id='1237613' first='Kenny' last='Darby'] — 6-1, 175 WR — Airline   The fast, athletic outside receiver debuted at No. 26 last winter on the heels of a sophomore season of eye-popping flashes, but also injury limitations. He moved up some during the summer as he appeared to be getting back into his pre-injury form and rhythm and now makes a bigger leap on the heels of a prolific junior season in which he led the state with 1,794 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns on 100 catches. Darby is a constant big-play vertical threat in every sense of the word with his abilities to stretch the field and to quickly elevate over defenders, adjust in the air and make highlight-reel, contested catches.   No. 12 [player_tooltip player_id='710970' first='Hayward' last='Howard Jr.'] — 6-3, 175 DB — Edna Karr   The long, lean freshman who debuted two years ago in the top 25 with his speed, competitiveness and ball skills has continued to bulked up notably into a stronger, more physical tackler and all-around athlete than ever now with more mass to match the mentality he's always possessed. Howard is a smart, instinctive corner with fluid hips, quick feet and great timing to blanket opponent receivers and take throws his way back the other direction. And he is increasingly effective in run support and capable of playing all over the secondary.   No. 13 [player_tooltip player_id='401969' first='Jamarcea' last='Plater'] — 5-9, 180 ATH/RB — Captain Shreve   The Gators' dynamic multisport and all-around versatile athlete found a new positional home in 2024 and should soon have some notable options for college homes at the next level joining his recruitment after a junior campaign of 2,234 rushing yards and 29 scores in his first season at running back. Plater is 5-foot-9, 180 pounds of lean muscle and quick-twitch athleticism that can make tacklers miss in a phone booth and then open up his track speed in the open field.   No. 20 [player_tooltip player_id='1345252' first='Tyrone' last='Morgan'] — 6-4, 230 DL/EDGE — Woodlawn (Baton Rouge)   The biggest stock-riser on this list cracked the top 20 after a junior season in which he played 20 pounds stronger and earned all-district first-team honors in a tough District 4-5A with the combination of size and athleticism to be a disruptive force from anywhere on the defensive line. Morgan has an explosive first step, quickness and active hands that all help make him tough for opposing blockers to keep in front of. And once he has a window to a passer or ball-carrier, he closes in a hurry for the stop.   No. 25 [player_tooltip player_id='1237623' first='Maurice' last='Williams'] Jr. — 5-11, 170 DB — Edna Karr   Another Edna Karr cornerback continuing his rise up the ranks, "Moe" bears some other similarities to Howard in the sense of his continued development into a bigger and more well-rounded prospect at the position. Williams possessed the quickness, instincts, confidence and ball skills to show flashes even as a freshman, and he's continued to sprout up and fill out and pack more of a physical punch when necessary to disrupt opposing receivers off the line or make a tackle on the outside.   No. 27 [player_tooltip player_id='1237615' first='Dezyrian' last='Ellis'] — 6-2, 160 ATH/QB — Franklin Parish   Few players meant more to their teams this fall than "Pook," the electric dual-threat quarterback who led a historic season for his Patriots and was named Class 4A all-state quarterback after completing 115 of his 206 passes (55.8%) for 2,189 yards and 31 touchdowns to just seven interceptions, while rushing 90 times for another 827 yards and 10 scores. Ellis is clearly a Division-I athlete with intriguing leaping and ball skills he's shown in some limited 7-on-7 settings to go with the explosiveness, quickness and speed that helped make him a human highlight reel on Friday nights. And he showed enough to like as a passer to keep an eye on his potential to stick at the position at the next level, for the right program, as he continues to develop.   No. 30 [player_tooltip player_id='920615' first='Leon' last='Noil Jr.'] — 6-5, 275 OL — Edna Karr   A third Edna Karr standout on this list after a great season as a team with a slew of impressive individual performances all over the field, including their athletic junior tackle. Noil took over at left tackle this season and was a difference-maker as both a run-blocker and a mobile pass-protector quick on his feet and with good awareness, instincts and motor to continue providing his mobile quarterback time and space even as plays extended and improvised.   No. 43 [player_tooltip player_id='401986' first='Tylan' last='George'] — 6-3, 315 OL — West Monroe   Another big stock-riser in the trenches, the Rebels' big guard made a fittingly strong move up the list after a productive and highly efficient junior campaign in which he was credited with 95 pancakes while being charged with just three pressures and not a single sack. George is stout and physical with enough mobility to be effective pulling or chipping a first defender and getting upfield for second-level blocks. He's looked the past two seasons straight like one of Louisiana's top interior linemen in the 2026 class.

Prep Redzone Louisiana's winter rankings process continued this week with the latest 2026 update.