Recapping Louisiana's 2025 recruiting storylines

As the bulk of the 2025 recruiting action wraps up, the class shouldn't lack for its share of memories and storylines as the group transitions to college.   Here's a look at some of the biggest takeaways from the cycle, including the top position group that stood out, the programs that stand to benefit the most and the continued impact of the transfer portal.   Check out an update of where <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/where-louisiana-top-2025-prospects-signed/">all of Louisiana's top-100 ranked prospects that have signed so far are heading</a>.     LSU, IN-STATE PROGRAMS LEAD THE WAY   The usual suspects of LSU and other in-state programs led the way in terms of signing the bulk of Louisiana's top talent. The Tigers inked 11 highly ranked in-state players to scholarships, including eight of the top 15, and added other key preferred walk-ons, including a top-100 prospect who had been recruiting by other programs. Tulane, Louisiana (Lafayette) and Louisiana Tech each signed at least half a dozen top-100 in-state prospects, and ULM signed three in-state prospects as some notable wins after years of few Louisiana signees. Those five FBS programs' highest-ranked in-state signees were No. 1 [player_tooltip player_id='291097' first='Harlem' last='Berry'], the St. Martin's Episcopal running back, to LSU; No. 25 [player_tooltip player_id='1214125' first='Joshua' last='Lewis'], the Dutchtown edge rusher, to Tulane, No. 28 [player_tooltip player_id='426961' first='Russell' last='Babineaux'], the Acadiana wide receiver, to Louisiana (Lafayette), No. 30 [player_tooltip player_id='710072' first='D'Shaun' last='Ford'], the Opelousas running back, to ULM; and No. 45 [player_tooltip player_id='710768' first='Daejawn' last='Smith'], the Edna Karr wide receiver, to Louisiana Tech. Southland and SWAC programs such as Nicholls State, Southeastern Louisiana, McNeese State, Northwestern State, Southern and Grambling State all landed local standouts as well, including apparent steals such as No. 34 [player_tooltip player_id='145357' first='Lennis' last='Finister Jr.'], the Archbishop Rummel defensive back, to Southeastern Louisiana, No. 49 [player_tooltip player_id='291094' first='Kylin' last='Wheeler'], the Rayne wide receiver, to Nicholls State; and No. 54 [player_tooltip player_id='1221023' first='Kyree' last='Paul'], the Istrouma running back, to Southeastern Louisiana.     JAHKEEM STEWART RECLASSIFIES, HEADS WEST   The top-ranked prospect in Louisiana's 2026 class and one of the most highly touted prospects in the nation transferred from St. Augustine to Edna Karr and reclassified up a year at the beginning of what would have been his junior year. Stewart signed with USC over LSU, Ohio State, Oregon and others in one of the country's biggest storylines during the December signing period and enrolled early in January.     RUNNING BACKS TO GO AROUND   LSU and ULM landing Berry and Ford, respectively, were just the tip of the iceberg for Louisiana's loaded running back class. Our latest rankings include running backs as three of the top five prospects overall — as well as four of the top seven, five of the top 13, six of the top 24, seven of the top 30 — and a long list of other Division-I signees at the position. LSU signed top-ranked Berry and No. 3 [player_tooltip player_id='914208' first='J.T.' last='Lindsey'] out of Alexandria. Texas landed No. 5 [player_tooltip player_id='710073' first='James' last='Simon'] out of Calvary Baptist. Michigan pulled No. 7 [player_tooltip player_id='913900' first='Jasper' last='Parker']. Duke signed No. 13 [player_tooltip player_id='710077' first='Nate' last='Sheppard'] out of Mandeville. Liberty signed No. 24 [player_tooltip player_id='145332' first='Jaylon' last='Coleman'] out of Vandebilt Catholic. ULM inked No. 30 [player_tooltip player_id='710072' first='D'Shaun' last='Ford'] out of Opelousas. And Minnesota landed No. 67 [player_tooltip player_id='710079' first='Xavier' last='Ford'] out of Leesville.     TRANSFER PORTAL IMPACT   The impact of the transfer portal on Louisiana's high school recruiting continued to increase with higher-ranked academically qualifying prospects signing with FCS, Division-II, NAIA and JUCO programs than in any previous cycle since Prep Redzone Louisiana's launch. Captain Shreve safety [player_tooltip player_id='144898' first='Tre' last='Fuller'] (Navarro College), Dutchtown running back [player_tooltip player_id='1331302' first='Lekedrin' last='Harvey'] (Hutchinson), Jeanerette defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='915061' first='Dominick' last='Lewis'] (Garden City), Westgate running back [player_tooltip player_id='914094' first='Tavias' last='Gordon'] (Trinity Valley), John F. Kennedy receiver [player_tooltip player_id='914129' first='James' last='Evans'] (Hutchinson) and University Lab receiver [player_tooltip player_id='148530' first='Zay' last='Martin'] (Mississippi Gulf Coast) were among some of the highest-ranked JUCO-bound prospects.     MICHIGAN DOUBLE-DIP   The Wolverines hadn't signed a Louisiana prospect in more than a decade, but landed a pair of talented Archbishop Shaw teammates in the after mentioned Parker and wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='940926' first='Jacob' last='Washington'] — both top-20 prospects in the state. Michigan at one point was also slated to pull another highly ranked prospect, speedy Destrehan wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='426964' first='Phillip' last='Wright III'], out of Louisiana before LSU came in for the flip.     TOP OUT-OF-STATE HAULS   Familiar programs such as Ole Miss (4), TCU (3) and Mississippi State (2) were among the heaviest hauls of highly ranked Louisiana prospects by out-of-state programs. The Rebels hit the trenches hard for big wins in offensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='710075' first='Devin' last='Harper'] (Calvary Baptist) and [player_tooltip player_id='1331262' first='Kenneth' last='Boston'] (River Oaks), defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='913897' first='Corey' last='Adams Jr.'] (Edna Karr) and edge rusher [player_tooltip player_id='710273' first='Corey' last='Amos'] (Opelousas). The Horned Frogs took a similar approach with offensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1214126' first='Witten' last='Van Hoy'] (Benton) and [player_tooltip player_id='914088' first='Jackson' last='Jones'] (Pine) and defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='710074' first='Brody' last='Whatley'] (Neville). The Bulldogs meanwhile found speed on both side of the ball in Westgate's [player_tooltip player_id='914092' first='Davian' last='Jackson'] and Bunkie's [player_tooltip player_id='291084' first='Kyle' last='Johnson'], a pair of two-way standouts for their high schools expected to play receiver and corner, respectively, in Starkville. Notably at the FCS level, Stephen F. Austin also dipped into the state for its biggest wins in recent years, if not ever, in terms of highly ranked prospects in Opelousas defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='913912' first='Kyran' last='Moore'], Archbishop Shaw edge rusher [player_tooltip player_id='912251' first='Sheldon' last='Green'] and Parkway defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='144895' first='Carmaro' last='Mayo'] among their signings.

As the bulk of the 2025 recruiting action wraps up, the class shouldn't lack for its share of memories and storylines as the group transitions to college.