Strong WR group helps headline Louisiana's 2026 class

Louisiana's 2026 class has the makings of one of the state's strongest in recent years with the type of talent that can lay championship foundations.   The wealth of high-end prospects in the trenches — check out more on the cycle's <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/strong-ol-group-helps-headline-louisiana-2026-class/">offensive linemen</a> and <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/strong-dl-group-helps-headline-louisiana-2026-class/">defensive linemen</a> — is a major factor in the consideration and expectations for the group overall.   But a talented group of pass-catchers is among the other notable highlights for the class, including 10 ranked in the top 40 of the latest Prep Redzone Louisiana 2026 list.   Here's a look at those wide receivers making up such a strong contingent of the rankings.     [player_tooltip player_id='212340' first='Jabari' last='Mack'] — 6-1, 195 WR/ATH — Destrehan   On Saturday, the Wildcats' star became the latest commitment to home-state LSU's top-ranked national class, including its loaded receiver haul. Mack is the most thickly built and physical athlete of Louisiana's top receiver prospects this cycle, while also packing some of the best top-end speed of the bunch. He hasn't yet boasted some of the huge high school numbers of some of his counterparts, but showed notable strides this fall in his consistency as a go-to target in key moments and an all-around playmaker Destrehan could also utilize out of the backfield.   [player_tooltip player_id='1237613' first='Kenny' last='Darby'] — 6-1, 175 WR — Airline   Another top-10 prospect in Louisiana and four-star prospect nationally, the Vikings star led the state in receiving this fall with 100 catches for 1,764 yards and 24 touchdowns with a comeback junior campaign after having his sophomore season shortened by injury. Whether the vertical threat he poses downfield or his ability to consistently make contested catches with his length and body control, Darby has proven himself a highlight waiting to happen from anywhere on the field.   [player_tooltip player_id='920613' first='Jakai' last='Anderson'] — 6-0, 160 WR — McDonogh 35   One of LSU's first 2026 commitments with his announcement last summer and the first of the receivers, Anderson is dynamic athlete his Roneagles used as a versatile weapon with 57 catches for 972 yards and 14 touchdowns, plus 16 carries for 151 yards and four scores and a combined 518 yards and seven touchdowns on kick and punt returns. As much his quickness and speed stand out in his route-running and with the ball in his hands, he also shows flashes of ability to make tough catches on twisting, body-adjusting plays in the air or through contact.   [player_tooltip player_id='283987' first='Roderick' last='Tezeno Jr.'] — 6-2, 175 WR/DB — Opelousas Catholic   The first of a few notable multisport football/basketball athletes on this list, Tezeno packs some of the fluidity, catch radius and high-point ability expected with that background and possesses some of the best all-around ball skills of this list — making a habit this 7-on-7 season of one-handed catches on both sides of the ball — and also flashes some speed to stretch the field vertically.   [player_tooltip player_id='457340' first='Desmen' last='Jefferson'] — 5-10, 175 WR — Ferriday   The first of the smaller, quicker weapons on this list, Jefferson has been a dynamic playmaker for his Trojans the entirety of his high school career, including back-to-back all-state honorable mention selection — the latest coming in a junior campaign in which he ended just 35 catches to rack up 890 yards and 13 scores. He is explosive off the line and can get through opposing defenses in the blink of an eye, whether stretching the field with vertical routes or finding a seam for huge gains after the catch.   [player_tooltip player_id='710975' first='Jaden' last='Carter'] — 5-9, 175 WR — Covenant Christian   After having to show some patience following his transfer sophomore year from nearby A.J. Ellender, Carter made the most of his opportunities in all three phases as a key playmaker for an ascending Covenant Christian program which had its best season in school history. "Baby J" is a quick, explosive athlete with good speed and a springy leap and body control in the air enable him to play bigger at times than his height would suggest.   [player_tooltip player_id='1601751' first='Jeremiah' last='Bushnell'] — 6-3, 185 WR — Iowa   The long, athletic pass-catcher was one of the highest-debuting prospects in this winter's 2026 rankings update after a junior campaign in which he caught 61 passes for 1,103 yards and 13 touchdowns, while also carrying 36 times for 392 yards and four scores. Bushnell's catch radius and strong hands pop out on film with his ability to consistently make even highlight-reel, one-handed catches. But he is a well-rounded prospect who shows good burst off the line and out of his breaks and long speed to push downfield vertically.   [player_tooltip player_id='1238574' first='Ze'land' last='Young'] — 6-4, 190 WR — Neville   Young is a tall, athletic pass-catcher who showed some intriguing flashes as an underclassman finally saw heavy action as a junior and did so with the wrinkle of seeing many snaps as an in-line tight end alongside his Tigers' tackles in addition to his snaps out the outside. The multisport standout showed flashes of some big-play ability down the field with 10 catches for 156 yards and two scores, but becomes particularly interesting to watch from a positional standpoint as he continues to develop physically into the biggest body on this list.   [player_tooltip player_id='920618' first='Kristion' last='Brooks'] — 6-4, 180 WR — Zachary   Another of the state's long, lean receivers with a basketball background, Brooks has faced one of the highest levels of competition of this group and held his own as a top target for his perennial power Broncos. The Louisiana (Lafayette) commit, who picked up a recent offer from Pittsburgh, has also shown some of the best burst of the state's taller receivers that shows up as he gains an advantage in his vertical routes or as turns swiftly upfield for yards after the catches and screens and other short, quick routes.   [player_tooltip player_id='710969' first='Gregory' last='Wilfred'] — 5-9, 165 WR — Edna Karr   Likely the sharpest route-runner of the bunch, Wilfred doesn't boast the eye-catching measurable of some of his tall, long counterparts in the class, but consistently creates separation with his quickness, catches everything his direction and shows good toughness and balance through contact to make him dangerous with the ball in his hands after the catch or as a versatile weapon who can also work out of the backfield.

Louisiana's 2026 class has the makings of one of the state's strongest in recent years with the type of talent that can lay championship foundations.