Louisiana 2026 rankings update countdown: Nos. 40-31

The 2025 high school football season is now just one month away — during which time Prep Redzone Louisiana will release rankings updates for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 recruiting classes and the first watch list for the incoming 2029 class.   That process began this week with the senior class, a 350-man list for the 2026 cycle that includes dozens of prospects already committed to Division-I programs and even more still looking for their homes at the next level.   As part of the update release, we will count down the top 50 prospects in greater detail, including many familiar faces but also a few new additions.   Here's a look at Nos. 40-31.     No. 40 — [player_tooltip player_id='1237632' first='Ari' last='Slocum'] — 6-4, 275 DL/OL — Union Parish   The big trench athlete hit the Prep Redzone Louisiana radar as a big, physical tight end during his Farmers' title run his sophomore season and has continued to move his way up the rankings list ever since and earn an SEC opportunity with Arkansas as a versatile defensive line prospect coming out of one of Louisiana's hardest-nosed high school programs.   No. 39 — [player_tooltip player_id='401763' first='Jackson' last='Fields'] — 6-1, 195 QB — Destrehan   Fields has been among Prep Redzone Louisiana's top tier of quarterback prospects in the class heading back to the first rankings freshman year. He particularly hit the recruiting spotlight this spring with a highlight-reel, rolling throw deep for a score, but he has been a consistent catalyst for his Wildcats during two seasons as starter and a big piece of the optimism around the team's contention potential heading into this fall.   No. 38 — [player_tooltip player_id='401986' first='Tylan' last='George'] — 6-3, 315 OL — West Monroe   The big, physical guard was among the state's most consistent blockers this past fall with a stat line of 95 pancakes without allowing a sack. George is one of Louisiana's top interior line prospects and a key member of another strong in-state recruiting class for Tulane as a mauler with the mobility and balance to be highly effective pulling across the formation, moving to the outside or chipping and getting upfield to the next level.   No. 37 — [player_tooltip player_id='1736359' first='Jeremiah' last='Birdlow'] — 6-4, 220 TE — Slidell   The Tigers' tight end is one of the state's highest-debuting prospects heading into senior season and another great under-the-radar evaluation and recruitment by the Ragin' Cajuns, to whom he committed in May after a whirlwind month during which his college list quickly gained steam. Birdlow is a multisport standout and versatile pass-catcher with great hands and the athleticism to line up and motion all over the field and create mismatches.   No. 36 — [player_tooltip player_id='710978' first='Alvin' last='Celestin'] Jr. — 5-9, 160 RB/ATH — Terrebonne   The Tigers' standout is a smaller back, but an electric and versatile weapon with track speed, the toughness and balance to play through contact and the receiving skillset to be effective anywhere on the offense. Celestin rushed for over 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior, caught 26 passes for 627 yards and four more scores and also racked up 160 kick-return yards and a touchdown.   No. 35 — [player_tooltip player_id='1602018' first='Scott' last='Smith Jr.'] — 6-5, 220 EDGE/DL — Central (Baton Rouge)   One of the more interesting prospects in this range of the rankings, Smith was a key piece of his Wildcats' state-title defense this fall and deep playoff run during basketball season, but had injury limited his opportunities to build on that momentum in the spring and summer. Still, he's among the state's top defensive line prospects in the class — a tall, long athlete already stout against the run and continuing to tack more muscle onto his frame.   No. 34 — [player_tooltip player_id='920615' first='Leon' last='Noil Jr.'] — 6-5, 275 OL — Edna Karr   The all-state offensive lineman and Nebraska commit was an anchor at left tackle for his Cougars' state-championship team with good length and athleticism at the position where he was effective paving the way for the team's running backs and helping protect his mobile quarterback and buying time on longer-developing passing plays as the offense took consistent shots downfield.   No. 33 — [player_tooltip player_id='710967' first='Chantz' last='Babineaux'] — 6-0, 185 ATH — Carencro   The four-sport, three-phase standout committed to Nicholls State this month and has the potential to be one of the steals of Louisiana's 2026 class. Babineaux is a heady, versatile football player with great ball skills, a strong combination of build and balance that enable him to play well through contact and enough speed to break loose for big plays when he has a seam. He has set program records as both a receiver and passer, while also being a playmaker in the secondary and in the return game and has the potential to   No. 32 — [player_tooltip player_id='1237623' first='Maurice' last='Williams'] Jr. — 5-11, 170 DB — Edna Karr   "Moe" is one of the state's top cornerback prospects in the class and a versatile defensive back who has shown the ability to play man on the outside or back at safety with great instincts, quickness and ball skills. The Cougars are loaded again this season with the secondary among the biggest strengths with Williams, who committed to Colorado this summer, a major piece of that puzzle.   No. 31 — [player_tooltip player_id='920609' first='O'Ryan' last='Mosley'] — 6-3, 295 OL — Terrebonne   The Tigers' right tackle is one of the top interior offensive line prospects is the state's solid class in the trenches. Mosley is mobile enough and quick enough to hold down the fort in pass protection and be effective pulling across the formation, but particularly stands out as a powerful mauler of a run-blocker with a good motor, a bit of a nasty streak and a habit for putting defenders on the turf. He's a big part of the recipe for Terrebonne having a pair of 1,00-yard rushers this past fall and gashing its way to big gains in the spring game even when underclassman backups were taking reps in the backfield.

The 2025 high school football season is now just one month away — during which time Prep Redzone Louisiana will release rankings updates for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 recruiting classes and the first watch list for the incoming 2029 class.