La Tech, Cajuns commits lead LA defensive recruiting updates

Only the first trio of Louisiana's top 2027 prospects had announced college commitments prior to this week, but the dominos appear to be starting to fall around the state.   Offers have been rolling in all over the state, and athletes have started making spring visits and locking in their summer schedules for more as they zero in on their primary options.   Two players announced pledges this week, helping kick off two in-state programs' recruiting classes, and more appear poised to follow sooner than later.   Here's a look at some of the biggest new developments in recent weeks among prospects on the defensive side of the ball.     [player_tooltip player_id='739753' first='Landon' last='Johnson'] — 6-1, 175 DB/ATH — Madison Prep —> Louisiana Tech   The Chargers' three-phase star became the first commitment of home-state Louisiana Tech's 2027 class with his announcement this weekend. "Manu" has been highly ranked from Prep Redzone Louisiana's first lists for the class and now has a long résumé of production and highlights in the secondary and return game and at both quarterback and wide receiver. The Bulldogs see the versatile playmaker's athleticism, instincts and ball skills making him a weapon at free safety, where he hopes to get on the field early in Ruston.   [player_tooltip player_id='1357863' first='Kobe' last='Smith'] — 6-2, 260 DL/EDGE — Avoyelles —> Louisiana (Lafayette)   Another of Louisiana's top prospects at his position announced his pledge just a few days later to another in-state program as Smith committed to the Ragin' Cajuns, just about an hour from his hometown. Smith has been a standout on his Mustangs defense from early in his prep career and continues to make major strides in both his physical development and his production with his goals ahead including competing for a state championship in track this spring, putting together a particularly prolific senior season and setting himself up for early playing time in Lafayette.   [player_tooltip player_id='1256653' first='Derrick' last='Dunbar'] Jr. — 6-2, 205 EDGE/LB — Covington   The explosive, disruptive linebacker has seen his recruitment take off following a productive junior season in which he wrapped up more than 100 tackles, including nine for loss and four sacks. The Ragin' Cajuns kicked off his first string of offers during the past month and a half with South Alabama, McNeese State and Southeastern Louisiana all quickly joining that list. Tulane and Cincinnati have been among other programs showing interest, with the Green Wave hosting him earlier this month and Bearcats set to host him in early April.   [player_tooltip player_id='463125' first='Savoy' last='Guidry'] — 6-1, 180 DB — Holy Cross   The Holy Cross standout was among Prep Redzone Louisiana's earliest ranked prospects in the 2027 class and has been among the cohort's most consistently recruited during the past two and a half years with more than a dozen offers already reported before the end of his junior season. But he's now nearing almost as many during the first three months of the new calendar year, including several major programs, as Arkansas, Old Dominion, Nebraska, Stanford, Oregon State, Kansas State, Colorado, Purdue, Kentucky and South Alabama have made their moves. Several of those programs and others to have previously offered, such as Florida State and Houston, have   [player_tooltip player_id='2076022' first='Kyle' last='Horde'] — 6-2, 220 LB/RB — Westminster Christian-Opelousas   Both Horde and his Crusaders' team were among the breakout stars of Louisiana's high school football season this fall with the best season in program history and a highly productive performance on both sides of the ball by the junior linebacker and running back — including well over 100 tackles and an LSWA all-state selection on defense. For Horde, the offers have started to follow during the past month and a half with McNeese State, Central Arkansas, North Texas, Southeastern Louisiana and Tulane all in pursuit. And Horde is checking out his options, including a visit this past week to North Texas and an official visit to Tulane set for the first weekend of June.   [player_tooltip player_id='934563' first='Devin' last='Lavalais'] — 6-2, 175 ATH — Marksville   "Bam" has been highly ranked on Prep Redzone Louisiana's 2027 lists from the beginning of his high school career as one of the top all-around athletes in his class. And, during his and his Tigers' run to a Division-III Non-Select basketball state championship this spring, the college football offers have started to fall into place with McNeese State, South Alabama, North Alabama and Northwestern State extending his first wave of options.   [player_tooltip player_id='1782943' first='Kyron' last='Turner'] — 6-4, 185 DB — Haughton   The long, rangy and speedy safety picked up a pair of offers last summer from Jackson State and McNeese State and was being monitored by LSU and several other programs heading into his junior season. And his recruiting process has continued to gain gradual steam during the past few months. Nearby Louisiana Tech hosted and offered him in late November. Louisiana (Lafayette) — including head coach Michael Desormeaux — visited him and offered in late January. And now Cincinnati has become the first Power Four program to join his list of offers as this offseason heats up.   [player_tooltip player_id='1356164' first='Jayden' last='Vessell'] — 6-2, 225 EDGE/DL — Catholic-Baton Rouge   Vessell is another prospect who had landed firmly on the recruiting radar prior to his junior season, but has only continued to solidify his stature since then as one of the best in the class in terms of both his production this fall and the offers on the recruiting trail to match. Louisiana Tech and Louisiana (Lafayette) kicked off his new year with offers in late January and early February, Old Dominion and McNeese State joined his list as February continued and now Air Force has added yet another of his biggest offers to date in mid-March.

Only the first trio of Louisiana's top 2027 prospects had announced college commitments prior to this week, but the dominos appear to be starting to fall around the state.