11 new def. college commitments as summer starts with bang

Recruiting movement has exploded to open the summer not only with hectic camp and 7-on-7 schedules, but with a flurry of commitment announcements.   At least 20 prospects have announced college pledges during the final week of May and first week-plus of June, including several highly ranked on the Prep Redzone Louisiana class list.   Here's a look at 11 new commitments from prospects on defense, highlighted by a slew of standout defensive backs for which the state is often known.   [player_tooltip player_id='1372214' first='Chance' last='Archangel'] — 6-3, 225 EDGE/DL — Westgate —> Texas A&M   The bulk of the recruiting movement has naturally come from the rising senior class, but Prep Redzone Louisiana's top-ranked 2028 prospect also became the first member of his cohort to announce a commitment with a pledge to Texas A&M. Archangel's offer list includes LSU among a slew of others, making for a notable early win for the Aggies — but also notable competition to hold off for the next year and a half.   [player_tooltip player_id='1610129' first='Juelz' last='Batiste'] — 6-3, 225 EDGE — Edna Karr —> Ole Miss   The Cougars graduated a legendary senior class this spring, leaving big shoes to fill for the two-time defending state champions. The tall, explosive defensive end is the highest-ranked prospect of the 2027 group tasked with carrying that torch and has already locked in an SEC opportunity with a pledge to Ole Miss in the early stage of the summer.   [player_tooltip player_id='423247' first='Dylan' last='Henry'] — 5-11, 160 DB — Mandeville — South Alabama   The first of a few smart and versatile defensive backs on this list, Henry was among the earliest standouts on Prep Redzone Louisiana's initial lists for the class three years ago and has been a reliable playmaker and leader for his Skippers throughout his prep career. Whether snatching interceptions deep or getting physical closer to the line of scrimmage, he has been among the state's most consistent players and is a potential recruiting steal for South Alabama.   [player_tooltip player_id='739753' first='Landon' last='Johnson'] — 6-1, 175 DB/ATH — Madison Prep —> TCU   and [player_tooltip player_id='2056653' first='Jewellz' last='Tapp'] — 6-1, 170 DB — John Curtis —> TCU   The Horned Frogs dipped into Louisiana twice in the span of just over a week to land two of The Boot's top defensive backs. TCU was able to flip Johnson, a versatile star for Madison Prep and anticipated free safety at the next level, from home-state Louisiana Tech and then beat out Kansas State and others for Tapp, the speedy and instinctive cornerback. Both players were among the state's top takeaway-artists this past fall and give the Horned Frogs' class a pair of hard-nosed playmakers on the defensive side.   Kaston Lewis — 6-1, 180 DB/ATH — Iowa —> Texas Tech   Lewis was one of the breakout stars of this past postseason in particular, has blown up on the recruiting trail since this winter and is slated as one of the biggest stock-risers in the next round of Prep Redzone Louisiana rankings updates. And, on Saturday, he became a major recruiting win for Texas Tech to dip into their neighboring state and land the versatile playmaker, who has excelled in all three phases for his Yellow Jackets and brings an athletic, physical defensive weapon with a nose for the ball to the Red Raiders' class.   [player_tooltip player_id='424589' first='Ryan' last='Montague Jr.'] — 6-0, 170 DB — Destrehan —> Nicholls State   Another potential recruiting steal, Montague has been a highly ranked Prep Redzone Louisiana prospect his entire career despite some missed time that ultimately kept him more under the radar than his talent. Montague fits right into a long lineage of New Orleans cornerbacks with his instincts, quickness, ball skills and, as much as anything, his hyper-competitive mentality. He can lock down opposing wide receivers and isn't afraid to play physically both in terms of disrupting releases or tackling in space.   [player_tooltip player_id='1356151' first='Landen' last='Ortte'] — 6-2, 185 DB — St. Thomas More —> Louisiana (Lafayette)   and [player_tooltip player_id='1594309' first='Maison' last='Smith'] — 6-3, 275 DL/OL — University Lab —> Louisiana (Lafayette)   The Ragin' Cajuns continued a couple well-established local pipelines with two of their recent defensive commitments adding Ortte from just a few miles away in town and Smith from across the Atchafalaya Basin in Baton Rouge. Ortte is a big, tone-setting safety with the ability to play a versatile role in the secondary with his instincts, strength, ball skills and good verified speed. Smith has been a standout two-way player in the trenches for his Cubs, but is slated to start his college career on defense as a big, explosive and agile defensive tackle capable of being a disruptive force inside.   [player_tooltip player_id='934571' first='Bryson' last='Phoenix'] — 6-2, 230 LB/EDGE — Alexandria —> Texas State   The Trojans' explosive edge rusher, who continues to develop into an increasingly well-rounded linebacker, entered the summer with a slew of interested programs and potential visits on the agenda, but announced a bit of a surprise commitment to Texas State earlier this week during an impactful visit to San Marcos.   [player_tooltip player_id='1595354' first='James' last='Tyson'] — 6-0, 180 DB — St. Charles Catholic —> Tulane   The Comets' multisport standout was effective in his role this fall as a junior, but seemed to particularly open eyes on the recruiting trail this spring with his 100-meter dash runs consistently in the 10.60-second range. Tulane made its move after the school year and quickly succeeded in its pitch for Tyson, who will make the short trip to campus to represent the hometown as a great fit in the speedy-corner mold Green Wave defensive backs coach J.J McCleskey eyes on the recruiting trail.

Recruiting movement has exploded to open the summer not only with hectic camp and 7-on-7 schedules, but with a flurry of commitment announcements.