Six 2027 Lafayette prospects to watch this season

Louisiana high schools are fast approaching fall football camp and, in just over a month, the 2026 season.   A strong wave of talent coming through the state means plenty of notable players to watch — as usual for the typically rich recruiting ground — including many for the final go-round in their respective high school seasons.   Heading into August, Prep Redzone Louisiana will take a look around the state region-by-region at some of the most promising student-athletes to take a Friday night to see while they're close before heading off to college opportunities around the country.   Here are half a dozen seniors from the Lafayette area.   [player_tooltip player_id='934555' first='Braylon' last='Calais'] — 6-3, 200 ATH/WR — Cecilia   The Bulldogs will have an LSU-bound senior helping lead the team for the first time in decades, and Calais is one of the most versatile and fun-to-watch athletes in the entire state. He has stood out physically — including both his big frame and strong build and his explosive, breakaway speed — from before he even began his high school career. Calais is one of the state's top ball-winners in the air with his leap, physicality and hands and has been a high-impact playmaker all over the offense and in all three phases.   [player_tooltip player_id='934558' first='Ansinneo' last='Charles Jr.'] — 6-5, 205 EDGE/TE — Lafayette Renaissance Charter   There are only a prospects around the state who enter this season committed to playing nearby at the next level for not only a home-state, but a hometown college program, and the Tigers' long, athletic edge rushers is the latest after his July pledge to the Ragin' Cajuns just a few miles away. Charles was among the early ranked prospects in the class and, though battling injuries at times during his prep career, has shown that promise and production during great stretches when healthy. His recruiting process picked up notably during this summer, but there's a chance this fall that he makes the case as being still underrated.   [player_tooltip player_id='1612641' first='Markez' last='Davis'] — 6-2, 160 DB/WR — Northwest   The Raiders' multisport standout has been one of the major stock-risers around the state during the past year. Davis earned a PRZLA rankings as an underclassman as an athletic and springy, but raw wide receiver, but particularly exploded on the recruiting trail and shot up the rankings at the tail end of his junior year as a long, fluid cornerback who will now enter his senior season as as high-profile a prospect as the program has seen and a key piece of home-state LSU's commitment class.   [player_tooltip player_id='934589' first='Collin' last='DiBetta'] — 5-11, 175 WR/ATH — Acadiana   DiBetta has been one of Louisiana's higher-ranked wide receivers in a deep class at the position his entire high school career as a speedy athlete who creates consistent separation and hauls in everything thrown his way with his great ball-tracking downfield and reliable hands. His junior season in particular he showcased his versatility to be able to play all over the field on offense, including some responsibilities at quarterback, and in the secondary and on special teams. He's among the top still-available prospects for colleges to try to secure a commitment and figures to be one of the top performers in the state again in any and all capacities necessary to help perennial power Acadiana compete.   [player_tooltip player_id='1593755' first='Karon' last='Eugene'] — 6-2, 170 DB — Westgate   Many fans around the state will remember the long, rangy safety from his breakout sophomore season as a key piece of Catholic-New Iberia's dramatic run to a state championship. Now he's preparing for a senior season around the corner at Westgate where he could be a difference-making addition to an already-strong team with title aspirations. Eugene is an instinctive ballhawk with a knack for takeaways, but also a hard-hitting — not just willing, but enthusiastic — tackler who is the highest ranked prospect on the latest PRZLA list with a college decision still yet to be announced.   [player_tooltip player_id='1616374' first='Kyle' last='Horde'] — 6-2, 220 LB/RB — Westminster Christian—Opelousas   Horde was a breakout star and major stock-rising prospect for a Crusaders team that was among the notable storylines this past fall with an undefeated regular season, district title in one of the deepest races in the state and semifinal run. His performance as both an overpowering workhorse of a running back and a hyper-productive and disruptive tackle machine of a linebacker can't be overstated. And after seeing his recruiting profile take off dramatically following the huge junior showing, Horde heads into his final prep season as a Texas State commit.

Louisiana high schools are fast approaching fall football camp and, in just over a month, the 2026 season.