La Tech, Cajuns headline La.’s late D-I FBS recruiting updates
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The final days leading up to this week’s traditional signing period have featured a flurry of late commitments to further settle the class heading into Signing Day. Prep Redzone Louisiana is continuing to monitor all the recruiting movement as the…
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Continue ReadingThe final days leading up to this week’s traditional signing period have featured a flurry of late commitments to further settle the class heading into Signing Day.
Prep Redzone Louisiana is continuing to monitor all the recruiting movement as the clock winds down on the 2024 cycle.
Here’s a look at more than a dozen new NCAA Division-I FBS announcements that caught our eye with Louisiana Tech and Louisiana (Lafayette) landing a slew of in-state prospects with notable talent to a mixture of scholarship and preferred walk-on opportunities.
Luke Wisham Luke Wisham 6'2" | 170 lbs | ATH Zachary | 2024 State LA — 6-2, 170 DB/WR — Zachary —> Louisiana Tech
The highest-ranked prospect on this list is actually somewhat of a delayed flip from the Ragin’ Cajuns to the Bulldogs. Wisham backed off a prior pledge to Louisiana (Lafayette) in December amid a renewed recruiting surge during a senior season working — and impressing — more on defense after playing receiver the bulk of his high school career. Despite some notable out-of-state interest in recent months, Wisham ultimately decided to make another in-state move.
Aubrey Hermes Aubrey Hermes 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Calvary Baptist | 2024 State LA — 6-2, 175 WR — Calvary Baptist —> Louisiana Tech
The Bulldogs also landed one of the state’s top remaining uncommitted receivers this week as the Cavaliers’ all-time leader in receptions, yardage and touchdowns made his announcement. Hermes caught touchdowns in state championship games as a freshman and as a senior to help highlight a decorated four-year career of 188 catches for 3,775 yards and 42 scores and will take his talents the short trip down Interstate 20 for college.
Riley Small Riley Small 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB University Lab | 2024 State LA — 6-0, 190 RB — University Lab —> Louisiana Tech
Coach Sonny Cumbie and company added a productive piece to their offensive backfield Tuesday as well with the announcement that Small would head to Ruston for college. The tough, physical runner surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for his Cubs as a senior, carrying 143 times for 17 scores as a workhorse for the Division-III Select semifinalist.
Alonzo Jackson Jr. Alonzo Jackson Jr. 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Haynesville | 2024 State LA — 6-1, 210 LB/ATH — Haynesville —> Louisiana Tech
The Bulldogs added another notable in-state prospect from a winning program to its defense with the versatile Golden Tornado standout, a three-way playmaker for this winter’s Division-IV Non-Select runner-up who projects as an athletic, hard-hitting linebacker with good ball skills.
Joshua Jackson Joshua Jackson 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR St. Augustine | 2024 State LA — 6-3, 180 WR — St. Augustine —> UAB
One of Louisiana’s top receiver prospects signed Wednesday with UAB after a recruitment that had heavily featured Michigan and Mississippi State last spring and summer before a commitment to Tulane under its previous staff. Jackson had been a consistent playmaker and leader for his Purple Knights throughout his high school career, a sure-handed receiver and multisport standout who stretched the field vertically and won 50-50 balls with his size, leap and timing.
Sam Altmann Sam Altmann 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB St. Thomas More | 2024 State LA — 6-2, 175 QB — St. Thomas More —> Louisiana (Lafayette)
The Ragin’ Cajuns added a second state championship quarterback to their 2024 class Monday with Altmann’s announcement. The hometown standout, a back-to-back Division-II Select champion with the Cougars, felt like one of the state’s more under-recruited prospects in the class down the stretch and gives coach Michael Desormeaux and company arguably Louisiana’s top two quarterbacks in the cycle, joining three-time Catholic (Baton Rouge) champion Daniel Beale Daniel Beale 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2024 State LA . Altmann completed 195 of his 350 passes this fall for 2,812 yards, 30 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Landon Strother Landon Strother 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR St. Thomas More | 2024 State LA — 6-0, 160 WR — St. Thomas More —> Louisiana (Lafayette)
Altmann will keep his top target home with him with the announcement by Strother, a pass-catcher scheduled to be a notable riser in the final Prep Redzone Louisiana 2024 rankings after a breakout senior season of 59 catches for 992 yards and 13 touchdowns in a bigger role.
Hutch Swilley Hutch Swilley 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB St. Thomas More | 2024 State LA — 5-11, 200 RB — St. Thomas More —> Louisiana (Lafayette)
The former Navy commitment, another leader on those back-to-back Division-II Select state championship runs, completed the Ragin’ Cajuns’ raid of the hometown Cougars’ offense for their top passer, receiver and rusher with his announcement Tuesday. Swilley carried 120 times for 963 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior despite missing time with injury and splitting carries in an increasingly deep and well-rounded attack.
Bradley Wright Bradley Wright 5'9" | 160 lbs | WR Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2024 State LA — 5-9, 160 WR — Catholic (Baton Rouge) —> Louisiana (Lafayette)
Speaking of keeping dynamic teammates from state championship teams together, the Bears’ speedy slot receiver announced his plans this week to head to Lafayette with brother Brooks Wright Brooks Wright 6'3" | 175 lbs | ATH Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2024 State LA , who signed for baseball, and the aforementioned Beale, a childhood friend and longtime teammate. Hometown LSU had offered a P.W.O. opportunity just days earlier.
Ja’Corian Norris — 6-2, 185 DB/WR — Tioga —> Louisiana (Lafayette)
The Indians’ two-way standout hadn’t been evaluated prior to the Prep Redzone Louisiana’s preseason rankings update, but is scheduled to earn solid positioning in the final update this month. An all-state senior season highlighted by nine interceptions and five defensive touchdowns garnered some late college push, but the Cajuns managed to keep him close to home with his announcement this week.
Ben Bienvenu Ben Bienvenu 6'3" | 200 lbs | ATH St. Mary's | 2024 State LA — 6-3, 200 ATH — St. Mary’s —> Louisiana (Lafayette)
Another longtime leader on a consistently competitive program, Bienvenu was a true all-around athlete during his high school career in all three phases and in multiple sports. The versatile standout missed much of junior year because of injury, but returned this fall as an all-district tight end.
Dylan Dicharry Dylan Dicharry 6'5" | 225 lbs | TE Dutchtown | 2024 State LA — 6-5, 225 TE — Dutchtown —> Louisiana (Lafayette)
The big Dutchtown tight end helped kickoff the Cajuns’ late run with his announcement Saturday. Dicharry epitomized the hard-nosed, physical attitude that the Griffins carried all the way to the program’s first-ever semifinal appearance as a willing and nasty blocker, but with the speed and reliable hands to hurt defenses as a receiver over the middle and provide his offense some flexibility to move him around the formation.
Christian Pillette Christian Pillette 5'11" | 175 lbs | ATH Erath | 2024 State LA — 5-11, 175 WR/DB — Erath —> Louisiana (Lafayette)
The Cajuns added another versatile weapon with a productive and decorated high school resume from about 20 miles south in Pillette, the leading receiver and two-way standout from Erath.
Seth Gale Seth Gale 5'10" | 160 lbs | WR University Lab | 2024 State LA — 5-10, 160 WR — University Lab —> Tulane
The Green Wave and new coach Jon Sumrall added a notable in-state P.W.O. option to a priority position in this 2024 class this week with the announcement of the all-state U-High receiver and returner, who caught 42 passes this fall for 988 yards and 12 touchdowns and returned a combined 20 punts and kickoffs for a total of 670 yards — an average of more than 33 yards per attempt — and four more scores.