Louisiana’s biggest storylines halfway through a hectic summer
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And, just like that, the summer is already halfway through. June was an absolute recruiting whirlwind in Louisiana, as was the case in most, if not all, football-heavy areas of the country. Here were six of the bigger storylines around…
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Continue ReadingAnd, just like that, the summer is already halfway through.
June was an absolute recruiting whirlwind in Louisiana, as was the case in most, if not all, football-heavy areas of the country.
Here were six of the bigger storylines around The Boot.
The recruiting floodgates reopen
The underlying storyline to all the others nationwide was the extended dead period, as a result of COVID-19 concerns, finally coming to an end after 15 months. And athletes wasn’t no time whatsoever hitting college campuses bright and early on June 1 and keeping hectic schedules rolling all over the country. Most of the routes included at least one trip to LSU, with top prospects such as Shazz Preston Shazz Preston 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR St. James | 2022 State LA of St. James, Javae Gilmore Javae Gilmore 6'4" | 190 lbs | ATH Amite | 2022 State LA of Amite and Tackett Curtis Tackett Curtis 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Many | 2023 State LA of Many going coast to coast and border to border.
2023 QB dominos begin to fall
The college picture starting coming into focus for one of the most heavily anticipated quarterback classes — if not the most heavily anticipated — in the history of the state. This past week, Zachary passer Eli Holstein Eli Holstein 6'3" | 215 lbs | QB Zachary | 2023 State LA announced his commitment to Texas A&M to become the first member of the cohort to pledge to a college. The decision came two weeks after hometown LSU offered Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) standout Rickie Collins Rickie Collins 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) | 2023 State LA , who quickly appeared to become the likeliest to eventually land in purple and gold as the recruiting world also continues to read any semblance of tea leaves that come available on Newman star Arch Manning Arch Manning 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Newman | 2023 State LA .
Le’Veon Moss Le’Veon Moss 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Istrouma | 2022 State LA heading to Alabama
For all LSU’s annual recruiting success, the running back position has featured its share of twists, turns and misses at times. Three of the nation’s best hailing from south Louisiana appeared to bode well for 2022, but the first commitment of the trio became Baton Rouge native Le’Veon Moss Le’Veon Moss 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Istrouma | 2022 State LA of Istrouma’s pledge to SEC West rival Alabama. Nothing can become official until December, obviously, but the spotlight immediately appears to heat up on Tre’Vonte’ Citizen Tre’Vonte’ Citizen 6'0" | 210 lbs | RB Lake Charles College Prep | 2022 State LA and Trevor Etienne Trevor Etienne 5'10" | 210 lbs | RB Jennings | 2022 State LA of Lake Charles College Prep and Jennings, respectively.
New programs dipping into The Boot
Power Five programs all over the country have identified the upswing of talent in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 for an already typically talent-rich state in Louisiana and are trying to take advantage. Prior to Holstein’s commitment to the Aggies, he received a rare offer from Ohio State and another from Alabama in a span of days. The Buckeyes don’t typically recruit Louisiana much, but have offered multiple current prospects, including Holstein and fellow 2023 standout Jaiden Ausberry Jaiden Ausberry 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB University Lab | 2023 State LA of University Lab.
Tennessee added a commitment from 2022 Dutchtown running back Dylan Sampson Dylan Sampson 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Dutchtown | 2022 State LA , who would be the state’s first player to sign with the Volunteers since 2018. Mandeville receiver Landon Ibieta Landon Ibieta 6'0" | 190 lbs | WR Mandeville | 2022 State LA committed to Miami. Purdue drew pledges from University Lab defender Roman Pitre Roman Pitre 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB University Lab | 2022 State LA and Warren Easton center Malachi Preciado Malachi Preciado 6'3" | 285 lbs | OL Warren Easton | 2022 State LA . And the impact of former Catholic (Baton Rouge) coach Gabriel Fertitta on Louisville’s staff is already being felt with a commitment from John Ehret speedster Zavion Thomas and more offers than ever out to intriguing prospects in The Boot, such as 2022 athlete Jaylin Lucas Jaylin Lucas 5'9" | 160 lbs | ATH Terrebonne | 2022 State LA and 2023 defensive backs Jordan Matthews Jordan Matthews 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) | 2023 State LA and Jeremiah Vessel Jeremiah Vessel 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB University Lab | 2023 AZ .
LSU dips into 2025
The Tigers pushed their recruiting out to the Class of 2025 with a pair of offers in early June, including one to hometown athlete Keylan Moses Keylan Moses 6'2" | 215 lbs | ATH University Lab | 2025 State LA . The younger brother of Dylan Moses, who just moved on from Alabama to the Jacksonville Jaguars this spring, is following similar footsteps with big early offers rolling in before even competing in his freshman season and University Lab. Like Dylan, Keylan looks like a likely linebacker long-term, but appears to be breaking into the lineup first as a backfield compliment to a veteran running back — Dylan to Nicholas Brossette and now Keylan to Derrick Graham.
Louisiana Tech’s impressive month
In the north half of the state, the Bulldogs have somewhat quietly had a heck of a run of their own. Louisiana Tech hauled in its 2022 quarterback commitment from Calvary Baptist star Landry Lyddy Landry Lyddy 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Calvary Baptist | 2022 State LA in May and only picked up steam when the NCAA re-opened on-campus recruitment. One after another, coach Skip Holtz, associate head coach Joe Sloan and company added West Monroe cornerback Rayshawn Pleasant Rayshawn Pleasant 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB West Monroe | 2022 State LA , AJ Ellender wide receiver O’Ryan James O’Ryan James 6'2" | 190 lbs | WR Ellender | 2022 State LA and Huntington pass-catcher Kendrick Rucker Kendrick Rucker 6'5" | 195 lbs | WR Huntington | 2022 State LA .