Louisiana 2027 rankings update countdown: Top 10

<p>The 2025 high school football season is less than a month away — during which time Prep Redzone Louisiana is in the process of releasing rankings updates for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 recruiting classes and the first watch list for the incoming 2029 class.</p>   <p>A new 185-man list for the 2027 cycle hits the site this week. And, along with the update, we will count down the top 50 prospects in greater detail, including many familiar faces but also a few new additions.</p>   <p>Here's a look at the new top 10. </p>   <p><strong>No. 10 — [player_tooltip player_id='739720' first='Jayden' last='Miles'] — 6-2, 205 RB — Catholic (Baton Rouge)</strong></p>   <p>The Bears' second running back and fourth prospect overall in the top-50 countdown, Miles has become a steady presence near the top of the 2027 rankings the past couple years. He is a big, physical back with the power to bowl over defenders and the burst to gash his way upfield for bigger gains when provided a running lane, but he has also shown the ability to be a reliable receiver out of the backfield to be a well-rounded, three-down back. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w3kddMQzrI </div></figure>   <p><strong>No. 9 — [player_tooltip player_id='934559' first='Javon' last='Vital Jr.'] — 5-10, 195 ATH — Hamilton Christian</strong></p>   <p>Vital makes a nice climb up the rankings and into the top 10. The all-everything, all-everywhere athlete — a four-sport, three-phase star for the Warriors — has always been among the most versatile and dynamic prospects in the class, and he's continued to get notably bigger and stronger during the past year. Vital earned all-state honors as a sophomore in both football and basketball, including a loaded football stat sheet with big numbers as a passer, rusher, defensive back and return man, and his ball skills have also made him a dangerous receiver when given the opportunity.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79lucuomQvA </div></figure>   <p><strong>No. 8 — [player_tooltip player_id='465282' first='Malachi' last='Zeigler'] — 6-3, 200 QB — Benton</strong></p>   <p>As we've mentioned previously, the Tigers' standout quarterback is far more in the mix of the state's top prospects at the position than he appeared to receive credit early on. And Zeigler consistently showcased that throughout a strong offseason on the camp circuit in which he garnered praise for his touch and accuracy on the deep ball. He possesses great size, arm strength and athleticism for the next level. And Zeigler will be an interesting player to watch this fall to see how his continued experience, development and confidence translates to production on Friday nights.</p>   <p><strong>No. 7 — [player_tooltip player_id='1593755' first='Karon' last='Eugene'] — 6-2, 170 DB — Catholic (New Iberia)</strong></p>   <p>Another of the notable risers into the top 10, the Panthers' safety is a rangy, but physical ballhawk on the back end of the reigning Division-III Select champions' defense who does not shy away from playing physically both in space or when called upon to come down closer to the line of scrimmage. Eugene followed up a great, all-state season this past fall with a strong offseason and has continued to emergence as one of the nation's top prospects as a well-rounded playmaker at safety.</p>   <p><strong>No. 6 — [player_tooltip player_id='934555' first='Braylon' last='Calais'] — 6-3, 200 ATH — Cecilia</strong></p>   <p>Calais has been among the mainstays of the 2027 top 10, in the No. 3 to 6 range, throughout his entire high school career and has continued to develop into one of the most versatile prospects in the class. The physical, three-phase standout enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign this past fall primarily at running back and strong safety as a key piece of the Division-II Non-Select title run alongside a great senior class. This year, Calais will have the opportunity to be more of a focal point for the Bulldogs, still working primarily at running back, but also having opportunities to utilize his strengths as one of the state's top pass-catchers.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3P9ZyoGK58 </div></figure>   <p><strong>No. 5 — [player_tooltip player_id='469439' first='Ahmad' last='Hudson'] — 6-7, 240 TE — Ruston</strong></p>   <p>The Bearcats' multisport star earned all-state honors on both the football field and the basketball court as a sophomore and then put on an absolute show at LSU's highest-profile and most-competitive recruiting camp event of the summer with one highlight-reel catch after another. His progression the past two years has been impressive in terms of his ability to create separation and his overall production. And as he continues to get bigger and stronger, if his consistency and physicality as a blocker follows suit, he has the chance to be as good as any other tight end to come out of the state in recent history.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwvqAp-oRHc </div></figure>   <p><strong>No. 4 — [player_tooltip player_id='723579' first='Easton' last='Royal'] — 5-11, 185 WR/ATH — Brother Martin</strong></p>   <p>Royal makes another nice leap up the rankings into the top five of the class after an offseason of consistently showcasing an elite, top-end speed he admitted he didn't even realize he possessed with 10.38-second 100-meter and 4.29-second 40-yard dashes. The Crusaders' budding star has always been a smooth athlete with a strong build, great hands and a good natural feel for shifting gears and finding windows in opposing defenses, and he continues to become more dangerous than ever with his speed training and more reps in a variety of highly competitive settings.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o-Aj5VoMBo </div></figure>   <p><strong>No. 3 — [player_tooltip player_id='642719' first='Elijah' last='Haven'] — 6-4, 205 QB — Dunham</strong></p>   <p>One of the biggest faces of Louisiana's loaded 2027 class, the Tigers' quarterback possesses sky-high potential with his tall frame, strong arm, athleticism and even-keel demeanor and leadership. Haven was already among Louisiana's most productive playmakers at the position with more than 3,000 yards and 37 touchdowns as a passer and another 900-plus yards and 19 scores as a rusher. And this offseason, for the first time in his high school career, he passed on AAU basketball season to devote more time to his continued development as a passer in preparation for a season in which Dunham is once again eying title contention with Haven at the helm.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_ekVWytiPM </div></figure>   <p><strong>No. 2 — [player_tooltip player_id='261907' first='Peyton' last='Houston'] — 6-0, 195 QB — Evangel Christian</strong></p>   <p>"Pop" continues to keep the slight edge in our tightly packed top tier of talented quarterback prospects. The biggest knock on the Eagles' star has tended to be his shorter stature than his peers, but he is also the most polished passer and field general of the group and has already put up prolific and even record-setting numbers in Louisiana's highest classification level this past fall in his first season as the starter. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYR76UU2ZZw </div></figure>   <p><strong>No. 1 — [player_tooltip player_id='1593644' first='Albert' last='Simien'] — 6-4, 280 OL — Sam Houston </strong></p>   <p>The Broncos' big, athletic blocker debuted in the top 10 this past winter and overtakes the top spot heading into junior year. Simien is a multisport standout for his high school who possesses the mobility and motor, like other top tackles through the years, to also be an effective participant on the basketball court. That athleticism shows in the powerful and tenacious left tackle's ability to bounce outside or get well downfield ahead as a lead in his team's productive rushing attack. Simien is being projected as an interior lineman at the next level, but possesses a strong athletic profile and enough size to potentially bring some positional versatility to an OL room. </p>

The 2025 high school football season is less than a month away — during which time Prep Redzone Louisiana is in the process of releasing rankings updates for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 recruiting classes and the first watch list for the incoming 2029 class.