Louisiana recruiting updates during the first half of HS season

A handful of high-profile commitment announcements weren't Louisiana's only notable recruiting developments during the first five weeks of the high school football season — the month of September spilling into the first couple days of October.   Here's a look at eight of the most notable additional updates that caught our eye.     [player_tooltip player_id='401749' first='Cole' last='Bergeron'] — 6-4, 210 QB — St. Thomas More (2026)   The top-ranked quarterback in Louisiana's senior class committed to Virginia Tech this summer and remains locked into that pledge. But the Hokies fired coach Brent Pry in mid-September, which will make Bergeron an interesting prospect to watch during the next couple months depending on what direction the program goes with the hire and what impacts that could have on the class and the offensive system. Colorado and Georgia Tech had been other programs figuring prominently into Bergeron's recruitment prior to his summer decision, and Iowa, UTSA and others have checked in in recent weeks.   [player_tooltip player_id='1610246' first='Trey' last='Martin'] — 5-11, 185 RB/DB — Franklin Parish (2027)   The Patriots' two-way standout, a major rankings riser during the past year in Prep Redzone Louisiana's lists for the class, became the latest in-state prospect to earn an LSU offer when the Tigers made their move on Oct. 1. Franklin Parish's talented senior class has (rightfully) garnered the bulk of the program's recruiting headlines, but the talent continues into the 2027 class and beyond. And Martin looks like a legitimate Division-I prospect at either running back or safety.   [player_tooltip player_id='1356113' first='Marvin' last='Joseph'] Jr. — 6-0, 170 DB/ATH — Central (2027)   Another of the state's top junior standouts who enjoyed a notable September recruiting development, Arkansas extended an offer to Central safety during the first month of the season and took his process to another gear. Joseph was a key playmaker in all three phases for his Wildcats' historic state-title run as a sophomore and is now a prominently leader on a new-look team eager to maintain its position among Louisiana's top programs.   [player_tooltip player_id='401946' first='Christian' last='Ponti'] — 5-10, 220 RB — West Monroe (2026)   The Rebels' powerful running back was one of the first big 2026 developments of the new season with hometown ULM extended an offer Sept. 1. Ponti is a stout, strong athlete — also a record-setting powerlifter — with good speed for a back his build. And since the Warhawks' move, his ability was on center-stage with a critical performance in one of the state's headline outcomes thus far in West Monroe's upset of Catholic (Baton Rouge) in Week 4 in which he and the offensive line loomed large in big, game-changing drives.   [player_tooltip player_id='934571' first='Bryson' last='Phoenix'] — 6-2, 230 EDGE — Alexandria (2027)   The longtime Prep Redzone Louisiana favorite has officially seen his recruiting process take off during the first few weeks of his junior season with Louisiana (Lafayette) and Liberty extending the first offers and Louisiana Tech, Tulane, Texas, LSU and SMU among other programs ramping up their efforts and hosting him for visits.   [player_tooltip player_id='1606251' first='Zamaurri' last='Brown'] — 6-0, 205 ATH — Mamou (2027)   The speedy and versatile Mamou athlete has been one of the more under-the-radar prospects around the state in the 2027 class and will be one of the top debuts to watch for during Prep Redzone Louisiana's next round of rankings updates following the season. Home-state Tulane extended his first Division-I offer in September, and more will follow as more programs get the opportunity to check out his junior film.   [player_tooltip player_id='1845257' first='Dalen' last='Powell'] — 6-1, 170 RB — Ruston (2028)   The Bearcats' sophomore running back immediately backed up Prep Redzone Louisiana's early confidence in his potential with a four-score Week 1 performance in his first notable varsity opportunity. And the college offers started rolling in just a few weeks later with Louisiana Tech, Grambling State and Houston thus far.   [player_tooltip player_id='1618856' first='Darren' last='Coates Jr.'] — 6-0, 205 EDGE/LB — St. Augustine (2028)   The Purple Knights' quick, explosive edge rusher is another of Louisiana's top sophomores this season to already see his recruiting process kick off early. Alcorn State became the first college to extend an offer to Coates, who is already proving himself a major playmaker for one of the state's top teams.

A handful of high-profile commitment announcements weren't Louisiana's only notable recruiting developments during the first five weeks of the high school football season — the month of September spilling into the first couple days of October.