Recruiting Steals: Notable Louisiana seniors awaiting first offer
Louisiana produces more NFL players per capita than any other state in the country. But, for a less metropolitan state than counterparts such as California, Texas or Florida, several prospects can slip through the recruiting cracks longer or even entirely.…
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Continue ReadingLouisiana produces more NFL players per capita than any other state in the country.
But, for a less metropolitan state than counterparts such as California, Texas or Florida, several prospects can slip through the recruiting cracks longer or even entirely.
Here are 10 prospects still awaiting their first college offers entering their senior seasons.
Jacoby Bellazar
Jacoby
Bellazar
5'10" | 155 lbs | ATH
Capitol | 2021
State
LA
— 5-10, 155 ATH — Capitol
The 5-foot-10, 155-pound Capitol star looks electric on his junior film and his new coach Corey Brownfield, a former college athlete who has worked around several notable prospects as an assistant at Southern Lab, beams about his potential. Bellazar was explosive in all three phases last season and figures to be so again in his final high school season.
Ryan Armwood
Ryan
Armwood
5'10" | 170 lbs | ATH
Episcopal - Baton Rouge | 2021
State
LA
— 5-10, 168 ATH — Episcopal (Baton Rouge)
The explosive 5-foot-10, 168-pound athlete earned District 8-2A MVP honors as a junior for Episcopal (Baton Rouge) at running back. And while one of the biggest questions has been whether he might transition to another position in college, he has expressed enthusiasm about working more at cornerback or slot receiver or anywhere else his coaches at the next level might see as the best fit.
Lanard Harris
Lanard
Harris
5'11" | 180 lbs | DB
Woodlawn - Baton Rouge | 2021
State
LA
— 5-11, 180 DB — Woodlawn (Baton Rouge)
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) safety is among the most athletic players on this list and maybe the most physical. He draws favorable comparisons to former Louisiana Tech signee Xavier Lodge for his physicality, which will be a centerpiece of the Panthers’ defense this fall.
Chavez Brown
Chavez
Brown
6'1" | 200 lbs | ATH
Terrebonne | 2021
State
LA
— 6-1, 200 ATH — Terrebonne
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound teammate of star defensive tackle
Maason Smith
Maason
Smith
6'5" | 300 lbs | DL
Terrebonne | 2021
State
LA
certainly passes the eye test and has shown a propensity to make plays all over the field — wide receiver, defensive back, linebacker or anywhere else he lines up. He should be in line for a breakout senior season.
Oden Pierce
Oden
Pierce
6'3" | 220 lbs | DL
Mandeville | 2021
State
LA
— 6-3, 220 DE — Mandeville
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound edge rusher is a defensive leader on a Mandeville team known more for quarterback
DeVon Tott
DeVon
Tott
6'2" | 170 lbs | QB
Mandeville | 2021
State
LA
, his weapons and massive lineman
Mackey Maillho
Mackey
Maillho
6'8" | 355 lbs | OL
Mandeville | 2021
State
LA
. Pierce is a productive playmaker at the Class 5A level, quick to the ball and into the backfield, and appears to have a frame that could add weight.
Elijah Clyde
Elijah
Clyde
6'1" | 170 lbs | DB
West Feliciana | 2021
State
LA
— 6-1, 170 DB — West Feliciana
As mentioned in the article on prospects finishing their high school careers in new places, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound defensive back is transferring from a small private school in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools into one of Louisiana’s tougher Class 3A districts. But his film shows a physicality that should allow him to translate smoothly to his new level of competition, and his new coaches are excited about what he appears to be bringing to the table.
Matthew McCallister
Matthew
McCallister
5'11" | 185 lbs | WR
West Monroe | 2021
State
LA
— 5-11, 185 WR — West Monroe
Playing in northeast Louisiana and for a more old-school, run-minded offense, the West Monroe receiver may be one of the state’s most underrated players at his position. He’s always been tough, quick, sure-handed and hard-working. And his diligence in improving his footwork and route-running has been paired with a growth spurt of a couple inches to push him toward 6-feet to make him an increasingly intriguing prospect to watch.
Jabez Thompson
Jabez
Thompson
5'8" | 155 lbs | WR
Bastrop | 2021
State
LA
— 5-8, 155 WR — Bastrop
The Bastrop athlete is one of the more under-the-radar of Louisiana’s several smaller, quick slot receivers in the 2021 class compared to more well-known southern counterparts such as
Lynarise Elpheage Jr.
Lynarise
Elpheage Jr.
5'7" | 150 lbs | WR
G.W. Carver | 2021
State
LA
,
Jalen Johnson
Jalen
Johnson
5'9" | 165 lbs | WR
Holy Cross | 2021
State
LA
,
Alred Luke
Alred
Luke
5'7" | 155 lbs | ATH
Warren Easton | 2021
State
LA
and
Eric St. Romain
Eric
St. Romain
5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH
Helen Cox | 2021
State
LA
in New Orleans or
Glynn Johnson III
Glynn
Johnson III
5'10" | 155 lbs | WR
Lake Charles College Prep | 2021
State
LA
and
Jaylen Joseph
Jaylen
Joseph
5'8" | 170 lbs | WR
Lake Charles College Prep | 2021
State
LA
. But the 5-foot-8, 155-pound weapon has the opportunity to be in the mix among the best few of the bunch.
Jermaine McNeal
Jermaine
McNeal
6'1" | 190 lbs | LB
Alexandria | 2021
State
LA
— 6-1, 190 LB — Alexandria
An All-Central Louisiana performer as a junior, the 6-foot-1,190-pound Alexandria linebacker looks like a slightly smaller version of Tulsa-committed Green Oaks standout
Jaden Moore
Jaden
Moore
6'2" | 210 lbs | LB
Green Oaks | 2021
State
LA
in their junior film as a quick backer able to make plays all over the field in Louisiana’s highest classification.
Ian Helmcke
Ian
Helmcke
6'1" | 160 lbs | K
De La Salle | 2021
State
LA
— 6-1, 161 K — De La Salle
The De La Salle kicker isn’t as well-known a name as Ole Miss commitment
Caden Costa
Caden
Costa
6'1" | 185 lbs | K
Mandeville | 2021
State
LA
at Mandeville across Lake Pontchartrain or LSU-committed punter
Peyton Todd
Peyton
Todd
6'4" | 210 lbs | P
West Monroe | 2021
State
LA
or Ruston kicker/punter
Caleb Phillips
Caleb
Phillips
6'3" | 180 lbs | P
Ruston | 2021
State
LA
up north. But he has performed well in big moments for his team and at kicking camps in the offseason, and top prospects in New Orleans mention his name quickly when asked about other recruits they hope their colleges will add to their respective classes.