Louisiana 2022 Rankings: New faces enter top 100

The past four months, including the NCAA's long-awaited reopening of in-person recruiting opportunities, have seen dozens of Louisiana prospects drastically raise their stock. And 10 such standouts made their way from outside the top 100 in Prep Redzone's spring rankings release to as firmly inside that mix as No. 31. A pair of current Power Five commitments and another pair of Group of Five pledges headline the group, with a handful of others picking up their first offers with more likely to follow this fall. Check out some more information below on each of the new faces in the top 100 — as well as <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/08/louisiana-2022-rankings-top-stock-risers-entering-senior-season/">12 other previously ranked prospects who also made major leaps this summer</a>. And make sure to visit the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/louisiana/rankings/2022-rankings/">complete preseason rankings update</a>, which expanded the list of ranked prospects from 100 to 300. <strong>No. 31 — [player_tooltip player_id="186944" first="Zavion" last="Thomas"] — 5-11, 175 WR — John Ehret</strong> The Patriots' standout put the entire recruiting and college football world on notice the first week of June with a 4.32-second 40-yard dash at LSU. And Thomas kept raising his stock throughout a busy month not only by following up his impressive testing numbers at subsequent camps, but showing himself a well-rounded receiver in those settings and his high school's 7-on-7 matchups. He uses his speed effectively to stretch the field vertically, but also to break himself free on shorter routes. But he also possesses impressive strength for his size to blow up attempted jams at the line and sure hands to reel in even stretching and acrobatic catches. Thomas fell in love with Louisville on a visit and announced a commitment, but others, including Mississippi State, have offered since then and will continue heavy pursuit. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nqWVl2nsncI" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>No. 45 — [player_tooltip player_id="186945" first="Tariq" last="Watson"] — 5-11, 165 DB — McDonogh 35</strong> Speaking of speed in the city, the Roneagles' standout has plenty in his own right. The Minnesota commitment swiftly covers tremendous amounts of field to close on passes and ball-carriers and to immediately put opponents on their heels on changes of possession. And Watson consistently shows the instincts and ball skills to turn those tables often, whether making a read and snatching an interception or making a physical play and ripping fumbles free. The next in a line of McDonogh 35 defensive standouts could quietly become one of the biggest playmakers in the class with continued development in a college program. <strong>No. 56 — [player_tooltip player_id="186946" first="Jarian" last="Shelby"] — 6-3, 295 OL — Hahnville</strong> Tulane added a summer commitment from another prospect who is quietly among the best and most underrated at his position. The Hahnville left tackle is quick from his first step through his ability to get to next level or the perimeter to help free runners downfield and good balance and strength to be one of Louisiana's most effective blockers at its highest levels of classification and competition. LSU commitments [player_tooltip player_id="136546" first="Will" last="Campbell"] and [player_tooltip player_id="136547" first="Emery" last="Jones"] of Neville and Catholic (Baton Rouge), respectively, are the clear leaders of the offensive line class, but Shelby may be among the half dozen or so prospects vying for positioning in that next tier. <strong>No. 74 — [player_tooltip player_id="136559" first="Bryant" last="Williams"] — 6-7, 315 OL — Grand Lake</strong> The Ragin' Cajuns in Lafayette felt like they had found a steal in the big two-way standout from an hour or so west, outside of Lake Charles, even late in the spring as they offered and started recruiting heavily before other programs might get a closer look in June. Williams looked good throughout his junior season, a big piece of his Hornets' run to a state championship appearance with his overpowering of opponents on both sides of the ball. The biggest question was how that success might translate against bigger counterparts and higher levels of competition than his Class 1A schedule necessarily provided. He looked the part during stops in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, making the Cajuns staff all the more excited when he decided to commit. <strong>No. 79 — [player_tooltip player_id="186947" first="Justin" last="Washington"] — 6-0, 165 DB — St. Paul's</strong> The speedy defensive back moved to Louisiana from Texas powerhouse Allen and looks to have the potential to surprise a lot of people with his arrival to a much-improved North Shore district. Washington is a legitimate 4.4 — or better, as he's timed a 4.37-second 40-yard dash — athlete who covers a ton of ground on the back end, appears in some limited film to cover well on the perimeter as a corner and has good ball skills to create takeaways. Given his background, he shouldn't bat an eye at competition. But watching how he competes this season, particularly when matchups get more physical, will give a better sense of his ceiling. Nearby Southeastern Louisiana recently extended his first offer, but many more should be on the way. <strong>No. 81 — [player_tooltip player_id="186948" first="Jaylon" last="Henry"] — 5-11, 180 WR — Woodlawn (Baton Rouge)</strong> "J-Bo" garnered his first scholarship offer this summer from ULM after a strong performance in his Panthers' victory in LSU's 7-on-7 tournament. Tulane and other programs have also taken notice and could follow suit. In a talented receiving corps with a taller, longer [player_tooltip player_id="136735" first="Kyle" last="Jones"] and quick, speedy [player_tooltip player_id="138446" first="Tramon" last="Douglas"] Jr., Henry is the aggressive, physical presence who can frustrate defenses with his confidence and strength to make catches over the middle, in traffic and despite contact, but still push vertically and make leaping and extended grabs downfield. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">[player_tooltip player_id="138486" first="Rickie" last="Collins"] Jr. has [player_tooltip player_id="186948" first="Jaylon" last="Henry"] downfield for about 17 yards.</p> Woodlawn trying to cut into the lead before the half. 17 seconds left. <a href="https://t.co/PwUVzu2DAa">pic.twitter.com/PwUVzu2DAa</a> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1329970175995748352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>No. 86 — [player_tooltip player_id="136587" first="Quintin" last="Cook"] — 6-4, 250 DL — New Iberia</strong> The multisport athlete leaps to No. 86 after only narrowly missing the top 100 in the spring. Cook is explosive at the snap out of his three- and four-point stances from his end position quickly closing the space to opposing quarterbacks and running backs for big plays in the backfield. He carries over impressive springiness and nimbleness from the basketball court, but is also strong enough to overpower opposing blockers. And his speed and agility and big frame could make him a versatile lineman inside or out depending on his college landing place and scheme. Memphis, ULM and Southeastern Louisiana have joined Texas Southern in offering the Yellow Jackets' standout. <strong>No. 89 — [player_tooltip player_id="136663" first="Omiri" last="Wiggins"] — 5-11, 195 RB — Acadiana</strong> The district MVP during his Wreckin' Rams' run to a second straight Class 5A state championship had a chance to showcase a little more of his versatility during camps and 7-on-7 this offseason than is typically the case in the run-dominant veer offense. Wiggins is solid all-around. Decent size for a modern running back and physical even beyond it. Not blazing speed, but good enough to create problems for defenses when he finds a seam. And a more smooth and capable pass-catching weapon than many have had the chance to see. Idaho and Southern became his first two scholarship offers this summer, but don't be surprised if more follow once college staffs dig into their senior evaluations during the next month or two. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">[player_tooltip player_id="136663" first="Omiri" last="Wiggins"] ‼️‼️</p> Barring an increasingly improbable <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Alexandria?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Alexandria</a> comeback, the 35-yard exclamation mark on another <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Acadiana?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Acadiana</a> title. The big green veer machine can taste the title. <a href="https://t.co/vUQU1Zs4QH">pic.twitter.com/vUQU1Zs4QH</a> — Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1344478406696599552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>No. 94 — [player_tooltip player_id="136594" first="Kaden" last="Anderson"] — 6-3, 230 DL — Acadiana </strong> ULM, Arkansas State, Mercer and Houston Baptist have now extended scholarship offers to Anderson, one of the key returning members of the Wreckin' Rams' stout defense. Acadiana will have several athletic defenders in the box again this fall, so even with [player_tooltip player_id="63579" first="Cameron" last="George"], [player_tooltip player_id="63747" first="Derreck" last="Bercier"] Jr., [player_tooltip player_id="63685" first="Caleb" last="Arceneaux"] and other seniors now graduated, opponents will still have to find answers for both Anderson and [player_tooltip player_id="136576" first="Walter" last="Bob"] Jr. among leaders of a once-again balanced line up front. They each consistently made plays behind the line in 2020 and carrying that over even with the departed veterans would help add to that offer list. <strong>No. 99 — [player_tooltip player_id="136492" first="Tra'Klayn" last="Reno"] — 6-0, 210 ATH — Catholic (New Iberia)</strong> Whether he ends up as a running back, linebacker or safety at the next level, "KK" is a strong, solidly built athlete entering his senior year pushing closer to 210 pounds, but still with decent agility and speed — particularly once he gets a head of steam rolling to turn his 4.7-second 40-yard dash into an 11.4-second 100-meter. Regardless of where coaches put him on the field, Reno is a leader and playmaker.