Sports Talk Que: February 2023

It’s no secret that the state of Louisiana consistently produces some of the best football players in the nation. Here is an early look at who I feel are the best 8 players in the upcoming cycle (2024). Keep in mind that it is still really early in the process and a lot can change between now & December/February 2024. Let me know what y’all think and/or who I may have to look out for.

10. Bobby Kennedy (St. Augustine HS/New Orleans)

Billy Embody/On3

The 6’4, lbs. ATH is sort of a ‘raw prospect’ at CB after switching over from wide receiver following his sophomore year. He is a physical DB who plays close to the line of scrimmage, which at his size usually intimidates whatever receiver he is covering. He has good hand placement to defend passes when they come his way and from what I’ve seen he also likes to make tackles, rarely letting ball carriers get by him, He has offers from Ole Miss, Tulane, Southeastern Louisiana and Alabama State.

9. Kavion Broussard (Zachary HS/Zachary)

Sam Speigleman/On3

The 6’6, 250 lbs. offensive tackle is another player on this list that is making a change from a different position, but has taken to it like a fish in water. He has very quick feet which helps him neutralize the speed of rushers coming off the edge on the QB’s blind side. He also has a long wingspan and isn’t afraid to get down & ‘dirty’ with the physical aspect of playing in the trenches. He does have a bit of a slender frame but has a lot of time to add weight to play at the next level. Broussard currently has offers from Florida State, Miami (FL), Mississippi State, TCU and Texas Tech.

8. De’Myrion Johnson (Westgate HS/New Iberia)

Rivals

The 6’3, 280 lbs. defensive lineman lives in opposing teams’ backfields. Johnson can play both the interior and on the end. Johnson is great at using his hands to shed would be blockers at line of scrimmage and causes havoc once he is in the backfield. He also has a high motor and does not give up on plays until the whistle blows. He currently holds offers from LSU, Alabama, Texas A&M, Oregon, Ole Miss, Miami (FL), Auburn, Nebraska and other schools.

7. Wallace Foster IV (Warren Easton HS/New Orleans)

Rivals

The only reason Foster isn’t ranked higher on this list is because he missed most of this past season because of a broken leg. The 5’10, 170 lbs. prospect is a lockdown corner who essentially eliminates half the field. Has elite coverage skills, great speed and is also very good at making tackles in the open field on short passes to prevent long plays. Foster is currently committed to LSU, but also holds offers from Texas, Florida, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Tulane, Ole Miss and other schools.

6. Josh Jackson (St.Augustine HS/New Orleans) -

St. Augustine HS

The 6’3, 190 lbs. WR is a dynamic playmaker who has a knack for finding his way to the end zone on a regular basis. He has good speed for his frame, is excellent at getting separation from defenders, has great hands and is hard to tackle after he catches the ball. As of now, he has offers from Michigan, Ole Miss, Nebraska, Marshall, Louisiana-Monroe and Grambling State.

5. Wardell Mack (John Ehret HS/Marrero)

Rivals

The 6’1, 175 lbs. CB is very athletic and deceptively fast. Has great ball skills for a DB and can break on passes at the snap of a finger at any level of the field. This past season he played WR as well and created a lot a ‘highlight’ plays at that position as well & can take routine screen passes and turn them into touchdowns on a regular basis. He currently has offers from LSU, Alabama, Michigan State, Florida State, Texas, Nebraska and a host of other schools.

4. Ju’Juan Johnson (Lafayette Christian Academy/Lafayette)-

Coach Fuse

The 5’11, 175 lbs. ATH is a playmaker. While he primarily lines up as a QB for Lafayette Christian, he projects to be a defensive back at the collegiate level. That being said, he makes phenomenal plays with the ball in his hands on offense and is very exciting. It’s like ‘must-see’ tv. He recently committed to the University of Colorado but also holds offers from LSU, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Penn State, Oklahoma as well as a host of other schools.

3. Kolaj Cobbins (Destrehan HS/Destrehan)

Jerit Roser/Louisiana vs. All Y’all (YouTube)

The 6’4, 205 lbs. edge rusher is a monster coming off the end for the Wildcats. His speed and knack for defending the outside running game make him one of the most sought after prospects in the entire country. As of now, he holds offers from LSU, Michigan, Alabama, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Oregon, Colorado, Texas A&M, Tulane and others.

2. Tylen Singleton (Many HS/Many) -

Rivals

Standing at 6’2, 200 lbs., Singleton is a safety with great range and coverage skills in the open field. Singleton is an hard hitting playmaker who embraces contact which is a huge plus if a defensive coordinator wants to line him up close to the line of scrimmage too offset opposing teams run game. Singleton holds offers from LSU, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Southern California, Michigan, Florida State among others.

1. Trey’Dez Green (East Feliciana HS/Jackson)

Peter Rauterkus/On3

The 6’7, 230 lbs. TE from East Feliciana is the best player in the ‘Pelican State’ so far in this cycle. He is a legit dual-sport athlete that holds offers in football and basketball and I wouldn’t be surprised if playing both sports at the next level plays a factor in his college decision. On the gridiron, he holds offers from LSU, Alabama, Miami (FL), Michigan State, Colorado among others.

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