Louisiana’s Top
40
This is our first ranking of the
Top 40 college prospects in Louisiana for 2007. These rankings will be
adjusted several times throughout the year as some will move up and down the
chart, and some who are not ranked will take the place of some who made our
initial list. Keep in mind that this is not a ranking of the Top 40 high school
players in the Bayou State as this is a list of who I feel are the top college
prospects based on a player’s skills, upside and potential.
Disclaimer: The schools listed below are not listed in
any particular order. Some prospects were strongly considered for the Top 40 but
I never received their highlight film or had the opportunity to evaluate them.
Once I have a chance to do so they will receive consideration for the July
rankings.
1. ATH Joe McKnight
5-11, 190, 4.5 John Curtis
McKnight is easily the state’s top
rated prospect and is one of the most versatile and exciting players in the
country. As a junior he rushed for 502 yards and nine touchdowns on 36 attempts,
and hauled in 20 passes for 497 yards and five scores. Returning kicks was when
McKnight was especially lethal as he averaged over 38 yards a kickoff return
with 1 touchdown and 29 yards a punt return with four more scores. For his
efforts he was selected 1st Team All-State and has an excellent
chance of being a five-star recruit when Scout.com releases its first edition of
the Class of 2007 player ratings.
2. S/LB Chad
Jones
6-2, 220, 4.5
Southern Lab
After transferring to Southern Lab
after Hurricane Katrina hit New
Orleans, Jones was a big splash for the Kittens as he
rolled up 84 tackles, picked off four passes and earned Class 1A 1st
Team All-State honors. He has great speed and quickness for someone his size and
could end up at safety or linebacker. Some projects Jones to be an early to
mid-round draft pick in the MLB Draft because he is a big southpaw that
reportedly throws in the low 90’s. He is the brother of current LSU defensive
end Al Jones.
3. DT Will Blackwell
6-3, 295, 4.8 West Monroe
Blackwell is very strong and has a
good first step off the ball. He
could play end or tackle but is destined to move inside at the next level. As a
junior, Blackwell was named Class 5A 1st Team All-State, All-Northeast
Louisiana, and All-District after totaling 80 tackles and eight sacks for the
season.
4. S/LB Stefoin Francois 6-2, 200, 4.6
East St. John
In eight regular season games,
Francois recorded a total of 141 tackles (67 sols and 74 assists), five and a
half sacks, picked off two passes with one going all the way back for a
touchdown, and forced four fumbles. Those numbers did not include three playoff
games where he estimated that he had at least 40-50 more tackles. The only
question regarding Francois is will he end up at linebacker or safety? He has
the speed and skills to play either.
5. DE/DT Luther Davis 6-3,
250, 4.75 West Monroe
As a junior, Davis finished with 74
tackles, six sacks, 10 quarterback hurries and 14 tackles for a loss. He was
named Class 5A 1st Team All-State, All-District, and All-Northeast Louisiana for
his play on the field. If you like recruiting drama then you are going to love
following Davis’
recruitment over the next nine months because his favorites change
often.
6. ATH John Williams
5-10, 175, 4.5 Breaux Bridge
Williams is a true two-way star who
earned Class 4A 1st Team All-State honors on both sides of the ball.
He rushed for 967 yards and 15 touchdowns, and passed for another 901 yards and
eight more scores. Defensively, he picked off eight passes with one going all
the way back for six and added 96 total tackles from his free safety spot.
Williams projects on both sides of the ball but look for him to get a look at
corner first.
7. WR Gabriel Bryant 6-2, 190, 4.5 Jonesboro
Hodge
Bryant played his junior season at
Crossett (Ark.) and finished with 54 catches for 1,154
yards and 8 touchdowns. He will finish up his high school days at
Jonesboro-Hodge and is expected to play quarterback as a senior. Several sources
in Arkansas followed Bryant during his junior
season and said that he was already a better prospect than Arkansas signee Damian Williams, who was regarded by all of the recruiting services as one of the top
receivers in the country.
8. DT Drake Nevis
6-1, 285, 4.8
John Ehret
Ole Miss got an early commitment from Nevis but the
Rebels will have to fend off many suitors after his impressive performance at
the Nike Combine at LSU. He was named MVP after posting a 4.87 time in the
40-yard dash and blowing past the competition in the individual drills. As a
junior, Nevis registered 80 tackles, eight sacks, and
earned 1st Team All-District and 1st Team All-West Bank honors. The talented defensive tackle says he is
committed to the Rebels but plans on taking some visits thus leaving the door
open for other coaches.
9. WR DeAngelo Benton 6-2, 190, 4.5
Bastrop
Some consider Benton a member of
the Class of 2008 because academically speaking he will be a junior, but his
eligibility on the field will expire following the upcoming season. Bastrop head coach Brad Bradshaw said the plan is for
Benton to take
extra classes so that he can graduate with his class in 2007 so that is what we
are going with. On the field, Benton is a super talent that has received
offers from some of the top programs around. Last season he was a Class 4A
1st Team All-State selection after catching 41 passes for 869 yards
and 11 touchdowns.
10. DT Rolando Melancon 6-1,
270, 4.8
Lutcher
Melancon burst onto the scene when
he was voted first team all-state and his district’s most valuable player after
his freshman campaign. His production never dropped off over his sophomore and
junior seasons as he recorded 198 tackles with 48 behind the line of scrimmage,
14 sacks, and 12 forced fumbles. There are several defensive tackles in the
Bayou
State that will be
mentioned frequently during the recruiting process but none are as quick as
Melancon.
11. WR Toddrick Bajoie 6-1, 205, 4.5
Catholic-Pointe Coupee
Louisiana is
loaded with blue-chip receivers and Bajoie is one of the state’s best. His
athleticism is what jumps out at you to go with his nice blend of size and
speed. As a junior, Bajoie hauled in 36 passes for over 1,200 yards and 11
touchdowns for the Hornets and was a Class 1A 1st Team All-State
selection. He averaged over 30 yards a catch and finished with over 1,500
all-purpose yards. The only knock on Bajoie is that he plays in a small
classification but this kid can flat out play.
12. S Tarence Calais
5-11, 190, 4.5
Patterson
Calais’
father is former LSU safety Ivory Hilliard and if the Tigers offer he will
almost certainly follow in his father’s footsteps and end up at LSU. Calais has all of the
ingredients you look for in a safety. He is very physical, coves a lot of
ground, and reacts well to the ball when it is in the air. During his junior
campaign, Calais
registered 162 total
tackles (97 solos), including 17 tackles for a loss, forced nine fumbles, and
was voted Class 3A 1st Team All-State.
13. TE Mitch Joseph
6-4, 250, 4.8
Catholic-New Iberia
As a junior, Joseph was a Class 3A
1st Team All-State, All-District and All-Acadiana selection after
hauling in 16 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns. He is a dominant run
blocker with good hands and good speed. Joseph committed to LSU at junior day
after receiving an offer from Ole Miss and interest from several top
programs.
14. WR Ahmad Paige 6-2,
165, 4.4
Sterlington
Speed is the name of the game with
Paige. He was a Class 2A 1st Team All-State selection after hauling
in 44 passes for 1,198 yards and 14 touchdowns. As impressive as those stats
are, though, what really sticks out is the fact that he averaged 27.2 yards a
catch and found the end zone nearly once every three times he caught the ball.
Paige would be rated higher but there are some question marks regarding his
weight and ability to get off jams at the next
level.
15. DE Jason Peters
6-3, 250, 4.85
Catholic-Baton Rouge
Peters
turned his game up a notch over the latter half of his junior season and if he
carries that over to his senior year he will give Luther Davis a running for the
state’s top defensive end spot. Peters is technically sound and is a strong presence
coming off the edge. Last season, he had a breakout junior campaign
with 58 tackles, 14 stops hind the line, 10 sacks, three forced fumbles, and was voted Class 5A 1st team
All-State.
16. DT Kantravis Aubrey 6-3, 285, 5.2
Bastrop
Aubrey is very strong, which is
evident from his 385-pound bench, and he moves well. Don’t be surprised if he
gets a strong look on the other side of the ball at guard when he gets to LSU.
As junior, he was a Class 4A 1st Team All-State selection after
recording 81 tackles, 10 sacks and 13 tackles for a loss. Aubrey committed to
LSU after receiving the offer at LSU’s Junior Day.
17. D’Montreal Wilson 6-4, 300,
5.0
Rayville
After making the move to offensive
tackle late in his junior campaign, Wilson has quickly emerged as one of the top
tackles in the South. He has very quick feet for a big man and his long arms
make him a good fit for defending the edge. Wilson could also play defensive tackle at the
next level but LSU needs offensive tackles and the Tigers got a good one.
18. Earl Patin
6-1, 225, 4.7
Southern Lab
Patin is a true
middle linebacker prospect with good instincts and he is very well put together
from a physical standpoint. He was named Class 1A 1st Team
All-State and finished his junior season with 80
tackles, including eight behind the line of scrimmage and six sacks.
19. ATH Jasmine Dalton 6-3, 205,
4.6
Independence
He may not end up at receiver but
Dalton will make
some coach very happy on National Signing Day. He is an exceptional athlete who
could end up staying at receiver, or making a move to safety, linebacker, or
even tight end. During his junior year, Dalton was voted Class 3A 1ST Team
All-State after hauling in 49 catches for 733 yards and six
touchdowns.
20. LB Korey Williams
6-1, 218, 4.6
Edna Karr
Williams
will give Earl Patin a run for his money at middle linebacker but Patin gets the
early nod for tops in the state. While Patin plays a little more instinctively,
Williams has a little more quickness. Williams’ junior campaign was
interrupted by Hurricane Katrina but he still had a solid showing in the
abbreviated season with 80 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks, two caused
fumbles and three interceptions.
21. LB/S Grant Fleming 6-2, 200,
4.6
St. Thomas
More
Fleming
plays free safety for the Cougars but anyone who has seen him play can see that
he has the traits of an outside linebacker. He is a huge hitter with good speed
and could easily be in the 210-pound range for his senior year. Fleming was a
Class 4A 1st Team All-State selection as a sophomore and even though
opposing coaches chose not to test the middle of the field, he finished his
junior year with 77
total tackles, two sacks and five pass break ups.
22. OL Alex Williams
6-5, 290, 5.2
French Settlement
Williams played his sophomore
season at L.B. Landry in New
Orleans but the school got demolished by Hurricane
Katrina. He did not play as a junior because the school he transferred to does
not have a football team so he will have some rust to work off when he gets back
in pads. Williams is projected to play at O. Perry Walker for his senior year
and he could potentially be one of the top offensive tackles in the South. If he
lives up to his potential then he will make a huge jump in our rankings.
23. WR/CB Aaron Johnson 5-10, 180, 4.5
Southern Lab
Johnson was voted the MVP at an
Ohio
State summer camp following
his sophomore season and the Buckeyes are the team to beat. On offense, he is
very fast and tough to tackle when he gets in open space. Johnson could end up
at corner too as he can cover with the best in the
state.
24. WR/CB Edwin Reed 5-9,
175, 4.5
Destrehan
“Little Reed”, as he is often
called by his coaches and teammates, is the younger brother of former Miami
Hurricane and current NFL Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed. Edwin will likely end up at
wide out when he moves on to college and end up as a slot receiver. As a junior,
he logged 34 catches for 645 yards and five scores.
25. CB Terry Carter
5-10, 170, 4.4
West Monroe
After playing safety as a junior,
Carter expects to move back to corner for his senior year to take advantage of
his blazing speed. In addition to excelling on the gridiron, Carter is also a
standout track performer with personal bests in the 100-meters of 10.4 seconds
and 21.37 seconds in the 200-meters.
26. DE Harvey Haynes
6-4, 220, 4.8
East
Jefferson
Haynes is a pass rushing specialist
but he would make a nice SAM linebacker at the next level. He is strong enough
to play on the line and quick enough to drop back and cover the short
routes.
27. DT Jonathan English 6-0, 295,
5.1
John Curtis
Some may question English’s height
but there is no questioning his ability to stop the run. He is a clog in the
middle that often takes on double and triple teams. When he goes one-on-one in
some summer camps coaches will see the true worth he brings to the defensive
front. English had a stellar junior year with 102 tackles, 11 sacks, and he even
picked off a pair of passes.
28. OL Alex Washington 6-4, 315,
5.3
Carroll
Washington played every position on the line
in Carroll’s spread offense but this year he is expected to settle in at guard
which is where he is projected to play at the next level. He has good feet and
the quickness to get out and pull and get downfield. Washington has some good
numbers in the weight room with a 345-pound bench and a 500-pound
squat.
29. DT Mason Hitt
6-2, 255, 4.8
Parkview Baptist
Coaches went to Parkview Baptist
two years ago to evaluate Lyle Hitt, who signed with LSU, and now they are back
after Mason. His first step is very quick coming off the edge but once he moves
inside to tackle he should really flourish.
30. Reggie Weams
6-0, 190, 4.5
Redemptorist
Weams has good range and does not
shy away from contact. He has a knack for being around the ball and making big
plays when they are needed. As a junior, Weams picked off seven passes and
registered 112 tackles in leading the Wolves to a state
championship.
31. CB Joshua Victorian 5-10, 170,
4.4
Destrehan
Victorian impressed scouts at the
U.S. Army All-American Combine when he ran a 4.4. As a junior, he picked off
eight passes playing opposite of Edwin Reed. Victorian is a solid cover guy who
could see his stock rise with another outstanding
season.
32. OL Matt Stone
6-4, 316, 5.4
Ruston
Stone occupies the left tackle
position for the Bearcats but is probably better suited for guard once he moves
on. He has great upper body strength and can drive defenders down the field. If
Stone works on his footwork and quickness look for him to end up playing major
D-I school.
33. LB Jacob Dufrene
6-1, 210, 4.7
John Curtis
J.T. Curtis has had more than his
share of Division-I players over the years and when he says Dufrene falls into
that category you better trust the Patriots’ headman. Dufrene is not the
fastest, nor is he the biggest, but you can deny the fact that he is always
around the ball making plays. He logged 95 tackles and 14 sacks as a
junior.
34. LB Dusty Rust
6-3, 195, 4.75
Captain Shreve
If you are looking for a player
that loves to hit then Rust has to be on your radar. Coaches are still trying to
decide if he is a linebacker or safety at the next level. Rust racked up 123
tackles, five sacks, two interceptions and six pass breakups last
year.
35. OT/DE Josh Dworaczyk 6-5, 260, 4.9
Catholic-New Iberia
Dworaczyk plays defensive end for
Catholic but he has the tools to play on the edge on the other side of the ball.
He has a long wingspan, quick feet and he plays with an attitude. If he shows
those skills and traits at camps then his stock could take
off.
36. OT Kyle Plouhar
6-6, 290, 5.3
Fontainebleau
Plouhar played his junior season at
Sprague High
School in Salem, Oregon, but is back at Fontainebleau to finish up his high school
career. He has a big upside with his size and should benefit from being back in
Fontainebleau’s
weight lifting program.
37. TE/DE Frank Alexander 6-4, 228, 4.7
Southern Lab
Alexander was a first team
all-district selection on both sides of the ball for the Kittens. He started at
tight end and defensive end, and with his frame and quickness he can play either
at the college level.
38. RB Philip Livas
5-8, 155, 4.3
South Terrebonne
Livas may not be the fastest person
in the state but he could very well be the fastest on the gridiron for 2007.
What he lacks in size he makes up for with his 4.3 speed. Livas had 1,223 yards
rushing and 24 touchdowns as a junior, and he also returned four kickoffs for
scores.
39. CB Sonny Roseborough 5-9, 170, 4.5
Pickering
Despite playing for a small school,
Roseborough is getting plenty of attention from some of the big boys. Coaches
are uncertain on where he will end up at but with his speed and athleticism
receiver or corner would be a good fit.
40. LB C.C. Carpenter
6-0, 210, 4.8
West Monroe
Carpenter was a Class 5A
1st Team All-State selection last year after leading West Monroe in
tackles with 122 and he added four sacks and 12 tackles for a loss. He has a
good nose for the ball and loves to hit.