Recruiting: Top 60 metro New Orleans recruits in Class of 2023 (Nos. 1-30)

Last week, I gave the first half of the metro area’s best in the 2023 football recruiting class. Here is the top half of that list.

Many included have been bird dogged for multiple years by the biggest college football programs in the country.

1. QB Arch Manning (6-4, 215) Newman, no surprise here with the five star signal caller who has been garnering attention from college recruiters for years now. He has passed for 6,307 yards with 81 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, adding 742 yards and 19 scores as a runner during his time at Newman. UPDATE: Committed to Texas (6/23/2022).
2. OT Tyree Adams (6-6, 280) St. Augustine, 3.1 GPA, great feet, excellent body control, good pass blocker, pancake blocks for running plays, plays with balance. LSU and Texas A&M are his top two, Penn State, Ole Miss, Tulane, Duke, Michigan, Memphis, West Virginia, Indiana, Purdue, Fla. State, Houston, LA Tech, Florida and Colorado are making their case.
3. WR Khai Prean (6-0, 185) St. James (transfer from Ascension Catholic), will assume the role vacated by Shazz Preston who signed with Alabama in the ’22 class. Smooth route runner, great catching radius, a game changer. Visits LSU and Florida State. Auburn, Arkansas, Michigan State, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Michigan, Kansas State, Purdue and Colorado.
4. DT Kyran “Booda” Bourda (6-3, 300) St. Augustine, All District last season after tallying 15 TFL, six sacks and five forced fumbles. Has gotten stronger, explosive, controls middle of line. Florida State and Ole Miss look like top two. Arkansas, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Grambling, Louisiana-Lafayette, Texas, ULM, Nebraska and Louisville.
5. CB Ryan Robinson (6-0, 175) Edna Karr. Great confidence. swagger, a lock down cover guy, started as sophomore. Unofficial visit to LSU. Florida State and Ole Miss have separated themselves. Arkansas, Duke, Auburn, Colorado, GA Tech, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Nebraska, Mississippi State, Michigan State, Virginia, UCF, Tulane, Memphis and Oregon.
6. DT Tyler Bailey (6-1, 286) Ponchatoula, moves very well, strong at point of attack, great motor, uses hands. LSU is favorite, Auburn in the mix. Memphis is tracking him.
7. OT Caden Jones (6-8, 315) De La Salle, good basketball player, great feet, his uncle Marcus Jasmin played at De La Salle and Texas A&M before making the NFL. LSU and Florida State are front-runners. Colorado, Florida, Houston, Kansas, LA Tech, Mississippi State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisville, Tulane, West Virginia, Texas, Missouri and Texas A&M.
8. QB Dwayne “Lunch” Winfield (6-3, 205) Lutcher, maybe best QB in the area that few know much about. 3.25 GPA, Dual threat, passed for 1,155 yards, 14 TD’s and only one interception. Ran for 1,847 yards and 28 scores. In 2020 playoff game against Grant H.S. had 12 carries for 352 yards rushing a nd five TD’s. In game against St. James last fall, 28 carries for 263 yards and five TD’s. UCF and Grambling sit atop his current list. Louisville, Virginia and Nicholls are trying to sway him.
(tie) DT Jameian “Big Baby” Buxton (6-2, 275) Warren Easton, four star with 4.85 speed. transfer from Thibodaux H.S. can line up in one or three technique. penetration, very active, collapses pocket, beats double team blocks. LSU has advantage. Arizona State, Grambling, Nebraska, Kansas, Tulane, Virginia, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Miami, Fla. State and Georgia.
9. DE/OLB Jonathan Bax (6-2, 230) Edna Karr, 3.88 GPA, explosive first step, pass rusher, hot motor, very physical, good lateral movement. Tulane and Louisville struggling for top spot. South Alabama, Nebraska, Colorado. Southern Miss. McNeese and Northwestern State are in mix.
10. TE Will Randle (6-4, 230) Newman, good enough athlete to play baseball in college. Plays football, basketball and baseball for Greenies. Could excel as DE. All District as Freshman. LSU, Texas and SMU are top “3”. Alabama, Purdue, GA Tech, Miami, Kentucky, Tulane, Virginia and Purdue in mix. Will visit Texas June 16th with Arch Manning. The Longhorns are perceived as front-runner.
(tie) ATH/CB Jai Eugene (6-0, 191) Destrehan, plays QB for Wildcats but ticketed for secondary in college. Super athlete, dad played at LSU. Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Alabama, Houston, Tulane, Grambling, Virginia and Nicholls. Ole Miss has slight edge.
11. RB Elijah Davis (5-10, 210) Riverside, 3.71 GPA, 10.93 hundred meters, with 4.5. breaks tackles, a north/ south runner, jump cuts, a “stud”. Twice All State, Twice All Metro. Vanderbilt seems to lead the pack followed by Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Charlotte, Northwestern State and Nicholls.
12. WR Daniel Blood (6-0, 175) 3.7 GPA. Destrehan Great routes, sure hands, gets into riute quickly, PR extraordinaire. 1st team All district. 2nd team All District in basketball. Triple jump semi. finalist in track. Louisiana Tech leads group. Tulane, Liberty, South Alabama and Nicholls.
13. OLB Jierra Johnson (6-0, 218) Warren Easton, three year starter. tackles in bunches, leader in locker room, finds ball quickly, Kansas and Nebraska current leaders. Tulane, Buffalo, Louisville, UTSA, ULM and Southeastern.
14. WR Dakota Williams (6-2, 198) Hahnville, blazing speed (4.38). Tulane commitment. 21 second 200 meters. Game changer. injuries have hurt past two seasons. Houston, Colorado, are trying to flip him. Memphis, LA Tech, Mississippi State, Purdue, Stanford and Texas Tech watching with interest.
15. WR Kai Donaldson (6-4, 210) Newman, cradles ball, great leaper, good hands, makes tough catches, could grow into TE or H-Back. Long strider, basketball background. Tulane has made strides. Pittsburgh, Grambling, Fla. State, Virginia, Louisiana Tech making their case.
16. OLB Justin Horne (6. 2, 203) John Curtis, broke (NFL) former Curtis LB Duke Riley’s school record in 60 meter hurdle (7.93). Flies to ball. Can drop in coverage. Texas Tech maybe leader. Tulane, LA Tech, Vanderbilt, Troy and UTSA making it interesting.
(tie) DB Michael Richard (5-11, 170) Edna Karr, Committed to UTSA. Versatile, can play SS, CB or nickel. Also plays baseball. Virginia, Arkansas, Memphis and Mississippi State hoping to change his mind.
17. DB Ashton Stamps (6-1, 175) Rummel 4.43. Good range, press coverage, converted WR, heavy hitter, transitions well. Tulane and Nicholls are perceived leaders. Nebraska, Missouri and UTSA are in the hunt.
18. OT Christian Martin (6-5, 265) Destrehan, 3.6 GPA, starter as Jr. last season. Good feet, frame to get bigger. Mississippi State seems to have lead. Houston in the mix. Louisiana-Lafayette and LA Tech watching closely.
19. RB P.J. Martin (5-10, 205) De La Salle, 465 lbs. squat, 245 lbs. clean. great balance, breaks tackles, very strong, body lean, cut back runner, played as freshman for Cavs. Southland Conference schools and Sun Belt.
20. CB Kevin Adams (6-0, 185) Destrehan, 4.42, 10. seven hundred meters, All District. Challenges the run, versatile, transitions well, good hips, ball skills, anticipation. Could easily move up this list. Houston and Mississippi State have separated themselves, Nebraska, Louisiana-Lafayette, Virginia, Tulane, Liberty, ULM and Grambling.
21. LB/Safety Aviyon Butler (6. 3, 225) Ponchatoula, Great range, physical tackler, blitz off the edge. All District. Has offer from Virginia.
22. FS/SS Cade Middleton (5-10, 170) Riverside Academy, 4.55, 415 lbs. squat. runs alley, good blitzer, ball skills, forces turnovers.. Virginia, Mississippi State, Memphis, Tulane and Louisiana-Lafayette are monitoring closely.
23. ATH Torey Lambert (6-0, 200) Brother Martin, could be SS or RB, 4.45, 10.7 hundred meters, 3.7 GPA, strong runner, good vision, determined. 300 meter hurdles. Austin Peay, Marshall, Louisiana-Lafayette, Grambling, McNeese, Navy, Memphis and Nevada, Tulane watching closely.
24. DE DeShaun “The Reaper” Batiste (6-2, 226) John F. Kennedy, 2021 All State, Twice All District. Explodes off edge. Tulane, ULM, Alcorn, Southern Miss, South Alabama and SLU.
(tie) DT Alex Sumler (6-3, 230) McDonogh 35, 3.7 GPA, 500 lbs. squat, 230 lbs. power clean. Disruptive. Roneagles have produced a pair of D. Lineman who moved onto Nebraska, Neil Smith (NFL) and Terrence Moore (2007 grad). Nebraska in the hunt along with Mississippi State, LA Tech, Southern Miss,.
25. DB Lynard “Deuce” Harris (5-11. 180) Destrehan, 395 lbs. squat, 365 lbs. dead lift, 265 lbs. bench press. Super athletic, covers a lot of ground, will challenge the run. Mississippi State, Virginia, South Alabama.
26. RB Arnold “Duda” Barnes (5-11, 190) Booker T. Washington, 4.5. in 2021 compiled 1,577 yards rushing and 16 TD’s. Models game after (NFL) De Andre Swift. Good bounce, strong 2nd gear, YAC, open field runner, good student. LA Tech, Navy, ULM, Idaho, Charlotte and Tulsa.
27. WR Leslie “Slim” Jefferson (6-4, 185) Destrehan, tremendous upside, cousin of (NFL) Justin Jefferson. good separation in route, makes tough catch. 2021 2nd team All State. LSU, Memphis, Mississippi State, Tulane and TCU all watching closely.
(tie) QB A.J. Samuel (6-0, 185) Edna Karr, pro style passer, attended Elite 11 camp, good placement on throws, moves well in pocket. three year starter. Hawaii has offered.
28. OL Carmello Crump (6-3, 310) Warren Easton, can play OT, OG or center. ULM offer.
29. DE Jahrie Garner (6-3, 230) Believers Life Christian, St. Aug transfer, 465 lbs. squat, 415 lbs. dead lift, 295 lbs. bench press. Miami, Ole Miss, Florida watching. Has visited Miami and Fla. State.
30. DB Austin “Jake” Guillory (6-0, 176) Newman, 4.2 GPA, powerful for size, 250 lbs. bench press,, 500 lbs. dead lift, 250 lbs. power clean. All Metro, All District. Converted WR. Athletic, closes quickly. Holy Cross, Richmond, Air Force, Penn, Princeton, Army, SLU, other Ivy League schools. Could be cornerback or safety.
(tie) OG Landry Cannon (6-4, 330) Destrehan, 365 lbs. bench press, 535 lbs. squat, pancake blocks, powerful at point of attack. has made steady improvement. Can dominate. ULM and Nicholls offers, Houston, Louisiana-Lafayette and Mississippi State monitoring.