Top 50 football recruits in metro New Orleans for 2018, Part 2 (1-25)

The 2018 recruiting class is ripe with talent in the greater New Orleans area.

Out of my top 50 players (actually 52, since there were a couple of ties in Part One of this list), the offense consumes 25 spots while the defense grabbed 27.

If you’re seeking skill, this is the place to be. There are 17 defensive backs and 12 wide receivers in the top 50-plus.

As for which schools seem to corral the most talent in this year’s class, defending Class 5A champion Landry-Walker is represented by an impressive seven players. McDonogh 35, John Curtis, De La Salle and St. Augustine all have four players on the top 50 list. John Ehret and Warren Easton each with three. Hannan, Edna Karr, Riverside, Northshore, Salmen, Hahnville and Rummel all had two players land on this collection.

1-WR Devonta Jason (6-3, 211) Landry-Walker. An NFL body for a wide receiver. He is committed to Kansas despite efforts from LSU, Notre Dame, Arizona, TCU, Missouri, Ole Miss, Florida, Auburn, Fla. State, Texas A&M, Tennessee and Georgia to flip him. Super catching radius, will make circus catches, great hands, eats up ground in his route, glides past defenders, acceleration, a night mare to cover, super work habits.

2-WR Ja’Marr Chase (6-1, 200) Rummel. University of Florida commitment who first pledged to Kansas. LSU and TCU still feel that they have a shot. A game changer, had 634 yards receiving with 11 touchdowns in 2016. One game had 226 yards against U-High. Catches in a crowd. Super practice habits and desire to excel. 4.5 forty and state champ with 24′ 2 1/2″ long jump. Protects ball, natural skills. Grasps concept quickly.

3-WR Lawrence Keys III (5-11, 165) McDonogh 35. LSU has seemed to jump to forefront. Glides through coverage, as quick as a cheata, good separation, 4.35 forty, 10.3 hundred. Great catching radius, acrobatic catches, Finger tip grabs. Will blow past press coverage. 52 catches for 975 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2016. Arkansas, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Miss. State, Texas A&M, TCU making a push.

4-CB Corione Harris (6-1, 170) Landry-Walker. Kansas commit. Runs like a deer, PG in basketball, smooth, covers a lot of ground, great reach, reactions to ball, plants and drives to ball. Good in man coverage. Shadows receiver. Exudes confidence. LSU feels they still have a shot, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Auburn, Texas, Florida and Oklahoma in the hunt.

5-DB Joe Foucha (6-0, 195) McDonogh 35. Top seven appear to be LSU, Alabama, Florida State, Auburn, Kansas, Arkansas, Arizona State. Drops hammer on anyone in his area, will light up receiver. Very physical, plays in box, open field tackler, could grow into OLB, no false steps, plays with juice

6-WR Jammal Houston (6-2, 185) John Ehret committed to Colorado State July 24th. Miss. State, Auburn, LSU, Georgia, Va. Tech, Iowa, Ole Miss, Tulane, Tennessee are not waving white flag. Snatches ball, could line up at WR or CB. Plays with swagger, good hands, game changer. Can be physical.

7-TE Glenn Beal (6-4, 255) John Curtis. Top player in state at the position. LSU is in good shape with Alabama, Texas and Ole Miss a step behind. Converted LB. Dillon Gordon is a good comparision to Beal as recruit. YAC, maintains block, receiver’s mentality, drives opponent, very athletic.

8-DB Aaron Brule (6-2, 195) Rummel. One-time Kansas commit. Kansas, Georgia, Miss. State, Texas and TCU are top 5. LSU and Texas A&M monitoring. Knack for big play, will unload on WR in his territory, plays with energy, reads and reacts, ball hawk. Devastating tackler.

9-Athlete/WR/KR Anthony “Pooka” Williams (5’8-165) Hahnville. Kansas commit. No one in area has skill to change complexion of a game as quickly as he can. Explosive speed (4.27) 39 1/2″ vertical. District 7 5A MVP. Had 355 yards in single game against Thibodaux. Ball State, Memphis, Miss. State and Tulane. Ed Reed (NFL future HOF) said that he was best freshman he ever saw. 2016 produced 1,831 yards of total offense and 26 scores. Game changer. Can’t tackle him in a phone booth. Is a touchdown waiting to happen.

10-DB Isaiah Windmon (6-2, 180) John Ehret. Arizona State, Oregon, Southern Miss, UCLA, Colorado, Iowa State, Texas A& M, Texas Tech, Arkansas, ULL and Miss. State. Closing speed, takes good angles to ball, knack for big play, devastating tackler.

11-DB Eddie Smith (6-0, 178) Salmen. TCU pledge. 4.42 speed. Good off back pedal, disruptive, very fluid, All District in ’16, elite speed, covers a lot of ground, can play CB/ Safety. Maintains with WR. Texas Tech, TCU, Va. Tech, Ole Miss, Louisville, Oregon State, ULL and Utah hoping for a change of heart.

12-DB Jeremiah McDonald (6-3, 187) Northshore. Northwestern commit. reads and reacts quickly, transitions well, LouisianaTech, Ole Miss, Southern Miss, Tulane, Vandy, Navy and Virginia hoping to flip.

13-DT Jamiran James (6-1, 276) De La Salle. Committed to Tulane. Plays with leverage, Tanzel Smart type athlete, Plays big in big games. Had 10.5 tackles 2 sacks against Lutcher. Collapses pocket, good hands, hot motor, powerful, 320 lbs. bench press, 630 lbs. squat (school record), demands double team, can dominate. If 2 inches taller would be national recruit. You would have to go back to Tyler LaFauci for Cavs (1969) to have had someone this dominate on D-Line.

14-DT Josh Smith (6-4, 250) Landry-Walker. Was once a Missouri commit. Missouri, Southern Miss, Tulane, Toledo, South Alabama, Houston, Iowa State, Arkansas and Middle Tennessee with sales pitch. Quick off snap, 3 tech or 5 tech, fights off blockers, good effort each play, has to keep pad level down at times, will chase play.

15-RB Jeremy Gibson (5-10, 189) Riverside. Committed to Arkansas. A 3 star rated player. 1,444 yards rushing with 21 touchdowns in ’16. Averaged 5.8 yards per carry. Jitter bug runner, cuts at full speed, plants and heads N/S. Will break tackles, good receiver. UAB, ULL, Texas Tech, South Alabama and Troy not giving up.

16-WR Jared Miles (6-1, 185; 4.4 speed) McDonogh 35. Super route runner, gets off press coverage, catches away from body, velcro hands, good separation in route, speed sweeps. Plays with swagger. Oregon State, TCU, SMU, UTSA and UAB hoping to land him. Camped at LSU.

17-DB Lance Robinson (5-10, 175) De La Salle. Sideline to sideline performer, like a sponge, not one to repeat same mistake, anticipates where play is headed, football IQ, runs alley, good footwork, can play CB, safety or nickel. 3 star player with offers from Kansas, Washington State, Troy, SMU, LouisianaTech, Kansas State, Southern Miss, South Carolina, ULL, ULM and Marshall.

18-OLB Juan Monjarres (6-1, 220) St. Augustine. Tulane commitment. Aggressive, hot motor, Had 45 stops with 10 sacks last season despite missing time with injury. Leader on defense, great effort each play, can run, Army, Ball State, Dartmouth, Cornell, Navy, Princeton, East Carolina, Yale and Washington State are his suitors.

19-RB Devin Brumfield (5-10, 220) Covington. Pledged to Texas Tech. Powerful, 2nd effort, YAC, plays with energy, 4.55 forty, balance, north/south runner, runs behind pads, low center of gravity, breaks tackles. Covington’s all time leading rusher with 4,239 yards

20-DB Shawn Preston (6-0, 185) St. James. Mississippi State commitment. 4.6 forty, 36″ vertical. good coverage skills, reads QB eyes, will deliver hit, 425 lbs. squat, take no false steps, good angles to ball, transitions well. Plays all out, a team player. Tulane, Arkansas State, Colorado State, SMU, LouisianaTech, Memphis, Southern Miss and Texas Tech are pitching him.

21-DT Kemon Smith (6-2, 280) Northshore. SMU commit. Colorado State, Arkansas State, Tulane, So. Miss, NC State, Houston and Kansas still pitching. Slips blocks, collapses pocket, motor, will guess on snap, good hands. Had 5 sacks and 24 stops in 2016.

22-WR Kym Wymberly (5-11, 185) Holy Cross. Harvard commit. High energy, strong work habits, 27 ACT, 3.7 GPA, 47 grabs 670 yards and 9 total TDs last season. Navy, Columbia, Idaho, Arkansas State, Princeton, Dartmouth, Yale and Columbia other options.

23-CB Curry Benn (6-0, 170) Landry-Walker. Southern Miss commit. Very physical, tight cushion, ball skills, transitions well, timing on PBU. Kent State, Arizona, McNeese, South Alabama, So. Miss and Troy see good value.

24-CB Tywan Francis (6-0, 180) Landry-Walker. Reads receiver quickly, plays with juice, a stinger. Top three of Mississippi State, Troy and Arkansas State.

25-OT Titus Jones (6-3, 265) Edna Karr. Memphis commit. Plays LT, but may move inside. Nimble feet, gets to 2nd level…3 star prospect runs well, keeps feet moving, extends arms, solid pass blocker. Tulane, Kansas, ULL, McNeese, Nicholls, Texas Tech and Marshall with offers.