Top 50 metro New Orleans football recruits in Class of 2020 (part 2)

As I mentioned in part one of our listing of the top recruits from the Metro area (No. 26-50), it has been somewhat quiet lately in regards to local recruiting.

The early signing period looms starting December 18. Some final decisions will be made prior to or on that date. Many college football programs may have a clearer picture as to how they will approach the final slots following the early signing.

Here’s a look at the Greater New Orleans area’s top 25 recruits in the 2020 class. And yes, I have more than 25 here because of how I handle my ties (the more talent, the better):

25-CB Gavin Holmes (5-11, 155) Rummel…Colorado commit. Explosive (4.38) closing speed, mirrors receiver, gets out of cuts quickly.

24-OLB Taiwan Berryhill (6-1, 208) St. Augustine…Kansas pledge, Might be tough for the Jayhawks to hold onto him as process continues. Flies off the edge, can run, tough to block, no quit, has played DE and safety.

23-DE Noah Taliancich (6-2, 257) Destrehan…Tulane commit, 10 sacks in 2018,3.5 GPA, disengages quickly, seals hole, won’t stay blocked, will chase play in the flat.

22-DE Angelo Anderson (6-2, 261) John Curtis…Tulane commitment, in 2018 had 61 tackles, 11 sacks and 19 QB hurries. Very active, great effort, uses hands well, has gotten stronger.

21-TE Dustin Dyson (6-4, 210) St. Thomas Aquinas…LSU, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Missouri are chasing. plays basketball, horse back rider,finds crease, uses hands, loved Alabama growing up.

(tie) CB/FS Raekwon Starks (5-10, 175) Helen Cox…UTSA pledge. Good tackler, challenges WR, diagnoses quickly, roams CF, kick returner. ULL, Southern Miss, Arkansas, Houston, ULM, Tulane and Utah State trying to flip him.

20-WR Trenton Grow (6-3, 185) West St. John…red zone threat, adjust to throw, great leaping ability.

(tie) WR/ATH Shamar Smith (5-10, 174) St. James…Plays QB, but with his 4.5 speed he can line up in a number of spots. Runs 100 meters, 200 meters, 110 and 300 hurdles plus relays. As a WR, he has accounted for over 2,000 yards and 23 touchdowns. Play point guard in basketball. Tulane, Houston, Colorado State, Kansas, Memphis, Navy, Air Force, Colorado, Toledo and Troy.

19-QB Justin Ibieta (6-5, 220) Country Day…Tulane pledge. One of the best overall athletes in Metro area. Reminds me of (former Tulane QB) Tanner Lee. Outstanding basketball player and boasts an 88 mph fastball on mound. Last season had 7 touchdowns passing in one game against Ascension Episcopal.

18-DT Mason Narcisse (6-2, 300) St. Charles Catholic…Tulane commit, could play OG, very physical, super upside, turns 18 years old during ’19 football season. Last season was All State and District MVP. Squats 500 lbs., bench presses 335 and has a shot put of 46 feet.

17-OLB Kelin Burrle (6-0, 205) Helen Cox…UTSA pledge. 2018 All State after recording 108 tackles (17 for loss), 2 forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions. Very athletic, delivers big hits.

16-OT Josh Remetich (6-4, 280) Holy Cross…Tulane commit. High IQ, hard worker, quick engage, good balance, technique, consistent, pancake blocks, plays with attitude, hand placement, good first step.

15-WR Khi Mathieu (5-11, 160) St. Augustine…Memphis commitment. crafty, cousin of the Honey Badger, off the charts athletic catches, great catching radius.

14-CB Jamie Vance (5-10, 155) Edna Karr…Arkansas commit. Called “Greedy”super cover corner, very physical, smooth, good hips, transitions well, tight coverage,

13-Safety Donovan Kaufman (5-9-195) Rummel…Vanderbilt pledge. will strike you. Doesn’t repeat same mistake.

12-Safety Donovan Johnson (6-2, 180) Helen Cox…Virginia commit, quick twitch, very advanced as athlete,closing speed.

11-FS Nick Turner (6-0, 184) Brother Martin…Georgia Tech commit. plays bigger, around ball, single high safety, covers a lot of ground. Good break on ball.

10-CB Daran Branch (6-1, 170) Amite…Miami Hurricanes pledge. Super hips, shadows receiver, comes up to challenge vs. run.
9-RB/ATH Corey Wren (5-10, 185) John Curtis…committed to Georgia. Is a blur with the ball, 4.31 forty, 10.4 hundred meters, holds 3.0 GPA. won the state 60 meter title as an 8th grader. In 2018 averaged over 10 yards per carry. This season averaging over 14 yards per carry. Plays RB for Patriots, but could play slot at UGA.

8-LB Edgerrin Cooper (6-2, 204) Covington…pledged to Oklahoma.last season had 106 tackles, 13 TFL and 2 sacks. 4.6 speed. Takes good angles to ball, blitzer,will chase down, shoots gap, pass rusher, explosive 1st step.

7-DT Patrick Jenkins (6-2, 285) John Ehret…one time commit to LSU, now open. tenacious tackler, splits double team, nasty, could add 20 pounds. Reminds me of Drake Nevis (former Ehret, LSU). TCU, Texas A&M, ULL, Tennessee, Miami, Mississippi State, Missouri, Tulane, La. Tech, Memphis, Arizona and UTSA are cahsing, TCU may have inside track.

6-OLB Brandon Williams (6-3, 220) Newman…Virginia commit,makes tackles in bunces, 3.0 GPA, muscular, good in open field, studies film, understands defense.

5-QB T.J. Finley (6-6-230) Ponchatoula…committed to LSU. Tigers were on him since 8th grade. Has made strides every season. In 2017, he had 1,924 yards, 14 touchdowns, 6 ints. and followed up with 2,736 yards, 23 touchdowns, 5 ints. as a junior.

4-RB Kyle Edwards (6-0, 210) Destrehan…committed to Alabama, downhill runner, tough to tackle, (2018) had 708 yards, 8 touchdowns as backup to John Emery, Jr, (LSU). Edwards has good body lean, vision, breaks tackles, shows extra gear.

3-RB Ashaad Johnson (6-0, 200) Warren Easton…LSU, Alabama, Georgia and Kansas make up his top four, YAC, elusive, great vision, outstanding blocker, runs 100 meters (11.00 seconds), patient runner, runs to daylight, tore meniscus in 2018, played through it totaling 1,404 yards (9.7 yard average) 13 touchdowns.

2-WR Koy Moore (6-1, 174) Rummel…LSU commit. work ethic, broke collarbone in ’18, exceptional hands, runs after catch. makes tough catch.

1-OL Sedrick Van Pran (6-4, 304) Warren Easton…commit to Georgia. runs 4.95 forty. Plays center, but can play anywhere on OL. Maybe best OL in state since 2011, La’El Collins. intense blocker, can dominate. Shot put, discus and javelin in track.