Highest-rated Class of 2026 football recruits from Louisiana
Written by:
November 11, 2025
Pell Studio // Shutterstock
Highest-rated Class of 2026 football recruits from Louisiana
The recruiting race for the Class of 2026 is already heating up — not just on the field, but in the increasingly complex ecosystem of modern college football, where NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals are reshaping how programs and players navigate early recruitment. For elite underclassmen, talent alone is no longer the only factor drawing attention; marketability, social media presence, and brand potential are now playing pivotal roles in how offers are extended and decisions are made. The top recruits in the 2026 cycle are not only physically advanced and highly skilled — they're entering high school with endorsement potential and media savviness.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest rated Class of 2026 football recruits from Louisiana using data from 247Sports. Players are ranked by the 247Sports Composite ranking. Here's the players from Louisiana set to dominate Saturdays (and potentially Sundays) for years to come.
- National rank: #580 (3 stars) - Position rank: #84 - College: Oklahoma - Offers: Oklahoma, Colorado, Boston College, Texas Tech, Appalachian State - High school: Lafayette Christian Academy (Lafayette, LA)
2 / 20
David Lee // Shutterstock
#19. Darryus McKinley (DL)
- National rank: #555 (3 stars) - Position rank: #69 - College: LSU - Offers: LSU, Ohio State, Tennessee, Auburn, Baylor - High school: Acadiana (Lafayette, LA)
3 / 20
Guzel Studio // Shutterstock
#18. Ke'Rynn Smith (RB)
- National rank: #532 (3 stars) - Position rank: #36 - College: not committed - Offers: Arkansas, Arkansas State, Florida A&M, Houston, Indiana - High school: Holy Cross (New Orleans, LA)
4 / 20
Hannah Leigh Barnes // Shutterstock
#17. Chris Addison (Edge)
- National rank: #506 (3 stars) - Position rank: #50 - College: Michigan State - Offers: Michigan State, Florida State, UCLA, Arizona State, Arkansas - High school: Franklin Parish (Winnsboro, LA)
5 / 20
Bobby Stevens Photo // Shutterstock
#16. Alvin Celestin (RB)
- National rank: #445 (3 stars) - Position rank: #28 - College: not committed - Offers: Arkansas, Arkansas State, Georgia Tech, Liberty, Louisiana Tech - High school: Terrebonne (Houma, LA)
- National rank: #409 (4 stars) - Position rank: #59 - College: SMU - Offers: SMU, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Grambling State, Louisville - High school: McDonogh 35 (New Orleans, LA)
7 / 20
aspen rock // Shutterstock
#14. Hayward Howard Jr. (CB)
- National rank: #402 (4 stars) - Position rank: #34 - College: Texas - Offers: Texas, Colorado, Alcorn State, Auburn, Florida - High school: Edna Karr (New Orleans, LA)
8 / 20
MaverickZ85 // Shutterstock
#13. Roderick Tezeno (WR)
- National rank: #377 (4 stars) - Position rank: #56 - College: USC - Offers: USC, Kentucky, Houston, Tulane, Arkansas State - High school: Opelousas Catholic School (Opelousas, LA)
9 / 20
Stuart Monk // Shutterstock
#12. Isaiah Washington (ATH)
- National rank: #347 (4 stars) - Position rank: #22 - College: LSU - Offers: LSU, Arkansas, Tulane, Baylor, Louisiana Tech - High school: Haynesville (Haynesville, LA)
10 / 20
Ron Alvey // Shutterstock
#11. Dezyrian Ellis (ATH)
- National rank: #341 (4 stars) - Position rank: #21 - College: LSU - Offers: LSU, West Virginia, Tulane, Houston, Arkansas State - High school: Franklin Parish (Winnsboro, LA)
- National rank: #315 (4 stars) - Position rank: #48 - College: Tulane - Offers: Tulane, Houston, Arkansas, Baylor, Kentucky - High school: West Monroe (West Monroe, LA)
12 / 20
zoff // Shutterstock
#9. JaMichael Garrett (LB)
- National rank: #237 (4 stars) - Position rank: #11 - College: Ole Miss - Offers: Ole Miss, Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Colorado - High school: Central (Baton Rouge, LA)
13 / 20
David Lee // Shutterstock
#8. Kenny Darby (WR)
- National rank: #227 (4 stars) - Position rank: #37 - College: LSU - Offers: LSU, Alabama, Tennessee, Houston, Kentucky - High school: Airline (Bossier City, LA)
14 / 20
Andy Dean Photography // Shutterstock
#7. Dylan Berymon (DL)
- National rank: #207 (4 stars) - Position rank: #28 - College: not committed - Offers: Texas, Purdue, Texas Tech, Arizona State, Baylor - High school: Ouachita Parish (Monroe, LA)
15 / 20
Ron Alvey // Shutterstock
#6. Aiden Hall (S)
- National rank: #173 (4 stars) - Position rank: #15 - College: LSU - Offers: LSU, Auburn, Colorado, Florida A&M, Miami - High school: Edna Karr (New Orleans, LA)
