The recruiting process has become a particularly fast-paced pressure-cooker from midway through most prospects’ junior years to before they kick off their senior season.
Much of the hay is already in the barn for the 2027 class, including more than 80 of Louisiana vs. All Y’all’s 100 ranked seniors already having commitment announcements on the books.
But, in addition to some potential flips to other programs, the state also features some definite Division-I talent still on the market with opportunities to become late steals for the right college homes.
Here’s a look at 10 of those student-athletes to watch as their final high school season kicks off.
COLLIN DIBETTA, WR, ACADIANA
From being a rare freshman able to not only crack into an Acadiana lineup, but to make big impacts in big games to becoming an unquestionable leader in the program with both his production and his mentality and demeanor, DiBetta has been a star for the Wreckin’ Rams in many ways his entire career. DiBetta isn’t the biggest receiver, but may well be the toughest and has legitimate Division-I speed, a great feel for his route-running to consistently win his matchups and some of the most reliable hands in the state. And when Acadiana needed more sparks elsewhere on the field his junior season, he was there to provide them in the backfield, running the offense, flipping the sides of the ball and covering top opposing receivers or changing games as a home-run threat as a returner.
DERRICK DUNBAR JR., LB, COVINGTON
The modern recruiting landscape and its effect from the transfer portal and NIL have made measurables and athletic testing numbers loom as large as ever for student-athletes hoping for big Division-I opportunities out of high school. Dunbar is an explosive 6-foot-2, 205-pound athlete who has run sub-4.5-second 40-yard dashes in multiple settings and has shown some positional versatility with some colleges eying him as a potential hybrid backer/safety at the next level. The Lions’ star racked up 109 tackles as a junior, including 80 solo stops, nine for loss and four sacks, and tallied three forced fumbles and three recoveries.
DEVINE DUHON, RB/ATH, JEANERETTE
The explosive weapon was among the state’s highly ranked prospects early in his career with a breakout sophomore season that earned Ole Miss, UTSA and Arkansas offers. An injury sidelined him as a junior, but he was starting to look back to his old self this summer with 4.50-second 40-yard dash speed at college camps. A healthy Duhon has the chance to be a major difference-maker this fall for a Jeanerette program that has been knocking increasingly loudly in Division-IV Non-Select with some deep playoff runs and kicks off 2026 with legitimate title potential, and he could also prove a major steal of the state’s recruiting class along the way as well.
KARON EUGENE, S, WESTGATE
The former Catholic-New Iberia safety has long been one of the highest-ranked prospects in the class, going back to a breakout sophomore season in which he earned all-state honors with 38 tackles, seven interceptions and five pass breakups. He battled injuries during his junior year, and the subsequent offseason has been quiet as a result of that and a transfer for which he still hasn’t been cleared to suit up with his new program. But if or when that day comes, he’s a potential game-changer for Westgate and would have the opportunity to remind people why he’s been coveted by some of the top programs in the country, including home-state LSU. Eugene’s length, athleticism, instincts, ball skills and not only willingness, but enthusiasm to hit make him one of the top safeties in the class.
HENDRIX HILL, WR/ATH, ISIDORE NEWMAN
The son of former LSU and NFL linebacker Eric Hill has been a versatile standout for his Greenies from flashes as a quick young running back to becoming a top receiving target most of his career and also taking on roles as a defensive back and kick returner. The 6-foot, 185-pound athlete possesses a good balance of strength, speed and all-around athleticism at the position with sub-4.50-second 40-yard dashes at camps and highlights reels the past two season loaded with tough, leaping catches through contact. He tracks and high-points the ball extremely well down the field and showcases good elusiveness when given the opportunity after the catch.
ETHAN KIMMIE, WR, ZACHARY
The Broncos’ multisport star has continued throughout the past couple of years to develop from an intriguing, but raw prospect with a great combination of size and athleticism into more of a true wide receiver capable of beating defenders in a number of ways. Kimmie’s strong hands and ability to high-point the ball and his body control to adjust in the air and make acrobatic plays in tight coverage or around the sideline or back of the end zone have always stood out. He has shown the ability to push down the field and stress defenses vertically and also more success last year utilizing his route-running to create separation, an area of development we anticipate seeing continue as a go-to target his senior season and beyond.
KESHUN MALCOLM, WR, RUSTON
Like his predecessor on this list, Malcolm is a multisport standout who has one of the most intriguing athletic profiles in the class and has been at work turning some of that raw potential into productivity. Ruston has as eye-catching and dangerous of weapons in the passing game as maybe its ever had with LSU-committed tight end Ahmad Hudson and Baylor-committed wide receiver Josiah Morgan headlining the group, but also some possible depth there. And with all the attention on those Power-Four teammates, Malcolm should have plenty of opportunities to provide balance and big plays on the other side of the field and become a real X-factor for one of the heaviest title favorites in the state this fall.
RYAN MOORE JR., WR/ATH, EAST FELICIANA
“Bug” is one of the smaller athletes on the list, listed at 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, and has had to show some patience on the modern recruiting trail as a result, but he has been one of the most productive and versatile players not only on this list, but in the state, for his entire high school career. The three-phase playmaker racked up 1,203 yards and 11 touchdowns on 56 catches, rushed 30 times for another 362 yards and four scores, snatched seven interceptions, wrapped up 52 tackles and returned a punt for a touchdown among his special-teams highlights.
SKY RYAN, DB, LAFAYETTE CHRISTIAN
The younger brother of former LSU and Ole Miss defensive back Sage Ryan was one of the earliest members of Louisiana’s 2027 on the recruiting radar, but injuries limited him as a sophomore and sidelined him nearly his entire junior season this past year. Now healthy again, he has regained some recruiting steam with 40-yard dashes in the 4.4-second range at college camps this summer and offers from Nicholls State, Lamar and Dartmouth. The younger Ryan is a smart, instinctive defensive back with good size and physicality for the next level and should be one of the key leaders on what has the potential to be another stout Knights defense this fall.
TRENAJH SMITH, DB, SOUTH TERREBONNE
For our money, Smith may be the underrated and under-discussed prospects in the class anywhere in the state. He’s a long and lean, but wiry-strong three-sport athlete who runs well and is consistently well-positioned and making plays on the ball. His 40 times at camps (in the 4.6-second range) haven’t done justice to his true speed, but his explosiveness has shown in jumps — such as his 9-foot-11-inch broad and 36-inch vertical at LSU — that have been among the best in the class. And the past two seasons, he’s totaled 99 tackles, including 71 solo stops and three for loss, and intercepted eight passes, broken up another 12, forced six fumbles and recovered three.
