Louisiana’s 2025 high school football season opens Thursday, Sept. 4, with most of the state’s classifications and divisions appearing as wide-open as ever.
As we have attempted on several occasions in years past, at fans’ requests, Louisiana vs. All Y’all has taken a stab at trying to rank the top 50 programs regardless of classification.
Before we unveil the list, a couple of important notes to know or remember:
- All-classifications lists are inherently going to feature far more larger-school programs than smaller-school programs. This lean is not at all to diminish the talent or achievements of Class 1A or Class 2A teams — it’s the nature of the exercise. There’s a reason classifications exist in the first place, and only a few elite smaller-school programs can typically compete with the better Class 4A and particularly Class 5A competition.
- The further the list goes, the more tightly packed the teams get. Part of the beauty of high school football is parity and the high potential for an upset on any given Thursday, Friday or Saturday. A few elite teams may stand out for their combinations of talent, depth and relatively consistent execution, then another tier or two may not be far off that pace. But past that (usually somewhere between about 10 and 25 teams down the list, depending on year), the tiers start to widen out to larger groups of teams that could easily split 10 head-to-head matchups down the middle or whose outcomes could vary heavily as a matter of stylistic matchups.
All that out of the way, and without any further adieu, let’s take a look at Louisiana’s top teams entering the 2025 season.
1. Edna Karr
The defending Division-I Select champions have the potential to be every bit as dominant again this season despite some notable 2025 graduations. The Cougars’ new senior class is loaded with talent, including three of our top 10 prospects and six of our top 50: defensive tackle Richard Anderson (LSU), safety Aiden Hall (LSU), cornerback Hayward Howard Jr. (Texas), cornerback Maurice Williams Jr. (Colorado), left tackle Leon Noil Jr. (Nebraska), quarterback John Johnson (Liberty) and transfer wide receiver Greg Wilfred. And places on the field in which last year’s group left big shoes, other potential college prospects are already emerging after developing somewhat behind the scenes or have arrived following moves from other attendance zones or even states.
2. Catholic (Baton Rouge)
The Bears gave the Cougars their tightest battle of 2024 in last year’s Division-I Select semifinals and again appear the biggest challengers entering this season. Catholic has its own big shoes to fill in spots, including two college corners, a couple college receivers and a few good offensive linemen among the headliners. But there’s a lot to love about the perennial powers from the capital city. The roster features top-10 prospects in both the 2026 and 2027 classes, arguably the state’s best running back room and a pair of quarterbacks with experience under their belts. Senior safety Blaine Bradford (Ohio State) and junior running back Jayden Miles are two of the names fans around the state may most know by now. Offensive lineman Blaise Thomassie (Stanford) and safety/backer Harrison Kidder (the Ragin’ Cajuns) are two of Louisiana’s top senior prospects in their respective positions. And Miles’ running mates in the backfield include senior Christian Moody, junior Justin Batiste and sophomore Gregory Williams Jr.
3. Ruston
The Bearcats have to replace another great graduating class this year, but have a few notable senior leaders — particularly on the lines and in the secondary — and some 2027 and 2028 talent we love, including highly ranked prospects in tight end Ahmad Hudson, safety Jayden Anding, safety/backer Keilan Davis and running back Dalen Powell. As has become the calling card, Ruston should be pretty salty on defense and effective running the football. And if junior quarterback Sam Hartwell can be as consistent managing the passing game as we anticipate in his first season as starter, the Bearcats have great odds of making a fourth-straight trip to the Superdome in December.
4. Neville
The Tigers haven’t reached the Superdome since 2016 and haven’t won a title since 2015, but, for our money, they’re as likely as anyone to contend for the Division-I Non-Select crown this winter. Neville won its head-to-head matchup with District 2-5A rival Ruston last season and returns more of its core and at more key positions than the Bearcats, 2024 champion Central or several other top teams. Junior quarterback Parker Robinson is developing into one of the state’s top quarterbacks with other standouts such as tackle Van Martinez (ULM) and hybrid pass-catcher Ze’land Young around him. And, on defense, the Tigers boast one of the state’s top safety duos in Julian “JuJu” Burns (North Carolina) and Jayden Reed (the Ragin’ Cajuns) and good experience and talent in the front seven.
5. St. Augustine
The Purple Knights should be among the top challengers to Edna Karr in a once-again tough Catholic League. St. Augustine returns a senior quarterback in Vashaun “Tig” Coulon and a deep and explosive receiving corps headlined by 2027 stars Miguel Whitley and Ray’Quan Williams and has a talented secondary to match on the other side of the ball. The question will be how well St. Augustine can replace some graduated leaders from the trenches and what kind of running game it can establish as it weathers a couple backfield injuries. There’s some talent there, but also some youth. The Purple Knights are on the rise, but the next few weeks will tell whether the big step is now or still a season away.
6. John Curtis
Right there neck and neck with St. Augustine as the biggest threats to Edna Karr (we let last year’s outcome determine our coin-toss), the Patriots cleaned up their miscues and found their rhythm down the stretch in 2024 and return a ton of experience, including senior leaders such as linebacker Jeffrey Curtis and running back Jacobi Boudreaux and several talented 2027 and 2028 prospects such as defensive backs Prentice Mackyeon Jr. and Jaden Keelen. Don’t expect John Curtis to have to work out as many kinks during this regular season. And if they’re taking care of the football, the storied Patriots should be one of the toughest outs and top title contenders in the state again this year.
7. Alexandria
A third District 2-5A team in the top seven. We get the sense many folks around the state expect last year’s league champs and Division-I Select runners-up to take a step backward after some of their graduations, including their top two running backs, top two wide receivers and tight end. We disagree. The defense should be solid with upperclassman linebackers Xzavier White and Jackson Townsend leading a stacked group with talent at every level. Watch defensive lineman Jaden Bayonne and edge rusher Bryson Phoenix as particular breakout candidates. Quarterback Karsen Sellers is one of the best in his 2027 class, and fellow junior Alex Fontenot is a future college wide receiver helping headline the cast of weapons. Meanwhile, most fans may not yet know 2028 running backs Noble Williams and Kason Williams, but they should sooner than later.
8. St. Thomas More
The Cougars earn the nod as the top Class 4A team and the top Lafayette area representative on the list. Both of those groups are tough to call, as is this next stretch of rankings overall, but St. Thomas More has proven itself as consistent a contender in recent years as any team. Senior quarterback Cole Bergeron (Virginia Tech), senior running back Carter Melancon and junior safety Landon Ortte are some of the familiar standouts. And, regardless of graduations any given year, the Cougars are as much of a machine as any Louisiana program in terms of having their next class ready to roll by every September.
9. Destrehan
The Wildcats stumbled through some midseason hiccups while quarterback Jackson Fields was sidelined by injury. The Incarnate Word commitment is back for his senior season this fall and looked this offseason as on point as every before behind a line bookended by senior Earl Collins III and sophomore Jordan Collins and with great weapons around him such as wide receivers Jabari Mack (LSU) and Jaylan Ash and running back Malachi Dabney. Senior cornerback Damien Richard II headlines a defense with some potential. If Destrehan can come together on that side of the ball, it should be a notable contender to watch in Division-I Non-Select.
10. Central
The defending Division-I Non-Select champion Wildcats are still working out kinks to open the season after probably the most roster turnover of any team in the top 10, but are confident in their potential to prove their storybook 2024 was just the beginning of an era as consistent title contenders. Junior quarterback JaCori Platt, senior wide receiver Keithon Womack and company have shown flashes of explosiveness on offense. And the defense should be able to hold its own when seniors defensive lineman Scott Smith Jr. (Houston) returns from injury and transfer linebacker JaMichael Garrett receives his eligibility clearance and can join linebackers Jake Jarreau and Lane Billings, safeties Marvin Joseph Jr. and Mason Moore and company.
THE NEXT 10: District 4-5A rivals wrap up the top 10 (Central) and kick off the next 10 (Zachary) and have a Halloween date on the calendar that could be both a toss-up and a pivotal showdown in determining the league race. We gave the edge to start the season to the reigning winners, but the Broncos return more and could be well-positioned this year to swing this series back in their favor.
Another trio of Catholic League teams (Archbishop Rummel, Brother Martin and Jesuit) bring the district’s total to six of our top 16 teams, plus St. Paul’s across the lake is right in that thick with a good mix of returning veteran leaders and promising 2028 talent.
West Monroe joins Neville and Ruston as the first three of four highly ranked District 2-5A programs. And Evangel Christian kicks off the Shreveport representation. The Eagles meanwhile should be as explosive as any team in the state around 2027 quarterback Peyton “Pop” Houston, 2026 wide receivers Johnny Casey Jr. (Louisiana Tech) and Demarkus Evans and company. And if a slew of returning linemen and defenders, including Ashton Dawson (Arkansas) and Damari Drake (Grambling State) can take a step forward with their year of experience and development
A tightly congested top tier of Lafayette area teams continues with Acadiana, Southside and Lafayette Christian following St. Thomas More to make four teams in an 13-team span. And Lafayette Christian is our top-ranked team outside of Class 5A and St. Thomas More, a Division-I Select program playing in Class 4A. The Class 2A Knights lead off a heavy run of Class 3A and Class 4A in the next 10.
11. Zachary
12. Archbishop Rummel
13. Acadiana
14. Brother Martin
15. St. Paul’s
16. Jesuit
17. Evangel Christian
18. West Monroe
19. Southside
20. Lafayette Christian
THE NEXT 10: Â A talented Ouachita Parish squad with some under-the-radar title aspirations is in the aforementioned highly ranked mix of District 2-5A contenders with Neville, Ruston and West Monroe. And Westgate adds to the Lafayette area contingent, while Airline and Parkway join Evangel for more Shreveport representation from the always-entertaining District 1-5A. Westgate is loaded with 2028 talent. Airline has to replace their its quarterback and a prolific senior pass-catcher among its 2025 graduations, but still has its share of weapons (including one headed to LSU in wide receiver Kenny Darby) and expects to have one of its better defenses in recent years. While Parkway feels like a candidate to be more of a factor in its district race and into the playoffs than the Panthers may be getting talked about around the state.
The top tier of Class 3A teams in our rankings — Madison Prep, University Lab, St. James and Sterlington — all hit the list in one big pack. The Baton Rouge rivals are scheduled for a pivotal toss-up on Halloween. Madison Prep stunned U-High last season and heads into 2025 behind one of the state’s biggest offensive lines and with its share of playmakers around the field. Oct. 31 at Jeff Boss Field should be another slugfest of trench warfare that will feature the state’s top prospect in Cubs’ two-way start Lamar Brown. St. James and Sterlington meanwhile wouldn’t have their rematch of last year’s Division-III Non-Select title game until the playoffs, but both notably return loads of talent and experience from their respective 2024 runs.
Mandeville has some big shoes to replace for its 2025 class, but should remain a tough team to beat with some of its returning talent and experience. And we love the potential of Franklin Parish to build off a historic 2024 season with Dezyrian Ellis (LSU), Chris Addison (Michigan State) and Tavon Bell (Texas State) all back and helping lead the way.
21. Ouachita Parish
22. Westgate
23. Airline
24. Madison Prep
25. University Lab
26. St. James
27. Sterlington
28. Mandeville
29. Franklin Parish
30. Parkway
THE NEXT 10: A fairly even mix of Class 4A and Class 5A teams who would figure to be tough-to-call matchups if and when their respective paths cross. Lutcher and E.D. White provide another of those tough-to-call district dynamics with an Oct. 17 matchup likely to determine the league title.
Last year’s Division-II Select champion Archbishop Shaw and Division-II Non-Select runner-up Franklinton both stand out in terms of their recent track record. And could easily make another run with the benefit of last year’s experience and some key returning pieces, but will have to show lots of new faces up front and in the backfields are ready to fill big graduated shoes.
And, on the other side of the coin, Terrebonne and East Ascension may stand out in terms of teams without recent title-game or semifinal runs, but both — highlighted by their big offensive lines and running games — are somewhat sneaky teams to watch potentially surprise some folks.
Also, don’t sleep on Plaquemine or North DeSoto being legitimate Division-II Non-Select contenders. The Green Devils, fresh off their first semifinal run in a decade, have to replace a great quarterback-running back duo, but do return a nasty defense that includes Louisiana (Lafayette) commitment Roderick Bingham at safety and a long, athletic wide receiver corps led by 2027 prospect John Walker V. The Griffins meanwhile have one of the state’s best quarterback-running back duos this year in Luke Delafield (Northwestern State) and Kenny Thomas (Louisiana Tech) helping lead their charge. And Carencro and Teurlings Catholic are consistently tough programs who return key pieces, including a young 2028 class for the Golden Bears now with a year of experience and lessons under many of their belts.
31. Lutcher
32. E.D. White
33. Terrebonne
34. Archbishop Shaw
35. Plaquemine
36. Carencro
37. Teurlings Catholic
38. North DeSoto
39. East Ascension
40. Franklinton
THE NEXT 10: Reigning Division-II Non-Select champion Cecilia leads off the next group with some talent still in place, including juniors Braylon Calais and Franky Frank Jr., but huge shoes to fill with its graduated 2025 class and departed head coach. Seven solid Class 5A programs make up most of this stretch, including District 5-5A rivals St. Amant and Dutchtown right on East Ascension’s heels and Holy Cross and Warren Easton completing the eight-team Catholic League representation on the list. Lakeshore is just a few spots behind District 7-4A rival Franklinton, with an Oct. 10 game on the books, plus non-district dates early and late with Chalmette (Sept. 12) and Hahnville (Nov. 7). Plus Holy Cross hosts Chalmette on Sept. 19, and Dutchtown visits St. Amant on Oct. 3. So much of this mess will sort itself out sooner than later. And a talented Iowa team with some somewhat quiet Division-II Non-Select contention potential wraps up the list.
41. Cecilia
42. Chalmette
43. Hahnville
44. Holy Cross
45. Lakeshore
46. St. Amant
47. Dutchtown
48. Warren Easton
49. Captain Shreve
50. Iowa
