Another underclassman-heavy day of top performers at LSU.
But a few big 2023 notes before diving into the 2024s and beyond.
Neville OL Zalance "Lance" Heard was on campus and worked out... which, in and of itself, was notable in a rising senior class where few of Louisiana's top prospects are doing so. And he looked really good. Loved his junior film, but this was my first time seeing him in person. Moves really well at his size and is extremely explosive. One of the top handful of 2023 prospects in the state in my opinion, and I think the Tigers are well-positioned with him at the moment.
And another notable 2023 lineman to watch is Tyler Johnson, who has been down to Baton Rouge two or three times in the past couple months. I'm trying to remember the exact backstory with him I was told toward the end of this past season, but something along the lines of being late to football and/or being more of a basketball guy until recent years. But he's started to pick up steam, and I think is about to blow up. One of the top OL in the state this year.
The Tigers also made their move on 2023 Rummel DB Ashton Stamps with an offer after months of recruiting and monitoring and multiple recent trips to campus, including back-to-back days of camp.
And sticking with 2023s, committed DB Daylen Austin made the trip and camped. Looked good, and credit to him for making the trip and not only continuing to build his relationships with more of the staff, current players and other targets, but to also get out there and compete.
-------
Most of the top quarterbacks we saw this week camped Thursday. But 2024 Calvary Day Schools (Ga.) QB Jake Merklinger deserves to be included in that mix after a strong showing Friday and a lot of close work with Joe Sloan.
There were a couple other good-looking younger quarterbacks, including 2026 Houston area QB Romin Seymour, a 6-foot-4 13-year-old who had a few nice throws. He's the nephew of McDonogh 35 coach Frank Daggs.
------
Another New Orleans area coaching family connection was one of the day's top performers. 2025 St. Martin's Episcopal running back Harlem Berry, the nephew of Florida assistant Jabbar Juluke, started the day with a 4.38-second 40-yard dash and was a standout in drills all morning with Frank Wilson and Nick Brossette. Thought he might've gotten the offer at one point after camp wound down, but haven't gotten that confirmed.
The Tigers really liked the young back, who had an ultra-productive freshman football season, then won a couple state championships in track this spring and figures to be among the state's top prospects in his class... but also a likely difficult pull to keep from the Gators.
-----
2023 Michigan OL Cole Dellinger, the younger brother of current Tiger OL Garrett Dellinger, camped at center and ate a dude's lunch on a one-on-one rep Miles Frazier caught on video and shared on Instagram.
-------
2024 ATH target Ju'Juan Johnson — along with a group of other Lafayette Christian standouts, including 2024 LB Sandy Lewis — was back on campus for the third time in 13 days and camped again despite having done so the Sunday before last and earning the LSU offer amid an exploding list that now includes Alabama after his, Sandy's and Melvin Hills' trip to Tuscaloosa on Wednesday. The Knights' quarterback only started working on his technique as a DB in the past month or so. But he's so athletic and his feet are so quick that he's already locking down most reps he takes at corner. And his competitive drive and his desire to continue to improve at the positions have him jumping at any opportunity he can to get on the field against good competition.
Also wanted to note 2023 WR Alex Beard, who isn't the elite athlete of some of his teammates who have come through LCA, but works his ass off and I feel like has shown up at every opportunity to compete in any format his entire high school career and always has productive days. He worked his way open one rep after another for one catch after another, as always. He's had a couple FCS schools come in on him during the past month or so. And deservedly so.
------
2024 Jasper (Texas) LB/S Tyanthony Smith picked up an LSU offer.
------
Wide receivers would probably be my headline position group from today.
Loved what we saw from 2025 Acadiana WR/ATH Russell Babineaux, who picked up the LSU offer in April. This marked his first camp, and he cut up older defensive backs with his quickness and route-running. Seemed like he was wide-open all over the field most of the day, and I also saw him go up and make a nice contested catch on a deep ball at one point as well.
2025 Katy (Texas) WR Andrew Marsh was back on campus for the second time in a couple months as well after visiting for the spring game, and this time he went home with a scholarship offer. Lean, speedy receiver whom our new regional guy, Nick Harris, said is among the best in a loaded class at the position in Texas. We chatted after the spring game visit and again this afternoon, and he seems like he really enjoys LSU so far early in his recruiting process.
Cortez Hankton and Carter Sheridan also clearly liked what they saw from 2024 St. Augustine WR teammates Josh Jackson and Bobby Kennedy, two long, lean outside pass-catchers. Kennedy's also gotten some work this offseason as a DB, including at the 7v7 tournament last week.
Also really nice days from 2025 U-High WR Zay Martin (the younger brother of former Wazzou & OK State WR Tay Martin), 2025 Catholic (Baton Rouge) WR Amari Clayton, 2024 John Curtis WR/RB Jason Gabriel Jr. and 2025 Captain Shreve WR/ATH Tre Fuller, who I think is one of the top athletes coming out of Shreveport in a good class for that year.
--------
2024 JFK (NOLA) DB Bernard "Beeby" Causey was lock-down at corner all morning. He's one of the rising stars in that class in Louisiana and has the attention of the LSU staff. This has been a breakthrough offseason for him with a few offers, including a couple Power Fives, and figures to be a big season/year for him to potentially raise his stock even further.
--------
2026 U-High DL Lamar Brown was back at LSU again after receiving his offer a couple weeks. One of the early standouts in that class in Louisiana that the coaches love.
------
Wanted to mention 2025 Cecilia ATH Diesel Solari, as well. I didn't catch him during reps, but super explosive athlete and sounds like a couple people thought he had a nice day. Definitely a name worth keeping up with in the coming years.
But a few big 2023 notes before diving into the 2024s and beyond.
Neville OL Zalance "Lance" Heard was on campus and worked out... which, in and of itself, was notable in a rising senior class where few of Louisiana's top prospects are doing so. And he looked really good. Loved his junior film, but this was my first time seeing him in person. Moves really well at his size and is extremely explosive. One of the top handful of 2023 prospects in the state in my opinion, and I think the Tigers are well-positioned with him at the moment.
And another notable 2023 lineman to watch is Tyler Johnson, who has been down to Baton Rouge two or three times in the past couple months. I'm trying to remember the exact backstory with him I was told toward the end of this past season, but something along the lines of being late to football and/or being more of a basketball guy until recent years. But he's started to pick up steam, and I think is about to blow up. One of the top OL in the state this year.
The Tigers also made their move on 2023 Rummel DB Ashton Stamps with an offer after months of recruiting and monitoring and multiple recent trips to campus, including back-to-back days of camp.
And sticking with 2023s, committed DB Daylen Austin made the trip and camped. Looked good, and credit to him for making the trip and not only continuing to build his relationships with more of the staff, current players and other targets, but to also get out there and compete.
-------
Most of the top quarterbacks we saw this week camped Thursday. But 2024 Calvary Day Schools (Ga.) QB Jake Merklinger deserves to be included in that mix after a strong showing Friday and a lot of close work with Joe Sloan.
There were a couple other good-looking younger quarterbacks, including 2026 Houston area QB Romin Seymour, a 6-foot-4 13-year-old who had a few nice throws. He's the nephew of McDonogh 35 coach Frank Daggs.
------
Another New Orleans area coaching family connection was one of the day's top performers. 2025 St. Martin's Episcopal running back Harlem Berry, the nephew of Florida assistant Jabbar Juluke, started the day with a 4.38-second 40-yard dash and was a standout in drills all morning with Frank Wilson and Nick Brossette. Thought he might've gotten the offer at one point after camp wound down, but haven't gotten that confirmed.
The Tigers really liked the young back, who had an ultra-productive freshman football season, then won a couple state championships in track this spring and figures to be among the state's top prospects in his class... but also a likely difficult pull to keep from the Gators.
-----
2023 Michigan OL Cole Dellinger, the younger brother of current Tiger OL Garrett Dellinger, camped at center and ate a dude's lunch on a one-on-one rep Miles Frazier caught on video and shared on Instagram.
-------
2024 ATH target Ju'Juan Johnson — along with a group of other Lafayette Christian standouts, including 2024 LB Sandy Lewis — was back on campus for the third time in 13 days and camped again despite having done so the Sunday before last and earning the LSU offer amid an exploding list that now includes Alabama after his, Sandy's and Melvin Hills' trip to Tuscaloosa on Wednesday. The Knights' quarterback only started working on his technique as a DB in the past month or so. But he's so athletic and his feet are so quick that he's already locking down most reps he takes at corner. And his competitive drive and his desire to continue to improve at the positions have him jumping at any opportunity he can to get on the field against good competition.
Also wanted to note 2023 WR Alex Beard, who isn't the elite athlete of some of his teammates who have come through LCA, but works his ass off and I feel like has shown up at every opportunity to compete in any format his entire high school career and always has productive days. He worked his way open one rep after another for one catch after another, as always. He's had a couple FCS schools come in on him during the past month or so. And deservedly so.
------
2024 Jasper (Texas) LB/S Tyanthony Smith picked up an LSU offer.
------
Wide receivers would probably be my headline position group from today.
Loved what we saw from 2025 Acadiana WR/ATH Russell Babineaux, who picked up the LSU offer in April. This marked his first camp, and he cut up older defensive backs with his quickness and route-running. Seemed like he was wide-open all over the field most of the day, and I also saw him go up and make a nice contested catch on a deep ball at one point as well.
2025 Katy (Texas) WR Andrew Marsh was back on campus for the second time in a couple months as well after visiting for the spring game, and this time he went home with a scholarship offer. Lean, speedy receiver whom our new regional guy, Nick Harris, said is among the best in a loaded class at the position in Texas. We chatted after the spring game visit and again this afternoon, and he seems like he really enjoys LSU so far early in his recruiting process.
Cortez Hankton and Carter Sheridan also clearly liked what they saw from 2024 St. Augustine WR teammates Josh Jackson and Bobby Kennedy, two long, lean outside pass-catchers. Kennedy's also gotten some work this offseason as a DB, including at the 7v7 tournament last week.
Also really nice days from 2025 U-High WR Zay Martin (the younger brother of former Wazzou & OK State WR Tay Martin), 2025 Catholic (Baton Rouge) WR Amari Clayton, 2024 John Curtis WR/RB Jason Gabriel Jr. and 2025 Captain Shreve WR/ATH Tre Fuller, who I think is one of the top athletes coming out of Shreveport in a good class for that year.
--------
2024 JFK (NOLA) DB Bernard "Beeby" Causey was lock-down at corner all morning. He's one of the rising stars in that class in Louisiana and has the attention of the LSU staff. This has been a breakthrough offseason for him with a few offers, including a couple Power Fives, and figures to be a big season/year for him to potentially raise his stock even further.
--------
2026 U-High DL Lamar Brown was back at LSU again after receiving his offer a couple weeks. One of the early standouts in that class in Louisiana that the coaches love.
------
Wanted to mention 2025 Cecilia ATH Diesel Solari, as well. I didn't catch him during reps, but super explosive athlete and sounds like a couple people thought he had a nice day. Definitely a name worth keeping up with in the coming years.
