Several dynamic athletes who are headed to major college programs headline the 2024 Sporting News Louisiana All-State High School Football Team.
The Sporting News Louisiana All-State Team spans all regions of the state and includes first and second-team selections.
The Sporting News Top 25 High School Football Rankings: Mater Dei 2024 National Champions
Among the criteria considered included individual production and the success of each player’s respective team.
First-team offense
QB: Jonathan Dartez - Vermilion Catholic - Sr.
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Dartez completed 92-of-146 passes for 1,638 yards and 23 touchdowns, but had a greater impact running the ball. He ended up with 2,761 yards and 44 touchdowns rushing on 348 carries. Dartez, who finished his career at Vermilion Catholic with 177 total touchdowns and 13,302 total yards, helped the Eagles win the Division IV Select state title in December.
QB: Ben Taylor - Airline - Sr.
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Taylor completed 325-of-447 passes for 4,357 yards and 47 TDs while adding 9 more TDs rushing. A Northwestern State signee, Taylor finished his career with the Vikings as the second-most prolific passer in state history by throwing for more than 12,000 yards.
RB: Harlem Berry - St. Martin’s - Sr.
An LSU signee, Berry was named the Gatorade Louisiana Player of the Yea. He carried the ball 172 times for 2,178 yards and 41 TDs while catching 20 passes for 340 yards and four more scores.
RB: Xavier Ford, Leesville - Sr.
Ford - the District 3-4A Offensive MVP - became the state’s single-season record holder with 3,467 yards and 52 TDs. He had 332 carries on the season, and also caught 13 passes for 239 yards and four TDs. Ford finished his career as a Wampus Cat with 8,592 yards on 997 carries and 120 TDs.
WR: Kenny Darby, Airline - Jr.
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An LSU commit, Darby was a main beneficiary of QB Ben Taylor’s vast amount of passing yardage, recording 1,764 yards on exactly 100 receptions while scoring 24 TDs. Darby and Taylor shared District 1-5A MVP honors.
WR: TaRon Francis, Edna Karr - Sr.
Francis caught 71 passes for 1,246 yards and 12 TDs - two coming in the Division I Select title game as the Cougars defeated Alexandria. An LSU signee, Francis was named the top receiver in District 9-5A.
TE: Joseph Leblanc, Catholic-New Iberia - Sr.
Leblanc hauled in 43 passes for 591 yards and 13 TDs for a Panther team that went on to claim the Division III Select state championship.
OL: Brett Bordelon, Isidore Newman - Sr.
Bordelon, who goes 6-foot-4 and weighs 303 pounds, was a four-year starter for the Greenies, only the second player in school history to achieve such a feat. An LSU signee, Bordelon was previously a first-team 2A All-State selection in 2022 and 2023.
OL: Devin Harper, Calvary Baptist - Sr.
Harper signed with Ole Miss. The 6-5, 295-pound linemen guided a unit that helped the Cavaliers generate 8.4 yards a carry and 28 rushing TDs. He was a 5A All-State pick as a junior.
OL: Dylan Singleton, Loreauville - Sr.
A Texas Tech signee, Singleton was a two-time first-team All-District selection. As a senior, he graded out at 94 percent and recorded 42 pancake blocks.
OL: Lionel Prudhomme, Captain Shreve - Sr.
Prudhomme helped pave the way for a very balanced Gators’ offense. They rushed for 2,814 yards and passed for 3,318 more. Prudhomme, an Arkansas commit, even had three TDs out of the Wildcat.
OL: Tommy Bower, E.D. White Catholic - Sr.
Bower had 48 pancake blocks and didn’t allow a sack as he helped guide a Cardinal offense that amassed more than 4,000 yards and eventually reach the Division II Select state title game.
First-team defense
DL: La’Mikal Callahan, Kentwood - Sr.
Considered one of the top defenders in Class 1A, Callahan finished with 172 tackles, 76 tackles for loss and 27 sacks. He also had 36 quarterback hurries.
DL: Trevontae Williams, South Plaquemines - Sr.
Williams was named the All-District defensive MVP for a South Plaquemines squad that captured the Division IV Non-Select title. On the season, he had 101 tackles - 62 of those solo - along with 17 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
DL: Corey Adams, Edna Karr - Sr.
An Ole Miss signee, Adams was named the District 9-5A defensive MVP and was part of the Cougars’ Division I Select championship squad. On the season, he had 47 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, 20 quarterback hurries, 4 forced fumbles, a pair of fumble recoveries and an interception.
DL: Warren Roberts, St. Augustine - Sr.
Roberts, a Tulane signee, was an All-District 9-5A defensive lineman. As a senior, he had 50 total tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries. He also scored two defensive TDs, one on a pick-six.
LB: Luke Jones, West Ouachita - Sr.
Jones had a tremendous senior season. He had 146 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks along with 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions and 5 pass breakups.
LB: KD Mays, Central-Baton Rouge - Sr.
Mays was named the District 4-5A MVP and helped the Wildcats to the Division I Non-Select title with a dominating defensive effort against defending champion Ruston. As a senior, Mays finished with 52 solo tackles, 18 assisted tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 8 sacks. His tackles for loss accounted for a total of 84.5 yards.
LB: Mace Melancon, Ascension Catholic - Sr.
A three-year starter and a returning All-State player, Melancon registered 152 tackles, finishing his career with more than 400 stops. He also picked off two passes, recovered two fumbles and had a sack.
DB: Cohen Charles, Iowa - Sr.
A McNeese State commit, Charles was a co-defensive MVP in District 3-4A and helped lead Iowa to its second semifinal appearance in three seasons. He had 159 tackles, 109 of those solo, along with 13 tackles for loss and 16 pass breakups. He picked off four passes, recovered three fumbles and had two sacks.
DB: Brent Gordon, Cecilia - Sr.
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Gordon was in on 144 total tackles, including exactly 100 solo stops. The University of Louisiana signee stuffed the stat sheet in other areas: 5 interceptions, 7 forced fumbles, 8 blocked kicks, 7 pass breakups and 5 tackles for loss, along with a defensive TD as Cecilia won the Division II Non-Select state title.
DB: Brian Broussard, St. Thomas More - Sr.
Broussard had 56 tackles along with 8 interceptions, 13 pass breakups and a pair of fumble recoveries. He also had a couple of defensive TDs.
DB: Aidan Anding, Ruston - Sr.
An LSU signee, Anding helped lead the Bearcats to the Division I Non-Select title his junior season and got them back to the Caesars Superdome this past season for the championship game. He had 33 tackles, picked off 5 passes while breaking up a couple of more and also was in on a sack and recovered a fumble.
First-team all-purpose
WR/ATH: Jayce Lantier, Iota - Sr.
Lantier caught 59 passes for 902 yards and 13 TDs. He also returned three punts for touchdowns and averaged 41.2 yards per punt return, as well as running back three kickoffs for TDs, averaging 27.6 yards per kickoff return.
QB/ATH: Luke Landry, Catholic-New Iberia - Sr.
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Landry completed 173-of-272 passes for 2,621 yards and 37 TDs while being picked off only three times. He was named the District 7-2A Offensive MVP while leading the Panthers to the Division III Select state title.
QB/ATH: Elijah Haven, Dunham - Soph.
Considered the No. 1 rated QB in the Class of 2027, Haven completed 193-of-321 passes for 37 TDs while adding 925 yards and 19 TDs rushing. He was named the District 8-2A Offensive MVP while helping the Tigers reach the Division III Select title game.
QB/ATH: John Johnson, Edna Karr - Jr.
Johnson was the District 9-5A offensive MVP in helping the Cougars claim the Division I Select championship. He completed 194-of-296 passes for 3,398 yards and 34 TDs while adding 903 yards rushing on 103 carries and 16 TDs.
WR/ATH: Ja’den Williams, Chalmette - Sr.
Williams was an All-District receiver and kick returner, as well as the offensive MVP. He caught 64 passes for 812 yards and 8 TDs and added 249 yards rushing and 5 TDs. Williams had 14 punt returns, with a couple going for TDs, and also had 8 kick returns, one for a TD. He also had an interception and 3 pass breakups on defense.
K: Drew Talley, St. Paul’s - Sr.
Talley made all 41 of his PAT attempts and converted 11 field goals, with his longest going 53 yards, along with a 21-yard game-winner against Mandeville that clinched the district title. He also had a 94 percent touchback percentage with 41 kickoffs going at least 65 yards.
P: Zachry Sugandi-Truitt, St. Louis Catholic - Sr.
He punted 44 times, averaging 45.2 yards with a long of 73, as well as 15 punts going more than 50 yards and 14 that were downed at the opponents’ 20-yard line.
Second-team offense
QB: Diesel Solari, Cecilia - Sr.
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Completed 100-of-168 passes for 1,526 yards and 25 TDs while adding 1,009 yards on the ground and 16 TDs on 137 carries in leading the Bulldogs to the Division II Non-Select title.
QB: Abram Wardell, Calvary Baptist - Sr.
Wardell completed 72 percent of his passes (193-of-268) for 3,324 yards and 42 TDs. He was also named the MVP of District 1-2A.
RB: Chad Elzy Jr., Ascension Catholic - Sr.
Elzy rushed for 1,977 yards and 35 TDs, averaging 10.7 yards per carry. The District 8-1A MVP also caught 25 passes for 268 yards and three TDs.
RB: J.T. Lindsey, Alexandria - Sr.
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An LSU signee, Lindsey ran for 2,476 yards and 33 TDs on 324 carries in leading the Trojans to the Division I Select championship game. He rushed for at least 100 yards in 13 of their 14 games, and had six games of 200 yards or more. Lindsey had three TD receptions as well.
WR: Kolby Thomas, Calvary Baptist - Sr.
Thomas, who will play at Louisiana Tech next season, caught 57 passes for 1,202 yards and 17 TDs.
WR: Jacob Washington, Shaw - Sr.
A Michigan signee, Washington hauled in 31 passes for 637 yards and seven TDs. He was named the Most Outstanding Player in Shaw’s Division II Select title win, catching eight passes for 105 yards and a pair of scores.
TE: Allen McLain, Vermilion Catholic - Sr.
McLain was a valuable asset for the Division IV Select state champions with 17 receptions - 10 of those going for TDs - for 487 yards.
OL: Micah Mosher, Ouachita Christian - Sr.
Mosher constantly graded out at or above 90 percent during the season and had 95 pancake blocks while not allowing a single sack. Helped the OCS offense average 40 points and 350 yards a game.
OL: Jace Williams, Assumption - Sr.
Williams had 44 pancake blocks while allowing only two sacks and 12 pressures. He made first-team All-State as a junior.
OL: Beau Webb, Franklinton - Sr.
Webb played right guard on a Franklinton squad that played for the Division II Non-Select title. The Demons were predominantly a rushing squad, gaining 2,800 yards as Webb helped create holes.
OL: Devin Joseph, Loranger - Sr.
Joseph was a first-team All-District lineman and blocked for an offense that generated more than 4,000 total yards and featured a pair of 1,000-yard rushers.
OL: Sam Nations, Ruston - Sr.
A four-year starter at center, Nations had 10 pancake blocks and graded out at 90 percent as the Bearcats had 234 rushing yards per game. Nations signed to play at Northwestern State.
Second-team defense
DL: Curtis Harrison, Northwest - Sr.
Harrison was first-team All-District on both sides of the line. On the defensive side, he made 82 total tackles (61 solo), 8 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 7 hurries, 3 forced fumbles and a recovered fumble en route to earning District 4-3A Defensive MVP honors.
DL: M.J. Clark, DeQuincy - Sr.
Clark was named the District 4-2A defensive MVP as he finished with 104 tackles, 13 sacks, 29 tackles for loss and 18 hurries. He also forced five fumbles and recovered three more in helping DeQuincy go from 2-8 his junior season to 9-2 and a playoff squad.
DL: Dion Griffith, Livingston - Sr.
Griffith was in on 95 tackles along with 15 sacks and 20 tackles for loss. He even blocked a pair of punts and forced three fumbles.
DL: Reshad Sterling, Lutcher - Sr.
A Houston signee, Sterling made 68 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and successfully got to the quarterback 6 times.
LB: Tre Burch, Sterlington - Sr.
Burch had 153 tackles along with 7 sacks and 7 tackles for loss for the Panthers, who captured the Division III Non-Select state championship. He also picked off a pass while recovering three fumbles, forcing two more.
LB: Mekell Toussaint, North Iberville - Sr.
Toussaint was named the District 8-1A defensive MVP as he finished with 102 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries. He picked off a pass and scored a defensive TD, too.
LB: Tyquereis Wilson, Union Parish - Sr.
Wilson had 157 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 21 quarterback hurries and 4 fumble recoveries. He blocked a punt and a field goal as well.
DB: Noah Romero, Kinder - Sr.
Romero was named the District 5-2A MVP on defense as he recorded 86 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 3 hurries. He picked off a pair of passes and broke up five more while forcing two fumbles and recovering two more.
DB: Roy McBride, Baker - Sr.
McBride picked off 11 passes, returning four of those for pick-sixes. He also broke up 10 passes while recording 55 tackles and 6 tackles for loss while receiving first-team District 8-2A honors.
DB: Jacob Jeffrey, Hahnville - Sr.
Jeffrey was named the defensive MVP in his district. The free safety had 95 total tackles (68 solo), 8 tackles for loss and 5 sacks. He picked off a pass, forced a pair of fumbles and returned a fumble for a TD.
DB: Brandon Henderson, Woodlawn-Shreveport - Sr.
Henderson was an impact player in the secondary for the Knights. He picked off 10 passes and registered 50 tackles.
Second-team all-purpose
RB/LB: Trevoris Norman Jr., Southern Lab - Sr.
Norman rushed for 1,100 yards for the Kittens but was named the MVP of District 9-1A on the defensive side. He recorded 102 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 9 sacks and 4 interceptions.
RB/ATH: Jy’heim Williams, South Plaquemines - Sr.
Williams rushed for 1,086 yards and 11 TDs while catching 21 passes for 279 yards and scoring four times for the Division IV Non-Select state champs. He also made 50 total tackles on defense - 30 solo. Williams accounted for all the scoring in the title game with three TDs and a two-point run along with intercepting a pass in the 20-7 win against Haynesville.
QB/ATH: Peyton Houston, Evangel Christian - Soph.
Houston had a huge sophomore season, completing 310-of-443 passes for a state-best 4,480 yards and 38 TDs while adding 690 yards rushing and 7 TDs. In a regular-season game against Captain Shreve, Houston threw for a national record 817 yards and accounted for 10 total TDs.
QB/ATH - Javon Vital, Hamilton Christian - Soph.
Vital rushed for 1,528 yards and 25 TDs on 171 carries while passing for 1,239 yards and 18 scores. He also returned two punts and two kickoffs for TDs while helping lead the Warriors to their first playoff win since 2015.
RB/ATH - Kenny Thomas, North DeSoto - Jr.
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Thomas was named the District 1-4A MVP as he rushed for 1,932 yards on 240 carries with 31 TDs. He was counted on to carry the load after an injury to the Griffins’ top receiver, Cole Cory, and helped lead North DeSoto to a 10-3 season.
K: Cooper Helmke, St. Martin’s - Sr.
Helmke, a Boise State signee, made 6-of-10 field goals with his two longest going for 50 and 48 yards. He also was 54-of-56 on PATs and had 69 of his 71 kickoffs go for touchbacks.
P: Cameron Ott, Assumption - Sr.
Ott had 32 punts and averaged exactly 40 yards per kick. Nine of his punts landed inside the opposition’s 20-yard line.