MONROE, La. – Headlined by a Top 5 prospect nationally on the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, Louisiana has four five-star prospects in the 2023 recruiting class already following the release of the newly updated Top247 rankings on Wednesday.
2023 could be another strong cycle in Louisiana and LSU has offers out to all four five-star prospects.
New Orleans (La.) Isidore Newman quarterback Arch Manning sits as the No. 3 overall prospect in the nation, No. 1 pro-style quarterback in the country and No. 1 prospect in the state of Louisiana.
Manning, the son of another former Newman star in Cooper Manning, is entering his junior season in the fall as one of the most-coveted prospects in next year’s recruiting cycle, though recruiting has been put on the back burner as he focused in on Newman football and becoming the team’s starting quarterback the past two seasons.
“Owns the requisite frame with good height and room to add mass,” Manning’s scouting report on 247Sports reads. “Pro-style passer with good functional athleticism defenses must account for, particularly as a scrambler and off-schedule playmaker. Excels throwing on the move. Capable of effective throws across his body on the run.
“Shows a quick, smooth, repeatable delivery and consistently stays on top of the ball, especially in the short-to-intermediate passing game, where he thrives. Accurate passer to all levels who can fit deeper throws into zone windows with appropriate mix of touch and velocity.”
Up next is Shelton Sampson Jr., a wideout out of Baton Rouge Catholic High, ranked as the No. 24 overall prospect in the nation and No. 3 wideout in the country. Sampson has reeled in offers from LSU, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and more.
Coming in as the state’s third-best prospect is New Iberia (La.) Westgate safety Derek Williams, a 6-2, 185-pound versatile defender who starred both ways for his team, which advanced in the state playoffs in 2020. Williams ranks as the No. 28 overall prospect and No. 2 safety in the nation.
LSU already offered Williams back in August before his sophomore year even got going. He’s already been invited to the 2023 All-American Bowl. Alabama, Florida State, Notre Dame, Texas, UCF and others enter the mix this year.
Another Baton Rouge prospect to round out the state’s five-star prospects is Jaiden Ausberry, who ranks as the No. 32 overall prospect in the country and No. 2 outside linebacker in the nation. A four-star prospect outside of the five-star range is another outside linebacker in Many’s Tackett Curtis. Curtis ranks as the No. 68 overall prospect and No. 3 outside linebacker in the country.
