Top performers from LSU elite camp

Talented players from the 2023, 2024, 2025 recruiting classes and beyond gathered in Baton Rouge for a two-day, three-part elite camp at LSU. On3 was on hand for all of the action from start to finish.

Players from Louisiana, Ohio, Texas, Mississippi, Virginia, Alabama, Florida, California and states in between competed and put themselves in front of several eyes. Here are On3 National Recruiting Analyst Sam Spiegelman’s top performers and other notes from the camp.

MVP: OT Zalance Heard

Heard explodes through his blocks and for a 6-foot-6, 308-pounder, he’s light on his feet and is a Saturday-ready player. On3’s No. 16 overall player has seamlessly made the transition to left tackle and dominated in 1-on-1s against inside pass moves and also establishing the perimeter. He has an NFL wingspan and 36.5-inch arms, football smarts and the rock-solid foundation to keep the pocket well and clear paths in the process. LSU leads the way on the Recruiting Prediction Machine.

2. QB Walker White, 2024

Of the top quarterback group, nobody thew with better anticipation and downfield accuracy than White. The On300 passer from Arkansas clocked a 4.71-second 40 in Baton Rouge after previously running a 4.6 earlier this summer. White has a fantastic throwing motion and drives through his throws, with a 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame and speed at his disposal. LSU offered White before he returned back to Little Rock, Ark. Ole Miss leads the way convincincingly on the RPM.

3. CB Daylen Austin – LSU

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Long Beach (Calif.) Poly cornerback was up to the task as the top boundary cornerback in attendance. Austin was sharp in and out of his breaks, closing in on routes underneath and contesting balls consistently down the sideline. Austin is consistently competitive and feisty in coverage and is natural as he turns and runs with receivers.

4. OLB Daymion Sanford

Talented Katy (Texas) Paetow outside linebacker Sanford is a new-age linebacker that can move like a safety. At 6-foot-2 and 205-plus pounds, Sanford was sticky in coverage and especially terrific in the middle of the field and in the flats, where he was dynamic in pass coverage and can come downhill in a hurry. The Tigers wasted no time following Texas and Alabama in offering the rising senior from Houston. Vanderbilt is leading the way on the RPM.

5. QB Jake Merklinger, 2024

The Peach State passer was among the top standouts behind center during Friday’s session. Merklinger has a pretty deep ball and can drop it with touch and in stride on intermediate routes. He can also put some spin on his throws and continued to get better throughout the camp session. He has one of the highest floors in this 2024 class. Michigan State leads the way on the RPM.

6. DB Ashton Stamps

The 6-foot, 182-pound cornerback from Metairie (La.) Rummel continues to take strides in his game and rides his strong offseason into June. Stamps turned the eyes of the LSU staff earlier this month and was even better on Thursday. He was explosive out of his breaks and closed on passes in a hurry underneath and in the middle of the field. He’s a willing tackler and equally as stout on the back end. Stamps is a major stock-up candidate out of The Boot. LSU is the favorite on the RPM.

7. QB Colin Hurley, 2025

The talented 2025 passer from Jacksonville, Fla., turned in a stellar performance and regardless of age, shined as one of the better quarterbacks in attendance. Hurley kept his eyes glued downfield and made smart decisions with the ability to deal all over the field with timing and anticipation. He was dealing throughout Thursday. The Tigers lead early on the RPM for young, talented Sunshine State passer with Miami, Georgia and Ohio State also involved.

8. IOL Cole Dellenger

The interior offensive lineman from the Midwest brought some heat to the Bayou. Taking snaps at center, Dellenger was terrific once he locked in and powered through defenders. He dominated reps during 1-on-1s and exploded through blocks. The Spartans are favored on the RPM for the On3 Consensus four-star lineman.

9. DB Ju’Juan Johnson

Johnson is new to playing in the secondary, but is taking to it at a rapid pace. Since landing overtures from Nebraska, LSU and Alabama, and immersing himself in the craft during drillwork at camps, Johnson has continued to grow and develop as a defensive back and was outstanding at cornerback on Friday. After earning offers from LSU and Alabama as a nickel, Johnson was sticky outside at cornerback, quick and instinctive, and able to shadow receivers around the field. The Tigers are early favorites on the RPM.

10. WR Harvey Broussard

The 6-foot-4 wideout from St. Martinville (La.) was a mismatch on 50-50 balls and continued to improve his win percentage going into this summer. Broussard used his frame to his advantage and was sure-handed through the workout on Thursday. He was aggressive on contested catches and was consistently good on matching up outside deep and on intermediate routes. Ole Miss leads the way on the RPM.

Additional notes

+QB: Josh Flowers shined in spurts and worked out late Thursday with some top pass-catchers. He’s a rhythm thrower and can attack downfield and also fire throws in underneath. He has all the tools and is a big play waiting to happen. Consistency is key. Czavian Teasett also impressed on Day 2. The Southpaw has a smooth delivery and has great timing on his deep ball. He needs to shore up his accuracy on throws underneath. On300 QB Isaac Wilson has a smooth, quick throwing motion as well and the resemblance to his older brother is apparent. The rising junior was sharp in groves and gets the ball out quickly, and can continue to work on timing and consistency. 2025 Prosper (Texas) Rock Hill passer Kevin Sperry was wildly consistent and has a big arm for a sophomore. He showed good touch and ball placement. Fellow 2025 Emile Picarella has a big arm and the ability to place the ball anywhere on the field. He’s flashed all the tools as he continues to make strides this offseason.

+WR: 2024 Houma (La.) Terrebone WR Kylan Billiot impressed off the hook with a 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame, a near-90-inch wingspan and some of the more sure hands from the event. Billiot, an All-State basketball player, was a top performer for Thursday’s private workouts. He possesses a ton of raw traits and athleticism. Omarion Miller returned to Baton Rouge and battled through double-teams in 7-on-7 and showed off the rock-solid hands and ability to make plays vertically. One of the more polished receivers in attendance was Jacoby Bellazar. The Baton Rouge native consistently got open and came down with contested grabs. Bellazar had speed turning upfield, had sure hands during workouts and was a smooth route-runner. You don’t see many WR like 2025 Russell Babineaux from Lafayette (La.) Acadiana powerhouse too often, but the soon-to-be sophomore pass-catcher has a stocky, muscular build with electric ball skills and is noticeably shaky in the open field. Joshua Jackson was stellar for New Orleans (La.) St. Augustine in the spring game and continues to impress as a big-framed receiver that can stretch the field and battle for 50-50 balls downfield. The big-play threat came away with some highlight reel-worthy grabs and seems poised for a breakout season. 2025 Baton Rouge (La.) Catholic’s Amari Clayton is a tall 6-foot-1, 170-pounds with great ball skills and speed to get downfield. He’s sure-handed and has good athleticism and should make some plays opposite five-star Shelton Sampson Jr this fall. 2024 On300 ATH Bobby Kennedy has a ready-to-go frame and flashed in doses. He’s going to be fun to watch in the New Orleans Catholic League this fall.

+RB: 2024 River Ridge (La.) John Curtis standout Jason Gabriel Jr. turned the heads of the staff in June working out of the slot. Gabriel, a sub-4.4 40 player, has been a Swiss Army Knife seeing action at receiver and out of the backfield. At 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, he’s a sharp route-runner with straight-line speed on top of quickness. Harlem Berry, a 2025 running back from Metairie (La.) St. Martin’s, was impressive as a receiver out of the backfield during drill-work as well as in 1-on-1s. He has good size (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) and excellent hands, adjusts well to the field and is dynamic after the fact. He clocked in a 4.38 40 at camp.

+OT: Natchitoches (La.) Central Tyler Johnson is another well-built rising senior tackle. He checked in at 6-foot-6 and close to 300 pounds. He’s long and plays a bit high, but checks off boxes in terms of wingspan and physicality during camp.

+LB: Pearl River (Miss.) Community College outside linebacker Hosea Singleton was among the best defenders on Friday. The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder is a linebacker that moves as well as a safety. He’s rangy and was stellar in coverage with backs and receivers in the slot. 2025 Baton Rouge (La.) University’s Keylan Moses also fits a hybrid mold. At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, he can cover ground like a safety with the size of a linebacker. During 7-on-7 work, Moses kept in receivers’ back-pocket and closed with authority. His length is a notable attribute as he clogs up passing lanes in the middle of the field. Recent Southern Miss verbal Jonathan Bax is another stock-up candidate. He was awesome in New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr’s spring game and is continuing to turn heads as an EDGE. 2023 Amite (La.) LB Lemar Harris is a basketball standout playing a hybrid role on defense. He’s built well at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds.

+DB: Talented Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Northridge cornerback Travaris Banks was long and natural in coverage and saw action at cornerback. He tooks snaps inside as well. He was natural in and out of breaks and can accelerate with elite closing speed. , Jai Eugene Jr. impressed in coverage and took snaps at cornerback and can also line up deep at safety. At 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, Eugene has length to line up at either spot and took well to corner, where he was smooth in coverage and flashed the ability easily to and turn with receivers. Eugene is a smart player regardless of position with a high floor in the secondary. Sumner (La.) DB Rodney Brown was also among the top defensive backs on Thursday. An All-District skill player on offense and defense, Brown is 6-foot-1-plus and 180 pounds. He’s long, athletic and was covering a ton of ground on the back end during 1-on-1s.