LSU signees, commits, targets earn LSWA all-state honors

The LSWA released its annual all-state football teams during the course of the past week-plus, capped by this weekend’s Louisiana Mr. Football announcement.

Prolific Leesville running back Xavier Ford, the nephew of former LSU standout Michael Ford, earned this year’s top honor — marking the Wampus Cats’ first player to do so since 1995 when Cecil Collins did so before heading to Baton Rouge for college.

The younger Ford is still weighing college options that include Houston, Tulane and others.

But several future Tigers also helped highlight the five classes’ all-state teams, including six senior signees, three junior commits and another handful of juniors and sophomores who hold offers from the in-state program.

2025

DB Aidan Anding, Ruston: Two seasons of varsity football and two Class 5A all-state selections for the Bearcats’ corner and LSU signee. Anding finished his senior season with 33 tackles, five interceptions, two pass break-ups, a sack and a fumble recovery, while also excelling on special teams with an 86-yard kick return and 67- and 45-yard punt returns for touchdowns among his highlights.

RB Harlem Berry, St. Martin’s Episcopal: The Saints’ star completed his four-year sweep of annual all-state selections among an again-strong Class 1A running back ballot. Berry finished his senior season with 172 rushes for 2,178 yards and 41 touchdowns; 20 catches for 340 yards and four scores; an 80-yard kickoff-return touchdown; and 26 tackles, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles and one recovery on defense.

OL Brett Bordelon, Isidore Newman: The LSU-signed offensive lineman earned his third-straight Class 2A all-state selection for the Greenies before joining older brother Bo in Baton Rouge. The two Bordelons have now held one of the 2A offensive line slots each of the past five years.

DB Jacob Bradford, Catholic (Baton Rouge): Another of the Tigers’ new defensive back signees joined Anding among the Class 5A selections at the position. Bradford recorded 20 solo tackles, three tackles for loss, an interception, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick in his final high school season. Younger brother Blaine was also among the vote-getters and earned an honorable-mention selection.

WR TaRon Francis, Edna Karr: “ManChild” earned one of the Class 5A all-state wide receiver slots for the second straight year with his 71 catches for 1,246 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior this fall to help highlight the Cougars’ state championship run.

RB J.T. Lindsey, Alexandria: The Trojans’ star running back earned Outstanding Offensive Player honors in Class 5A and was a finalist for the superlative Louisiana Mr. Football award. Lindsey rushed 324 times for 2,476 yards and 33 touchdowns and caught 18 passes for another 248 yards and three scores.

2026

WR Jakai Anderson, McDonogh 35: The Roneagles’ electric, LSU-committed junior standout earned a Class 4A wide receiver selection with his 57 catches for 972 yards and 14 touchdowns, while also adding 151 yards and four scores on 16 carries and a combined 518 yards and seven touchdowns on kick and punt returns.

DL Richard Anderson, Edna Karr: The one-time LSU commit who recently announced a reopened recruiting process earned a Class 5A all-state selection following a junior season of 44 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 18 quarterback hurries, two interceptions and a touchdown. “Big Rich” was strong all season, but particularly dominant late in his Cougars’ playoff run to their first state title since 2019.

DL Dylan Berymon, Ouachita Parish: The explosive defensive lineman, a 2026 LSU target, was the Lions’ lone all-state selection in Class 5A with his 45 tackles, including 15 for loss and three sacks, in the loaded District 2-5A that included finalists Alexandria and Ruston, a top seed in Neville and another perennial power in West Monroe.

WR Kenny Darby, Airline: The LSU-committed junior joined Francis for a sweep of the Class 5A wide receiver spots by future Tigers. Darby finished this fall as Louisiana’s most prolific pass-catcher with 100 receptions for 1,764 yards and 24 scores.

DB Aiden Hall, Edna Karr: The Cougars’ safety, an LSU commit, earned a Class 5A defensive back selection, joining Anding and Bradford to give future Tigers three of the four spots. Hall finished his junior season with 38 tackles, including 12 for loss and four sacks, plus four interceptions, 11 pass break-ups, four blocked punts and two fumble recoveries.

2027

QB/ATH Elijah Haven, Dunham: The Dunham star earned Outstanding Offensive Player honors in Class 2A — the only non-senior among the state’s 10 MVP awards. Haven completed 193 of his 321 passes for 37 touchdowns and seven interceptions as a sophomore, while rushing 158 times for 925 yards and 19 scores. He made the team as the ATH, alongside back-to-back quarterback selection Abram Wardell of Calvary Baptist.

QB/ATH Peyton Houston, Evangel Christian: Like fellow in-state LSU target Haven, Houston earned an all-state selection at an ATH spot alongside a prolific senior passer. “Pop” completed 310 of his 442 passes for a state-best 4,480 yards and 38 touchdowns in a stellar sophomore debut season, while also rushing for another 690 yards and seven scores. He joined Airline’s Ben Taylor as the quarterbacks selected in Class 5A.

TE Ahmad Hudson, Ruston: The Bearcats’ multisport standout, an LSU target on both the football field and basketball court, earned the tight end selection in Class 5A with his 39 catches for 754 yards and six touchdowns.