South Central Spotlight: Class of 2023 prospects generating buzz

Back in June we highlighted prospects in the 2023 class from across the country who were already starting to generate college attention. This week, we take another look at 2023 prospects who are emerging as top recruits from the South Central region.

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RELATED: Midwest 2023 players to watch | Southeast | East Coast

CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State

CLASS OF 2022 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State

COVERAGE: Rivals Transfer Tracker | Rivals Camp Series

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There is always talent in North Louisiana and Many certainly has one of the best in the 2023 class. Curtis is coming off a break-through freshman campaign that caught the attention of Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Tulane and Mississippi State, in addition to Virginia, Virginia Tech and Colorado.

Curtis is an imposing safety at 6-foot-2 and a shade under 200 pounds. He plays in the box and back deep and is a hit-stick defender that can get after the quarterback, make open-field stops, possesses great closing speed, can cover bigger pass-catchers and doesn’t shy away from lowering his shoulder. At this rate and with his style of play, Curtis could be a great safety or even morph into an outside linebacker.

DeSoto is notorious for producing high-level college prospects and the number of quality receivers that have emerged from the Dallas-area powerhouse in recent memory has been incredible. Last year, Lawrence Arnold signed with Kansas. The upcoming group of senior wideouts include Jerand Bradley (Texas Tech commitment) and Jaedon Wilson (Arkansas), but don’t look past a difference-making rising sophomore.

Cook, who measures in at about 6-foot and 170 pounds, is an athletic playmaker that can dunk, is dangerous in space with a good catch radius and body control, very twitchy and can break away in the open field. Arizona State, Baylor, Texas A&M, Auburn, Illinois, Arkansas and Nebraska have all offered the talented pass-catcher.

It’s shaping up to be an absolutely talent-laden crop of quarterbacks in The Boot for 2023 with prospects like Arch Manning and Eli Holstein headlining the group. Mooney is one of the more talented passers to monitor into the fall as well.

The 6-foot-1, 191-pound dual-sport standout is a Houston baseball pledge bracing for his first season as Denham Springs’ varsity starter in 2020. In sub-varsity film last season, Mooney showed off his big arm, his ability to make accurate throws on the run and how he attacks downfield. He also has a habit of making excellent throws into tight windows. Nebraska, Maryland, Ole Miss and Kentucky all offered this offseason.

Sampson went from an unknown to a household name overnight after a spectacular head-turning performance at the Baton Rouge Catholic prospect combine on July 31. The rising sophomore wide receiver managed three catches for 30 yards last fall in a limited role on offense and will be in line for way more targets and production this fall.

He capped that with running consecutive sub-4.4 40s, including a 4.35. Sampson enters his sophomore year at 6-foot-4 and 181 pounds, and schools such as LSU, Virginia, Mississippi State, Florida, Georgia and Florida State were quick to take notice of the speedy playmaker.

New Iberia Westgate is nicknamed WAMPville for the extremely high-level prospects that have emerged from the Lafayette-area power over the years, including Kayshon Boutte from the 2020 cycle. Williams has the makings of the next one up as a three-sport athlete that recently measured in at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds.

Last season as a freshman, Williams accounted for three interceptions along with six pass breakups, seven tackles for loss and two forced fumbles, along with 42 total stops. He’s a ballhawk that can cover a ton of ground at the back end of the secondary and makes receivers pay when they attempt to make plays in the middle of the field. LSU recently joined Arkansas, Mississippi State, Colorado and Virginia as early offers.