Louisiana high school football rankings: Ruston No. 1 in 2024 Preseason MaxPreps Top 25

Bearcats are coming off first state title since 1990, have won 27 of last 28 games.

Sophomore season highlights of St. Augustine's (New Orleans, LA) 5-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart.

St. Augustine's 5-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart | 2023 Highlights 21,002 views 2:35

The high school football season in Louisiana kicks off this week and MaxPreps has your look at the state's top teams. Defending Division I Non-Select state champion Ruston owns the No. 1 spot in the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25.

The Bearcats captured the program's first state championship since 1990 last season with a 31-17 victory over Zachary in the title game. Ruston has won nine state titles all-time, good for fifth in state history.

Seniors Aidan Anding (5-11, 165, CB, LSU commitment), Joshua Brantley (6-3, 218, QB, Tulane), Jordan Hayes (5-9, 170, RB) Zheric Hill (5-11, 220, LB, Louisiana Tech), Sam Nations (6-3, 285, OL) and Landon Smith (5-10, 210, FB) along with promising sophomores Jayden Anding (6-0, 160, S) and Ahmad Hudson (6-7, 235, WR) lead the charge for Ruston.

The best player in the state, however, may be a defensive lineman from St. Augustine (New Orleans). Uncommitted five-star junior Jahkeem Stewart racked up 85 tackles, 33 tackles for loss and 20 sacks during a dominant sophomore campaign in 2023. The 6-foot-6, 270-pound force is regarded as the No. 12 prospect overall in the Class of 2026 according to 247Sports.

In addition to Ruston, defending state champions include Catholic (Baton Rouge) in Division I Select, Opelousas in Division II Non-Select, St. Thomas More (Lafayette) in Division II Select, Union Parish (Farmerville) in Division III Non-Select, Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport) in Division III Select, Oak Grove in Division IV Non-Select and Southern Lab (Baton Rouge) in Division IV Select.

The Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 is a composite of the Preseason Top 100 and computer rankings factoring in past results and adjustments such as returners and statistical data when available.