The Cornerback Haul: LSU Retooling The Secondary In 2024 Class
Brian Kelly and the LSU football staff continue hitting the recruiting trail in order to retool the secondary for the long haul. Now, after signing four cornerbacks in the 2024 cycle, the future is bright in Baton Rouge.
Headlined by the most productive high school football player in Louisiana history in Ju'Juan Johnson, there is significant intrigue within the fresh-faced Tigers.
Who did Kelly and Co. secure during the Early Signing Period?
The 2024 Cornerback Haul:
PJ Woodland: 4-Star Cornerback
Rated as a 4-star cornerback by Rivals … Listed with 3-stars in the On3 composite … Ranked as high as No. 28 nationally at his position and No. 9 overall in Mississippi by Rivals … Multi-sport athlete who also plays basketball … Played on both sides of the ball and at multiple positions in the secondary … Had over 1,300 receiving yards as a senior on his way to being named the Mississippi 7A Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 … Played in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game … As a junior in 2022, tallied 38 tackles and intercepted 7 passes … Recorded 52 tackles, 5 interceptions, returning 2 for touchdowns in 2023 … Named to the Jackson Clarion-Ledger Large School All-State team in 2023 … Led Oak Grove to the Mississippi 7A state title as a senior.
Bernard Causey: 4-Star Cornerback
Standout defensive back at John F. Kennedy in New Orleans … Rated as a 3-star prospect by all recruiting services … Listed as the nation’s No. 56 cornerback prospect and rated No. 15 overall in Louisiana in the composite rankings … Ranked as high as No. 9 in Louisiana and No. 40 at his positional nationally by On3 … A multi-sport athlete who also runs track. … Ran a 11.63 100-meters as a junior… Also got member of JFK’s 4×100, 4×200, and 4×400 relay teams … In 2022, as a junior, helped New Orleans Kennedy to a 10-2 record and a Louisiana Division II Select state quarterfinal appearance … First Team All-District 9-3A in 2023 and First-Team Team 5A All-State … Went 10-2 as a senior and reached the semifinals of the Division II Select Playoffs in 2023.
Wallace Foster IV: 3-Star Cornerback
Three-star prospect from traditional New Orleans football power Warren Easton … Rated as the nation’s No. 71 prospect at his position and No. 23 overall in Louisiana … Earned First-Team 4A All-State honors as a sophomore in 2021 … Missed his junior season due to an injury … Returned to full strength as a senior in 2023 and didn’t miss a game.
Ju'Juan Johnson: 4-Star Cornerback
The most productive high school quarterback in Louisiana prep history with a record 14,451 total yards and 171 total touchdowns, also a state record … Will play cornerback for the Tigers … Rated as a 4-star prospect and the nation’s No. 9 cornerback prospect in the On3 composite … Listed as the No. 9 overall prospect in Louisiana … Ranked as high as No. 6 overall in Louisiana by 247sports and No. 7 by Rivals … Led Lafayette Christian Academy to four straight appearances in the state championship game … Tallied 457 total yards (270 passing, 187 rushing) and 3 rushing TDs in 2023 state title game against St. Thomas More … As a junior in 2022, set state championship game record with 595 yards and 5 TDs in 52-48 defeat to St. Thomas More … Broke Brock Berlin’s Louisiana record for total offense in state quarterfinal win … Broke Nick Brossette’s Louisiana record for total touchdowns … Brossette, who played at LSU, currently serves as LSU’s director of high school and alumni relations … Finished prep career with over 10,500 passing yards and 117 touchdowns and nearly 4,000 rushing yards and 54 touchdowns … Tallied 8 TDs in a win over Acadiana in the 2023 season-opener … Rushed for 270 yards in a win over 5A Jesuit … In final game of high school career, accounted for 457 yards of total offense, including 192 rushing yards, and 3 TDs in Division II State Championship Game vs. St. Thomas More … As a junior, produced 5,487 yards of total offense and 60 touchdowns … Passed for 4,140 yards and 43 TDs and rushed for 1,347 yards and 17 scores in 2022 … As a senior, passed for 3,597 yards and 43 TDs and rushed for 1,484 yards and 25 touchdowns … Lafayette Christian Academy retired his No. 7 jersey following a quarterfinal playoff game in 2023 … One of 5 players nationally named as a finalist for the MaxPreps National Player of the Year … Coached by Hunter Landry.
