2026 Preseason Top 100 Season Preview: No. 78 Ruston (LA)
A veteran quarterback, a deep offense and two LSU commits give the Bearcats another path to December.
Top 25 Public HSFB8/31/20264 min read
T25PS
Ruston was one win from a Louisiana Division I Non-Select championship last season. The Bearcats finished 11-3, reached the state final and now return eight offensive starters for another run under Jerrod Baugh.
The offense begins with senior quarterback Sam Hartwell, who accounted for 36 touchdowns in 2025, and junior running back Dalen Powell, who scored 18. Senior receiver Ahmad Hudson is committed to LSU. Senior defensive back Jayden Anding is headed there, too.
Ruston gave an early look at that ceiling in the Bayou Jamb, beating Evangel Christian 49-14 in a non-counting game as Powell scored three touchdowns. The result does not belong in the regular-season record, but it confirmed that the veteran offense is ready for a demanding September.
Team Snapshot
Location: Ruston, Louisiana
Head Coach: Jerrod Baugh
2025 Record: 11-3
2025 Finish: Louisiana Division I Non-Select state runner-up
Returning Starters: 8 offense, 5 defense
T25PS Preseason Rank: No. 78
The Offense Is Already Established
Hartwell threw for 1,990 yards and 22 touchdowns with three interceptions last season, then added 697 rushing yards and 14 scores. Powell ran for 1,156 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore and added three receiving scores. Hudson caught 61 passes for 801 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Those three return together. Ruston does not have to invent its identity or wait for a quarterback competition to settle. The Bearcats can begin the season with the same players who carried the offense to the state final, then expand the roles around them.
Your team. Your state. Your T25PS.
Make the national coverage more personal.
Save your home state and favorite team, then choose whether to receive major rankings and coverage updates. The account is free.
Five defensive starters return, led by Anding and junior linebacker Aidan Adams. Adams recorded 101 tackles last season. Anding made three interceptions and returned two for touchdowns. Keilan Davis added 56 tackles and six sacks.
That is enough proven production to keep Ruston from becoming an offense-only contender. The schedule will answer the rest quickly: Neville, Longview, Edna Karr and Catholic-Baton Rouge arrive before district play is fully underway.
Players to Know
Sam Hartwell, QB, senior
Hartwell enters his final season after producing 2,687 total yards and 36 touchdowns in 2025. He is the most important reason Ruston begins the year with championship expectations.
Dalen Powell, RB, junior
Powell is a junior, not a senior. He ran for 1,156 yards and scored 18 total touchdowns as a sophomore, then opened 2026 with three touchdowns in the Bayou Jamb.
Ahmad Hudson, WR, senior
The LSU commit caught 61 passes for 801 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. He gives Hartwell a proven top target against the strongest part of the schedule.
Jayden Anding, DB, senior
Anding is also committed to LSU. His two interception returns for touchdowns in 2025 showed how quickly he can change a game.
Aidan Adams, LB, junior
Adams is a junior after leading the defense with 101 tackles last season. He is the central returner for a unit replacing six starters.
Schedule Breakdown
Ruston follows the Bayou Jamb with four consecutive tests: Neville, Longview, Edna Karr and Catholic-Baton Rouge. The Sept. 19 trip to Edna Karr is one of the strongest public-school matchups on the national September calendar.
The district finish includes Alexandria, Pineville and West Monroe. Ruston should be more settled by then, but the road finale at West Monroe will still have seeding and rivalry weight.
Complete 2026 Schedule
Sept. 4: Neville
Sept. 11: Longview (Texas)
Sept. 19: at Edna Karr
Sept. 25: Catholic-Baton Rouge
Oct. 1: West Point (Mississippi)
Oct. 9: at Ouachita Parish
Oct. 16: Peabody
Oct. 23: at Alexandria
Oct. 30: Pineville
Nov. 6: at West Monroe
Biggest Question
Can the defense match an offense that is ready now?
Ruston knows what it has with Hartwell, Powell and Hudson. Five defensive starters return, including an LSU commit and a 101-tackle linebacker, but the new starters will face state-level opponents immediately. If that unit is ready, the Bearcats have no obvious reason to take a step back.
Bottom Line
Ruston does not need to wait for its offense to arrive. The quarterback, running back and top receiver are already established, and two LSU commits lead the roster.
If the five returning defensive starters bring the new group along, No. 78 will be positioned for another December run.
This preview is presented as part of MISTER F00TBALL’s National High School Football Composite Rankings, partnered with and powered by Prep Gridiron Logistics, the only rankings to include every national poll and every team receiving a Top 25 vote.
Want to put your company in front of high school football audiences nationally, in Western Pennsylvania or across Georgia? Email alex@t25ps.com to discuss T25PS sponsorship and advertising opportunities with partnered brands.
T25PS Prediction
Projected Regular-Season Record: 7-3
Projected Postseason Finish: Louisiana Division I Non-Select state champ
The non-district schedule is too strong to project a clean sweep, but Ruston has one of the most complete returning offenses in Louisiana. Hartwell’s experience and Powell’s production should travel against every opponent on the slate.
The Bearcats are good enough to return to the state final.
Thanks for reading,
Alex | T25PS
Follow T25PS on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok: @Top25PublicHSFB
