Around the SEC: Recruiting news and trends
Recruiting didn't slow down in the month of June as many prospects shortened their lists and made commitments throughout the Southeastern Conference. Jason Howell breaks down the latest news from around the SEC.
Around the SEC: Recruiting news and trends
The end of the school year brought a flurry of commitments to the Southeastern Conference while even more prospects decided to trim their lists of favorites. Jason Howell runs down the latest developments around the SEC.
My Three Things
Just a few things that have been on my mind1. I love the Aggies tapping into other regions, but what is even better is seeing them offer guys early who are just starting to emerge as top prospects. I look at out of state guys like Jack Stewart, Tayquon Johnson, and Patrick Lucas, and in-state guys like Baylor Cupp, Nnamdi Adim-Madumere, and David Gbenda. The Aggies have been the first, or among the first, P5 programs to offer each. That makes me believe they know what they are looking for in a prospect and when they see it they go get it. It also speaks to their out-of-state contacts and the depth of their video research. 2. Speaking of David Gbenda, good night do I love his tape. I have to admit the first time I heard about him was when Ryan started talking about his performance at the Opening Regional in Houston last week. Then he took home LB MVP honors. Then the Aggies offered. Now he has shot up my short list of linebackers in a hurry and his offer list has grown considerably in the last week. His tape is impressive and in my mind it puts him right up there with Marcel Brooks and Rian Davis as my favorite in-state linebackers on the field. He fights through traffic, finds the ball, and arrives angry. What is not to like about that.3. I really struggled with where to go on this one. Would I talk DB recruiting, Demani Richardson's commitment, TEs, or something else. Well, I think we've talked quite a bit about all of those subjects so I want to go another direction. It is time for a new name so let me introduce you to Camar Wheaton. This guy is a 2021 prospect, but he is as must know as Kendrick Blackshire or Hayden Conner. At 6-1, 190-pounds the Garland Lakeview Centenial running back has already clocked 10.8 100m in 2018, and he recently picked up his first scholarship offer from TCU. He will be at Arkansas this weekend and I will not be shocked one bit if the Razorbacks decide to offer as well. He was named 10-6A Newcomer of the Year after averaging over 12 ypc and rushing for a team leading 880 yards and 11 TDs. He did that while not playing varsity until the 4th game of the year, and he saved his best performance for last. Against Dallas Jesuit he rushed for 439 yards and 5 TDs and averaged almost 20 yards a carry in the Patriots 79-55 playoff loss to the Jesuit Rangers. Put him on your radar now.https://www.hudl.com/video/3/10742955/5a8d1e0ab3c85f0eb41e3f8d
Wetumpka (Ala.) DL Patrick Lucas thrilled with Texas A&M offer
Jimbo Fisher and the Aggie staff continue to search far and wide for talent and extended an offer to Alabama defensive lineman Patrick Lewis on Tuesday. Lewis shares his initial thoughts on the offer with Jason Howell, saying he plans to visit College Station.
More offers out plus a pair of 2020's to watch
The Aggies have continued their distribution of offers across the country in the last couple of days. Today, new offers include a pair of defensive linemen from the south - Wetumpka (AL) DT Patrick Lucas and New Augusta (MI) jumbo DE Jaren Handy. Lucas is a 6-4, 260 pound disruptor. He holds offers from Auburn, Florida, Georgia Tech, and Tennessee, among others. Handy comes in at 6-5, 260 and has scholarship offers from much of the SEC West. Here are a couple of 2020 names I mentioned in my notes from the Opening that I've been hearing more A&M buzz about: CyCreek LB Josh White and Richmond Foster DT Chidozie Nwankwo. A source in Cypress tells me the Aggies have been snooping around on White and are eager to see him in spring ball. He's got good size and quality sophomore tape. If his explosiveness continues to develop, he will be on offer watch. The only knock on Nwankwo is his height. If this kid gets to 6-1, he's probably a take. He's very explosive and his strength combined with his leverage make him a very difficult assignment for any offensive lineman.