Around the SEC: Recruiting News & Trends
It's time to take a look around at the biggest pick-ups on the recruiting front as well as some of the top recruiting news and notes from around the SEC. Jason Howell details that and more in this week's Around the SEC.
Confirmed a few OOS standout visitors
Just added a few more standouts from the Southeast for April 19We posted about a group with Lawrence Hopkins led King Recruiting will be making the trip. That group includes RB Akylin Dear, WR Caleb Cunningham, OL Mario Nash, and 2026 CB Preston Ashley and you can add the following to the group.WR Kenzy West, Flowood (MS) Hartfield Academy - 6-foot, 180 and starting to draw P5 attentionWR Dillon Alfred, Saraland (AL) - he visited last year with this group and has since become a more national nameQB KaMario Taylor, Macon (MS) Noxubee County - committed to Mississippi State. Big athletic specimanThese next couple of guys are still trying to figure out their schedule but also keep an eye on the DL Kevin Oatis, one of the top DLs out of Hattiesburg (MS) and he has been high on the Aggies since the last staff. LB Tyler Lockhart of Winona (MS), a 4-star LB with offers from Alabama, Georgia, and LSU.
DFW Recruiting Notes and some spring visitors
In talking to a few DFW source I have been hearing a growing buzz surrounding Texas A&M's efforts with Mesquite Horn OL Lamont Rogers. He already has a spring unofficial visit locked in with the Aggies for March 30 and I am told the Aggies have done a great job building relationships with him and his family. The word I am getting is the Aggies are pushing towards the top of his list. I don't know if I would call them the leader, but the Aggies have some really nice momentum. There is of course some stiff competition with the likes of Oklahoma, Missouri, LSU, TCU and others in the running. I am also hearing the Aggies are in great shape with Rogers' Mesquite Horn teammate Markel Ford. The 6-1, 195-pound standout is already established as one of the top prospects in the class with offers from across the country. He attended Texas A&M's Junior Day in January and he was one of the first 2026 offers Elko and staff made when they arrived in College Station. I'm told Elko has made a strong impression and he hit it off well with coach Aristide. On another note we have been busy confirming visitors and Elko and staff are going to have no problems staying busy this spring. A big confirmation is that of Corona (CA) Centennial QB Husan Longstreet. He visited before the dead period and he will return to College Station on March 29. He also has a visit scheduled to Auburn for March 22 and sources tell me both programs have made a strong impression. The Aggies are also set to host several top Mississippi prospects on April 19. Standout wide receiver Caleb Cunningham has been confirmed but we have also confirmed top 2025s in RB Akylin Dear and OL Mario Nash and 2026 standout CB Preston Ashley. Dear is regarded as one of the top RBs in the country and being pursued by the nation's best. Mario Nash is a big OL and reeling in offers left and right. Then there is Ashley who sources in Mississippi have told me they believe he will be one of the best 2026 prospects in the nation. There could be a few more Mississippi guys making the trip too. They are coming as a group led by Lawrence Hopkins who brought in a stout group last spring which included eventual signee Tristan Jernigan. Shawnee (KS) Mill Valley defensive end Jayden Woods is scheduled to visit March 23. He also has spring unofficial visits scheduled to Penn State (March 12), Michigan (March 14), Michigan State (March 15), Tennessee (March 18), Florida (March 19), Baylor (March 25), and Oregon (April 11). He already has official visits scheduled to Wisconsin (May 31) and Purdue (June 14). Omaha (NE) Millard South tight end Chase Loftin has also confirmed his plans to visit March 30 and Buford (GA) tight end Hayden Bradley says he will visit March 27-29. Albuquerque (NM) La Cueva linebacker Mason Posa is also working to nail down a spring date. The end of March looks promising right now.
A plethora of 2025 pass-catchers to keep an eye on for Texas A&M
Having a stout group of receivers is a necessity when competing on the gridiron in the Southeastern Conference. From tight ends to wideouts, Mike Elko & Co. have been busy with plenty of 2025 recruits to choose from during their first full recruiting cycle at Texas A&M.
Around the SEC: Recruiting News & Trends
It's time to take a look around at the biggest pick-ups on the recruiting front as well as some of the top recruiting news and notes from around the SEC. Jason Howell details that and more in this week's Around the SEC.