Around Texas: A round-up of recruiting news in the Lone Star State

Recruiting in the state of Texas never stops. There is always more tape to watch, new prospects to know and plenty of decisions occurring. With that in mind, it’s time to take a look at the latest news, notes and headlines from the Texas recruiting trails.

Big Gets

WR Ernest Campbell‍ is an Aggie

Headlines

Top 2025s headed to IMG – Texas 2025 standouts Jonah Williams‍ and Parker Meese‍ are headed to IMG Academy in Bradenton (FL). Williams, out of Galveston Ball, is regarded as one of the top-five football prospects in the state with high-end potential in both football and baseball. He plays many positions on the football field but is widely projected to linebacker. Meese, of Parish Episcopal, already holds offers from coast to coast and was a defensive leader for a TAPPS state championship squad.

Ready to announce – Conroe (TX) Oak Ridge LB Justin Williams‍ is set to announce his college choice on Monday, July 24. He is down to a top four of Alabama, Texas, Oregon, and Georgia. Before he makes his announcement, two of the top DBs in the state of Texas will announce theres. Both have been on college radars since their freshman year and have amassed offers from across the country. Lancaster (TX) DB Corian Gipson‍ will be the first to announce when he makes his choice on Saturday, July 22. He will choose between finalists Clemson, Ohio State, Texas, TCU and Alabama. Then, on Sunday, July 23, Duncanville (TX) S Ka'Davion Dotson is set to make his decision between LSU, Oklahoma State, SMU, TCU and Texas.

New Name to Know

S Markel Ford‍, Mesquite Horn – 2026

Ford — also known as “DD” — already has people around DFW buzzing. At 6-foot, 185 pounds, he describes himself as a ballhawk, and he backed it up last fall on Horn’s freshman squad. He was a menace on the backend of the defense and recorded 13 interceptions before moving up to Horn’s varsity squad during the playoffs. 

He studies the likes of Jessie Bates and Budda Baker, and he already boasts a 32-inch vertical, a 4.53 40, a 415-pound squat and a 275-pound bench press. One look at the tape and it does not take long to see his ability to cover ground as well as his quick twitch. 

This spring, he turned heads on the camp and 7on7 circuit, and of course, during the spring at Horn, he caught the attention of college coaches. Offers have already arrived from Oregon, Oregon State, Utah, Texas State, SMU, UTSA and Grambling, and he has received interest from Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Texas, Mississippi State, LSU, Arkansas and TCU. He did not attend any college camps this summer.

In addition to football, Ford also competes in the 4x400m and the 400m on the track. 

What’s up with the top

Top Texans headed out of State
1. WR Bryant Wesco‍, Midlothian – Clemson
2. OL Max Anderson‍, Frisco Reedy – Tennessee
3. QB DJ Lagway‍, Willis – Florida
4. CB Selman Bridges‍, Temple Lake Belton – Arkansas
5. DL Joseph Jonah-Ajonye‍, Conroe Oak Ridge – Georgia
6. LB Xavier Atkins‍, Humble Summer Creek – LSU
7. OL Blake Frazier‍, Austin Vandegrift – Michigan
8. WR Zion Kearney‍, Missouri City Fort Bend Hightower – Oklahoma
9. S Xavier Filsaime‍, McKinney – Florida
10. LB Payton Pierce‍, Lucas Lovejoy – Ohio State