David Gbenda

-I'll start at linebacker. With 4 guys already committed (Harris, White, Lee, Orebo), the Aggies could be done. However, I continue to hear there's real interest in Atlanta (GA) prospect Nick Jackson. Folks in the business of evaluating southeast defensive players have compared Jackson to Tyrel Dodson on more than one occasion. If you look at Jackson's numbers from The Opening this summer, he actually ran better than Nakobe Dean in the 40 and did it hovering around 6-2, 220 pounds. I've had some folks ask me about Katy Cinco Ranch LB David Gbenda lately, as well. The A&M coaches heavily evaluated Gbenda during the spring, and he visited College Station a couple of times. Staff members also went down to Katy more than once to see him practice live. Since then though, we've heard very little in terms of communication between the two parties. The Aggies have been targeting (and mostly landing) their top guys. Gbenda is a great kid...very smart and respectful. I think he's an OLB/Rover at the next level, and I think you'll see him make a decision soon to a Big 12 school. -Lastly, here's what I've been told about Lake Travis WR Garrett Wilson who remains firmly committed to Ohio State. When Wilson was offered by the previous staff, the initial response we received out of Austin was that the Aggies would be a legitimate contender. However, a run of miscommunication and letdown from that regime left a sour taste in Wilson's mouth, and A&M was subsequently left out of his top schools. With Jimbo Fisher's staff scrambling to close on the 2018 group, it meant that, even though Wilson was coveted by this staff, it was difficult to mend the issue. Wilson then commits to Ohio State, and the Aggies begin to put together the WR group they have now. A poster (I believe it was TAMUHighlights) started a thread recently in the wake of the Urban Meyer drama about Wilson's recent Twitter follows being A&M staff members. I posted on it because earlier that day I had an Austin area source message me saying he had heard Wilson would give the Aggies a look if Meyer was let go. Now, that's all I've heard on the issue. Urban Meyer still technically has a job, and Texas A&M has a strong class of WR's and not much room left to maneuver in terms of available spots in this class. That's where things are...basically there's not much to it. If the situation changes, we'll be sure to dig around some more.

It's the middle of the summer and the middle of the dead period, but recruits are still active throughout the state of Texas. Jason Howell runs down all the latest commitments, under-the-radar prospects and more.

Texas is a bastion of football talent, and the country's elite college programs are scouring the state for playmakers. With the summer camp circuit complete, Billy Liucci unveils his new rankings for state's best high school prospects.