De'Monte Russell

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.

Ok so there was a lot, so let's not waste any timeFort Bend Bush DB Erick Young was one of the top A&M targets in attendance at the Opening Regional in Dallas. He was in Dallas because he was nursing an injury and could not compete at the Houston Regional. He recently took his official visit to A&M and both his mom and him were very impressed. The word that keeps coming up with Young is "need" As in the Aggies told me they really need me there. It's not about a want, but a need and it sounds like that message has resonated well with the Houston-area DB. He continues to take his time, and he would like to visit Ohio State, Alabama, and Oklahoma before trimming his list further and eventually naming his college choice. He plans to announce a final three the day before announcing his college decision. Another big time DB A&M fans are highly interested in is Jeffery Carter. The DB was one of the fastest guys in the entire camp and clocked a 4.3 forty. He finished second to Daxton Hill in the fastest man race. The Aggies recently made his top 6 and he said he likes to keep everyone guessing. He would like to take some more visits before making an announcement. He took his official visit to A&M the April 14 weekend and really got to know Debione Renfro well. He was visited at Aledo last week by coach Linguist and coach Elko and he has developed a great bond with both. Sticking with the DBs, Texas went by Waxahachie last week to see Texas A&M commit Demani Richardson, and they are working really really hard to get him to Austin on a visit. I'm not going to say it will not happen because this is recruiting, but currently he remains locked in on his commitment with the Aggies. He and his family are actively communicating with the A&M coaching staff and they had a great time on the official visit a few weeks ago. I continue to hear good things about the Aggies' efforts with Southlake Carroll 2020 RJ Mickens. He likes what he sees in coach Linguist and coach Elko and he is keeping a close eye on things in College Station. On the defensive line, Lucedale (MS) George County DT McKinnley Jackson competed in Dallas fresh off an unofficial visit to Texas A&M. The former LSU commit saw his eyes opened by the trip to College Station. Coach Elijah Robinson's ability to develop DTs definitely caught his attention, and he also talked fishing with coach Fisher. This summer will be a busy one with several trips in the works from coast-to-coast. One guy I was not able to catch up with yesterday was Ishmael Sopsher. The Amite (LA) DT was an absolute stud on the day and he too recently visited College Station. The feeling I got from talking to different people was LSU and Alabama are going to be really tough to top in this one. The recruitment of his brother Rodney Sopsher could make things interesting. Mississippi State commit and Jackson (MS) Provine DE De'Monte Russell says he plans to visit A&M this summer but he doesn't have anything scheduled. He also plans to visit Oregon, Florida, and maybe Ole Miss. Alexandria (LA) 2020 DT Jacobian Guillory recently visited A&M and LSU and he plans to return to both for camps. He loved the weight room at A&M and he kept a close eye on Daylon Mack during the spring game. He checked in at 330 and he's trying to get down to 315. Coach Peveto has been leading the Aggies efforts for Oak Grove (LA) DT Kenean Caldwell. Caldwell knows him from going to camps at both LSU and Ole Miss and the two have a good bond. On the offensive line Camden (AR) Fairview offensive tackle Stacey Wilkins had one of the more impressive days on the field. He is one long dude and light on his feet with a solid base to build on. It is easy to see why so many are all over him. He had the best day I've seen him have and I have seen him at the Army Combine and the Under Armour Camp in the last four months. He still says he plans to take an unofficial. He is coming off unofficial visits to OU and Alabama, and he has official visits planned to Texas (May 5), Arkansas (June 13), and USC (June 22). He plans to take unofficials to Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, and Georgia. Coach Turner's ability to develop NFL OLs has not been lost on him, he definitely notices that and it's a positive. Wilkins did not say it but there is a lot of Oklahoma smoke on this one and Arkansas is definitely going to be in the fight until the end. I don't see this one going the way of the Aggies. Crandall OL Branson Bragg said he really enjoyed his last trip to A&M and gave me a lot of good stuff about sitting down with coach Turner. However, he did say Texas made a big push up his list after his most recent visit. He didn't say they were his leader but I'd put them at the top right now. At receiver Fort Worth Southwest's Nnamdi Adim-Madumere said he remains high on the Aggies. He has been busy taking a few visits recently. He was able to check out A&M, Minnesota, and Baylor. He is currently narrowing in on some favorites. The Aggies remain at the top of his list. He also mentioned Baylor and Minnesota as schools he is watching closely. Aledo 2020 RB Jase McClellan said he's still strong in his commitment to OU but he is very interested in A&M. The Aggies did go by last week and he plans to visit in May. He also mentioned Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, and Georgia as schools he has also had contact with. Mesquite Poteet 2020 RB Seth McGowan is also keeping in touch with the Aggies more. He caught up with coach Linguist last week and he plans to keep in touch with him on a regular basis. On the 2019 RB/FB/H-back front keep Fort Worth Nolan Catholic standout Chance Cover's name on your radar. He checked in at 6-3, 228 yesterday and he is seeing a lot of interest on the offensive side of the ball. A&M recently checked in with him and is eyeing him as a possible H-back target. At QB, Weatherford 2020 QB Ken Seals saw A&M came by the school last week and he plans to camp at A&M. It looks like communication is picking up there. Another 2020 to watch is Grapevine Faith's Deuce Hogan. He has family ties to A&M and is looking at camping this summer.

- Jalen Catalon had the performance of the camp. His instincts are off the charts. He is not the most technical but he sees the field unlike most and during the three-on-three session he shined at the safety spot. I've been saying it for a long time, but he reminds me a lot of Tyrann Mathieu. He's not the biggest, and he will test ok but not offer the charts. What he will do is routinely make plays that make you shake your head. He's smart and he always seems to be around the football. -Texas A&M commitment Demani Richardson looked the way I thought he would. He closed well on the ball throughout the day, and made you say things like if the pads were on that one is not a completion. I thought the same thing about Duncanville S Chris Thompson. Jeffery Carter showed off his athleticism as well. Brian Williams did not go through many drills yesterday. -S Lewis Cine was a guy I kept seeing make plays. He was knocking away passes and getting physical with guys. Next to Catalon I would say he had the top performance of the secondary guys -At QB was all about the Jacobs. By that I mean Jacob Clark and Jacob Zeno were the two who stood above the rest to me. Both spun the ball well and showed accuracy with all their throws. Recent Texas A&M offer Michael Henderson was not there. 2020s Ken Seals and Brendon Young had pretty solid outings too. - EJ Smith's footwork kept DBs guessing. He may have the best feet of the WRs and RBs in the 2020 class. He is an all-purpose guy who I could see playing both on the next level. - Seth McGowan is a bad dude. He definitely passes the eyeball test and we are talking about a kid at the top of his high school class so he is smart, smart, smart. He was also one of the top RBs in drills and one-on-one work. He's a guy I see moving up the list next time around. - Jase McClellan caught the ball well on the day and lived up to his billing. -OL Branson Bragg was big, mean, and physical, and did not lose in one-on-ones. I liked what I saw out of Argyle's OL Preston Wilson. He may move inside, but he competes at these camps. He really got after it yesterday. I thought Cedar Hill's Steve Carter also had a big day at OG. I didn't see him lose a rep either. I liked what I saw from Stacey Wilkins. He stopped his feet a few times and got caught reaching, but when he keeps those feet moving and punches he is exactly what you draw up. He's another guy with a lot of athleticism and a big frame. -On the defensive line Mansfield Legacy DT Taurean Carter caught my attention. He's an interior line prospect who I think could play in a variety of schemes. Has some nice length and strength and he worked his hands really well. DEs like De'Monte Russell, NaNa Osafo-Mensah, and Steve Carter all excelled in the pass rush drills. It was also really easy to see what Alabama and A&M both saw in Haynesville (LA) 2020 DT Camron Jackson. That is one large dude