Around the SEC: Recruiting news and 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 just that and more in this week's Around the SEC.
Lunchtime notes - Monday
A&M staff is back on the road this week, and it started last night with a trip to Horn Lake (MS) LB Nakobe Dean. The highly touted backer got to spend time with Jimbo Fisher and other A&M staffers as the Aggies continue to make their case for Dean to end up in College Station. A few things playing into A&M's favor here: 1) the Engineering school 2) the Depth Chart 3) the manner in which A&M has sold the previous two and how the Aggie Network ties in. Multiple reports out today have Nakobe on record saying he's mentally started to cut some schools out of his previous top 7. I believe the Aggies have made the final cut, but I wouldn't call them the leader. I feel confident Dean plays in the SEC, but I'm not sure I'm ready to go out a limb and say where. A&M staffers will also check in on one of the top players in the northeast as Brooklyn (NY) edge man Adisa Isaac will get a visit. This will be the second time Isaac has hosted A&M in the past two weeks. The Aggie staff will also check in on LB commit Andre White while in the region.I've been told today that Dyersburg (TN) LB Chris Russell will sign in February. Another expected February signee is Amite (LA) DT Ishmael Sopsher. A&M DT Coach Elijah Robinson has been running point on this one, and he's probably the main reason the Aggies are still in the discussion here. Robinson was in New Orleans last weekend to see Sopsher win the state championship. My personal opinion as of today is that Sopsher would like to play for Robinson and A&M, but the pressure from the folks around him ultimately lands in him Baton Rouge or Tuscaloosa. Dave Aranda is working hard for the Tigers. We are aware that JUCO CB Dreshun Miller has semi announced a commitment to West Virginia on his Instagram page. Like I said in the unsticked thread, LSU hasnt really considered Miller a commitment (at least not a firm one) in a while. I know that as of late last week, he was still in communication with the Aggie coaching staff. I think the next week or so will answer whether or not Miller is a viable candidate to become a part of this 2019 class. Oregon CB commit Elijah Blades does remain in contact with A&M staffers. There's still plenty of work to do, but this group of coaches is plenty equipped to take on the load. Regardless of what happened with Carter, Blades has always been a highly coveted prospect in this class.
Scattershooting the Gator Bowl, 2019 projections, recruiting & more
Billy sends you into the weekend with a veritable dissertation on what to watch for from the Aggies in the coming months, thoughts on the stretch run in recruiting and some bonus speculation and commentary on the wider world of college football
Three Things: Predicting A&M's recruiting finish, class highlights & more
As is his custom on Friday, Jason Howell is offering you three thoughts on recruiting, today locking in on the likely finish for the Aggies as the early signing period looms. He also locks in on what's special about Kenyon Green and DeMarvin Leal and other key players in the class.
Coaches hitting the road
With the season wrapped up, the Texas A&M coaching staff will be hitting the recruiting trail this week. Here's a few notes on some key stops they'll make throughout the course of the next 5 days or so.Jim Turner will be in to see his Texas based commits, starting with Kenyon Green at Atascocita today. He'll check in on Layden Robinson and Blake Trainor in the next couple days, as well. I also believe Turner may stop in on some his area guys like RJ Orebo.Mo Linguist will see JUCO corners Dreshun Miller and Elijah Blades along with Spring Dekaney CB Marcus Banks. He'll see Jeffery Carter later this week. David Ugwoegbu, who just finished an overnight trip to College Station on the weekend, will host Mike Elko today and likely Terry Price. Elko will also be in to see Erick Young early this week. Christian Harris and Nakobe Dean will host members of the A&M staff later this week. I believe the Aggies will be in with Harris on Thursday and Dean on Friday. Tim Brewster being back on the recruiting trail is good news for Aggie fans. He'll visit with target Jalen Wydermyer and commit Baylor Cupp this week.Jason has a report on Darrell Dickey who will meet with Ft Bend Dulles ATH Ainias Smith today.