Around Texas: A round-up of recruiting news in the Lone Star State
July is here, and even though another dead period just began, the recruiting next stops in the Lone Star State. Offers are going out, commitments are being made, and legislation is being passed, and it is time to check out the latest news and notes from across the state.
Notes and Thoughts from my High School visits
The offers-Arlington Bowie OL Devon Campbell is regarded as one of the top players in Texas and the country for good reason. He is big, he is athletic, and he is physical, mean, and nasty in the trenches. On the recruiting front he does not really tip his hand much. He has his top 8 of Alabama, Florida State, Houston, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, and USC, and he has said he plans to take visits to each. He already has official visits scheduled to Oklahoma and USC this summer and he took an unofficial to Texas this spring. In talking to a few different sources there continues to be a Texas feel to his recruitment, but the good news for everyone else is he plans to wait until the Under Armour Game to announce/make his college decision. My personal feel is I think he visits A&M at some point and I will feel better about A&M's chances once that happens, especially if it's of the official variety. Right now, I like the Longhorns' chances the best.Arlington Bowie OL Devon Campbell (@d1campbell_) making it look easy @coachjsam @bowievolfb pic.twitter.com/ujJVtQS8QI— Jason Howell (@Jason_Howell) May 10, 2021
-Pilot Point ATH Ish Harris checks in at 6-4, 198 right now and he has a great frame and some very intriguing overall athleticism. He has his top five of Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas A&M and he plans to visit all five in June. Miami will get the first official visit, Texas A&M is scheduled for June 11, Oklahoma is June 18, and Texas is set for June 25. He does not have Michigan scheduled but look for him to take a mid-week visit to Ann Arbor. In July he plans to make his commitment and he plans to graduate in December. I tend to think this is really an Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M battle and the more I hear the more I think Texas A&M and Oklahoma have the edge. As I said in My Three Things today I like A&M's chances and it is mainly due to the education, the coaches, and the SEC factor. -DeSoto 2023 WR Johntay Cook is one of the smoothest route runners you will find. I have said it before, but he is at the top of my 2023 WR list. He is explosive, he can line up in the slot or outside. He plays big, he can be physical, and he has great hands and body control. He was one of Texas A&M's first 2023 offers and he keeps in weekly communication with receivers coach Dameyune Craig. He was in Austin for the Longhorns spring game and if I were to give someone an early edge, it would probably be the Horns. That said, he will be in College Station this summer and the Aggies seem to be making some headway. Shemar Turner has also been in his ear about the Aggies. He is already a national recruit so I expect several schools to be involved and there is a lot of time before he signs. Right now he is planning to visit College Station on June 15.Another quick recruiting note-2022 Oregon commit Stephon Johnson has moved from Lancaster to DeSoto and he has been in communication with coach Craig as well. He does not have an offer from the Aggies right now, but he may join Cook on the trip to College Station on June 15. They already have an official to Oregon scheduled for June 4 and he plans to visit USC as well. Honestly, he is pretty locked into Oregon and in constant communication with the coaches over there, but it is always something to watch.Next offer?This one is tough, but the 2024s at DeSoto and McKinney are definitely worth watching. Let's start with McKinney. Wide Receiver Xavier Filsaime and running back/athlete Bryan Jackson are probably the biggest names and both already have FBS scholarship offers. These are two guys I see being national prospects. Filsaime checks in at 6-foot, 170 and he runs some crisp routes and he tracks the ball very well. He also passes the eyeball test so I expect him to turn heads on the camp circuit this summer. Jackson checks in around 6-1, 215 and played running back and linebacker last year. He may out grow the running back position but he is a big, fluid athlete with big time potential. In DeSoto, DE Caleb Mitchell and CB Mario Buford headline the 2024 class. Mitchell started on varsity for much of 2020 and already holds offers from TCU and Mississippi State. He showed some speed off the edge and has added some weight to his frame. He currently checks in around 6-2, 240. Buford is the younger brother of Nebraska's Marques Buford and holds offers from Mississippi State, Oregon, and Nebraska. He has played WR and CB in the past but he is focused on DB right now.There are a few other underclassmen to watch. McKinney 2024 WR Messiah Washington caught my attention at 6-1, 175 and ATH Makhi Frazier is a defensive playmaker at 5-11, 195. Jackson moved in from Allen and he has as much upside or more as Filsaime. Frazier lined up at linebacker when I saw him last week and he has a solid build and great lateral quickness. He spent last season on the JV where he recorded 11 INTs from his S spot. He also returns kicks and I would put him down as a S/LB hybrid right now.DeSoto 2024 QB DJ Bailey has a big arm and can spin it with ease. DeSoto 2024 WR Kam Robinson worked at WR and has many buzzing about him being the next big time target. DeSoto 2023 CB Caimon Mathis is the son of head coach Claude Mathis and he has made giant strides. He has bulked up and added some nice size to his lengthy frame, and he has been lockdown in spring and on the 7-on-7 circuit. Another guy to watch is Hebron 2023 Edge Carson Dean. At 6-4, 230 he has a burst off the edge and also works at tight end. SleepersMy favorite out of this group has to be Noah McKinney. The 6-foot-5, 270-pound standout is in his first year on the football field. He is the younger brother of Michigan State Darius Snow and the son of NBA standout Eric Snow. His uncle is Percy Snow claimed the Butkus and Lombardi awards before becoming a first round draft pick. He comes to the football field from the basketball court and he already holds an offer from Texas Southern. He passes the eyeball test with flying colors with very little fat on his frame, and he is just scratching the surface when it comes to football.2022 OL Noah McKinney (@N_McKinney1) with the pass protection. Already has an offer from Texas Southern@14Jhill @FootballHebron pic.twitter.com/edoCWFIwuU— Jason Howell (@Jason_Howell) May 10, 2021
Wide Receiver Takoda Bridges is another one of my favorites. His size has hurt his recruiting. He is not the biggest at 5-foot-9, but he does it all on the field. He plays receiver and cornerback. He returns kicks. He has a high football IQ and a great work ethic. He is the younger brother of former Hebron standout Trejan Bridges. 2022 WR Koda Bridges (@TakodaBridges) making it look smooth and effortless@14Jhill @FootballHebron pic.twitter.com/lBXZTTqIV8— Jason Howell (@Jason_Howell) May 10, 2021
DeSoto S Devyn Bobby is one of my favorites in the underrated category. He has a great nose for the ball and plays above his size. RB Chris Henley is a bruiser of a back who can also be a receiving threat out of the backfield. McKinney had a couple of super sleepers who deserve some recognition after big springs. DE Eli Saintjuste added 15-pounds in the offseason and now checks in at 6-2, 230. He has also played h-back in the past and coaches raved about his spring. They also liked what they saw from 6-foot, 170-pound CB Mekah Ryder. Ryder was on JV last fall, but he has seen things click into place as he got more and more reps this spring. Ryder has also been clocked at 4.52 in the 40 and ran a 51 400m during track season.Keep an eye on #2, that’s Mekah Ryder (@RyderMekah) and he’s a 6-0, 170-pound 2022 CB@McKinneyHS_FB @Coach_Shavers @coachjordan03 #WAWG pic.twitter.com/fGNt29yhtw— Jason Howell (@Jason_Howell) May 11, 2021
Stopped through DeSoto and Dallas South Oak Cliff
Monday I had the chance to swing by a couple of DFW powers - Dallas South Oak Cliff and DeSoto - and check in with some of the top talents. Let's start off at the top. DeSoto WR Johntay Cook is the only Texas A&M offer of the group. The 2023 receiver was one of Texas A&M's earliest offers of the 2023 cycle and he is one of the most dynamic playmakers in Texas regardless of class. He continues to take his time with the recruiting process. Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas look to be Texas A&M's biggest competition right now. He is currently ranked No. 9 in the TexAgs rankings but he is moving up my list after seeing him recently. He has added some weight and strength while maintaining his speed, quickness, and fluid athleticism. He may be the only offer from the two programs right now but there are several guys I could see emerging over the next few years. The guy I would put down as the next offer is a guy I've been talking about for the last few weeks. Dallas South Oak Cliff 2023 CB Jayvon Thomas is the guy I would put on offer watch. He just moved to South Oak Cliff from Corsicana where he was a standout on offense and defense. He has quickly established himself at SOC as one of their best athletes and a top flight cornerback. His offer list has also exploded in the last few months with scholarships arrived from Oklahoma, USC, Texas, Notre Dame and others. He also has strong bloodlines. His father Joe Thomas was a linebacker at Notre Dame during the 90s. Texas A&M has not offered but they have expressed an early interest. DeSoto's 2024 class has a couple of guys already on the Aggies' radar as well. CB Mario Buford has established himself as one of the top prospects in the class. He is the younger brother of Nebraska's Marques Buford and he is big time player. He has been a standout on both sides of the ball over the years and now standing in at 5-11, 165 he has lockdown potential at cornerback. Great feet and length and he is a cold blooded competitor. Oregon was the first to offer and Mississippi State and Nebraska are also on the board. Defensive lineman Caleb Mitchell also has emerged on Texas A&M's radar. I did not get a chance to see the d-end yesterday, but he is going to be a headliner, national recruit type of player. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound standout started on varsity as a freshman. He has been a standout at several OL/DL showcases. His quickness off the ball is elite and he is not afraid to push himself against older competition. He already holds offers from Illinois State and Mississippi State and he has the attention of just about anyone who recruits DeSoto. Even Shemar Turner said he was the next Shemar Turner-type standout. There are a few 2022 sleepers worthy of bigger radars at both schools as well. DeSoto S Devyn Bobby has been knocked for his size over the years but he has always been a smart, physical presence on the backend of the Eagle defense. Now he checks in at a solid 5-11, 175 and he track has improved his speed. He is the younger brother of former DeSoto and TCU standout Desmon White and he is a two-year starter and all-district performer for the Eagles. Colorado State, Liberty, Marshall, Illinois State, and Northern Arizona have offered, but this guy is a P5 player and I bet he finds a P5 home by Signing Day. Dallas South Oak Cliff CB Kyron Chambers is another DB flying a bit under the radar. He is nicknamed Tank and is a former running back who moved to CB as a sophomore. As a junior he was a standout. He does have a stout build and plays a physical brand of football which leads some to project him to S, but the 5-11, 190-pound standout has the feet and flexibility to stick with corner. His offer list has exploded since the end of the season with Arizona State, Cal, South Carolina, Texas Tech, SMU, and Houston among those on his offer list. Other Prospects to put on your radarDE/OLB Billy Walton, Dallas South Oak Cliff (2023) - 6-3, 210, first team all district, 11 sacks in 2020OL Narado Stoker, Dallas South Oak Cliff (2023) - 6-5, 250, long arms, flat bellied, nicknamed "Big Mike" S Jaden Milliner-Jones, DeSoto (2023) - physical S with sideline-to-sideline range on the back endCB Caimon Mathis, DeSoto (2023) - 6-0, 170 and a high football IQ, coach Claude Mathis' son.DE Jamyri Cauley, Dallas South Oak Cliff (2024) - 6-3, 205, explosive off the edge at DE and will see time at WR.S Kam Robinson, DeSoto (2024) - physical DB, coach's son, and stands in at 6-foot, 165RB Jaden Trawick, DeSoto (2024) - explosive back already generating big time buzz from DeSoto coachesATH Daylon Singleton, DeSoto (2025) - offensive playmaker who already checks in at 5-foot-11 and has speed to burn.
I stopped through DeSoto yesterday - notes
I had a chance to get down to DeSoto yesterday and as usual the talent is about as top notch as it gets in the state. 2021s Shemar Turner and Byron Murphy II lead the way, which is saying something with P5 commits Jaedon Wilson (Arkansas), Jerand Bradley (Texas Tech), and Samari Collier (Illinois) leading the way. Let's talk A&M targets. We already posted the interview from key Texas A&M target Shemar Turner. He had a Zoom meeting with coach Price last night and it sounds like things went well. He is down to his top five and right now I don't think I would give anyone a lead. He wants to take his visits and decide after he gets that chance. Georgia, LSU, Alabama, and Texas join the Aggies in his top 5.https://texags.com/s/36401/2021-dl-shemar-turner-outlines-next-steps-in-his-recruiting-process2023 WR johntay Cook has also been offered by the Aggies. He is in no hurry with the recruiting process, but receiving the Texas A&M offer meant a lot to him. He is drawing a lot of comparisons to Dontre Wilson around the DeSoto program and he is a smooth, explosive prospect. We will have an interview with him posted soon.https://twitter.com/Jason_Howell/status/1276235472772239360?s=20If I have a sleeper to watch in the 2021s it is OL Yakiri Walker. At 6-3, 270 he passes the eyeball test and he led all linemen OL and DL in the first morning session sprints. The first morning session did not include Turner or Murphy. Walker is currently committed to UConn but he has the frame and athleticism to make him a high potential prospect. UConn has a steal right now.Jerand Bradley is a guy I left feeling we have underrated. He has been turning some heads since he arrived at DeSoto. Bradley has great size (6-5, 200), massive hands, and runs crisp routes. There is no question he is going to be a top target for QB Samari Collier, and I think he is currently DeSoto's top receiver. There has not been much talk about him and A&M, but he has SEC ability and is a guy I could see eventually emerging on the radar.https://twitter.com/Jason_Howell/status/1276233018760364036?s=20A prospect already on the Aggie's radar is 2023 S/LB Jaden Milliner-Jones. He has been to College Station before and he already holds offers from Illinois State and SMU. He transferred to DeSoto from Mesquite Horn where he was an all-district player as a freshman. He currently checks in at 5-11, 175, but he has a great build that I could eventually see evolving into a linebacker. That said, he moved very well and he was right there at the top of the list when it came to prospects at DeSoto. https://twitter.com/Jason_Howell/status/1276202096078045184?s=20Here's a few other young prospects I am taking note of right now. It is early but these guys are generating a lot of buzz in DeSoto.2024 DE Caleb Mitchell - 6-2, 220 - I saw him at a camp earlier this spring and he brings some serious speed off the edge. There is a lot of talk of him making an instant impact on the varsity level this fall.2024 ATH Mario Buford - 6-0, 160 - The offense and defense are currently fighting over him, but wherever he ends up the future is bright. He has speed, size, and is already turning heads with his athleticism. https://twitter.com/Jason_Howell/status/1276190652343214080?s=20A few others I was impressed with2022 S Devyn Bobby2023 CB Caimon Mathis 2023 S Jamarion Ravenell 2024 QB DJ Bailey 2024 RB Jaden Trawick was not out there yesterday, but there is already a lot of talk about the 5-11, 190-pound back.
Around Texas: A round-up of recruiting news in the Lone Star State
Around the state of Texas, decisions are being made, visits are being taken, and offers are being extended as the regular season has now kicked off. It is time to take a look at the latest happenings on the Lone Star state recruiting front.