Around Texas: A round-up of recruiting news in the Lone Star State
The high school and college football seasons might be in full swing, but recruiting never stops. With offers and decisions having to be made from some top-tier prospects, it is time to check out the latest news and notes from across the state.
Five 2022s I could easily see emerging on A&M's radar
These five guys caught my attention while I was making my rounds. None of these guys have offers from Texas A&M, but I could easily see all of that changing over the course of the recruiting process.WR Anthony Black, Coppell - Black has absolutely exploded on the basketball recruiting scene in the last few weeks with offers coming from TCU, Texas Tech, Texas, and St. Louis yesterday. He is the son of former Baylor-standout basketball player Terry Black and he is long, lean, and athletic. At 6-5, 185 he has a tremendous catch radius, he likes to get physical, and he has some big, soft hands. Before this stretch his best offers were on the football side, but it certainly looks like basketball is making a strong push. https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12264554/5dc821655b479a0db06a6033DE Jack Curtis, Dallas Highland Park - Curtis is a big athletic strongside d-end type at 6-foot-4, 220. He comes off the ball low, he works his hands, takes on blocks, and he can round the corner coming off the edge. Overall he is one of the more underrated disruptive defenders in that 2022 class, and a guy I expect to see some top notch offers.https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11516830/5deeec47066c1d0d7c744cc7OL Neto Umeozulu, Allen - There may not be a hotter OL prospect in the state right now. He has added offers from Houston, Baylor, and Colorado in the last few days and he is doing it off of a limited highlight reel. His size is an eye catcher at 6-foot-4, 300-pounds and what tape he does have shows a whole lot of promise. Big, athletic, and mean, he gets after it one the field.https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12384296/5d9220235eecf40fc080d112DL Nic Caraway, Bryan - He played at 260 last fall and he now checks in at 230. He moves well enough at camps to turn heads at LB which is not easy, and he has spent time at a number of positions over the course of his career. I tend to like him as a DL just because he does have the room to grow. Regardless of position this is a guy I could see blowing up as coaches have a chance to watch him move and play.https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13224625/5e9231331761d605889435d9OL Caden Kitler, Plano John Paul II - He is right around the 6-3 mark which has hurt him on the recruiting front, but I absolutely love the tape. He is athletic, bends well, is light on his feet, has a powerful punch, and he finishes strong. He plays OT for John Paul, but he is a guy I think could easily move inside to OC. He recently received his first offer from Illinois St. but I see him being a P5 guy when it is all said and done. https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11214336/5d8067a05b46ad1218467a30A few more to watch just because there's been several really good ones. And, I'm sure I'm leaving a few guys offOL Hunter Erb, Haslet EatonRB Zach Evans, Rockwall-HeathQB Nick Evers, Flower MoundCB Chandler Rivers, Beaumont UnitedWR Sean Sallis, Carrollton CreekviewOL Jacob Waller, ArlingtonWR Jace Wilson, Denton Guyer
A few Wednesday afternoon recruiting notes
This morning I was able to get out to Denton Guyer to check in on Texas A&M commits Eli Stowers and Deuce Harmon. Both looked great going through drills and the new coaches were singing their praise. Stowers continues his road to recovery and he is making great progress as he makes his way back to 100-percent. Today, he did all the drill work, and he is even doing weighted squats now. He has also added some great weight. He typically moved from football straight into basketball and then to track, so he was always on the go. The rehab workouts have allowed him to add some nice bulk to his lean frame, and he currently checks in right around the 220-pound mark. https://twitter.com/Jason_Howell/status/1275835221758410754?s=20Harmon has also added some weight to his frame. He is now up to 200 pounds and the important thing is he remains as fast, quick, and fluid as ever. He has always been noted for his work ethic and I'm pretty certain he has not missed a training session even while he quarantined this spring. https://twitter.com/Jason_Howell/status/1275833089940430848?s=20Guyer is going to be loaded with talent and in the 2021 class the Wildcats also have LB Jordan Eubanks (Florida State) and DE Cooper Lanz (Baylor) headed to Power 5 programs. A guy I have brought up before is OL Gabe Blair. He has been a starter for Guyer at tackle the last few years but due to his size he projects to the interior. Blair is a gritty, strong, stout, smart, powerful ball player in the trenches and if he was just two inches taller he would have everyone in the country on him. As it is he holds a P5 offer from Virginia Tech as well as Group of 5 offers from Tulsa, Tulane, Arkansas State, ULM, UNLV, and North Texas. We have mentioned him before as a potential OC/OG prospect for Texas A&M.CB Darious Goodloe, OL Knox Boyd, and S Jaden Fugett are also drawing plenty of college attention in Guyer's 2021 class.In the 2022 class BJ Phillips and Jace Wilson are a couple to watch. Wilson just picked up an offer from Kansas. He is the younger brother of Kansas basketball player Jalen Wilson who was a top national basketball recruit out of Guyer in 2019. Jace stands in at 6-5, 195, and he is one lean, fluid athlete. I expect him to end up being a big target for Stowers this fall. Phillips is a stout back who brings plenty of power to the field at 5-11, 220. His uncle is NFL CB Adrian Phillips who starred at Garland before heading to Texas and the pros. Another name to tuck away is WR Jason Carter. The 6-4, 185 receiver transferred in last fall and adds some nice size to the Guyer receiving corp.In the 2023 class I give you Jackson Arnold, Si Stovall, and Jacob Fritz. Arnold is the next in line at QB, and is most remembered for having to step into the State Championship game after Stowers went down with his knee injury. He checks in at 6-1, 190 and he can flat out spin it. Today he showed a big arm and also has the accuracy to go with it. Stovall is a TE/H-back who currently checks in at 6-2, 230. He is a versatile weapon capable of lining up in the backfield, on the wing, in-line, or in the slot. He is the son of Guyer OC/OL coach Mitch Stovall. Fritz is a raw 6-4, 270, but he has some tools to work with and it sounds like he is not done growing. He moves well for a big man and he is a guy I will have my eye on as he continues to grow and add strength. ************Philadelphia (PA) Northeast CB Tyreek Chappell tweeted out his top nine as he approaches his July 4 commitment decision.https://twitter.com/chappell_tyreek/status/1275583619994718215?s=20After talking to several sources, the Aggies have put themselves in a great position thanks in large part to the efforts of Elijah Robinson, TJ Rushing, and Mike Elko. In early May he released a top five of Texas A&M, Tennessee, Michigan, West Virginia, and Pittsburgh, and in talking to a few different sources Tennessee and Michigan seem like the main competition. I have also been told he is intrigued with the idea of playing in the SEC. Sticking with the cornerback position, Fort Smith (AR) Northside CB Dreyden Norwood continues to keep in close contact with the A&M coaching staff and I am told by a few sources Texas A&M is one of the top contenders right now with Coach Rushing is leading the Aggies' efforts. In addition to the Aggies, Arkansas and Georgia are also schools generating a buzz in Norwood's recruiting process.