Around Texas: A round-up of recruiting news in the Lone Star State
The Early Signing Period has come and gone as a number of the nation's top prospects have signed on the dotted line. It is time to take a look at the latest happenings in the Lone Star state and SEC footprint on the recruiting front.
Notes from the Dallas Next Level Athlete Camp
The Next Level Athlete Texas Top 100 Showcase made its way to Dallas on Sunday and here's a few notes and thoughts from the day.Texas A&M notes-Aledo 2024 LB Davhon Keys continues to impress. Sunday he showed up to work with the defensive backs and work on his one-on-one pass coverage. He did not disappoint. He was quick in his change of direction throughout the day, was comfortable deep in coverage, and made several strong plays on the ball.. I got to see Keys three times this fall and everytime i came away more impressed. He is always around the ball and in position to make a play. It's not always the flashiest, but he is a playmaker in the middle of the defense. Keys is still figuring out his Jr Day plans and he is considering a visit to Texas A&M for the Aggies Jan 28 Jr Day.-Lewisville 2025 OL Michael Fasusi is still very young in the game but it is easy to see what has college coaches hot on his trail. He had the fastest feet of any OL at the camp and at 6-5, 280, he still has plenty of room for growth on his frame. Long armed and athletic, he bends really well and you can see the power. I feel good predicting he will be one of the state's and nation's best.Fasusi's size, athleticism, and versatility quickly caught my attention at Lewisville this fall and after hearing he was a soccer player with on 3 years of football experience let's just say I had a feeling it was only a matter of time before he began to reel in the offers. He projects at OT and I think that's where he sticks. He came in as the heavy TE and played plenty of OT throughout the season.Texas A&M offered this week and Fasusi is intrigued. He'll visit A&M for the Jan 28th Jr Day.-Red Oak 2025 DE Kamauryn Morgan took home the overall camp MVP honors. He is a long, lean 6-4, 225, and a fluid athlete with quick twitch off the ball. His weight is deceptive, he hides his 225 well, and he has plenty of room for growth.I didn't get to see Morgan in person this fall, so i was pretty excited to see him yesterday. He did not disappoint.Texas A&M offered this week and he will visit this coming weekend (Jan 21) for Jr Day. -Mansfield Legacy 2024 S Landyn Cleveland did not work out because he was resting an injur he suffered in track practice but he was out and hanging around. He passes the eyeball test at a solid 6-foot, 185, and he is on Texas A&M's radar. The Aggies have yet to offer and have some ground to make up. He announced a top 10 of Texas Tech, Texas, Baylor, Arizona St, TCU, Auburn, Colorado, Arkansas, Washington, and SMU, but the Aggies have been in communication and yesterday he said he plans to attend A&M's Jan 28th Jr Day.Some guys who caught my attention-Lancaster 2024 OL Tobias Steppe generated some big time buzz and is a guy I expect to be on many college radars over thr next few months. He was out with injury this fall and does not have any tape, but he is a long, lean 6-6, 256 and he moved really well on the day. Without game tape the offers may not come quickly but I could see it being a busy spring and summer as college coaches see him in person.-Midlothian Heritage LB Temerrick Johnson is listed as an edge on his hudl but he worked with the LBs on Sunday. He not only showed the quickness that makes him a threat off the edge but he showed some really nice COD and range to his game. He also checked in at 6-3.5, 205 and his efforts earned him LB MVP honors. Houston, Rice, and UTSA have already offered but I have a feeling his offer list is about to grow considerably. This guy is a P5 prospect.-I never went to cover a Lewisville game looking for 2024 CB Tony-Louis Nkuba, but everytime he made an impression. At yesterday's camp he did it again and took home DB MVP honors. A solid 6-foot, 170, he was a wet blanket in 1-on-1s and made some great plays on the ball throughout the camp. Arizona St, Texas Tech, ans Austin Peay have already offered but he'll continue to see that list grow.-Plano East DE Chima Chineke's length is going to draw a lot of attention at over 6-foot-4, 220. I don't have the measurements but I feel confident saying his hands, feet, and arms measurements are going to be well above average.-Chapel Hill WR Cameron Kelley quickly drew attention when he checked in at over 6-4, and right at 185. -Keep an eye on Tyler Legacy DE Travis Jackson. He quietly put together a very strong season opposite of Alabama signee Jordan Renaud and he has legit size and length at 6-3.5, 220 pounds. He already holds offers from Texas Tech. Another edge defender to keep an eye on is Armstrong Nnodim. He checked in right at 6-2 so he's on the short side but he has been a terror off the edge at camps and had a very strong showing this fall. He just started wrestling and is currently undefeated and toying with people. He's one explosive dude off the edge and in the right scheme he could be a heck of a playmaker.-North McKinney 2024 TE Nate Markiewicz is a big target and a true in-line option at 6-5, 250, and he took home TE MVP honors for showing some reliable hands on the day. I was also impressed with Richardson Pearce 2024 TE Jewlyen Roberts . He's over 6-3, and a solid 235, moved well in and out of his cuts, and is also a standout on the baseball field.-Frisco Emerson 2024 QB Michael Hawkins took home QB MVP honors for the second year in a row. DeSoto's DJ Bailey was again right on his heels. Argyle Liberty Christian's Cole Welliver spun the ball well as did China Springs Cash McCollum and Frisco Wakeland's Brennan Myer.-Denton Guyer's Willie Goodacre took home OL MVP honors. He worked at OT but I see him being a better fit at OG on the college level. Flower Mound Marcus 2024 Jack Tanner turned heads with his performance throughout at 6-6, 275. Melissa 2025 OL Owen Hollenbeck also had another strong performance.-Guyer 2024 WR Josiah Martin was the top performer at WR on Sunday. He is a route technician with exceptional quickness, and body control.-China Spring' 2024 DE Greydon Grimes worked out at both DE and TE on the day. He is the son of Baylor OC Jeff Grimes and checked in at 6-6, 235 on the day. Former Southlake Carroll 2024 TE Harrison Moore is making the move to OL, he's a light 240 pounds but he has some quick feet, has plenty of room on his 6-5 frame, and has been a strong blocker for the Dragons at TE.-It was good to see a couple of 2026 RBs making waves. Carthage's KJ Edwards who turned plenty of heads this fall for the Bulldogs and Frisco Lone Star's Davian Groce who already holds offers from Arizona St and Texas Tech.NLA MVPsOL - Willie Goodacre, Denton GuyerDL - Xavier Ukponu, Denton Guyer (2025)LB - Temerrick Johnson, Midlothian HeritageRB - Deonte Dean, Dallas Lake HighlandsOverall - Kamauryn Morgan, Red Oak (2025)WR - Josiah Martin, Denton GuyerTE - Nate Markiewicz, McKinney NorthQB - Mike Hawkins, Frisco EmersonDB - Tony-Louis Nkuba, Lewisville
Around Texas: A round-up of recruiting news in the Lone Star State
State playoffs around the Lone Star State are well underway, but that doesn’t mean things will
ever slow down on the recruiting trails in Texas. It is time to take a look at the latest news and notes from the recruiting front.
Recruiting Rankings Update: 10 Texas A&M commits in top 40
There have been plenty of shake-ups in the recruit rankings as of late, and Jason Howell has the latest ranking updates from recruits all across the state in the 2022 and 2023 high school classes, as well as a 2024 watch list.
My Three Things
*Right now, I feel the best about Texas A&M's chances WR Chris Marshall, Missouri City (TX) Fort Bend MarshallWR Kojo Antwi, Suwanee (GA) LambertOL Mark Nabou, Seattle (WA) O'DeaDL Jadon Scarlett, Flower Mound (TX) Coram DeoDT Bear Alexander, Fort Worth (TX) BrewerLB Ish Harris, Pilot Point (TX)CB Deyon Bouie, Bainbridge (GA)S Jarred Kerr, Lexington (TX)QB Eli Holstein, Zachary (LA) - 2023*A few questions answered-Yes, Texas A&M is on commit watch this weekend-Yes, I still like A&M's chances with Bryce Anderson even though he is not on the list above.-Tyler Legacy's Jamarion Miller is the current RB target I think the Aggies have the best chance to sign.-Over/Under commitments for the weekend, I'll go with 2. -OL Kelvin Banks is my most important OV this weekend. Not that the others aren't but Banks is at the top of my priority list this weekend.-DE Ernest Cooper IV is the prospect I think the Aggies have a chance to make the biggest move with this weekend. Coming off his OV to Stanford, the Aggies get their shot.-IMG Academy DE Jihaad Campbell is a visitor I don't think is being talked about enough. He seems to be flying under the radar, but the Aggies are squarely in the mix and have the last visit. His other visits? Just Clemson, Florida, Ohio State, and Georgia.*I love the Texas State 7on7 Championships-Wear lots of sunscreen, bring plenty of water, and be ready to take in some of the state's top talents-Texas A&M commitment Conner Weigman of Bridgeland is the top rated QB on hand this weekend-You will not want to miss QB talents Cade Klubnik (Austin Westlake, Clemson) and Garret Rangel (Frisco Lone Star, Oklahoma State)-Garland's Jordan Hudson is the most dynamic receiver in the field, and he can also be a lock-up defender at CB. Lake Travis WR and Ohio State commit Caleb Burton is also must see.-Austin Westlake is my favorite to win it all. Strong QB and an offense suited for 7on7-Frisco Lone Star is my darkhorse team. See Westlake but a little more under the radar-DeSoto has the best WR corp with Oregon commit Stephon Johnson, 2023s Johntay Cook and Dahlyn Jones, and top 2024 Kam Robinson. If QB clicks into place, and they do have talent there, they are more than capable of a big run. The defense is also pretty stout.-Hebron's Takoda Bridges and Lone Star's Ashton Jeanty are two under recruited prospects with skillsets suited for them to make big waves over the weekend.-Uncommitted Prospect of most interest to Texas A&M fans: Bryce Anderson, Beaumont West Brook-Do yourself a favor and go check out these top underclassmenxQB Jackson Arnold, Denton Guyer (2023)xDB Peyton Bowen, Denton Guyer (2023)xDB Ryan Yaites, Denton Guyer (2023)xQB Bo Edmundson, Lake Travis (2023)xWR Ashton Cozart, Flower Mound Marcus (2023)xRB Elijah Jackson, Archer City (2024)xRB Jaylen Boardley, Texarkana Pleasant Grove (2024)xQB Mabrey Mettauer, The Woodlands (2024)xQB Cole Welliver, Flower Mound Marcus (2024)xCB Mario Buford, DeSoto (2024)xWR Jalen Shelley, Frisco Lone Star (2024)xTE Lance Jackson, Texarkana Pleasant Grove (2025)*Bonus: I listed 2023 QB Eli Holstein in the first list, but he is not the only 2023 I feel like the Aggies are well positioned for at this early point in the process. Here's a few moreOL Harris Sewell, Odessa (TX) PermianDL David Hicks, Allen (TX)DL Will Norman, Camden, NJ/IMG AcademyDL Derrick LeBlanc, Kissimmee (FL) OsceolaDL Jordan Renaud, Lewisville (TX)LB Anthony Hill, Denton (TX) Ryan CB Javien Toviano, Arlington (TX) Martin