Game Thread: UA All American Game (4 PM, ESPN2)
We'll use this thread to provide updates and thoughts on the Under Armour All American game that will start in a little less than an hour on ESPN2. Here's a list of Texas natives who will be in the game:Team Phantom2 - Johntay Cook - Texas4 - Malik Muhammad - Texas5 - David Hicks - Texas A&M9 - Ashton Porter - uncommitted 14 - Javien Toviano - LSU 17 - Bravion Rogers - Texas A&M Team Speed1 - Ashton Cozart - Oregon3 - Noble Johnson - Clemson 6 - Jaquaize Pettaway - Oklahoma8 - Jalen Hale - Alabama9 - Jordan Renaud - Alabama11 - Jackson Arnold - Oklahoma 14 - Braylon James - Notre Dame 21 - Ryan Yaites - LSU 22 - Peyton Bowen - Oklahoma
Around Texas & Around the SEC: Early Signing Period News & Notes
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.
Quick Thursday OC/recruiting notes
-Saw BZ's tweet about USC inside receivers coach Luke Huard being a candidate to claim to the vacant OC job on Jimbo's staff and wanted to let you guys know what I've been hearing about the former Aggie analyst and Fisher.Huard was a highly thought-of assistant while quietly grinding on the analyst front during his few years in College Station, and Jimbo has always respected Luke's mind for offense...to the point that there were times I felt he was likely to claim a full-time spot on the staff, be it tight ends or even running backs. He's now coaching inside receivers for Lincoln Riley in LA and probably got there by way of a recommendation from Josh Henson. Along those lines, there are a couple of folks here locally and perhaps even in the building who are letting the delay in Fisher hiring an OC lead them down a path to believe Fisher is simply going to 'move the chairs around' and keep things going the way they were. His comments during yesterday's presser only furthered that belief amongst some. Huard coming on board as 'OC' and Fisher continuing to call plays fits that narrative. Combine that with the fact that I have heard that Jimbo at one point at least reached out regarding the possibility of Luke returning if a position job opened up, and you have the birth of the Huard/OC candidate angle.I've been telling you guys that Fisher is beating the bushes in terms of his OC search, and that has continued right up through NSD. The candidate I was referring to the other day is still in play, but he's not 'the guy' as Jimbo hasn't offered anyone of late and is considering no fewer than three legitimate candidates (in other words, don't use those parameters as your road map for trying to predict the hire). A couple of those drawing recent interest can be found out west, though neither is Huard. As he said yesterday, Fisher is being very deliberate and has passed on multiple OCs hired at Power 5 programs already, guys like Phil Longo (UNC to Wisconsin), Phil Montgomery (Tulsa HC-Auburn) and Dowell Loggins (Arkansas assistant-South Carolina).I double-checked with sources again last night and get the feeling that, now that Signing Day has come and gone, Fisher is in no rush to wrap things up over the holidays. That's not saying it won't happen, but I would now expect this one to look more like his two DC searches, as both weren't resolved until after the New Year's bowls.-As for David Hicks, as Brauny reported prior to Signing Day, the five-star DE from Katy Paetow had informed A&M of his plan to hold his Signing Day ceremony on Friday at the start of the week. Obviously, that delay (and since Hicks has yet to officially sign) left the door open for aggressive first-year coaches from Oregon and Oklahoma to try and make a push to rip the longtime commit away from the home state program.While there's no doubt Dan Lanning and Angry Brent Venables are working overtime. As of late last night, it was Oregon who appeared the greater threat, but Oklahoma apparently flipping Peyton Bowen - a very high-stakes recruitment if you're scoring at home - today could factor in. 'Could.' As in, the folks we've spoken to close to the situation still feel good about where the Ags are at and expect the long-coveted defensive end to ink with the Maroon & White at any time between now and his ceremony tomorrow. Certainly one worth watching, however, and we'll keep you posted every step of the way.
Some notes on some key targets
I talked to a few DFW sources with Arlington (TX) Martin 5-star CB Javien Toviano deciding tomorrow. The Aggies have been in communication but reading the tea leaves this one is trending away right now. LSU is the prediction at this time, but with Toviano nothing would shock me. On the Peyton Bowen front, I am hearing some positivity there. Texas A&M remains in close communication with him and his family, and they are pulling out all the stops. Oregon, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma also continue to push to the end, so we will see what happens. Oregon is in-home today and Notre Dame is expected tomorrow. I haven't heard concrete plans yet on A&M, but what I'm told today the Aggies remain very much in play. When it comes to Anthony Hill I really don't have much new there. The Aggies and the Longhorns are duking this thing out, and as I said the other day, I currently get the feeling this one is trending towards the Horns. I'm not saying it's over, but that's my gut feeling right now after talking to several different people who are pretty plugged into things there. The Aggies are making some rounds and coach Coley will be in-home with Haslet (TX) Eaton TE Jaden Platt this evening. He visited Florida last weekend, and he will visit Texas A&M this weekend. Stanford's new head coach also plans to be in-home tonight and Florida will be in-home on Thursday. From the portal, wide receiver Ketron Jackson has been a name I've heard a few times as a portal possibility to A&M since he decided to transfer from Arkansas. In fact, I'm hearing he could visit Texas A&M this weekend. It does sound like there is legitimate interest between both parties so at the very least put his name down as a portal prospect to watch closely.
Monday Morning Recruiting Update
I'll fire off what I've been able to gather throughout the weekend and into this morning...- It sounds like A&M is still in a good spot with David Hicks after his Oregon visit. I was told he'd been in communication with the Aggie staff yesterday and is looking forward to his official visit this coming weekend in College Station. Eugene is a long way away, and with his dad now being formally named the head coach at Katy Paetow, it would make traveling to see DJ play a pretty tough endeavor. - Speaking of official visits, keep an eye on that list that we'll release later this week. It's going to be loaded - both in terms of talent and volume. Huge weekend upcoming. - Hearing great things on A&M's chances with recent DE/OLB offfer Rylan Kennedy out of Mansfield Lake Ridge. Jason can come by here shortly and provide some more details. - Obviously, the main prize at linebacker is still Anthony Hill. While it remains to be seen what his plans will be for this coming weekend (the A&M commits I've talked to said they're trying to get him to College Station), the Aggies are still in the race for both Hayden Moore and Tausili Akana. Moore will be on the official visitor list this weekend while Akana is headed out to Hawaii to sit down with his family and come to a final decision. Of the two, I think the Ags are in a better spot with Moore. - Trying to gather more intel but what I've been able to gather in regards to the visit of long time OL commit Chase Bisontis has been positive. Remember, he doesn't do much media at all so we'll do our best to continue to run stuff down on him. I thought it was vitally important that the staff was able to get him back to campus. - Two new receiver names have popped up on the A&M radar via the transfer portal, and it wouldn't surprise me to see either of them show up on campus this week/weekend. The first is Ketron Jackson out of Arkansas who is a kid who the Aggies showed a good bit of interest in coming out of Royse City in 2021. He caught a touchdown against A&M in the first half of the game this season. The other is Cleveland Harris out of Louisiana Tech who reported an offer from the Aggies just yesterday. He had a fantastic career in Ruston and has been getting the hard sell by a number of programs, including A&M and Oklahoma. - Staying in the transfer market, I feel pretty confident we'll see Mason Cobb on campus later this week. I'm being told he may arrive as early as Thursday and be in town for a few days. - With Austin Westlake falling out of the playoffs on Saturday, I've been told TJ Shanahan will now be in town to help A&M on the final recruiting weekend before early signing day. Had the Chaps won, he would have traveled with the team to Arlington despite being injured. He was not at the semifinal game due to a death in the family. - In case you missed it, Rueben Owens will enroll early and has plans to live with Bryce Anderson and Conner Weigman next semester. - I don't know if it will happen, but I'd love to see A&M offer North Shore standout David Amador. I'm standing on the table for this kid. I've watched him play an awful lot over the past two seasons, and I firmly believe he can help win you games at the highest level of college football. I'll check in down there later this week to see if the Aggies have reached out, but there's something to be said for a kid that continuously makes the biggest plays in the biggest moments in the biggest games against the best competition. He was sensational again against Austin Westlake on Saturday.He also runs in the 10.6-10.7 range in the 100 meters, anchors the NS 4x100 meter relay team, and has long jumped 21-8.5. - Much like Anthony Hill, we haven't received word on what Peyton Bowen will do this weekend, but I've been told the staff and commits are doing all they can to get him to College Station.