Around Texas: A round-up of recruiting news in the Lone Star State
Signing Day has come and gone, but there is no time to rest. The focus has fully shifted from 2024 prospects to the class of 2025, and there has already been plenty of action on the Texas recruiting trails as the offseason ensues.
Brauny's Best: Highlighting top high school performances from Round 4
With no shortage of standouts on the high school football gridiron, Ryan Brauninger dives into some of the top showings he saw from another round of the playoffs. This week's spotlight features A&M commit LB Tyanthony Smith, Gilmer, Tyler Chapel Hill and RB Jeremy Payne.
Around Texas: A round-up of recruiting news in the Lone Star State
Summer is here and the class of 2024 rapidly gaining attention, plenty of moves are being made as things continue to heat up across Texas. It is time to take a look at the latest happenings on the recruiting front from across the Lone Star state.
A few notes from ESPN's Underclass Camp - Houston
On Sunday, I drove down to Planet Ford Stadium in Spring to check out ESPN's Elite Underclass Camp. The majority of kids in attendance were 2024's or 2025's, but there were more than a few seniors-to-be in attendance looking to get invites to the Under Armour All American game in Orlando at the end of the year. Here are a few standouts that I saw in each class with maybe a note or two here and there...2023Smithson Valley OL Colton Thomasson - The A&M commit brought home offensive line MVP honors as he continues to just keep getting better. He's my Hunter Erb in this class. By the time signing day rolls around, I think we will be looking at a totally different kid than the one we saw when he first popped up on our radars. His feet have gotten so much better that I think he can stick as a right tackle. Picayne (MS) RB Dante Dowdell - Very physical kid who already holds a host of P5 offers. Built like a linebacker. Mansfield DL Kaleb James - I thought the Arkansas commit made a good account of himself. Showed plus power and get off in one-on-onesKaty Paetow LB Alex Kilgore - A kid who I think should have more offers. Passes the eye ball test rather easily and makes plays on Friday nights. 2024***Willis QB Derek Lagway - Huge tools as a quarterback prospect. Elite arm strengthStephenville OL Creece Brister - Body still needs time to mature, but he was the requisite size/feet combo to see his recruiting start taking off this summer. Lewisville OL Devin Love - A relatively new name to most of the analyst out there, Love repeatedly flashed plus athleticism and punch power in both drill work and against pass rushers.Spring Westfield OL RayQuan Bell - Likely an interior prospect, he worked out at tackle. Already holds P5 offers and will add more as he hits the camp circuit this summer. Pearland Dawson DE Edward Smith - Still skinny, but very twitchy and explosive. A&M has been sniffing around there, and he's been to campus a few times. I'll be interested to see him at camp this summer. Houston Heights OL Frank Moss - Center or guard at the next level, but you can't deny his power. Kid was an anchor against pass rushers all day. Also, his Twitter handle is Mr_IHOP. Love thatBaton Rouge (LA) OL Jude Foster - Great frame. Moves well. Still very under the radar, but he impressed all the analyst in attendance with his potential. The Woodlands OL Koltin Sieracki - I really like him as a center prospect. He'll increase his value there. Ft Bend Hightower RB Jeremy Payne - Might have been the best back there. Incredibly quick and sudden. Loved that A&M offered already. Manvel LB Kaleb Blanton - Long frame with room to fill out. Runs well in the open field. Summer Creek RB Lloyd Avant - Good blend of quicks and power. Great sophomore tape. Lumberton ATH Brock Jackson - I don't know what he plays in college yet, but there's no denying the frame and athleticism. Right at 6-4, 240 pounds and can really run. A&M is very intrigued based on what we've heard. CyFair QB Trey Owens - Long limbed QB who showed good arm strength and a repeatable delivery. High upside kid who will camp in College Station this summer. Katy Seven Lakes LB Dakyus Brinkley - Son of Jasper Brinkley. Passes the eye ball test with flying colors. He could blow up soon. Very impressive from a physicality standpoint. Wimberley QB Cash McCollum - Another really good player in the 2024 QB class. He's had a strong camp circuit so far this year. ***Silsbee ATH Drelon Miller - Won WR MVP, but he could play either side of the ball at a high level in college. Potential top 5 player in the state. Aggies in a good spot, but it's very early. CE King DB Lavonte Johnson - A great framed safety prospect that is starting to pop up in the recruiting rooms of the power programs in the region. He'll add to his offer list soon. Ft Bend Ridge Point ATH Mason Dossett - 3 sport athlete who has legit track times this spring. Plays RB and WR in high school. Explosive runnerNew Braunfels Canyon QB Deuce Adams - Smooth operator. Really clean delivery with plus athleticism. Ft Bend Hightower WR Zion Kearney - Much faster than most anticipate given he's already got a sturdy, built frame. Battling a wrist injury, but he stood out with his movement skills. Katy Taylor TE Ian Flynt - Rapidly improving prospect with P5 schools starting to take notice. Gets better every time I see him. He could have a big summer in terms of offers. ***Lake Belton WR Micah Hudson - Freaky athlete. Potential to be a top 5 player in the state in his class. He'll be a high profile, nationally recruited kid. Aggies in the mix early. 2025***Beaumont Kelly QB Roy Thomas Jenkins - Still thin, but growing in strength and athleticism quickly. Ran sub 4.8 in the 40. Spins the ball well. Katy Jordan WR Andrew Marsh - Shows elite playmaking ability every time I see him. Has a chance to be one of the top wideouts in the state in his class. Has family ties to A&MAldine Eisenhower ATH Deion DeBlanc - Electricity. Kid can flat out go. He'll be a highly offered prospect in short order. Tyler Chapel Hill QB/ATH Demetrius Brisbon - Great athlete playing QB. Impressive tape from last fall and has improved greatly as a passer this offseason. Atascocita RB Tory Blaylock - Extremely advanced physical gifts for a freshman back. Good top end speed. Offered by Oregon right after the camp ended. Dickinson OL Tyler Thomas - Massive frame that bends well. Needs more strenght, but that's coming. Jackson (MS) OL Reginald Vaughn - Promising frame and movement patterns show great potential. Massive hands that provide powerful punch. *** - Denotes A&M offer
Recruiting Notes and prospects from East Texas
I dropped through East Texas this week seeing prospects at Tyler High, Tyler Legacy, Chapel Hill, Longview, Texarkana Pleasant Grove, and Texarkana Texas High. The Aggies have already offered three prospects and we have already posted updates/reports on 2023 Longview All-American WR Jalen Hale and 2024 Tyler High RB Derrick McFall. The other prospect the Aggies have offered is Tyler Legacy All-American DE Jordan Renaud. Hale spoke very highly of the Aggies, Jimbo Fisher, and Dameyune Craig. He lists the Aggies high on his list right now alongside Alabama and he has some thoughts on his official visits and his decision timetable. Here's a link to the full story. McFall spoke highly of RB coach Tommie Robinson and he likes what he sees in the Texas A&M program. He is a 2024 so it is still early in the process. Here's a link to his interview Renaud has talked up Jimbo Fisher and Terry Price throughout the process, and he listed Texas A&M in his top 8 in January. However, Texas A&M's numbers are likely to be tight on the DL and communication has slowed, while a couple of programs, Oklahoma and Alabama, have come on strong. He visited Oklahoma for their Junior Day last week and saw a lot of one-on-one attention from DL coach Todd Bates, area recruiter Jay Valai, and head coach Brent Venables on the trip. He did not name a leader but the Sooners definitely have attention. The only other visit currently scheduled is a trip to Tuscaloosa for Alabama's spring game. He also mentioned he would like to visit Arkansas, Florida State, Georgia, and maybe Baylor this spring or summer. It will be intriguing to see what the Aggies do on the DL with two commits in Anthony James and Johnny Bowens and numbers being tighter on the DL. Things have slowed with Renaud, but I do not believe things are done between him and the Aggies. He also says he is not currently focused on the process and he does not have a decision timeline in mind. ***********Now for some guys who caught my attention while on my travels, and there are quite a few. Let's start with a select few 2023s. WR Montrell Wade, Tyler High - At 6-1, 175 he has been on the recruiting scene since receiving his first offers as a freshman, and he has been a multi-year standout on the field. He attended Texas A&M's Junior Day in January and he continues to communicate with the Aggies. Right now, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech are coming on the strongest. OL/DL Victor Shaw, Texarkana Pleasant Grove - The 6-4, 265-pound standout is being recruited as an offensive lineman, a defensive lineman, and even at tight end. Baylor, Texas Tech, TCU, and Colorado are among those to extend an offer. He camped at Texas A&M last summer. DL Keviyan Huddleston, Chapel Hill - 6-4, 235 pounds, two-way standout, district offensive line MVP, recently ran a 4.69 handtimed 40 and he holds offers from the likes of Arkansas, Texas Tech, TCU, Arizona, and Oklahoma State.**************Here's a few 2024s RB Jaylen Boardley, Texarkana Pleasant Grove - he's been a varsity for the past two years. A strong powerful, versatile back. Arkansas has taken a high interest. WR TaMarcus Gray,Texarkana Texas High - I highlighted him recently in Around Texas. He's a 6-1, 165-pound standout, already receiving P5 offers. OL Caleb Hackleman, Texarkana Pleasant Grove - 6-5.5, 260, big framed, long arms, light on his feet. Texas Tech put an early offer on the table. DE Travis Jackson, Tyler Legacy - 6-4, 225 with a lot of room for growth. Attracting early interest from Oklahoma State, SMU, and SFA. CB Zachaun Willams, Tyler High - Long 6-1, 175 and earned 1st team all-district with his play. Offers have already arrived from Arkansas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, and Northern Arizona, and he attended Texas A&M's Junior Day in January. CB Willie Nelson, Longview - 5-10, 165, clocked a 10.9 100m a few weeks ago, recorded 8 INTs, and recently received offers from Incarnate Word and UTSA ATH Ahkhari Johnson, Texarkana Pleasant Grove - Versatile athlete, who stands out in multi-sports and positions. He was generating buzz around Texarkana before he made it to high school and has been a varsity standout.**********And why not, here's some 2025 guys you are going to want to know DE/TE Lance Jackson, Texarkana Pleasant Grove - little brother of Landon Jackson, a multi-sport standout who is currently playing baseball, checks in at 6-6, 245, and plays both TE and DEe. Already holds offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Houston, UTSA, La Tech, and Texas Tech. RB Rickey Stewart, Chapel Hill - 5-10, 180 and he can move. Rushed for 1,055 yards and 8 TDs on 117 carries in 9 games as the starter and earned 2nd team all district. The offers are piling up with Arkansas, Houston, UTSA, UTEP, SMU, Texas Tech, and La Tech already on the table. QB Demetrius Brisbon, Chapel Hill - started the season at S, but moved to QB in game five and threw for over 1000 and rushed for over 1000 as he helped guide Chapel Hill to the cusp of the championship game. Earned district newcomer of the year in football and 1st team all district in basketball. Also recently recorded a 38.11 triple jump. Offers have arrived from Arkansas, SMU, Texas Tech, UTSA, and ULM
