Around Texas: A round-up of recruiting news in the Lone Star State
With spring football in the past, many of the nation's top programs have turned their focus to recruiting and sending out offers in hopes of building for the future. Jason Howell runs down all the latest commitments, under-the-radar prospects and more.
Offensive notes and more from The Opening
Just wanted to give a quick recap and break down of what I saw yesterday. It was a cold, wet, and windy day - not ideal for football or anything else outdoors for that matter. I'll break down what I saw/liked at each positions bullet style.QBGrant Gunnell was the best QB there. He'll visit Ohio St soon as well as Oklahoma St and Stanford. I liked Grant Tisdale more than I did previously. I was told an Aggie offer would be a game changer for him and would most likely result in a commitment. If Hutto's Chase Griffin were a little taller, he'd be on everyone's radar. Good player. Keep an eye on 2020 Tomball QB Hunter Dunn. He's skinny right now, but he's got good height and feel for the position. RBZach Evans is an animal. I'm talking about top 15-20 players in the country type of kid. He's special. Folks feel like Texas and LSU have the inside track right now. OU commit and Aggie legacy Isaiah Spiller turned some heads with his overall athleticism. I've heard the Aggies are starting to become more of a legitimate threat. TEAustin Stogner is the real deal. He and Baylor Cupp are pretty similar, but I think Stogner is more polished right now. He continues to hear from the Aggies. IMG's Logan Compton has added really good weight. Originally from CyRanch, he was at the Junior Day this past weekend. Strake Jesuit's Thomas Gordon turned heads. He's committed to Northwestern but was offered by LSU after the camp. He's got family ties to the Tigers. 2020 Aggie legacy Reggie Brown could be a nice option at HBack/TE/Fullback. He's athletic and smart, like his daddy. WRI got a pro Sooner vibe out of Arjei Henderson. He'll officially visit OU and A&M this spring. Alabama is in his final three, but the buzz was that it's a two horse race right now. 2020 offer Troy Omeire looks like a total freak show. Big, long, athletic with exceptional ball skills. He recently picked up Georgia, but I'd call the Ags the clear early leader. Chase Lane is a really good player. I'm telling y'all. He's a clean route runner, sure handed, and plays with good bounce and energy. All the kids like him as well, and I think there's something to be said for that. He is on the way to being this year's Jordan Moore. Lane's teammate Jalen Curry reminds me of Jhamon Ausbon. He's a big dude that's physical at the top of routes and catches everything. I suspect he'll follow Gunnell somewhere. Devin Price and Brian Darby made their names known in the recruiting industry with solid performances. The two local standouts were at Jr Day and will camp with the Aggies. Also, because Devin participated, Terry Price could be there - meaning he got to put his eyes on all these kids. St John's Genson Hooper-Price probably made the biggest news with his 40 times. His first run was a 4.31 and his second was a 4.45. He did this at 6-5, 205 and a huge lower body. That speed and height make him an intriguing prospect. Could he grow into a TE? I suppose it's possible, but his stock will rise after running like that. Bellaire Episcopal's Corey Williams did his best to make folks forget Jaylen Waddle. His offer list should grow quite a bit pretty soon. He was really good. Ft Bend Dulles ATH Ainias Smith won the fastest man race under a bit of controversy, but he did have a good day. He worked out at WR, but he's also being recruited at corner. He's got an offer from Georgia but more big interest from power programs in the region. OLJavonne Shepherd was exceptional. He's nearly 6-7 and super athletic. He's flexible, mobile, and powerful. The Aggies are in an outstanding position here. He loves Jim Turner and Lee Grimes. To me, he's the left tackle of the class. If Shepherd is the LT, then Kenyon Green is the rest of the line. He's special as well. Kenyon is versatile enough to play anywhere along with offensive front. To me, he and Shepherd look like bookend tackles for what would be an incredible offensive line. Green did not mince words with me: the Aggies are the clear leader, and he wants to play with Shepherd at the next level. The 2021 OL class in state already looks incredibly talented and is loaded at the top with Hayden Conner (who dominated kids two years older than him), Bryce Foster, Reuben Fatheree (built like Tyler Davis), and Donovan Jackson. After talking to all those yesterday and combining with info from other sources, the Aggies would stand the best shot at landing all 4 as things stand today. Still a long way to go there though.I don't think you'll see A&M move on Brannon Brown or Andrew Coker just yet, but both of them hold A&M in high regard. Coker needs a ratings bump. He's lost a lot of weight from basketball and is moving much better. One guy I do think the Ags will offer is 2020 Clear Creek mauler Chad Lindberg. He had a fantastic day yesterday. I asked him what an A&M offer would mean, and he said, "it'd be the biggest deal that's ever happened to me." Take from that what you will. I'll have some defensive notes either tonight or tomorrow.
LIVE TexAgs.com Weekend High School Football Thread
It's that time again, guys. I'll be at Northwest ISD Stadium to see Flower Mound Marcus take on Byron Nelson. Marcus has a few guys of note, all in the 2019 class. LB Marcel Brooks leads the group. He doesn't have the Aggies in his top group but he's a playmaker I've been wanting to see live. OL Justin Osborne has several offers as does RB Justin Dinka who has drawn the eye of the Aggies here recently.Friday i'll be in Argyle to see Argyle and Wichita Falls Hirschi. The name to know in that game is Hirschi 2019 DT Lloyd Murray. He has been offered by the Aggies and plans to be in College Station this weekend.Brauninger will be at the Manvel/Santa Fe match-up to see A&M commits Jalen Preston, Brian Johnson, Deneric Prince and several other Manvel standouts.Hop will be at Klein/Klein Collins to check out 2019 RB and A&M legacy Isaiah Spiller. Ted is atDarrell Tully Stadium to see Strake Jesuit take on Katy. He's going to focus on A&M commit Seth Small and 2018 DT Moro Ojomo, but he'll keep an eye on 2019 RB Deondrick Glass as well as Strake Jesuit 2019 TE Thomas Gordon. We will post updates from our games here, and I know we would love to hear from you guys as you are out in the crowd at games across the state.Have fun and safe travels
Visitor list - Auburn
Here's what we've got so far this week. Keep checking in for additions/subtractions. Official visitorsSuwanee (GA) QB Cade Fortin*Oak Ridge DE Joseph OssaiKaty Taylor DE Max Wright*Pima CC LB Bryant Pirtle 2018Katy K/P Seth Small*Manvel S/OLB Brian Johnson*CyRanch OL Colten Blanton*Manvel WR Jalen Preston* - maybe CySprings S Leon O'Neal*Clear Brook WR Caleb Chapman*Aldine Davis DT Dominic Livingston Yoakum DB Jordan Moore*2019Cuero ATH Jordan Whittington Klein Collins RB Isaiah Spiller - maybeA&M Consolidated OL Reid Francis Katy Taylor DE Braedon Mowry Ft Worth Nolan Catholic LB Nana Osafo-Mensah Katy RB Deondrick Glass Huntsville DE T'Vondre Sweat St Pius QB Grant Gunnell*DeKaney CB Marcus Banks Wichita Falls Hirschi DT Lloyd Murray Strake Jesuit TE Thomas Gordon Oak Ridge LB Phillip Ossai Mayde Creek DE Marcus Stripling 2020Katy WR Jacobi Bellazin - maybeA&M Consolidated ATH Devin Price Navasota OL Jordan Jefferson*2021Katy Taylor OL Bryce Foster Katy Taylor OL Hayden Conner Oak Ridge ATH KC Ossai
Previewing the 2019 Texas A&M Recruiting Class: Offense
Texas A&M is off to a strong start in the 2019 Class with commitments from two Houston playmakers, but how will the Aggies stack up when the class is filled out? Ryan Brauninger endeavors to find the answer to that question, starting with the offensive side of the ball.