All-American Bowl Preview and LIVE Check-in Thread
It is All-American Bowl week in San Antonio, and I am heading to player check-in right now. I'll post news and notes in this thread throughout the day, but first here's a quick preview.A few quick notes-Game Information: Saturday, January 5, 2019 - noon CT on NBC-Practice begins on Tuesday. The East squad will practice first from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Then the West will practice from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.-Texas A&M commit Demani Richardson will not report today. He is scheduled to arrive on Thursday. He is on the West roster, but he will not participate in the game since he is rehabbing an injury.-Houston Dekaney CB Marcus Banks plans to announce his college decision during the game and he lists the Aggies as a finalist along with Alabama, Florida State, and Florida.The All-American Bowl By the Numbers2 - Texas A&M signees on the roster. Converse Judson defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal will suit up for the West squad. Demani Richardson is also on the West squad. Two is also the number of Texas A&M decommitments in the game - Houston St. Pius X QB Grant Gunnell (Arizona) and Baton Rouge (LA) University Lab LB Christian Harris (Alabama).1 - Texans on the East roster. It is one Texas A&M fans will be interested to see too. Defensive end David Ugwoegbu of Katy Seven Lakes was a late addition to the East roster. 13 - Texans on rosters for the game. The metro areas of Houston, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and San Antonio are all represented by athletes. Jordan Whittington of Cuero is the only Texan outside of the metro areas selected for the game.EastDE David Ugwoegbu, Katy Seven Lakes - UndecidedWest16 QB Grant Gunnell, Houston St. Pius X - Arizona 14 WR Garrett Wilson, Lake Travis - Ohio State 81 WR Trejan Bridges, Hebron - Oklahoma 13 WR Jordan Whittington, Cuero - Texas 4 WR Jaylen Ellis, Round Rock Cedar Ridge - Baylor83 TE Austin Stogner, Plano Prestonwood - Oklahoma 60 OL EJ Ndoma-Ogar, Allen - Oklahoma 44 DL DeMarvin Leal, Converse Judson - Texas A&M31 DE NaNa Osafo-Mensah, Fort Worth Nolan Catholic - Notre Dame 8 CB Marcus Banks, Houston Dekaney - Undecided33 S Demani Richardson, Waxahachie - Texas A&M (not expected to play due to injury)19 S Tyler Owens, Plano East - Texas 8 - Prospects making announcements during the All-American Bowl on SaturdayWR David Bell, Indianapolis (IN) Warren CentralWR Jadon Haselwood, Ellenwood (GA) Cedar GroveDE Khris Bogle, Fort Lauderdale (FL) Cardinal GibbonsCB Tyrique Stevenson, Miami (FL) SouthridgeWR Kyle Ford, Orange (CA) Orange LutheranWR Bru McCoy, Santa Ana (CA) Mater DeiCB Chris Steele, Bellflower (CA) St. John BoscoCB Marcus Banks, Houston Dekaney28 - SEC signees/commitments on rosters for the game, the most of any Power 5 conference. There are 18 on the East squad, and 10 on the West. LSU leads the way with 7 on the All-American Bowl roster. East12 QB Taulia Tagovailoa, Alabaster (AL) Thompson - Alabama27 RB Quavaris Crouch, Charlotte (NC) Harding - Tennessee2 RB Eric Gray, Memphis (TN) Lausanne - Tennessee6 RB Trey Sanders, Port St. Joe (FL)/IMG - Alabama8 WR Dominick Blaylock, Marietta (GA) Walton - Georgia18 WR Ramel Keyton, Marietta (GA) - Tennessee88 TE Tyler Fromm, Warner Robins (GA) - Auburn75 OL Charles Cross, Laurel (MS) - Mississippi State77 OL Xavier Truss, Warwick (RI) Bishop Hendricken - Georgia56 DE Antonio Alfano, Colonia (NJ) - Alabama42 DE Nolan Smith, Savannah (GA)/IMG - Georgia44 DE Travon Walker, Thomaston (GA) Upson-Lee - Georgia47 DE Byron Young, Laurel (MS) West Jones - Alabama commit38 LB Diwun Black, Kissimmee (FL) Osceola - Florida commit11 LB Mohamoud Diabate, Auburn (AL) - Florida31 LB Tyron Hopper, Roswell (GA) - Florida25 CB Cameron Smith, Blythewood (SC) Westwood - South Carolina53 LS Quentin Skinner, Buford (GA) - LSUWest3 QB Ryan Hilinski, Orange (CA) Orange Lutheran - South Carolina22 RB Tyrion Davis, Baton Rouge (LA) Southern Lab - LSU70 OL Kardell Thomas, Baton Rouge (LA) Southern Lab - LSU78 OL Charles Turner, Canton (OH)/IMG - LSU44 DL DeMarvin Leal, Converse Judson - Texas A&M62 DT Siaki Ika, Salt Lake City (UT) East - LSU9 LB Marcel Brooks, Flower Mound (TX) Marcus - LSU 17 LB Christian Harris, Baton Rouge (LA) University Lab - Alabama24 CB Derek Stingley, Baton Rouge (LA) Dunham - LSU - participating in LSU's bowl practices, will not play in the game.33 S Demani Richardson, Waxahachie - Texas A&M20 - number of prospect signed/committed to the P5 Conference with the second most signees/commitments listed on the rosters. That honor goes to the Big 10.As I mentioned at the start of the post I will post news, notes, and other information in this thread as prospects make their way through check-in, so stay tuned.
Friday State 7on7 news, notes, and nuggets
A few thoughts- Texas A&M commit and Houston St. Pius X receiver Chase Lane - He had an up and down day like his team did. He started off hot coming out of the gates as a favorite target for quarterback Grant Gunnell, but his play seemed to trail off. When he is on, there's a lot to like. He has a solid build and he is one of the fastest guys in the tournament. It was a tough day for St. Pius though with QB Grant Gunnell fighting though some arm soreness after spending a few days at the Five-Star Challenge in Atlanta. On the day St. Pius finished 0-3. -starpower down - The star power was down a good bit this weekend. There were 10 players whose team qualified for the State 7-on-7 Championships who were invited to the Opening and all but NaNa Osafo-Mensah did not make it to College Station. This is not a slam on those guys because competing in both events would be quite the feat, but it was sad to see so many top players not make it to the event.-young QBs making noise - A couple of young QBs stepped into the spotlight on Friday. Denton Guyer 2021 QB Eli Stowers and Katy 2021 QB Bronson McClelland both led their teams to 3-0 finishes on the day. They are both already known in recruiting circles, but it was good to see both step up and make key throws in key moments and lead their teams.John Paul Richardson Go ahead and put this guy down on your list. He is an Aggie legacy and the son of Bucky Richardson, and as they say, he is quick as a hiccup. (sorry, I couldn't resist) In fact, David Sandhop said he was the most impressive player he saw all day long. People just couldn't cover him and he made play after play.Recruiting Notes-Chase Lane has been committed to the Aggies longer than anyone and he is locked in on his commitment. He has already gotten to work with new QB commit Zach Calzada and he is working hard to help the Aggies put together a top class.-Hebron 2020 S Darius Snow continues to take in his options and he plans to take visits to quite a few schools after the dead period. Stanford is a school to watch. He has gotten to know Jimbo Fisher and the Texas A&M coaching staff well. He mentioned coach Fisher, coach Elko, and coach Price as coaches he has bonded with and he said he had a lot of fun the last time he was down. He plans to make it back to College Station for a game this fall.-Mesquite Poteet 2020 RB Seth McGowan received an offer from the Aggies this spring and he was in attendance at the Aggie's Elite Day this June. He is a high academic guy and he is on track to graduate early and towards the very top of his high school class. He keeps in touch with coach Linguist and coach Graham on a consistent basis, and when he said the Aggies exceeded his expectations when he visited in June. He mentioned Stanford, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, and Alabama were a few schools that stand out.-Southlake Carroll 2020 CB RJ Mickens mentioned Oklahoma, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Oregon, USC, and UCLA were schools he has been talking to a lot. -Fort Bend Ridge Point 2021 WR John Paul Richardson said SMU is showing the most interest, and LSU has also inquired. He did camp at Texas A&M this summer and he has had contact with the coaches. -Mesquite Horn 2021 LB Kendrick Blackshire mentioned Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Alabama among his standout programs. He is trying to get back to A&M for a visit before the end of the summer and he plans to take a visit to College Station for a game this fall.-Coppell 2019 S Jonathan McGill has been keeping in touch with Coach Linguist and the Aggies are keeping an eye on him. Right now though Stanford, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State are his three standout programs. I'd say Stanford is the school to watch here.-Dallas Bishop Dunne 2019 WR Jabari Khepera is talking quite a bit with Kansas State, ULL, and Utah, and those three are his leaders at this point. He hopes to make a decision before the start of the season. He has visit to Utah in the works in a few weeks.-Plano Prestonwood 2019 CB Virdel Edwards is taking his visits. Colorado, Texas Tech, ULM, and Iowa State are showing the most interest. He has also visited Oklahoma State. He does have a leader but he's not ready to say. He plans to announce around the beginning of his senior season.-Dallas Bishop Dunne 2020 WR Zeriah Beason is keeping an open mind right now. He plans to visit Oklahoma State at the end of July. -Dallas Bishop Dunne 2020 TE Elijah Yelverton is one of the top tight ends in the 2020 class. He had a big spring with offers arriving from across the country. He is keeping an open mind right now. Oklahoma State and Michigan are programs that are showing a lot of interest.-Dallas Bishop Dunne 2020 ATH Jaden Hullaby and his brother 2022 RB Landon Hullaby both picked up offers Baylor recently. Michigan State is also recruiting him hard. He is trying to take a visit to Tennessee before the end of the summer.
Previewing the 2018 Opening Finals in Frisco by the numbers
Top prospects from around the country will be at The Opening Finals in Frisco this weekend, including a few A&M commits and targets. Jason Howell breaks down the event by the numbers.
Liucci 44: Ranking the state's top high school prospects
Texas is a bastion of football talent, and the country's elite college programs are scouring the state for playmakers. With the summer camp circuit complete, Billy Liucci unveils his new rankings for state's best high school prospects.
2018 Texas State 7-on-7 Championships preview
Talent from across the state have assembled in College Station this week for the State Championship 7-on-7 tournament at Veterans field in College Station. Jason Howell runs down the names to know and players to watch in his comprehensive preview.