Nathan Pickering

First off, Merry Christmas, y'all. I hope your day has been filled with the joy and laughter with loved ones that makes this time of year so special. Also, if you're not putting your potato salad on top of your gumbo, you're living life completely wrong. Now, some recruiting stuff...-The Dead Period ends Jan 11th. As many of you know, North Forest OL Javonne Shepherd is expected to take an official visit that weekend. A&M signee and long time friend Kenyon Green will be in town, and I believe Layden Robinson will make the trip, as well. Here's my advice on Shepherd: let this thing run its course, and don't get too caught up in the day-to-day swings here. I honestly believe Javonne is pretty conflicted heading into the final month. The waves in momentum here will come to an end when pen meets paper in February. In the meantime, Shepherd seems like he's gotten himself back into outstanding shape. Good for the kid, regardless of where he signs. Another likely visitor is Amite (LA) ATH Devonta Lee though I haven't gotten that Jan 11th weekend confirmed. Whether he shows up in College Station at the end of the Dead Period or not isn't nearly as important as him showing up any time before NSD #2. Remember, Lee camped in Aggieland last summer and spent a ton of time with Mo Linguist and Mike Elko. This is also a recruitment that Jimbo Fisher has sunk his teeth into. There's still a hill to climb, but make no mistake, this staff is going to make a full fledged pursuit of one the best Louisiana has to offer. There's been another name pop up at cornerback in the last week. Madison (FL) standout Travis Jay could find his way to campus next month. The 6-1, 185 pound Florida St commit obviously has some familiarity with the A&M staff and chose not to sign with the Seminoles during the early period. I've been unable to gauge how legit and reciprocated the interest is here yet on either side, though. For now, I'd just put it down as a name to watch.Another out of state stud that didn't sign with the school they committed to was DE Nathan Pickering out of Seminary (MS). Pickering remains committed to Miss State but was part of a group of 8 commits that didn't sign early with the Bulldogs. Very early on in this cycle, Pickering conjured up a pretty serious relationship with Terry Price. Now, there's a super long way to go here, and I'd put the likelihood of this kid ending up at A&M right between slim and none on Christmas Day, but it was a name floated to our team recently. If the kid shows up in College Station, we'll let you know. Some 2020 and 2021 names that will likely end up at A&M junior days after their performance during the playoffs and/or state title games:2020 Shadow Creek S Xavion Alford 2020 Shadow Creek DE/OLB Alec Bryant 2020 Longview DT Sawyer Goram-Welch 2020 Longview QB Haynes King 2020 Bmt West Brook OLB Jay Bell 2021 North Shore QB Dematrius Davis 2021 Duncanville OL Jadarius Thursby2021 Aledo ATH Hampton Fay 2021 Aledo ATH JoJo Earle Staying with the underclassmen, I feel very comfortable calling Texas A&M the strong, early leader for Newton DE James Sylvester. I've talked to a couple of coaches around southeast Texas and beyond who have expressed to me Sylvester's desire to play for Terry Price. I expect to see the Aggies go hard at corner in the 2020 class, as well. Howell's guy Jalen Kimber looks like a high priority guy as is Dwight McGlothern. There are plenty other names out there in state, and the staff will certainly draw the attention of a couple of national guys, as well.Last thing: I met another kid that looks like he'll be in the mix in that ridiculous 2021 OL class in state. Ft Bend Christian big man Remington Strickland was visiting family in the Golden Triangle this week, and I ran into him in town down here. He's 6-4, 285 and has started receiving some serious Power 5 interest. Extremely high academic kid. Just another monster to add to that already loaded group of O-Linemen.

It's time to take a look around at the biggest pick-ups on the recruiting front as well as some of the top recruiting news and notes from around the SEC. Jason Howell details just that and more in this week's Around the SEC.

Recruiting didn't slow down in the month of June as many prospects shortened their lists and made commitments throughout the Southeastern Conference. Jason Howell breaks down the latest news from around the SEC.