Around Texas: A round-up of recruiting news in the Lone Star State

The recruiting action never stops in the Lone Star state, and it is time to take a look at the latest news, notes and headlines.

Big Gets

WR Zechariah Sample‍ pledges to Arizona State

2‍025 QB Kevin Sperry‍ chooses Oklahoma

Headlines

Michael Hawkins‍ commitment date - Frisco Emerson standout QB Michael Hawkins has set a commitment date of April 8, and he is down to TCU and Oklahoma. Hawkins started the previous two seasons at Allen and transferred to Emerson in January.

Josiah Martin‍ top 12 - The Denton Guyer wide receiver has narrowed his list to 12. In-state programs Baylor, TCU and Houston make the cut with Penn State, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Cal, Purdue, Boston College and Mississippi State also in the mix.

Weston Davis‍ top six - The Beaumont United OL has risen quickly up recruiting boards, and now he has a top six. The Aggies make the cut along with Alabama, Oklahoma State, LSU, TCU and Oklahoma.

Loghan Thomas‍ top 10 - Katy Paetow defensive lineman Loghan Thomas has narrowed his list to 10 with Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, USC, Arizona, Notre Dame, Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss and Colorado making his list.

Bryant Wesco‍ drops his top eight - The Midlothian playmaker released his top eight schools with in-state programs TCU and Texas making the cut. LSU, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Clemson, Nebraska, and Colorado also made the list.

Lorenzo Johnson‍ decommits from Texas Tech - The Madisonville standout has re-opened his recruiting process. He committed to the Red Raiders in February of 2022. Recently he added offers from Texas State and Houston.

Lucas Lovejoy adds big-time transfer - 2025 TE Bear Tenney‍ has transferred from Hamilton (AZ) to Lovejoy. He checks in at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, and he arrives in Lovejoy holding offers from the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee and USC.

New Name to know

LB Jayden Shelton‍, Dallas South Oak Cliff - 2025

At 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, Shelton is a smart and instinctive playmaker in the middle of a stout South Oak Cliff defense. He is quick to diagnose plays and flow to the ball, and he arrives at the ball carrier with bad intentions. He has also shown some advanced coverage ability. He quickly changes direction, gets deep in his drops, and he showed his hands as he grabbed a few interceptions in 2022. In the film room, he likes to study San Francisco 49er standout LB Fred Warner.

Shelton’s recruitment started to take flight following a strong sophomore effort in 2022 with offers arriving from SMU, Arizona State, Washington, Texas Tech, Michigan, Texas State, USC and UNT in January. He has also been busy on the road, stopping for visits at Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M and Arkansas.

In addition to football, he also competes in track, where he runs the 100m and 200m, and he has a strong family legacy on the track. His mom, Shontae Johnson, is the head track coach at Dallas Skyline, and she ran track at Texas State. His sister, Makayla Jones, runs the 100m and 200m for Skyline and is drawing college attention. Makayla has a PR of 11.74 in the 100m and helped Skyline claim bronze in the 4x200m at last year’s state championships.

What’s up with the top

Current Top Five LBs in the TexAgs Top 100
Justin Williams‍, Conroe Oak Ridge
Maurice Williams‍, Pearland Shadow Creek - LSU
Payton Pierce‍, Lucas Lovejoy
Dakyus Brinkley‍, Katy Seven Lakes
Davhon Keys‍, Aledo - LSU

Five prospects shooting up the list (Alphabetical order)
Xavier Atkins‍, Humble Summer Creek - LSU
Brandon Booker‍, DeSoto
Markus Boswell‍, Lake Travis
Tyanthony Smith‍, Jasper
Zach Smith‍, Red Oak