Around Texas: A round-up of recruiting news in the Lone Star State
My goodness, things are moving at incredible speed across the state, and now it is time to dive into the latest news, notes and headlines from the Lone Star recruiting trails.
Big Gets
WR Jalen Lott chooses the Ducks
DE Bryce Perry-Wright pledges to Texas A&M
OL Felix Ojo selects Texas Tech
OL John Turntine is a Longhorn
http://instagr.am/p/DLspdGqybgZ
WR Boobie Feaster announces for USC
WR Kaydon Finley commits to Notre Dame
Headlines
Big decisions being made – Quite frankly, there were so many big decisions made in the last couple of weeks that the “Big Gets” section would be incredibly crowded, so here are a few more highlights...
Top LBs decide – Carthage (TX) linebacker DaQuives Beck announced his commitment to Texas A&M on July 1, and he was joined by fellow standout linebacker Tank King of Port Arthur Memorial in the Aggie class on July 4, giving A&M the state’s top two linebackers. Katy Mayde Creek linebacker Kosi Okpala also announced his visit recently, choosing Texas over Baylor, Miami and Penn State on July 3. Richmond Randle linebacker Noriel Dominguez chose TCU over Houston on July 7, and highly productive Cypress Ranch linebacker Ayden Combs picked North Texas over Louisiana and Louisiana Tech.
Big moves in DFW – Lott, Feaster and Finley took some major headlines, but they were not the only big-time DFW prospects making moves. Red Oak speedster Brayden Robinson joined Finley with a Notre Dame decision, choosing the Irish over Miami and Arizona on July 6. On the other side of the ball, Frisco Panther Creek S Donovan Webb opted for Texas Tech over Michigan, Notre Dame and Kansas State, while Crowley CB Brandon Ford decommitted from Kansas State and a day later made the move to Oklahoma State. Then there were the Mustangs of SMU with another big addition up front as Bauxite (AR) OL Evan Goodwin announced his college choice.
TCU on a run – This could have been above, but it deserved its own section due to the shear among of movement by Sonny Dykes and the crew in Fort Worth. They have been active in the state with the additions of WR Ayson Theus of Duncanville and OL Rhett Gray of Weatherford, and then double dipping at Port Arthur Memorial with RB Amante Martin and CB Brock King.
More big decisions
- Marshall OL Eric Perkins flips from UTEP to Texas State
- Cy Ridge DL Isaiah Broughton to UNLV
- Mansfield Legacy OL Khalil Sanogo to Arizona
- Fort Worth Christian DE Tucker Ashford to Kansas State
- Baton Rouge (LA) Madison Prep S Javen Holmes to Houston
- Columbia S Mudassir Abdullah to Houston
- New Boston RB Ashton Rowden to Texas Tech
- Callisburg OL Teagan Lindsey to Texas State
Decision day is on the way – Around the state, top prospects are closing in on college choices, and many already have decision dates scheduled. July 10 will be a big one as Temple DE Jamarion Carlton decides between Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor and LSU. July 11 will see San Antonio Madison WR Jordan Clay choose between Colorado, Baylor and Oklahoma, and Duncanville DE KJ Ford has Texas A&M, Florida and Ohio State as his finalists. On July 12, Cy Ranch LB Calvin Thomas is deciding between Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, SMU and Texas, and on July 13, Iowa Colony WR Jayden Warren is set to decide between Houston, SMU and TCU. Out west ,another top receiver is closing in on a choice. Wolfforth Frenship standout Chase Campbell announced a top three of Baylor, Kansas State and Texas Tech.
New Name to Know
ATH LJ Bailey, El Paso Pebble Hills – 2028
Bailey did not play varsity ball last fall, but he emerged as a major threat this spring. At 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds, he is a big target on the outside with a large catch radius and a quick ability to adjust on the fly.
Equipped with a 35-inch vertical leap and a 4.52 40-yard dash time, Bailey prides himself on his versatility, and he studies Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
He also has football in his blood. His older brother, Tavorus Jones, was a highly touted prospect out of El Paso Burges in the 2022 class, and he is currently at Missouri.
College coaches are beginning to find their way to Bailey. UTSA was the first to offer on July 1, and interest has arrived from Western New Mexico State, Illinois and UTEP. This summer, he also visited SMU and Missouri.
In addition to football, Bailey also plays basketball and competes in track and field. He is a shooting guard on the hardwood, and he runs the 100m on the track.
What’s up with the top
Top 10 uncommitted prospects in Texas (alphabetical order)
WR Chase Campbell, Wolfforth Frenship
DE Jamarion Carlton, Temple
WR Jordan Clay, San Antonio Madison
DE KJ Ford, Duncanville
ATH Davian Groce, Frisco Lone Star
ATH Paris Melvin Jr, Cypress Cy Springs
QB Grant Smith, Spring Grand Oaks
LB Calvin Thomas, Cypress Cy Ranch
TE Zachery Turner, Duncanville
WR Jayden Warren, Rosharon Iowa Colony