2020 Rivals100 DB Mickens sorting through heavy interests

SOUTHLAKE -- Without a doubt, RJ Mickens has been one of the most wanted underclassman prospects in Texas for some time.

Now that he is well into the start of his junior season, top programs have wasted no time turning up the heat. In a big home win last Friday night against Odessa-Permian, Mickens spent the majority of the game coming up to help in run-support rather than picking off passes, but continued to show his evolution as a more complete defensive back.

“Surprisingly, I’ve been getting a lot of mail and love from Florida,” he said. “I’ve been talking to their coaches, Coach (Dan) Mullen, Coach (Brian) Johnson, I’ve been texting with them a ton. LSU has been showing a lot of love, Ohio State, Georgia, Clemson, (Texas) A&M, so I’ve been hearing more from a lot of teams.”

Mickens said that Clemson, Ohio State and Texas A&M are on the shortlist for programs he would like to visit for games this season, but he has no specific plans for any just yet. He was particularly adamant about checking out the Tigers after Clemson was one of his more notable visits over the summer.

“I’m for sure going to a Clemson game,” he said. “All they have been doing is showing me love, staying in contact with me, so it’s a good relationship right now.”

On Ohio State

“[Urban Meyer] has been checking in on me, asking me how things are going and I’ve been asking him how things are going,” he said. “I’ve been talking to them pretty frequently. I’m not sure if I am going to be able to make it up there for a game or anything this fall, it’ll just depend on how the playoffs go and all that.”

On Stanford

“Ever since September first, I’ve been getting a lot of mail from them,” he said. “I’ve been talking with Coach (David) Shaw, Coach (Duane) Akina, so things have been good. I am possibly looking at making it out there for a game, or possibly go visit during the spring.”