Around the Southwest: OUs big weekend
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RB getting interest at LB
Each Tuesday throughout the fall, Rivals.com is breaking down the Southwest Region recruiting scene with news, notes and analysis. Here is the latest from Rivals.com Southwest analyst Jason Howell.
News and Notes
Last
week it was Texas A&M opening the doors to welcome several of their top
targets. This weekend it is Oklahoma. As the Sooners host Notre Dame they are also welcoming Rivals250 Fresno (Calif.) Central East
defensive back
Hatari Byrd, Rivals250 DE Greg Gilmore, Rivals250 defensive
back Cole Luke and Florida State commitments
and Adrian Baker. Then they also have Arkansas commitment
Dominique Alexander, who received an offer from OU last week, coming in on an
unofficial visit, several Oklahoma 2013 commits and multiple 2014 targets with
offers. It's going to be a big weekend in Norman.
Texas A&M's
weekend did not yield any commitments but it certainly planted the seed. The
Aggies saw their three top uncommitted targets for 2013 --
Mike Mitchell and
Justin Manning -- all come
into town and soak in the big game atmosphere at Kyle Field this weekend. The
Aggies may have lost on the field, but some big impressions were made. In
addition to the in-state standouts above, Texas A&M also hosted Rivals100
cornerback Mackensie Alexander.
When Seals-Jones went down with a knee injury against
Houston St. Pius X it appeared as if he was done for the year. That is not the
case and this week, as the Sealy Tigers take on the Columbus Cardinals in a
district matchup, Seals-Jones will make his return to the gridiron.
While
Seals-Jones is making his return, one Texas standout has been lost for the year.
Rivals100 Cy Woods linebacker and Texas commit
suffered a torn ACL and will not be able to suit up the rest of the season.
Oklahoma has
extended a few new offers recently, targeting a couple of offensive linemen with
Missouri connections. Stilwell (Kan.) Blue Valley offensive tackle
Clay Rhodes picked up an offer and, while he says he is committed to
Missouri, he has expressed an interest in visiting Oklahoma. The
Sooners also offered 2014 St. Louis (Mo.) DeSmet offensive lineman
Andy Bauer, who is committed to Missouri, but is looking into all of his
options. He has plenty of them with over 30 offers now on his plate.
Katy (Texas)
Seven Lakes offensive lineman
Caleb Benenoch says he is down to a final
on a decision until after the season and plans to take official visits to Baylor
and UCLA after the season. He does not have a date set for UCLA, but mentioned
visiting the weekend the Bruins host Stanford (November 16) or
receive a visit.
Clarksville,
Texas receiver Gary Moore is one of the more interesting prospects in
Texas. He stands tall at 6-foot-5, 215 pounds and plays both ways at
Clarksville. He currently holds offers from Arkansas State, UTSA,
Tulsa and was most recently offered by the Missouri Tigers.
TCU has also shown significant interest and projections range from wide
receiver to tight end to defensive end. Moore is also a standout on the
basketball court.
Dallas
(Texas) Jesuit wide receiver and four-star Texas commitment Jake Oliver
set a state record for career receptions Friday night. He now sits at 274 career
receptions, passing Jordan Shipley who held the record with 264 while at Rotan
and Burnet. Oliver finished the night with 15 receptions for 174 yards, but his
Jesuit Rangers fell to Lake Highlands 20-17
Underclassmen watch
Here are some top underclassmen to keep an eye on from around the region:
QB
David Cornwell, Jones, Okla. (2014)
At 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, Cornwell is a big presence in the pocket for Jones. He
stands tall, has a big arm and can really snap it off and fire a bullet when he
needs to do so. Cornwell may be a pocket guy but he is mobile and shows great
awareness in the pocket. When he does scramble he can throw on the run or he can
get down field. Since receiving an Indiana offer this summer he has
seen the interest pour in from the likes of Alabama, Michigan,
Auburn, Oklahoma and
RB
Lawrence Evitt, Wagoner, Okla. (2014)
Speed, speed, speed, throw in some wiggle and then some more speed. It's good
Evitt has the speed and is slippery with his ability to start and stop and
reverse, because at 5-foot-7 and 165 pounds he is shy on size. Evitt has great
vision and explosion, and has some surprising strength in his lower body. He has
been putting up big numbers as a junior and recently saw Oklahoma stop by to
take a look.
WR
Jalen Adams, Moore (Okla.) Southmoore (2014)
Like Evitt, Adams is not a giant, but he has shown himself to be a deep threat
against all who stand in his way. If defensive backs give him a cushion, he is
quick to eat it up and keep them uncomfortable. Colleges are quickly taking
notice of the Southmoore standout. Tulsa recently offered and Oklahoma and
Oklahoma State are keeping a close eye on him.
Kevin SumlinClick What I'm thinking …Here to view this Link. has the recruiting train rolling strong in College Station right
now, and he has a chance to close with a big bang.
Over the weekend, Texas A&M hosted Rivals100 prospects Mike Mitchell, Ricky
Seals-Jones and Justin Manning, and all three have the Aggies high on their lists. Now chances are all three will not end up in College Station, but
Texas A&M is the only program all three are considering at this time.
Manning, Mitchell and Seals-Jones are the top three uncommitted prospects in
Texas and Sumlin showed he could close the deal last year when he added DeVante
Harris and Thomas Johnson.
The trio would also give the Aggies four Rivals100 members from Texas and help
build valuable recruiting momentum.
Considering Texas is losing steam and A&M is
building steam, 2014 may be the class the Longhorns find themselves in some real
fights early on for some top recruits. Arlington Martin defensive end
Myles Garrett is one who immediately jumps to mind.
Watching
football over the weekend I got to thinking if the play of LSU's
offense and Texas' defense will ever have an impact on future recruits.
Both of these units feature some big time players. Players the NFL likes and
thinks or at least thought highly of. Guys such as Alex Okafor,
Jarvis Landry but both units are just so hard to watch
at times.
I don't think either will see much of an impact on the recruiting front, but as
I watch these two units I wonder where the playmakers are. To LSU's credit,
the run game is nice, but how about a forward pass every once and a while? And
I don't even know where to begin with Texas. I know the Longhorns have played three
high-powered offenses but many thought the defense would be one of
the best in the country. Right now it's ranked No. 107 out of 120.
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