Beaumont Central not low on talent

With Beaumont Central quarterback Brandon Williams in the fold at Texas A&M, who is left on the cupboard at the Texas Gulf Coast school?

Defensive end Pharius Haynes is the other 2007 Division I prospect, but a special sophomore in Derrick Hall is receiving lofty comparisons.

"Brandon is very solid to Texas A&M," Central coach Donald Stowers said. "I know several other schools have offered like LSU, but I'm not sure he's even looking at his mail anymore. Texas A&M said that if he's not qualified by signing day that they would wait on him for graduation. He was impressed with that."

Haynes, 6-foot-3, 210-pounds, is a hybrid defender with tremendous upside and a Division I frame. The all-district selection is working on his speed and strength this off-season, and stands out in a thin pool of southeast Texas defensive ends.

"The word is out on Pharius," Stowers said. "He's getting mail from everywhere. He's can play either outside linebacker or end at the next level. Oklahoma State and Michigan State have requested video and he's getting as much mail as Brandon."

So who is Hall being compared to?

"I'm not saying he's a Reggie Bush clone, but he has that type of skills," Stowers said. "Reggie is a running back who can play receiver, and Derrick is a receiver who can play running back. If they lined up and ran the 40 or 100-yard dash, Reggie would be in for a dog fight."

Hall, 5-foot-11, 185 pounds was a second-team, all-area selection as a sophomore and headlines a talented track team. He will play both ways for Stowers as a junior and his athletic feats are legendary.

"The first day at track practice, Derrick high jumped 6'8," Stowers said. "He's been clocked at 10.36 in the 100-meters this spring also. Everyone who sees Brandon, wants to know who number three is. He is the total package."