Mid-South Spotlight: Five prospects that should have more offers
Rivals national recruiting analyst Cole Patterson highlights five prospects in the Mid-South Region that should have more programs on their offer sheet, including fast-rising standouts and a quarterback that has already made a commitment.
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Awodoyin gets a little lost in the shuffle on a loaded Conroe Oak Ridge defense that also features five-star linebacker Justin Williams and Rivals100 defensive end Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, two Georgia commitments. But Awodoyin is an impressive prospect in his own right.
The three-star defender possesses a 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame with length that passes the eye test in person. However, he can also play, too. He got to Florida QB commit DJ Lagway twice on Friday evening, recording a pair of sacks in the regular season finale. Awodoyin plays with good bend and pursuit while showcasing some impressive ability and upside at rushing the passer.
Georgia Tech recently hosted Awodoyin for a visit and Arizona State is also involved. The state playoffs could set the stage for more programs to jump into the mix for the Greater Houston Area standout.
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Simpson is already highly regarded by Rivals, considered a top-100 prospect for the 2025 recruiting cycle. He is an athletic defensive end recruit with a 6-foot-4 and 240-pound frame with a multi-sport background to pair. There's a lot to like about his game and stands reason to believe that he is only going to continue improving his craft at getting after the QB.
However, his recruitment has not fully taken off just yet. USC is perhaps the most notable offer on the table, while in-state schools such as Baylor and Houston have also jumped into the mix. But Simpson is the caliber of prospect that should have most of the big names in the region – such as Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma and LSU – after him sooner than later. It's likely only a matter of time once coaches dive into offseason evaluations.
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Turner recently earned four-star status on Rivals thanks to a big sophomore campaign at Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex powerhouse Duncanville. Turner has showcased big-play ability at receiver while catching passes from four-star quarterback Keelon Russell and playing opposite of five-star wideout Dakorien Moore.
Despite all the talent on the Panthers' offense that also features LSU commitment Caden Durham at running back, Turner has more than made a name for himself this fall with acrobatic catches and highlight-reel runs after catches. Texas recently came in for an offer for the 6-foot-3, 210-pound athlete that could also potentially play defense. It's likely that more get into the picture soon, too.
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Jones just made his verbal commitment over the weekend, choosing Texas Tech in his early recruitment. But that doesn't mean that the 2025 signal caller shouldn't still be a prospect that programs should continue to evaluate and potentially offer.
Jones is a dynamic playmaker behind center, which makes his future fit in Lubbock that much more exciting. He is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound gunslinger that is capable of making all the throws to each level of the field, especially liking to push the ball deep. Additionally, Jones adds a dimension as a rusher, where he ran for nearly double-digit scores during his sophomore campaign.
Aside from Tech, Jones has a relatively light offer sheet at this point. UTSA and North Texas are the other notables. But it certainly wouldn't come as a surprise to see more offer after Jones led Hitchcock to an undefeated regular season in the Lone Star State.
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Martin has some heavyweight programs on his offer sheet but that doesn't necessarily tell the full story. Martin made a summer commitment to Boston College but opted to back off that pledge early on in his senior season. Now available, Martin is a well-rounded wideout that has played in some big games throughout his prep career.
However, Martin has yet to see his recruitment back up with more offers since his decommitment. That's despite leading all of class 6A in receiving this season and playing for one of the better programs in the DFW.
SMU is one program involved for a player that could very well end up being a steal for the program that eventually signs the high three-star.