Take Two: Can A&M keep 4-star WR Demond Demas in the fold?
Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling an issue in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and an expert from the Rivals.com network.
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THE STORYLINE
At the inaugural Fast 7v7 Tournament this past weekend just outside Houston four-star receiver Demond Demas put on a show.
He made catches all over the field. He dominated cornerbacks. There is a video of him making a one-handed touchdown grab that could easily be a Top 10 SportsCenter moment. In that clip, the quarterback lobs the ball into the end zone, Demas goes up with his right hand, over a cornerback and swipes the ball out of the air for a touchdown.
It was the type of performance that could put Demas, who remains happily committed to Texas A&M while boasting nearly 50 offers, in the discussion for the No. 1 spot at receiver in the 2020 class.
The top of the wide receiver rankings is led by three five-stars in Julian Fleming, Rakim Jarrett and Johnny Wilson, respectively. But this early in the recruiting cycle, rankings are so fluid and the spring evaluation period is crucial. Demas has superstar potential and he proved it again this past weekend.
With such a talented prospect, can Texas A&M keep his commitment all the way to signing day? And does the Houston (Texas) Tomball star have a shot at moving up to the top of the wide receiver rankings?
FIRST TAKE: SAM SPIEGELMAN, TEXAS & LOUISIANA ANALYST
“Demas is making a case to be the nation’s top wide receiver, and he certainly has all of the qualifications. He’s long with elite speed and an incredible vertical leap. He’s making difficult grabs with ease, and doing it routinely. He can also make tough catches in traffic with multiple defenders in coverage. We can definitely say Demas considers himself the top receiver in the class of 2020, and I’m anxious to see how his rising stock this spring compares to the other elite wideouts in the country.
"After a lengthy, in-depth conversation with Demas over the weekend, I’m fully confident he plays in Aggieland. It’s a testament to Dameyune Craig and Jimbo Fisher. Schools like Ohio State, Clemson and Alabama are pushing for visits, and while the Rivals100 prospect is likely going to take them, his opinion of A&M conquers all. He’s going to be a centerpiece for the Aggies on offense for years to come.”
SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, NATIONAL RECRUITING DIRECTOR
“He’s one of those guys on the cusp of being a five-star. He has been for a while, and he’s been discussed numerous times in rankings meetings. Fleming and Jarrett are at the top right now and they’re different types of receivers. One is a smaller, slot guy and the other is a big, long-strider. Demas is very sudden, very explosive, has great hands, can get separation. He can do a lot of things a five-star receiver can do.
“He can certainly end up in the discussion for the No. 1 receiver by the end of the process. If you put him together with the haul A&M got last recruiting cycle, I know a lot of their top guys were defensive, but they got some very, very good offensive players, too. He’s the type of guy who could step in right away and make a huge impact at Texas A&M. Jimbo will want to throw the ball, and that’s a kid who is a quarterback’s best friend, because he could make you look really good.”
