Texas tidbits: Keeping them committed

As time marches towards Signing Day, a lot of storylines being followed in the world of recruiting sometimes seem to have more to do with schools trying to keep their early commits on board rather than programs picking up new blue-chip prospects.

Several schools recruiting the state of Texas are realize that keeping prospects committed is almost more of the battle than getting the recruits to give their pledge in the first place. Prospects like running back Joseph Reese, tight end Ian Harris, and defender Jacody Coleman are just a few prospects that have their eye on several other options.

Reese, the Pflugerville (Texas) Hendrickson runner, committed to Texas A&M in late April of this year. However, with his brother, Terrell Reese, at Arizona and his parents raising questions, it appears this running back commit isn't as solid as he once was.

At this point it appears that Reese is pretty sold on the Aggies. He says that his parents are not as confident.

"My dad said they went back on their word because they recruited another running back," Reese said about his parents feelings. "He is kind of upset a little about that. I don't feel as strong about it as he does. I understand the coach's job."

Harris, from San Antonio (Texas) Churchill, committed as a tight end to Nebraska during the summer. However, after committing, he took an official visit to Missouri in late September and enjoyed his time there.

Now, things remain up in the air between the Huskers and Harris.

"I am still committed," Harris said in late October. "Just the only thing that has separated Nebraska and Missouri is just the contact that Missouri has had. They've been in touch with me a lot. I don't know if [Nebraska] feels a certain way, but I just wish on their part they would be in touch with me a little more."

With a need for tight ends, Harris is just one of two recruits at that position committed to Nebraska. Ironically, Texas Tech commit Jacob Amie is looking at a late visit to Lincoln and he may also be looked at for that spot.

Other prospects that are taking a second look around include Baylor commit and Beaumont (Texas) Westbrook defensive end Jacody Coleman who has his eye on several new schools. Coleman's teammate Billy Chavis recently de-committed from Baylor and may be a part of the reason why Coleman is looking.

Two-star offensive tackle has probably gained the most recruiting attention as of late making a case for a higher ranking. As for his recruitment, he's still a soft verbal commit to Houston and has already taken two official visits to UTEP and Texas Tech. More are planned with one likely being to Oklahoma State.

New Lone Star four-stars

With the Rivals100 and Rivals250 updates, there were several changes across the country with a handful of prospects rising and another group of prospects dropping down a few spots.

The state of Texas was definitely a big part of the shifts. Several new prospects were added to the list of four-stars and each one of them made their case for the jump up.

Wide receiver William Cole has been a one-man offensive show. Between rushing and passing the ball from the quarterback spot, Cole has accumulated more than 2,100 yards with 36 touchdowns. That's through nine games and is a big reason why his Cedar Hill, Texas team is undefeated and heading to the playoffs.

Another prospect well deserving of a bump in the rankings was Pearland, Texas running back and Texas-commit Foswhitt Whittaker. Whittaker's stats, like Cole, do a lot of the talking. So far, he's accumulated 1,564 yards and 10 touchdowns. While their may be other running backs with more total yardage this season, it's the game performances that have blown spectators away.

In one game versus Clear Creed, Whittaker topped the 400-yard mark in four quarters of play. His 415-yard mark on 35 carries definitely made a big case for his movement.

North Garland linebacker Jermaine Love is definitely not the biggest outside 'backer in the country this year, but his speed and hitting ability is a thing of beauty. Playing a lot of running back this year, his coaches say that he has improved greatly and will more than likely be a star at the next level.

Fullback Quentin Castille, a Nebraska commt, is probably the greatest riser in the rankings thus far. Beginning as a two-star prospect, many believed that Castille would be a better linebacker prospect at the next level. He didn't listen and rushed for over 1,000 yards as a junior and is well on his way to that mark with one game remaining on the regular season schedule sitting at 950 yards averaging 7.2 yards a carry.

Moye on the rise

New scholarship offers keep showing up for Diboll, Texas athlete Gilbert Moye, but considering he had to sit out his entire junior season after transferring from Jasper, he's just focused on winning.

Moye was forced to remain sidelined from varsity after a ruling came down from the UIL that he must sit out the varsity season at his new school in Diboll. He was forced to move after Hurricane Rita took out his home.

Now, he's got scholarship offers from top schools such as LSU, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Nebraska, and others but says that LSU remains in the lead.

Oklahoma and Missouri look likely as visit stops before he decides, but it will be tough to catch the Tigers in this race.

"They have a good program and I talk to my recruiting coach (Bradley Dale Peveto) every other day. He is always checking in me with text messages and I call him quite a bit."

Etc.

With the rankings continuing to be updated, several two-star prospects could see their stock rise to three-stars. … Those include Mickey Okafor of Houston Westbury, Houston Langham Creek rising offensive tackle Kelechi Osemele, speedy D.J. Harper from Cypress Creek, and many others. Jacksonville, Texas running back Carmon Boyd-Anderson says that TCU, Missouri, and Iowa are his leaders.