Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Cole Patterson highlights three storylines in the Mid-South region, including Texas landing multiple five-stars, concerns about Texas A&M and recognizing Ole Miss defensive recruiting.
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LONGHORNS SURGING
Texas has jumped into the top 10 in the Rivals team recruiting rankings after edging out Missouri for five-star receiver Ryan Wingo.
Wingo becomes the second five-star pledge in Steve Sarkisian’s 2024 haul. Texas beat out LSU in a head-to-head battle back in August for No. 5 overall prospect Colin Simmons. Sarkisian inked three five-stars in the 2023 cycle and the Longhorns are still in the mix to add to this year with offensive line commit Brandon Baker in range and defensive back target Kobe Black also in striking distance.
The Longhorns have a win over Alabama under their belt, are ranked inside the top-10 nationally and still have a realistic route to potentially making the CFB Playoff. With Sarkisian recruiting the way that he is, Texas has a chance to continue its momentum and success over to the SEC.
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AGGIES HIT WITH DECOMMITS
Texas A&M is still struggling to find its footing in year six of the Jimbo Fisher tenure. The Aggies sit at 4-3 through seven games after a 5-7 campaign in 2022, which is only raising concerns in College Station.
Those concerns are only going to become louder if the past few weeks on the recruiting trail are any indication. Rivals100 wide receiver Dre’lon Miller decommited earlier this month, providing the first big blow to the Aggies’ haul.
But then Rivals250 offensive tackle Weston Davis joined Miller as he backed off his pledge and flipped to LSU on Thursday night. That’s two of A&M’s top commitments — both from the East Texas region — that will play elsewhere on the next level.
Therefore, it’s reasonable to expect more deflections before the end of the cycle if the on-field product doesn’t improve. Programs are still recruiting the likes of Terry Bussey, Gabriel Reliford and others.
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OLE MISS' DEFENSIVE LINE HAUL
Inside the state of Mississippi, Ole Miss is traditionally known as the offensive firepower program while Mississippi State has the track record in the trenches. But the Rebels are doing its best to flip that narrative this recruiting cycle.
Head coach Lane Kiffin, defensive coordinator Pete Golding and staff are killing it recruiting defensive line in 2023. Five-star defensive end Kamarion Franklin is the crown jewel, but it’s more than just him.
Franklin leads the way of a group that also features Rivals250 defender Kamron Beavers and four-star Jeffery Rush. Additionally, William Echoles is being recruited to play on the defensive side and just added an offer from powerhouse Alabama.
The Rebels have won recruiting battles for five-star prospects in consecutive cycles with Franklin this year and linebacker Suntarine Perkins a year ago. There’s no question that Ole Miss will have an explosive offense — especially under Kiffin. But now the defense is adding some difference-making talent, too. That’s something certainly worth highlighting.
