Three-Point Stance: OL in Texas, RBs in Louisiana, DBs in Central Texas

Rivals national recruiting analyst Nick Harris takes a look at the offensive line talent in the state of Texas in the 2024 class, the running back talent in the state of Louisiana in 2025 and the emergence of secondary talent in the Central Texas region in 2024 in this edition of Three-Point Stance.

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MORE: Four-star OG Casey Poe discusses spring plans, major contenders

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CLASS OF 2023 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State

CLASS OF 2024 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State

CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals100

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The 2023 class did not feature a ton of bruisers up front offensively in the state of Texas, but the upcoming cycle appears to be making up for it and then some.

We can start with the big bodies, and there's a lot of them. However, none tower quite like San Marcos (Texas) three-star Ory Williams at 6-foot-8, 310 pounds and Fort Bend (Texas) Christian three-star Bennett Warren at 6-foot-8, 318 pounds. Copperas Cove (Texas) four-star Michael Uini also holds a massively tall frame at 6-foot-8, 273 pounds. All three have provided big frames up front that overwhelm edge rushers, and once pristine technique is applied, the sky is the limit for each. Speaking of, Austin (Texas) Vandegrift four-star Blake Frazier is ranked as the top offensive lineman in the state, and it's for good reason considering his massive 6-foot-6 frame and his ability that's been applied in both in run and pass sets. Frisco (Texas) Reedy four-star offensive tackle Max Anderson is someone that is probably way better than his ranking as he does everything that's asked of him at a high level with not a lot of flare, just business.

On the interior, prospects such as Katy (Texas) Tompkins four-star Ashton Funk, Lindale (Texas) four-star Casey Poe, North Richland Hills (Texas) three-star Daniel Cruz and Clear Springs (Texas) four-star Blake Ivy are all prospects that have the required frame and the "fight in a phone booth" type aggression that makes them each a valued prospect as a guard. Beaumont (Texas) United four-star Weston Davis is technically classified as a tackle because of his mobility, but his ability to move inside definitely exists.

With the talent up front continuing to roll in in bunches, the state has a claim for the strongest in the country with offensive line talent in 2024.

The state of Louisiana is no stranger to skill talent as running backs and wide receivers specifically have been churned out of The Boot on a consistent basis for the better part of the last two decades, but the 2025 class has something even more special going on at the running back position.

It starts up top with Metairie (La.) St. Martin's Episcopal four-star Harlem Berry, who is both one of the fastest running backs in the country and one of the most productive after putting up over 2,200 yards and 37 touchdowns as a sophomore, and it has his offer sheet continuing to skyrocket. Next up is Houma (La.) Vandebilt Catholic four-star Jaylon Coleman who ran a blazing 10.40 100-meter dash as a freshman last season, and his production as a sophomore stacked up well with some of the other top backs in his class. Perhaps the most interesting runner in the group is Opelousas (La.) running back D'Shaun Ford who has accumulated offers from LSU, Florida State and Penn State after a breakout sophomore campaign. Ford intrigues based on his physical profile and his ability to play as a three-down type of back, whereas the other two may see more success at the next level out of the backfield in the receiving game or running outside the tackles.

All three have impressed and excelled in different areas halfway through their high school careers, and each not only have a stake to be in the Rivals250, but a stake to be among some of the nation's best at the position.

In the 2023 class, the Central Texas area was put on the map nationally with it's talent at the wide receiver position with high-level talents such as Braylon James and Jaden Greathouse, who both ended up at Notre Dame, along with fellow four-stars Anthony Evans (Georgia) and Mikal Harrison-Pilot (Houston). While the 2024 class doesn't quite stack up to the historic class at the position one cycle ago, the secondary class for the upcoming seniors is in a solid position to challenge.

The conversation begins and ends with Waco (Texas) Connally four-star cornerback Kobe Black, who has real potential to push into five-star status by the end of the cycle with his length, quick feet and range in the secondary. Just about an hour south, Lake Belton (Texas) four-star cornerback Selman Bridges provides a physical profile that is one of the lengthiest in the entire country for this position group at 6-foot-4, 170 pounds. And to further the above notes on Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish are right back in the region already with a commitment from Round Rock (Texas) four-star cornerback Leonard Moore, who quickly became one of the firmer lockdown defenders in the state this past season. Even further down in the state ranks, you'll find a prospect like San Antonio (Texas) Reagan three-star Bailey Fletcher, who is a player that I could see having a big rise this offseason.

The comparison of talent at the two position groups over the last two cycles in Central Texas have had me thinking about a potential one-on-one session between the groups, but to even have the 2024 defensive backs in that conversation at this point only speaks to the training in the area and the talent that has been developed early on.