Three-Point Stance: Texas HS playoffs, Egg Bowl recruiting, rankings risers
Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Cole Patterson takes a look at the Texas high school playoffs, recruiting inside the state of Mississippi and potential rankings risers in his Three-Point Stance.
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1. TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL PLAYOFFS BEGIN THIS WEEK
Playoff action in the Lone Star State kicks off this week, and there is no shortage of storylines or talent to pay close attention to. Duncanville will be looking to repeat as state champions in the state's largest classification. Led by talents like five-star defensive end Colin Simmons, LSU commitments Dakorien Moore and Caden Durham and more, it'll be difficult to bet against the Panthers over the next two months.
But Galena Park North Shore will have a say in that. Five-star cornerback Devin Sanchez headlines a program that is no stranger to the state title stage. Class of 2025 quarterback Kaleb Bailey is back after missing the majority of his sophomore season, and he knocked off Duncanville in the state title game as a freshman. It'll be must-watch if these two programs square off yet again inside AT&T Stadium come December.
Elsewhere, DeSoto has made a statement this fall. The Eagles won the 6A DII title a season ago and they are back for more. Led by four-star running back Deondrae Riden, quarterback D.J. Bailey and freshman sensation Ethan Feaster, DeSoto defeated Duncanville in a rivalry game a couple of weeks ago and look to be the favorites to repeat in that division.
The Texas high school playoffs are always a stage for players to become legends. Texas A&M commitment Terry Bussey has had an illustrious career at Timpson. Winning a state title as a senior would only add to the impressive resume that he has built in East Texas.
Regardless of what happens, the Texas high school playoffs always deliver in big fashion.
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2. EGG BOWL PROGRAMS GOING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS
The Egg Bowl is one of the more compelling and heated rivalries in college football as both Mississippi State and Ole Miss hate each other on the field. But what is really interesting is just how different the two programs are faring this season on the recruiting trail.
Lane Kiffin and the Rebels sit inside the top-10 in the rankings and feature a recruiting haul that is headlined by five-star defensive end Kamarion Franklin. Ole Miss has dominated in-state recruiting, especially along the defensive line, and look primed to continue adding to its class between now and signing day.
As for Mississippi State, the first season of the Zach Arnett era has not gone as planned. The offense has struggled and Arnett's side of the ball - defense - has regressed. Which has only led to disappointment on the field. And on the recruiting trail, the Bulldogs don't have too much to hang its hat on outside of four-star wide receiver JJ Harrell, who continues to reaffirm his pledge. Two different narratives and trajectories for the two SEC West programs inside the Magnolia State.
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3. THREE PROSPECTS THAT SHOULD RISE IN THE RANKINGS
Lagway is already ranked inside the top-40 in the Rivals250 so there's not much further he can go. However, the Florida commitment has put his best foot forward in potentially earning a coveted fifth-star. Lagway has posted video game numbers while leading Willis (Texas) to a historic undefeated regular season. Tangibles and intangibles, Lagway has both and is due for a ranking bump.
Echoles is one of the hottest prospects in the Mid-South thanks to a terrific senior campaign in Mississippi. Ranked as an offensive tackle, Echoles can play either side of the ball and programs are wanting him to play defensive line. Alabama recently came in with an offer and got him on campus, but Echoles insists that he's happy with his Ole Miss commitment.
Bass is another prospect that is putting up video game numbers week in and week out. The Oklahoma commit is a do-it-all threat that posts highlight-reel plays each and every week. He's a track athlete that was being recruited to play QB in the Power Five. Bass will see a versatile offensive role for the Sooners once he gets to Norman as big things happen when the ball is in his hands.