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Three-Point Stance: Thoughts on the Under Armour Future 50

Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell’s thought-provoking Three-Point Stance is here with some recruiting tidbits from the Future 50, five players who passed the eyeball test at the event and some Big 12 Early Signing Period Awards.

MORE FROM THE UA ALL-AMERICA GAME: Whose stocks are rising and falling?

FUTURE 50 IMPRESSIONS

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Owen Pappoe
Owen Pappoe (Chad Simmons)

The Under Armour Future50, a gathering of some of the best underclass prospects in the nation, always brings some interesting recruiting news. Here are some thoughts…

Star linebacker Owen Pappoe showed up wearing a Nebraska hat and an Ohio State sweatshirt, but neither team is in the mix. He was set to make his announcement at the Under Armour Game on Thursday, but decided to slow things down. Who would have been the choice? My best guess is it would have been Georgia in a tight battle with Clemson, but now Alabama and others are pushing into the mix. Tennessee is a team to watch as well, with his relationship with incoming head coach Jeremy Pruitt.

Former Oklahoma commitment Theo Wease, one of the best looking wide receivers you’ll see, has Ohio State and USC as his top two, with Oklahoma No. 3.

Former LSU commitment Kenyon Green still says the Tigers are his dream school, but watch out for Texas A&M, Texas and Oklahoma here. Alabama and others are in there, too, but he told me the Aggies, Longhorns and Sooners were the biggest threat.

Offensive lineman Dontae Lucas told me Miami, Alabama and Florida State would be in his top five - if he had one.

Many feel it could end up being a FSU vs. Texas A&M battle for ex-Noles commitment Jalen Curry, but watch out for LSU for the talented wide receiver, as well.

Massive OL Evan Neal appears to be a strong Miami lean, to me.

OL Deyavie Hammond is decommitting from Alabama soon, and I think the reason is his interest in Georgia and what he hears about Bulldogs OL coach Sam Pittman.

LB Nakobe Dean is all over the map when it comes to favorites, and appears wide open, but if he stays home it will be Ole Miss.

LB Shane Lee has been to Penn State the most, but watch out for Ohio State and Michigan here, as he mentioned those two schools often to everyone at registration.

FSU fans hoping they can get in on former Oregon commitment Arjei Henderson because of the Willie Taggart connection might be disappointed. Texas and Oklahoma are his top two, he told me, and the ‘Noles aren’t that high. I think the Sooners lead.

FIVE PHYSICAL SPECIMENS 

Evan Neal
Evan Neal (Brandon Brown)

The registration for the Future50 also brought some physical specimens through the lobby of the hotel, led by these guys …

Evan Neal – Neal is an absolute mountain of a prospect at around 6-foot-7 and 360 pounds with very little bad weight. He’s going to be a monster in college.

Shane Lee – Lee has a future as a bodybuilder if football doesn’t work out, as the linebacker has bowling ball arms and is built like a brick.

Theo Wease – Wease gets bigger each time I see him and has tight end size with wide receiver skill. He’s going to be tough for any cornerback to handle in college.

Clay Webb – I put Webb on here for the weight he has lost, as he’s down 40 pounds since the summer. He has lost all his bad weight, and he didn’t have that much to start with.

Wanya Morris – Morris isn’t carved out of marble but I like his length and the amount of size he can add to his frame once he hits a college weight room.

BIG 12'S EARLY SIGNING PERIOD AWARDS

C.J. Moore
C.J. Moore (Rivals.com)

I’ve done the Big Ten, SEC and ACC so now it’s time for the Early Signing Period Awards for the Big12. Here goes …

Biggest Get: Anthony Cook, Texas – At different points the cornerback was favoring Ohio State and LSU, so this was a great recruiting job by Tom Herman and company.

Biggest Loss: Josh Proctor – The Oklahoma product surprised everyone by spurning the Sooners and heading to Ohio State.

Biggest Surprise: Corione Harris, Kansas – The Jayhawks land a Rivals100 prospect from Louisiana despite the rough season, this was the surprise heard around the nation.

Future Star: C.J. Moore, Oklahoma State – I like Moore better than many and I think he will have an amazing career as a Cowboy.

Highest Ceiling: Brey Walker, Oklahoma – We could be talking about a franchise left tackle and first-rounder if he develops.

Immediate Impact: Gabriel Douglas, Texas Tech –Douglas is a great fit for the Texas Tech offense and should put up early numbers.

Project To Watch: Darrell Simpson, Oklahoma – Simpson is a lot rawer than Walker but his ceiling could be even higher. He has a chance to be amazing.

Out-Of-State Grab: TJ Pledger, Oklahoma – From California to Florida to Oklahoma, Pledger is a great get.

In-State Must Keep: Dante Stills, West Virginia – West Virginia needed to keep Stills at home with so many connections there, and they did so.

Surprising Team: Baylor – How is Baylor ranked so high after the season they had and the scandal that still hits the news? Fran Brown is one big reason.

Must Keep: Ja’Marr ChaseTCU is thought to be in the lead here, and the Big 12 would love to add the former Gators commitment into the fold.

Do-or-Die January: Kansas State – Last in recruiting in the Big 12 with a 78-year-old coach. The negative recruiting is off the charts, so they need a strong finish.

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