With the 2017-18 school year approaching, Prep2Prep takes a look at some of the top football recruits in the Class of 2018 for each coverage area. This feature focuses on the top recruits within the state of Texas.
B.J. Foster, Angleton
Angleton’s B.J. Foster is the nation’s top safety and Texas’ number one player in the ESPN 300. The versatile safety holds 20+ offers, but committed to play for Tom Herman and his staff next year at the University of Texas. Foster, despite being 6-foot-1 doesn’t rely on his size, but rather his speed. He set the record among safeties for the 40-yard dash at 4.52 seconds.
Josh Moore, Yoakum
Yoakum’s Josh Moore is the nation’s number four athlete and Texas’ number two recruit. The explosive athlete posted one-one hundredth of a second off the record amongst athletes for the 20-yard shuttle (3.96). Moore is a Nebraska commit, but holds dozens of other offers from schools such as Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Michigan and Ohio State.
Anthony Cook, Lamar
Anthony Cook is just the first of three recruits from Lamar to be ranked inside the top 100 of ESPN’s 300. Cook, a CB, is rated fifth at his position in the nation. One of the many defensive back recruits Texas has to offer in 2018, Cook’s strongest tests were the vertical (36.7 in.) and the 20-yard shuttle (4.12 sec). Cook is currently undeclared, but holds over 25 offers from some of the biggest D1 schools around the US.
Mustapha Muhammad, Ridge Point
Texas’ first purely offensive recruit comes in Mustapha Muhammad, number 46 in ESPN’s Top 300. Muhammad is the second best tight end in the class of 2018 and a top five recruit out of the lone star state. His 6-foot-4, 235-pound frame mixed with his 4.8 speed allows him to break away from defenders using both power and quickness. Muhammad has not committed to a school for the fall of 2018, but holds 30+ division I offers.
Keondre Coburn, Westfield
Another year, another incredible Westfield defensive line recruit. After Ed Oliver set the standard for Westfield recruits, Coburn is living up to expectations. Sitting at a massive 6-foot-3, 334-pounds, the defensive tackle is one of the nation’s top two d-line recruits. His testing results are middle of the pack, except one category stands out. His 20-yard shuttle. Despite being an incredible 334-lbs., he runs a 4.80 shuttle. His explosiveness and size have led to 20+ scholarship offers, he is still undecided.
Jalen Preston, Manvel
Manvel’s Jalen Preston is Texas’ top wide out and quite possibly the most intriguing recruit in the state. Preston participated in The Opening and the UA All-American Game, along with one of Texas’ top 5A teams. His testing results are nothing eye opening, but it’s rather his body structure that turns heads. At 6-foot-2, 208-pounds, Preston has scouts drooling over his potential. He, like most of those before him, has a long list of schools waiting to grab his signature, but has yet to commit.
Tommy Bush, Clemens
If you’ve never heard of Tommy Bush, get familiar with the name. Bush is Texas’ number two rated wide receiver with a different style than Jalen Preston. Bush is not only bigger, he is quicker. Standing at an incredible 6-foot-4, Bush runs a sub-4.5 40 as well. Bush will definitely need to bulk up from his 189 pounds, but if you mix that height with that speed, you have a freak athlete. A freak athlete with 25+ offers. Bush is undeclared, but holds offers from Alabama, LSU, The U, Notre Dame and others.
Caden Sterns, Steele
Steele’s Caden Sterns, another brilliant defensive back, will join top rated S B.J. Foster in the secondary at The University of Texas. Tom Herman’s arrival has revamped the Longhorn pride throughout the state and Sterns is bleeding orange after de-committing from LSU and verbally committing to Texas. Sterns is the typical freak athlete from Texas. His mixture of size and speed earned him four stars and a spot in ESPN’s Top 300 list (67). Additionally, if scouts didn’t have enough reason to offer Sterns, he posted a SPARQ rating of 113.2.
Jaylen Waddle, Episcopal (Bellaire)
5-foot-10, 169 pounds. Although those numbers don’t exactly jump off the page at you, don’t let his size fool you, Jaylen Waddle is legit. It’s not every day Nick Saban and his staff offer a player Waddle’s size, that alone should speak volumes as to the type of player Waddle is. He’s a versatile player and natural born athlete with a tremendous work ethic. Waddle holds offers from over a dozen schools, but has yet to make his choice.
DeMarvion Overshown, Arp
Another star player, another safety recruit for Tom Herman and his crew. However, Arp’s DeMarvion Overshown is the biggest of the Longhorn DB commits thus far. Overshown’s a massive 6-foot-3, leading to his four-star rating. He is a complete package at the safety position, one would have to imagine Overshown will be in the mix for a starting spot from the minute he steps foot on campus in Austin.
Al’vonte Woodard, Lamar
L-block’s second rated recruit, Al’vonte Woodard, is the Texans’ number one offensive playmaker. That’s definitely saying something considering “Lamar U” has multiple D1 commits on the offensive side of the ball. Woodard, a 6-foot-1 wide out, is rated 13 at his position nationally. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds and ranks in the top half of all other testing categories. Woodard has yet to choose from his 30+ scholarship offers, but gives a hint as he is seen wearing a Texas (who has offered) lanyard in his ESPN picture.
Brennan Eagles, Alief Taylor
Look up the definition of underrated in the dictionary. Under the definition, Alief Taylor’s Brennan Eagles’ name will likely be mentioned as an example. Despite being ranked 91 in the ESPN Top 300, Eagles is a top 20 talent. Speed, size and power, Eagles is the model athlete. 6-foot-4, 214 pounds, 4.51 40 time, 3.99 second shuttle, 37-inch vertical and 4 points off the highest scoring receiver in the power throw. Oh yeah, and Eagles received a 132.24 SPARQ rating. Over half of the SEC has offered Eagles and offers are still pouring in as he has yet to commit to a college.
D’Shawn Jamison, Lamar
Lamar’s third and final recruit in the top 100 of ESPN’s Top 300 for the class of 2018. There is simply no other way to put it, Jamison is an animal. His athleticism is not human-like, certainly no one is questioning Jamison’s 116.07 SPARQ rating. He’s just 5-foot-10, but he runs his 40 in 4.48 seconds and runs a sub-four second shuttle. Factor in a 38-inch vertical, Jamison can cover just about anyone. The four-star corner has not made up his mind on a school, but has over 20 options to choose from.
Byron Hanspard, DeSoto
Byron Hanspard will be a key player next season for DeSoto if the Eagles want to have any chance of repeating. Hanspard played a major role in DeSoto’s state championship winning secondary in 2016. The four-star, 6-foot corner comes in at number 97 on ESPN’s Top 300 list, rounding out a top 100 stacked with Texas DB’s. Hanspard committed to Arkansas in early 2017, despite more than 15 other offers. The secondary star from the DFW area will certainly be a big piece of the plans in Fayetteville after his senior year at DeSoto.
Keaontay Ingram, Carthage
Ingram not only concludes the 15 Texas players in the top 100, he is the University of Texas’ fifth commit in that span as well. Ingram, a talented three-down back for Carthage, could see playing time upon his arrival due to his special skillset as a running back. He carried Carthage’s offense to the school’s fifth state championship in 2016. Ingram’s return is the reason Carthage is a heavy favorite to return to Dallas for a title next season.
Spencer Sanders, Denton Ryan
Coming in at 110 in the ESPN Top 300 is Texas’ first c/o 2018 quarterback. Denton Ryan’s Spencer Sanders is ranked sixth among dual-threat quarterbacks. Despite ranking among the worst QB-DT’s in the vertical, Sanders relies on his scrambling ability and quick arm to make plays. He committed to Oklahoma State in 2016 and has over 15 D1 offers to his name.
Leon O’Neal Jr., Cypress Springs
Cypress Springs has had a miserable past in terms of the success of the football program. However, the culture at Springs is quickly changing, thanks in part to Leon O’Neal Jr. O’Neal and a few of his teammates have raised the bar and standards for future athletes at Springs. O’Neal, a four-star safety, has received offers from some of the nation’s biggest schools. Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma and USC, to name a few. However, O’Neal verbally committed to Texas A&M and decided to stay in state for college.
Jordan Moore, Yoakum
Yoakum’s second player on the list, Jordan Moore chose Texas A&M, where he will join Leon O’Neal Jr. and other talented recruits. Despite being middle of the pack in areas of testing, a 6-foot athlete tends to get the attention of college scouts. More than 25 of them to be exact. The Moore’s are both athletes and Yoakum’s finest, although Jordan is not as highly recruited, he’ll be a great addition in Aggieland.
Jaquayln Crawford, Rockdale
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: a four-star athlete with insane speed and athleticism… it seems redundant, but don’t let that distract you. Although this phrase has become a norm to Texas’ top athletes, each is unique in their own style, including Jaquayln Crawford. And let’s not forget how freakishly athletic each and every recruit is. Crawford’s speed and versatility makes him one of Texas’ most desirable athletes. He has yet to make a decision on his future at the next level. However, he will decide between Texas, TCU, Oklahoma and Texas A&M on July 17.
Joseph Ossai, Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge’s monster DE, Joseph Ossai is gaining national attention for his particular set of skills. He’s 6-foot-4, 217 pounds and incredibly versatile and explosive off the snap. His 32-inch vertical makes him a menace on the edge defending passes and his 4.53 shuttle time displays the quickness of his feet. Ossai has been offered scholarships by many schools, including Alabama, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Texas, but has yet to make a decision.
One more notable recruit…
Christian Morgan, Porter
Despite being left out of ESPN’s Top 300, Porter’s Christian Morgan is one of Texas’ most sought-after recruits. Morgan, a six-foot safety, is rated three stars, but has the nation’s highest SPARQ rating with a 144.0. He holds the record for highest SPARQ rating and best power throw among safeties. The Baylor commit also ranks among the top in the 40-yard dash and 20-yard shuttle.
