Brauny's Best: Highlighting top high school performances from Week 8
With no shortage of standouts on the high school football gridiron, Ryan Brauninger dives into some of the top showings he saw in Week 8. This week's spotlight features Texas A&M commit Terry Bussey as well as QB Cash McCollum and RB TyVone Whitehead.
Around Texas: A round-up of recruiting news in the Lone Star State
With the college football season almost here, the class of 2024 continues to gain attention. Plenty of moves are being made as things continue to heat up across Texas. It is time to take a look at the latest happenings on the recruiting front from across the Lone Star state.
Notes from the Dallas Next Level Athlete Camp
The Next Level Athlete Texas Top 100 Showcase made its way to Dallas on Sunday and here's a few notes and thoughts from the day.Texas A&M notes-Aledo 2024 LB Davhon Keys continues to impress. Sunday he showed up to work with the defensive backs and work on his one-on-one pass coverage. He did not disappoint. He was quick in his change of direction throughout the day, was comfortable deep in coverage, and made several strong plays on the ball.. I got to see Keys three times this fall and everytime i came away more impressed. He is always around the ball and in position to make a play. It's not always the flashiest, but he is a playmaker in the middle of the defense. Keys is still figuring out his Jr Day plans and he is considering a visit to Texas A&M for the Aggies Jan 28 Jr Day.-Lewisville 2025 OL Michael Fasusi is still very young in the game but it is easy to see what has college coaches hot on his trail. He had the fastest feet of any OL at the camp and at 6-5, 280, he still has plenty of room for growth on his frame. Long armed and athletic, he bends really well and you can see the power. I feel good predicting he will be one of the state's and nation's best.Fasusi's size, athleticism, and versatility quickly caught my attention at Lewisville this fall and after hearing he was a soccer player with on 3 years of football experience let's just say I had a feeling it was only a matter of time before he began to reel in the offers. He projects at OT and I think that's where he sticks. He came in as the heavy TE and played plenty of OT throughout the season.Texas A&M offered this week and Fasusi is intrigued. He'll visit A&M for the Jan 28th Jr Day.-Red Oak 2025 DE Kamauryn Morgan took home the overall camp MVP honors. He is a long, lean 6-4, 225, and a fluid athlete with quick twitch off the ball. His weight is deceptive, he hides his 225 well, and he has plenty of room for growth.I didn't get to see Morgan in person this fall, so i was pretty excited to see him yesterday. He did not disappoint.Texas A&M offered this week and he will visit this coming weekend (Jan 21) for Jr Day. -Mansfield Legacy 2024 S Landyn Cleveland did not work out because he was resting an injur he suffered in track practice but he was out and hanging around. He passes the eyeball test at a solid 6-foot, 185, and he is on Texas A&M's radar. The Aggies have yet to offer and have some ground to make up. He announced a top 10 of Texas Tech, Texas, Baylor, Arizona St, TCU, Auburn, Colorado, Arkansas, Washington, and SMU, but the Aggies have been in communication and yesterday he said he plans to attend A&M's Jan 28th Jr Day.Some guys who caught my attention-Lancaster 2024 OL Tobias Steppe generated some big time buzz and is a guy I expect to be on many college radars over thr next few months. He was out with injury this fall and does not have any tape, but he is a long, lean 6-6, 256 and he moved really well on the day. Without game tape the offers may not come quickly but I could see it being a busy spring and summer as college coaches see him in person.-Midlothian Heritage LB Temerrick Johnson is listed as an edge on his hudl but he worked with the LBs on Sunday. He not only showed the quickness that makes him a threat off the edge but he showed some really nice COD and range to his game. He also checked in at 6-3.5, 205 and his efforts earned him LB MVP honors. Houston, Rice, and UTSA have already offered but I have a feeling his offer list is about to grow considerably. This guy is a P5 prospect.-I never went to cover a Lewisville game looking for 2024 CB Tony-Louis Nkuba, but everytime he made an impression. At yesterday's camp he did it again and took home DB MVP honors. A solid 6-foot, 170, he was a wet blanket in 1-on-1s and made some great plays on the ball throughout the camp. Arizona St, Texas Tech, ans Austin Peay have already offered but he'll continue to see that list grow.-Plano East DE Chima Chineke's length is going to draw a lot of attention at over 6-foot-4, 220. I don't have the measurements but I feel confident saying his hands, feet, and arms measurements are going to be well above average.-Chapel Hill WR Cameron Kelley quickly drew attention when he checked in at over 6-4, and right at 185. -Keep an eye on Tyler Legacy DE Travis Jackson. He quietly put together a very strong season opposite of Alabama signee Jordan Renaud and he has legit size and length at 6-3.5, 220 pounds. He already holds offers from Texas Tech. Another edge defender to keep an eye on is Armstrong Nnodim. He checked in right at 6-2 so he's on the short side but he has been a terror off the edge at camps and had a very strong showing this fall. He just started wrestling and is currently undefeated and toying with people. He's one explosive dude off the edge and in the right scheme he could be a heck of a playmaker.-North McKinney 2024 TE Nate Markiewicz is a big target and a true in-line option at 6-5, 250, and he took home TE MVP honors for showing some reliable hands on the day. I was also impressed with Richardson Pearce 2024 TE Jewlyen Roberts . He's over 6-3, and a solid 235, moved well in and out of his cuts, and is also a standout on the baseball field.-Frisco Emerson 2024 QB Michael Hawkins took home QB MVP honors for the second year in a row. DeSoto's DJ Bailey was again right on his heels. Argyle Liberty Christian's Cole Welliver spun the ball well as did China Springs Cash McCollum and Frisco Wakeland's Brennan Myer.-Denton Guyer's Willie Goodacre took home OL MVP honors. He worked at OT but I see him being a better fit at OG on the college level. Flower Mound Marcus 2024 Jack Tanner turned heads with his performance throughout at 6-6, 275. Melissa 2025 OL Owen Hollenbeck also had another strong performance.-Guyer 2024 WR Josiah Martin was the top performer at WR on Sunday. He is a route technician with exceptional quickness, and body control.-China Spring' 2024 DE Greydon Grimes worked out at both DE and TE on the day. He is the son of Baylor OC Jeff Grimes and checked in at 6-6, 235 on the day. Former Southlake Carroll 2024 TE Harrison Moore is making the move to OL, he's a light 240 pounds but he has some quick feet, has plenty of room on his 6-5 frame, and has been a strong blocker for the Dragons at TE.-It was good to see a couple of 2026 RBs making waves. Carthage's KJ Edwards who turned plenty of heads this fall for the Bulldogs and Frisco Lone Star's Davian Groce who already holds offers from Arizona St and Texas Tech.NLA MVPsOL - Willie Goodacre, Denton GuyerDL - Xavier Ukponu, Denton Guyer (2025)LB - Temerrick Johnson, Midlothian HeritageRB - Deonte Dean, Dallas Lake HighlandsOverall - Kamauryn Morgan, Red Oak (2025)WR - Josiah Martin, Denton GuyerTE - Nate Markiewicz, McKinney NorthQB - Mike Hawkins, Frisco EmersonDB - Tony-Louis Nkuba, Lewisville
A few notes from ESPN's Underclass Camp - Houston
On Sunday, I drove down to Planet Ford Stadium in Spring to check out ESPN's Elite Underclass Camp. The majority of kids in attendance were 2024's or 2025's, but there were more than a few seniors-to-be in attendance looking to get invites to the Under Armour All American game in Orlando at the end of the year. Here are a few standouts that I saw in each class with maybe a note or two here and there...2023Smithson Valley OL Colton Thomasson - The A&M commit brought home offensive line MVP honors as he continues to just keep getting better. He's my Hunter Erb in this class. By the time signing day rolls around, I think we will be looking at a totally different kid than the one we saw when he first popped up on our radars. His feet have gotten so much better that I think he can stick as a right tackle. Picayne (MS) RB Dante Dowdell - Very physical kid who already holds a host of P5 offers. Built like a linebacker. Mansfield DL Kaleb James - I thought the Arkansas commit made a good account of himself. Showed plus power and get off in one-on-onesKaty Paetow LB Alex Kilgore - A kid who I think should have more offers. Passes the eye ball test rather easily and makes plays on Friday nights. 2024***Willis QB Derek Lagway - Huge tools as a quarterback prospect. Elite arm strengthStephenville OL Creece Brister - Body still needs time to mature, but he was the requisite size/feet combo to see his recruiting start taking off this summer. Lewisville OL Devin Love - A relatively new name to most of the analyst out there, Love repeatedly flashed plus athleticism and punch power in both drill work and against pass rushers.Spring Westfield OL RayQuan Bell - Likely an interior prospect, he worked out at tackle. Already holds P5 offers and will add more as he hits the camp circuit this summer. Pearland Dawson DE Edward Smith - Still skinny, but very twitchy and explosive. A&M has been sniffing around there, and he's been to campus a few times. I'll be interested to see him at camp this summer. Houston Heights OL Frank Moss - Center or guard at the next level, but you can't deny his power. Kid was an anchor against pass rushers all day. Also, his Twitter handle is Mr_IHOP. Love thatBaton Rouge (LA) OL Jude Foster - Great frame. Moves well. Still very under the radar, but he impressed all the analyst in attendance with his potential. The Woodlands OL Koltin Sieracki - I really like him as a center prospect. He'll increase his value there. Ft Bend Hightower RB Jeremy Payne - Might have been the best back there. Incredibly quick and sudden. Loved that A&M offered already. Manvel LB Kaleb Blanton - Long frame with room to fill out. Runs well in the open field. Summer Creek RB Lloyd Avant - Good blend of quicks and power. Great sophomore tape. Lumberton ATH Brock Jackson - I don't know what he plays in college yet, but there's no denying the frame and athleticism. Right at 6-4, 240 pounds and can really run. A&M is very intrigued based on what we've heard. CyFair QB Trey Owens - Long limbed QB who showed good arm strength and a repeatable delivery. High upside kid who will camp in College Station this summer. Katy Seven Lakes LB Dakyus Brinkley - Son of Jasper Brinkley. Passes the eye ball test with flying colors. He could blow up soon. Very impressive from a physicality standpoint. Wimberley QB Cash McCollum - Another really good player in the 2024 QB class. He's had a strong camp circuit so far this year. ***Silsbee ATH Drelon Miller - Won WR MVP, but he could play either side of the ball at a high level in college. Potential top 5 player in the state. Aggies in a good spot, but it's very early. CE King DB Lavonte Johnson - A great framed safety prospect that is starting to pop up in the recruiting rooms of the power programs in the region. He'll add to his offer list soon. Ft Bend Ridge Point ATH Mason Dossett - 3 sport athlete who has legit track times this spring. Plays RB and WR in high school. Explosive runnerNew Braunfels Canyon QB Deuce Adams - Smooth operator. Really clean delivery with plus athleticism. Ft Bend Hightower WR Zion Kearney - Much faster than most anticipate given he's already got a sturdy, built frame. Battling a wrist injury, but he stood out with his movement skills. Katy Taylor TE Ian Flynt - Rapidly improving prospect with P5 schools starting to take notice. Gets better every time I see him. He could have a big summer in terms of offers. ***Lake Belton WR Micah Hudson - Freaky athlete. Potential to be a top 5 player in the state in his class. He'll be a high profile, nationally recruited kid. Aggies in the mix early. 2025***Beaumont Kelly QB Roy Thomas Jenkins - Still thin, but growing in strength and athleticism quickly. Ran sub 4.8 in the 40. Spins the ball well. Katy Jordan WR Andrew Marsh - Shows elite playmaking ability every time I see him. Has a chance to be one of the top wideouts in the state in his class. Has family ties to A&MAldine Eisenhower ATH Deion DeBlanc - Electricity. Kid can flat out go. He'll be a highly offered prospect in short order. Tyler Chapel Hill QB/ATH Demetrius Brisbon - Great athlete playing QB. Impressive tape from last fall and has improved greatly as a passer this offseason. Atascocita RB Tory Blaylock - Extremely advanced physical gifts for a freshman back. Good top end speed. Offered by Oregon right after the camp ended. Dickinson OL Tyler Thomas - Massive frame that bends well. Needs more strenght, but that's coming. Jackson (MS) OL Reginald Vaughn - Promising frame and movement patterns show great potential. Massive hands that provide powerful punch. *** - Denotes A&M offer
