Around Texas: A round-up of recruiting news in the Lone Star State
June is here, and the recruiting trails are as hot as the West Texas sun. Top prospects are taking visits and making decisions across the state of Texas, and now it is time to dive into the latest news, notes and headlines.
Big Gets
LB Brandon Booker flips from Baylor to Stanford
RB Kedren Young picks Notre Dame
CB Mario Buford commits to Nebraska
WR Bryant Wesco to Clemson
OL Ellis Davis is a Red Raider
Boston College doubles up in Denton County
WR Josiah Martin, Denton Guyer
WR Keonde Henry, Corinth Lake Dallas
S Paul Mencke Jr pledges to Duke
2025 QB KJ Lacey chooses Texas
RB Harry Stewart is a Jayhawk
S David Kabongo picks the Pokes
QB Miles O'Neill commits to Texas A&M
Headlines
Chapel Hill duo commits to SMU - Those SMU Mustangs dug deep into East Texas when they double-dipped for a couple of longtime Chapel Hill standouts. ATH Demetrius Brisbon and RB Rickey Stewart, both in the 2025 class, have been making plays at Chapel Hill since their freshmen year, and now, they are both headed to the Hilltop. Brisbon has been a standout at QB, DB and WR, while Stewart has been a game-breaker at running back.
Baylor goes on a roll – Yes, the Bears lost linebacker Brandon Booker to Stanford, but they have also tapped into a couple of talents with strong bloodlines. In the 2024 class, Baylor flipped Ridge Point ATH Mason Dossett from Purdue. His father, Martin Dossett, played receiver at Baylor, but Mason is expected to make his impact at safety. Then in the 2025 class, the Bears went to Columbus for QB Adam Schobel, whose father, Matt, was a standout TE at TCU, and his uncle was a DE for the Horned Frogs. Baylor also hit big at Arlington Bowie as 2024 S Kris Wokomah made his pledge.
Heading West – DeSoto LB Brandon Booker was mentioned above, but he was not the only Texan to pick the Cardinal. Stanford was able to secure the talents of OL Hayden Gunter out of Denton, and then they added another LB in Sam Mattingly out of Magnolia West. Trophy Club Byron Nelson LB Eze Osondu is also headed to the Pac-12 as he made Cal his selection, and Lewisville OL Devin Love made his pledge to San Diego State.
Big decisions for ATHs – A couple of ATHs announced their college intentions. North Crowley ATH Julian Knox received his TCU offer on June 5, and he wasted no time making his pledge on June 13 over UNT, Texas State and UTSA. Texarkana Pleasant Grove ATH Ahkhari Johnson gave his pledge to Arkansas shortly following an official visit to Fayetteville.
Narrowing the focus – A couple of Texans named top fours, and both were in the trenches. Before his Texas A&M official visit, Richland OL Daniel Cruz released a top four of Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M. Down in the Houston area, Fort Bend Christian OL Bennett Warren named a top four of Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas A&M following his visit to College Station. In Lewisville, running back Viron Ellison narrowed his search to a top five of Arkansas State, BYU, Cal, Missouri and Tulsa.
New Names to Know
OL Desean Bryant, Duncanville – 2025
Checking in at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, Bryant’s athleticism is quick to leap off the tape. He served as a backup to TCU-signed Benjamin Whitfield last fall, but Bryant made his presence felt whenever he got a chance. His quick feet, powerful punch and nasty edge are evident, and he routinely picks up blocks downfield and blocks in space. He prides himself on his speed and getting on top of defenders quickly.
Bryant has been getting busy in the weight room with a 275-pound bench max and a 415-pound squat, and he also attacks the film room with a number of football role models, including former Duncanville standouts Cameron Williams and Jaylen Early and future Hall of Famer Trent Williams.
The camp season has been big for Bryant. In the last week, he has received scholarship offers from Baylor and TCU, and interest has arrived from North Texas and Nebraska. Next up on his schedule are camps at LSU and Grambling.
What’s up with the top
Top Uncommitted Prospects in Texas
1. WR Micah Hudson, Temple Lake Belton
2. DE Colin Simmons, Duncanville
3. ATH Drelon Miller, Silsbee
4. CB Kobe Black, Waco Connally
5. RB Taylor Tatum, Longview
6. ATH Terry Bussey, Timpson
7. DE Zina Umeozulu, Allen
8. DE Nigel Smith II, Melissa
9. OL Max Anderson, Frisco Reedy
10. LB Justin Williams, Conroe Oak Ridge