re: Official 2018 Recruiting Thread

quote:

---

Brian Perroni VIP

-The biggest story of the day is obviously Leon O’Neal Jr.. For those of you that followed along in real time on Monday, I know that was a bit exhausting. But here’s a quick wrap-up. O’Neal was planning to release a commitment video on Monday evening. There were both A&M and Clemson endings filmed but it was likely to be A&M. A visit from Dabo Swinney changed things up a bit but the biggest development was the newfound interest from Alabama. The Tide want him in for an official this coming weekend and Nick Saban has a visit planned for Tuesday. Saban has already used his visits with the other 2018 targets in Texas so he and Jeff Banks are coming specifically for O’Neal. The visit today will be the key. Saban has reportedly already been by the school and could still do an in-home. That would obviously change the timeframe if he chooses the make the trip this coming weekend. Banks was O’Neal’s lead recruiter for A&M so there is definitely some history there. I don’t think Alabama is a huge threat, though the prospect of possibly playing with Isaac Taylor-Stuart there could be intriguing to him. But, you can bet that A&M would rather have his decision made sooner rather than later. Mike Elko visited O’Neal twice yesterday and the word is that they went very well.

-This coming weekend will be big in terms of the 2019 class and Super Bowl Sunday but the 2018 unofficial visitor list has some big names as well. The one of greatest importance is Arlington Lamar DL Bobby Brown. A former A&M commit, Brown switched to Alabama last month. Despite unofficially visiting Tuscaloosa two weeks ago, he still plans to come down to Aggieland on his own dime this weekend, just before the dead period. Brown is liable to do anything on Signing Day but this definitely bodes well for the Aggies. A&M will have several commits/signees in town as well. Once again, Mac Wright and Jordan Moore will be there and will be joined by Caleb Chapman. Top 100 WR Jalen Preston[ canceled his Texas official visit for this coming weekend and could be there as well.

-This coming weekend was always the one that Spring Westfield four-star DT Keondre Coburn had penciled in for his A&M visit. Whether he actually takes it still remains to be seen. Either way, it is an uphill battle for the Aggies but, if they want to get him to switch from Texas, they need to get him on campus this weekend.

-There is not a ton of news regarding Jaylen Waddle. It is still an A&M/Alabama battle and it will still go down to Signing Day. Alabama has momentum but those around him say he is legitimately torn between the two programs. Dameyune Craig and Tim Brewster have been working this one very hard.

-The word out of New Jersey is that TE Matt Alaimo is still a big UCLA lean and a commitment could come as early as today. Jimbo Fisher will be in New Jersey on Wednesday and will likely still visit, though, even if a commitment comes today. Other SEC schools are still making a run at TE target Glenn Beal and, as of now, he’s set to visit Florida this coming weekend. Alabama made a big impression this past weekend but it’s still unclear if there’s room. Leonard Taylor out of Ohio is someone A&M felt they did a very good job with this past weekend. The Aggies think they are in good shape with the big TE.

-There is some word around the Northeast that New Jersey LB Javontae Jean-Baptiste could officially visit A&M this coming weekend. It would be huge to get four-star on campus but the Aggies are still way behind the eight-ball here. Most have assumed it is Nebraska for him but there is now some buzz that it could be Virginia Tech. As of now, Ohio State does not have room. Jimbo Fisher is set to visit him on Wednesday, though.

-Look for Tyree Wilson to receive his final visit from A&M tonight before the dead period. Just like before, we are hearing that he is very likely to stick with his A&M pledge and sign with the Aggies over Arkansas next week.

-The A&M coaches will be on the road checking out underclassmen today as well. Lufkin will be a stop with 2019 DT Carl Williams, 2019 DE Javasia Brunson. 2020 WR Ja’Lynn Polk and 2020 S Jerrin Thompson, who picked up his first offer yesterday from Arkansas.

-The Aggies offered 2019 A&M Consolidated four-star DT Josh Ellison on Monday. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound junior’s offer list isn’t what you would expect it to be but it is because he is working to get his academics in order. Tennessee also offered on Monday. I put in a Crystal Ball for A&M but TCU is another school he is very high on, though the Frogs have yet to offer.

-Speaking of the 2019 class, we will have more a little later this week with the Super Bowl Sunday deal, but it will be a loaded group. The one thing people are a bit confused on is Johnny Manziel. He is set to be in town the week after, not this coming weekend.

Here are the visitors we have confirmed so far:

-Lake Travis WR Garrett Wilson
-Houston Madison CB Bobby Wolfe
-Fort Bend Bush CB Erick Young
-Colleyville Heritage WR Kam Brown
-Converse Judson DT DeMarvin Leal
-Austin Bowie WR/TE Elijah Higgins
-St Pius QB Grant Gunnell
-St Pius WR Chase Lane
-St Pius WR Jalen Curry
-Bishop Dunne S Brian Williams (likely)
-Bishop Dunne ATH Marquez Beason (likely)
-Mayde Creek DE Marcus Stripling (maybe)
-Katy Taylor DE Braedon Mowry
-Fort Worth Nolan DE/LB NaNa Osafo-Mensah -Atascocita OT Kenyon Green
-Houston North Forest OT Javonne Shepherd (Saturday but he might have his days confused)

-If you want my predictions for who fills out the A&M class, right now it would be RB Jashaun Corbin, TE Leonard Taylor, DE Jeremiah Martin, LB Umstead Sanders, LB Tyrus Wheat, S Leon O’Neal and ATH Vernon Jackson. I came close to adding WR Jaylen Waddle, DL Bobby Brown and DE Dorian Gerald as well. At linebacker, things could change depending on the order the Aggies end up with them as priorities

---