It has been three years since the rankings for the 2020 recruiting class were finalized and now that players from this classification are headed to the NFL, it felt like a good time to look at the good, bad and ugly from 2020.
Believe me, there's a lot of both in a class that really has a hard time producing 25-30 real quality players at this stage of things.
Biggest Busts
5. Baylor LB Josh White (CY Creek)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.26 in Texas
Rivals: Mid 4 stars and No.9 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars and No.34 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars and No.35 in Texas
Thoughts: Rivals just missed the hell out of this one, although it should be noted that he was ranked as a super blue chip player, even if ranked in the state Top 10. White spent a season at LSU before transferring to Baylor, where he has yet to make a dent as a player in two full seasons.
4. Texas A&M QB Haynes King (Longview)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.27 in Texas
Rivals: High 3 stars and No.53 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.110 nationally and No.16 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.46 overall nationally and No.7 in Texas
Thoughts: Say what you want to about Rivals, but it didn't buy the fuss over King as a recruitment. Yikes, ESPN! They ranked him significantly higher than the No.1 player on the re-rank.
3. Stanford RB E.J. Smith (Dallas Jesuit)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.36 in Texas
Rivals: Mid 4 stars and No.7 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars and No.43 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 4 stars and No.9 in Texas
Thoughts: This is pretty much a repeat of the White situation. Rivals and ESPN both had him ranked too high, but neither technically labeled him as a super blue chip prospect. Smith has had an incredibly quiet career at Stanford, having rushed for 339 yards and a single touchdown thus far in his career.
2. Texas DL Alfred Collins
LSR: Mid 4 stars and No.9 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars, No.147 nationally and No.18 in Texas
247: 5 stars, No.32 overall and No.5 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.53 overall nationally and No.10 in Texas
Thoughts: There's still time for Coilins to make this right, but he just hasn't been a producer at this point in his career, let alone a producer at the 5 star levels. All of the services have a blemish on the resume in this re-rank and this is 247's biggest.
1. Texas A&M WR Demond Demas (Tomball)
LSR: 5 stars and No.1 in Texas
Rivals: 5 stars, No.15 overall nationally and No.2 in Texas
247: 5 stars, No.31 overall nationally and No.4 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.47 overall nationally and No.8 in Texas
Thoughts: Time to take my medicine. I could have ranked an actual clown as the No.1 overall prospect in Texas and seen almost exactly the same level of productivity through three season. Demas has been out of college football for two seasons and has hopes to return, but... hoo-boy... was I waaaaay wrong.
Ok, now let's take a look at what a revised Top 25 looks like three years later.
25. Miami LB Corey Flagg Jr. (North Shore)
LSR: High 3 stars and No.93 in Texas
Rivals: High 3 stars and No.72 in Texas
247: Low 3 stars and No.215 in Texas
ESPN: High 3 stars and No.87 in Texas
Thoughts: A two-year starter for the Hurricanes, Flagg has recorded 131 tackles, 17 TFL and 5.5 sacks in his career. I'm not sure that he projects as a future NFL player because of his size, but he's been a plus-college player thus far.
24. Purdue QB Hudson Card (Lake Travis)
LSR: 5 stars and No.3 in Texas
Rivals: Mid 4 stars, No.108 overall nationally and No.11 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.70 nationally and No.10 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.40 overall nationally and No.5 in Texas
Thoughts: In a class full of duds at quarterback, Card could be both ranked too high and too low on this re-rank based on what happens in his career as the starter at Purdue. I really need Card to save me by balling out with the Boilermakers.
23. Texas C Jake Majors (Prosper)
LSR: Mid 4 stars and No.23 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars, No.156 overall nationally and No.20 in Texas
247: High 3 stars and No.84 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 4 stars, No.127 overall nationally and No.21 in Texas
Thoughts: The most prolific offensive lineman from the entire state of Texas in terms of starts at this point, having made 25 starts in the last two years, which roughly translates to all of the starts that the rest of his in-state peers have collectively made in the same time frame.
22. Washington WR Ja'Lynn Polk (Lufkin)
LSR: High 3 stars and No.71 in Texas
Rivals: High 3 stars and No.70 in Texas
247: High 3 stars and No.55 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars and No.80 in Texas
Thoughts: Had a breakout season with the Huskies in 2022 with 41 receptions for 494 yards and 6 touchdowns. Everyone pretty much underrated him in the same ball-park.
21. Clemson safety R.J. Mickens (Southlake Carroll)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.40 in Texas
Rivals: High 3 stars and No.58 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars, No.161 overall nationally and No.26 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars, No.181 overall nationally and No.30 in Texas
Thoughts: A third-team ALL-ACC player in 2022 after only making 6 starts, Mickens recorded 55 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 INT and 2 pass breakups as a junior.
20. Florida DE Princely Umanmielen (Manor)
LSR: Mid 4 stars and No.19 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars and No.36 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars and No.42 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars, No.195 overall nationally and No.31 in Texas
Thoughts: Played in all 13 games (11 starts) for the Gators in 2022, while recording 39 tackles (16 solo), 9.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and five quarterback hurries.
19. Penn State WR Parker Washington (Penn State)
LSR: High 3 stars and No.51 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars, No.148 nationally and No.22 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars and No.38 in Texas
ESPN: High 3 stars and No.78 in Texas
Thoughts: An honorable mention All-Big 10 selection in 2022, who has caught 110 passes for 1,431 yards and six touchdowns in the last 2 seasons. You'd have to say that Rivals absolutely nailed this evaluation.
18. Alabama RB Jase McClellan (Aledo)
LSR: Mid 4 stars and No.14 in Texas
Rivals: High 4 stars, No.65 nationally and No.6 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.86 overall nationally and No.13 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.41 overall nationally and No.6 in Texas
Thoughts: McClellan hasn't yet emerged as a full-time starter for the Crimson Tide, but he did rush for 655 yards and 7 touchdowns, while averaging 6 yards per carry. It'll be interesting to see whether he gets a shot at starting as a senior or whether Nick Saben holds him to back-up status throughout his career. Regardless, I think he's a guy that will get a chance to make a pro roster when the dust settles.
17. Texas S Jerrin Thompson (Lufkin)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.33 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars, No.145 nationally and No.17 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars, No.196 overall nationally and No.30 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars, No.261 overall nationally and No.42 in Texas
Thoughts: An honorable mention All-Big 12 safety, who has started 18 of his career 34 starts with the Longhorns. Had career highs with 72 tackles, 43 solo tackles and 7 pass breakups in 2022. Rivals gets an attaboy for having him ranked in the best sweet spot in-state, even if everyone ranked him as a low four-star prospect.
16. Utah RB Ja'Quinden Jackson (Duncanville)
LSR: High 4 stars and No.7 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars, No.180 nationally and No.26 in Texas
247: High 4 stars, No.46 overall nationally and No.7 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.34 overall nationally and No.2 in Texas
Thoughts: Jackson still has a chance to climb the list after a breakout season in 2022 wit the Utes after rushing for 531 yards and 9 touchdowns. At the moment, three of us appear to have him overrated, while Rivals has him underrated.
15. Utah RB Ty Jordan (West Mesquite)
LSR: High 3 stars and No.61 in Texas
Rivals: High 3 stars and No.74 in Texas
247L High3 stars and No.58 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars No.60 in Texas
Thoughts: It's hard to rank Jordan, who tragically passed away from a self0inflicted gunshot wound, but he was a freshman all-american in 2020 after totaling nearly 800 yards of all-purpose offense for the Utes.
14. Texas CB Ryan Watts (Little Elm)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.39 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars No.39 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.150 overall nationally and No.23 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars, No.235 overall nationally and No.40 in Texas
Thoughts: An honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in his first season at Texas after transferring from Ohio State, Watts recorded 49 tackles (33 solo), 4 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT and 3 pass breakups this season. He's another player that could climb this list before its all said and done, which makes the 247 rating of him the best.
13. Arkansas CB Dwight McGlothern
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.37 in Texas
Rivals: Mid 4 stars, No.126 overall nationally and No.13 in Texas
247: High 3 stars and No.73 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars and No.50 in Texas
Thoughts: Earned 2nd-team All-SEC honors this season with the Razorbacks after recording 52 tackles, 4 INT, 2 FF and 14 pass break-ups. Attsaboy, Rivals.
12. Ole Miss RB Zach Evans (North Shore)
LSR: High 4 stars and No.5 in Texas
Rivals: 5 stars, No.13 overall nationally and No.1 in Texas
247: High 4 stars, No.33 overall nationally and No.6 in Texas
ESPN: 5 stars, No.16 overall nationally and No.1 in Texas
Thoughts: Evans was a very good college running back, who averaged 6.9 yards per rush in his career, but he never had a true monster season at the collegiate season, although he did have 936 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2022. Has already declared for the NFL Draft.
11. Texas CB Jahdae Barron (Pflugerville Connally)
LSR: Mid 4 stars and No.30 in Texas
Rivals: Mid 3 stars and No.79 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.128 overall nationally and No.20 in Texas
ESPN: High 3 stars and No.88 in Texas
Thoughts: Barron has emerged as one of the best defensive backs in the Big 12 after a very productive season in 2022. Has a chance to compete for All-America honors as a senior in 2023. A pat on the back to both 247 and myself for having wildly higher opinions of Barron as a prospect and nailing those evaluations.
10. Texas A&M CB Jaylon Jones (Cibolo Steele)
LSR: 5 stars and No.4 in Texas
Rivals: 5 stars, No.27 overall and No.4 in Texas
247: 5 stars, No.16 overall and No.3 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.35 overall and No.3 in Texas
Thoughts: A three-year starter for the Aggies, Jones never quite developed into an All-American level player with the Aggies before declaring for the NFL Draft last month.
9. Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez (The Colony)
LSR: High 3 stars and No.59 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars and No.37 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars and No.44 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars and No.47 in Texas
Thoughts: Named first-team All-Pac 12 (45 tackles and 3 INT) this season after transferring from Colorado to Oregon. Has already declared for the NFL Draft and is viewed as a possible day one or day two pick.
8. Oklahoma WR Marvin Mims (Frisco Lone Star)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.43 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars, No.248 overall nationally and No.31 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.155 nationally and No.24 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars, No.161 nationally and No.24 in Texas
Thoughts: I knew from the very first snap that I saw Mims take with OU that he was too low in my LSR rankings. This is probably one of the ones that has haunted me in the last three years. Has 2,398 yards and 20 touchdowns in his career, which means with a strong season in 2023, he will finish as one of the most prolific receivers in OU history.
7. TCU RB Kendre Miller (Mount Enterprise)
LSR: NR
Rivals: 2 stars
247: Low 3 stars and No.227 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 3 stars No.119 in Texas
Thoughts: No one saw the success that Miller has achieved coming from a mile away, but if anyone deserves an attaboy on this one, it's probably ESPN, who almost had him as a Top 100 prospect (not that being in the top 100 really means anything).
6. Texas LB Jaylan Ford (Frisco Lone Star)
LSR: NR
Rivals: Mid 3 stars and No.127 in Texas
247: Mid 3 stars and No.137 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 3 stars No.160 in Texas
Thoughts: No one saw Ford's rise as one of the top players in this class coming from a mile away, except maybe Tom Herman.
5. Texas A&M RB Devon Achane (Fort Bend Marshall)
LSR: Mid 4 stars and No.24 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars No.33 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.55 overall nationally and No.8 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.200 overall and No.34 in Texas
Thoughts: I absolutely have to give an attaboy to 247 for this ranking because they were on an island with having him listed as a super blue chip prospect and they turned out to be correct. Earned 1st team All-SEC honors in 2022 and has declared for the NFL Draft.
4. Arkansas LB Drew Sanders (Denton Ryan)
LSR: High 4 stars and No.6 in Texas
Rivals: High 4 stars, No.37 overall and No.5 in Texas
247: 5 stars, No.13 overall and No.1 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.36 overall and No.4 in Texas
Thoughts: Sanders became Arkansas' 9th unanimous All-American in 2022 after transferring from Alabama in the off-season. Declared for the NFL Draft and is expected to be selected in the first two rounds.
3. Kansas State RB Deuce Vaughn (Cedar Ridge)
LSR: NR
Rivals: Mid 3 stars
247: Mid 3 stars and No.160 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 3 stars and No.164 in Texas
Thoughts: ?♂️ ?♂️ ?♂️ ?♂️ ?♂️
2. TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston (Temple)\
LSR: High 4 stars and No.8 in Texas
Rivals: Mid 4 stars, No.80 overall nationally and No.8 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.113 overall nationally and No.17 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 4 stars, No.63 overall nationally and No.12 in Texas
Thoughts: Everyone really liked Johnston coming out of high school, but I was the only one to rank him as a super blue chip prospect among this foursome of rankings.
1. Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Rockwall)
LSR: 5 stars and No.2 in Texas
Rivals: 5 stars, No.20 overall nationally and No.3 in Texas
247: 5 stars, No.15 overall nationally and No.2 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 4 stars, No.91 overall nationally and No.18 in Texas
Thoughts: Why, oh why, didn't I rank him ahead of Demas. AAAAGGGGGHHHHHH! Also, what was ESPN drinking with this ranking. You can make a case that he's been injured too much to be in the top spot, but if you're making me choose between any of the players on this list if they are all healthy, I'm taking him first.
Believe me, there's a lot of both in a class that really has a hard time producing 25-30 real quality players at this stage of things.
Biggest Busts
5. Baylor LB Josh White (CY Creek)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.26 in Texas
Rivals: Mid 4 stars and No.9 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars and No.34 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars and No.35 in Texas
Thoughts: Rivals just missed the hell out of this one, although it should be noted that he was ranked as a super blue chip player, even if ranked in the state Top 10. White spent a season at LSU before transferring to Baylor, where he has yet to make a dent as a player in two full seasons.
4. Texas A&M QB Haynes King (Longview)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.27 in Texas
Rivals: High 3 stars and No.53 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.110 nationally and No.16 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.46 overall nationally and No.7 in Texas
Thoughts: Say what you want to about Rivals, but it didn't buy the fuss over King as a recruitment. Yikes, ESPN! They ranked him significantly higher than the No.1 player on the re-rank.
3. Stanford RB E.J. Smith (Dallas Jesuit)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.36 in Texas
Rivals: Mid 4 stars and No.7 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars and No.43 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 4 stars and No.9 in Texas
Thoughts: This is pretty much a repeat of the White situation. Rivals and ESPN both had him ranked too high, but neither technically labeled him as a super blue chip prospect. Smith has had an incredibly quiet career at Stanford, having rushed for 339 yards and a single touchdown thus far in his career.
2. Texas DL Alfred Collins
LSR: Mid 4 stars and No.9 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars, No.147 nationally and No.18 in Texas
247: 5 stars, No.32 overall and No.5 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.53 overall nationally and No.10 in Texas
Thoughts: There's still time for Coilins to make this right, but he just hasn't been a producer at this point in his career, let alone a producer at the 5 star levels. All of the services have a blemish on the resume in this re-rank and this is 247's biggest.
1. Texas A&M WR Demond Demas (Tomball)
LSR: 5 stars and No.1 in Texas
Rivals: 5 stars, No.15 overall nationally and No.2 in Texas
247: 5 stars, No.31 overall nationally and No.4 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.47 overall nationally and No.8 in Texas
Thoughts: Time to take my medicine. I could have ranked an actual clown as the No.1 overall prospect in Texas and seen almost exactly the same level of productivity through three season. Demas has been out of college football for two seasons and has hopes to return, but... hoo-boy... was I waaaaay wrong.
Ok, now let's take a look at what a revised Top 25 looks like three years later.
25. Miami LB Corey Flagg Jr. (North Shore)
LSR: High 3 stars and No.93 in Texas
Rivals: High 3 stars and No.72 in Texas
247: Low 3 stars and No.215 in Texas
ESPN: High 3 stars and No.87 in Texas
Thoughts: A two-year starter for the Hurricanes, Flagg has recorded 131 tackles, 17 TFL and 5.5 sacks in his career. I'm not sure that he projects as a future NFL player because of his size, but he's been a plus-college player thus far.
24. Purdue QB Hudson Card (Lake Travis)
LSR: 5 stars and No.3 in Texas
Rivals: Mid 4 stars, No.108 overall nationally and No.11 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.70 nationally and No.10 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.40 overall nationally and No.5 in Texas
Thoughts: In a class full of duds at quarterback, Card could be both ranked too high and too low on this re-rank based on what happens in his career as the starter at Purdue. I really need Card to save me by balling out with the Boilermakers.
23. Texas C Jake Majors (Prosper)
LSR: Mid 4 stars and No.23 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars, No.156 overall nationally and No.20 in Texas
247: High 3 stars and No.84 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 4 stars, No.127 overall nationally and No.21 in Texas
Thoughts: The most prolific offensive lineman from the entire state of Texas in terms of starts at this point, having made 25 starts in the last two years, which roughly translates to all of the starts that the rest of his in-state peers have collectively made in the same time frame.
22. Washington WR Ja'Lynn Polk (Lufkin)
LSR: High 3 stars and No.71 in Texas
Rivals: High 3 stars and No.70 in Texas
247: High 3 stars and No.55 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars and No.80 in Texas
Thoughts: Had a breakout season with the Huskies in 2022 with 41 receptions for 494 yards and 6 touchdowns. Everyone pretty much underrated him in the same ball-park.
21. Clemson safety R.J. Mickens (Southlake Carroll)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.40 in Texas
Rivals: High 3 stars and No.58 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars, No.161 overall nationally and No.26 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars, No.181 overall nationally and No.30 in Texas
Thoughts: A third-team ALL-ACC player in 2022 after only making 6 starts, Mickens recorded 55 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 INT and 2 pass breakups as a junior.
20. Florida DE Princely Umanmielen (Manor)
LSR: Mid 4 stars and No.19 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars and No.36 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars and No.42 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars, No.195 overall nationally and No.31 in Texas
Thoughts: Played in all 13 games (11 starts) for the Gators in 2022, while recording 39 tackles (16 solo), 9.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and five quarterback hurries.
19. Penn State WR Parker Washington (Penn State)
LSR: High 3 stars and No.51 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars, No.148 nationally and No.22 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars and No.38 in Texas
ESPN: High 3 stars and No.78 in Texas
Thoughts: An honorable mention All-Big 10 selection in 2022, who has caught 110 passes for 1,431 yards and six touchdowns in the last 2 seasons. You'd have to say that Rivals absolutely nailed this evaluation.
18. Alabama RB Jase McClellan (Aledo)
LSR: Mid 4 stars and No.14 in Texas
Rivals: High 4 stars, No.65 nationally and No.6 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.86 overall nationally and No.13 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.41 overall nationally and No.6 in Texas
Thoughts: McClellan hasn't yet emerged as a full-time starter for the Crimson Tide, but he did rush for 655 yards and 7 touchdowns, while averaging 6 yards per carry. It'll be interesting to see whether he gets a shot at starting as a senior or whether Nick Saben holds him to back-up status throughout his career. Regardless, I think he's a guy that will get a chance to make a pro roster when the dust settles.
17. Texas S Jerrin Thompson (Lufkin)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.33 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars, No.145 nationally and No.17 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars, No.196 overall nationally and No.30 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars, No.261 overall nationally and No.42 in Texas
Thoughts: An honorable mention All-Big 12 safety, who has started 18 of his career 34 starts with the Longhorns. Had career highs with 72 tackles, 43 solo tackles and 7 pass breakups in 2022. Rivals gets an attaboy for having him ranked in the best sweet spot in-state, even if everyone ranked him as a low four-star prospect.
16. Utah RB Ja'Quinden Jackson (Duncanville)
LSR: High 4 stars and No.7 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars, No.180 nationally and No.26 in Texas
247: High 4 stars, No.46 overall nationally and No.7 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.34 overall nationally and No.2 in Texas
Thoughts: Jackson still has a chance to climb the list after a breakout season in 2022 wit the Utes after rushing for 531 yards and 9 touchdowns. At the moment, three of us appear to have him overrated, while Rivals has him underrated.
15. Utah RB Ty Jordan (West Mesquite)
LSR: High 3 stars and No.61 in Texas
Rivals: High 3 stars and No.74 in Texas
247L High3 stars and No.58 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars No.60 in Texas
Thoughts: It's hard to rank Jordan, who tragically passed away from a self0inflicted gunshot wound, but he was a freshman all-american in 2020 after totaling nearly 800 yards of all-purpose offense for the Utes.
14. Texas CB Ryan Watts (Little Elm)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.39 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars No.39 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.150 overall nationally and No.23 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars, No.235 overall nationally and No.40 in Texas
Thoughts: An honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in his first season at Texas after transferring from Ohio State, Watts recorded 49 tackles (33 solo), 4 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT and 3 pass breakups this season. He's another player that could climb this list before its all said and done, which makes the 247 rating of him the best.
13. Arkansas CB Dwight McGlothern
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.37 in Texas
Rivals: Mid 4 stars, No.126 overall nationally and No.13 in Texas
247: High 3 stars and No.73 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars and No.50 in Texas
Thoughts: Earned 2nd-team All-SEC honors this season with the Razorbacks after recording 52 tackles, 4 INT, 2 FF and 14 pass break-ups. Attsaboy, Rivals.
12. Ole Miss RB Zach Evans (North Shore)
LSR: High 4 stars and No.5 in Texas
Rivals: 5 stars, No.13 overall nationally and No.1 in Texas
247: High 4 stars, No.33 overall nationally and No.6 in Texas
ESPN: 5 stars, No.16 overall nationally and No.1 in Texas
Thoughts: Evans was a very good college running back, who averaged 6.9 yards per rush in his career, but he never had a true monster season at the collegiate season, although he did have 936 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2022. Has already declared for the NFL Draft.
11. Texas CB Jahdae Barron (Pflugerville Connally)
LSR: Mid 4 stars and No.30 in Texas
Rivals: Mid 3 stars and No.79 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.128 overall nationally and No.20 in Texas
ESPN: High 3 stars and No.88 in Texas
Thoughts: Barron has emerged as one of the best defensive backs in the Big 12 after a very productive season in 2022. Has a chance to compete for All-America honors as a senior in 2023. A pat on the back to both 247 and myself for having wildly higher opinions of Barron as a prospect and nailing those evaluations.
10. Texas A&M CB Jaylon Jones (Cibolo Steele)
LSR: 5 stars and No.4 in Texas
Rivals: 5 stars, No.27 overall and No.4 in Texas
247: 5 stars, No.16 overall and No.3 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.35 overall and No.3 in Texas
Thoughts: A three-year starter for the Aggies, Jones never quite developed into an All-American level player with the Aggies before declaring for the NFL Draft last month.
9. Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez (The Colony)
LSR: High 3 stars and No.59 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars and No.37 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars and No.44 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars and No.47 in Texas
Thoughts: Named first-team All-Pac 12 (45 tackles and 3 INT) this season after transferring from Colorado to Oregon. Has already declared for the NFL Draft and is viewed as a possible day one or day two pick.
8. Oklahoma WR Marvin Mims (Frisco Lone Star)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.43 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars, No.248 overall nationally and No.31 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.155 nationally and No.24 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars, No.161 nationally and No.24 in Texas
Thoughts: I knew from the very first snap that I saw Mims take with OU that he was too low in my LSR rankings. This is probably one of the ones that has haunted me in the last three years. Has 2,398 yards and 20 touchdowns in his career, which means with a strong season in 2023, he will finish as one of the most prolific receivers in OU history.
7. TCU RB Kendre Miller (Mount Enterprise)
LSR: NR
Rivals: 2 stars
247: Low 3 stars and No.227 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 3 stars No.119 in Texas
Thoughts: No one saw the success that Miller has achieved coming from a mile away, but if anyone deserves an attaboy on this one, it's probably ESPN, who almost had him as a Top 100 prospect (not that being in the top 100 really means anything).
6. Texas LB Jaylan Ford (Frisco Lone Star)
LSR: NR
Rivals: Mid 3 stars and No.127 in Texas
247: Mid 3 stars and No.137 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 3 stars No.160 in Texas
Thoughts: No one saw Ford's rise as one of the top players in this class coming from a mile away, except maybe Tom Herman.
5. Texas A&M RB Devon Achane (Fort Bend Marshall)
LSR: Mid 4 stars and No.24 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars No.33 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.55 overall nationally and No.8 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.200 overall and No.34 in Texas
Thoughts: I absolutely have to give an attaboy to 247 for this ranking because they were on an island with having him listed as a super blue chip prospect and they turned out to be correct. Earned 1st team All-SEC honors in 2022 and has declared for the NFL Draft.
4. Arkansas LB Drew Sanders (Denton Ryan)
LSR: High 4 stars and No.6 in Texas
Rivals: High 4 stars, No.37 overall and No.5 in Texas
247: 5 stars, No.13 overall and No.1 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.36 overall and No.4 in Texas
Thoughts: Sanders became Arkansas' 9th unanimous All-American in 2022 after transferring from Alabama in the off-season. Declared for the NFL Draft and is expected to be selected in the first two rounds.
3. Kansas State RB Deuce Vaughn (Cedar Ridge)
LSR: NR
Rivals: Mid 3 stars
247: Mid 3 stars and No.160 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 3 stars and No.164 in Texas
Thoughts: ?♂️ ?♂️ ?♂️ ?♂️ ?♂️
2. TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston (Temple)\
LSR: High 4 stars and No.8 in Texas
Rivals: Mid 4 stars, No.80 overall nationally and No.8 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.113 overall nationally and No.17 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 4 stars, No.63 overall nationally and No.12 in Texas
Thoughts: Everyone really liked Johnston coming out of high school, but I was the only one to rank him as a super blue chip prospect among this foursome of rankings.
1. Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Rockwall)
LSR: 5 stars and No.2 in Texas
Rivals: 5 stars, No.20 overall nationally and No.3 in Texas
247: 5 stars, No.15 overall nationally and No.2 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 4 stars, No.91 overall nationally and No.18 in Texas
Thoughts: Why, oh why, didn't I rank him ahead of Demas. AAAAGGGGGHHHHHH! Also, what was ESPN drinking with this ranking. You can make a case that he's been injured too much to be in the top spot, but if you're making me choose between any of the players on this list if they are all healthy, I'm taking him first.
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