One week after doing a re-ranking for the 2020 class, I realized that I had done this with the 2019 class, but not the 2018 class.
Of course, that means I tackled the 2018 class without blinking once I realized it needed to be done.
The first thing that jumps out about the list? Tom Herman did a pretty bang-up job with this class, as 7 of the re-ranked are on the list and that doesn't even include Keaontay Ingram, who ended up being the best running back in this class. If he could have produced more classes like 2018, he might have kept his job.
Let's begin with the busts.
5. Texas DB B.J. Foster (Angleton)
LSR: High 4 stars and No.4 in Texas
Rivals: Hugh 4 stars, No.57 nationally and No.6 in Texas
247: High 4 stars, No.37 nationally and No.4 in Texas
ESPN: 5 stars, No.12 nationally and No.1 in Texas
Thoughts: Foster had ups and downs during his Texas career in starting 27 games in 4 years in Austin, but ended up transferring to Sam Houston State and earned all-WAC honors as a senior. Like the others in this bust category, no one can say he wasn't a solid player, but he was supposed to be something much better than solid.
4. Texas wide receiver Brennan Eagles (Alief Taylor)
LSR: 5 stars and No.2 in Texas
Rivals: Mid 4 stars, No.94 nationally and No.9 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.77 nationally and No.6 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 4 stars, No.128 nationally and No.18 in Texas
Thoughts: Damnit, Brennan. Talk about a guy that just completely mishandled and misjudged his football career. It's not like he wasn't talented or didn't produce. The guy was an honorable mention All-Big 12 receiver and caught 28 passes for 469 yards and 5 touchdowns as a junior, which is the kind of production the Longhorns could have used in the passing game this year. He just didn't work hard enough, didn't develop and made a horrible decision to leave for the NFL early. He didn't have to end up here, yet here we are.
3. Texas A&M WR Jalen Preston (Manvel)
LSR: Mid 4 stars and No.9 in Texas
Rivals: Mid 4 stars, No.90 nationally and No.7 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.95 nationally and No.9 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.61 nationally and No.7 in Texas
Thoughts: Just a total miss. All four services had him as a national top-100 prospect and he caught 35 passes for 468 yards and four touchdowns. He was ranked higher than Eagles by two of the major services and it's hard to justify putting them in the same sentence as it relates to being a bust.
2. Mustapha Muhammad TE (Ridge Point)
LSR: Mid 4 stars and No.11 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars and No.29 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars, No.227 nationally and No.26 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.42 nationally and No.4 in Texas
Thoughts: A total bust. Played in two games and then bombed out of Michigan. Played a little JUCO ball and then that was it. That's a pretty massive miss by ESPN in having him rated as a super blue-chip recruit and a national top 50 prospect.
1. Jalen Green (Houston Heights)
LSR: High 4 stars and No.6 in Texas
Rivals: High 4 stars, No.52 overall and No.4 in Texas
247: 5 stars, No.17 nationally and No.1 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars, No.134 nationally and No.19 in Texas
Thoughts: Green has been a perfectly serviceable starting-level defensive back for Mississippi State after transferring from Texas, but 247 literally had him rated as the No. 1 prospect in the state, which means he should have been a first-day NFL type of player. Everyone but ESPN had him as a super blue-chip prospect.
On to the Top 25 ...
Honorable mention: Michigan CB Gemon Green (DeSoto), Texas DB D'Shawn Jamison (Houston Lamar), Oklahoma WR Michael Woods (Magnolia), Oklahoma DB Delarrin Turner- Yell (Hempstead), UCLA DT (Katy Taylor), Oklahoma LB DaShaun White (No. Richland Hills), LSU OL Chasen Hines (Marshall), North Texas LB KD Davis (Ennis), Baylor CB Kalon Barnes (Silsbee), Oklahoma State LB Justin Wright (Abilene Cooper), SMU QB Tanner Mordecai (Waco Midway), Memphis DL Jaylon Allen (Humble Atascocita). Missouri LB Chad Bailey (Ridge Point), Texas WR Brennan Eagles (Alief Taylor), Mississippi State DB Jalen Green (Houston Heights), Texas A&M DB Leon O'Neal (Cy Springs), Arizona LB Christian Young (Richmond Foster) and SMU OL Jaylon Thomas (Lubbock Coronado)
25. Texas OL Christian Jones (Cy Woods)
LSR: NR
Rivals: Mid 3 stars
247: High 3 stars and No.77 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 3 stars and No.136 in Texas
Thoughts: If he stays healthy in 2022, we'll be talking about a lineman that makes almost 50 career starts at tackle in the Big 12. An honorable mention all-Big 12 player this season. Everyone had him rated as a three-star prospect, so it's hard to call any of the services a winner, but 247 did have him in its top 100 in the state.
24. Oklahoma State WR Spencer Sanders (Denton Ryan)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.26 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars and No.30 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars, No.167 overall nationally and No.16 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 4 stars, No.121 overall nationally and No.16 in Texas
Thoughts: I don't know how to fully measure Sanders as a player. On one hand, he won first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2021 with a 133.5 rating, which is kind of unfathomable. On the other hand, he was benched this season with an only slightly worse 128.3 rating. Over four full seasons, he has a career 136.2 rating with a 67/40 TD: INT ratio. Maybe I have him too low. Maybe I have him too high. He's kind of the ultimate WTF player.
23. TCU DE Ochaun Mathis (Manor)
LSR: High 3 stars and No.98 in Texas
Rivals: Mid 3 stars and No.95 in Texas
247: Mid 3 stars and No.100 in Texas
ESPN: High 3 stars and No.100 in Texas
Thoughts: He's kind of the defensive version of Sanders in that he was the best version of himself early in his career, twice earning second-team All-Big 12 honors. Yet, by his senior year in college, he was a total JAG for Nebraska. Recorded 19 sacks in his career, but only 7.5 in his 24 games, which is less than optimal for a plus-edge player. Still, 19 sacks is nothing to sniff at.
22. TCU Ath Taye Barber (Cy Springs)
LSR: High 3 stars and No.57 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars and No.38 in Texas
247: Mid 3 stars and No.99 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 3 stars and No.149 in Texas
Thoughts: A four-time All-Big 12 honorable mention receiver, Barber caught 158 passes for 2,097 yards and 11 touchdowns in his career. He might have never been a front-line star for the Horned Frogs, but he was always a good player and the second-leading receiver on the 2022 national runner-ups. Rivals with the clear win on this one.
21. Texas DT Moro Ojomo (Katy)
LSR: Mid 4 stars and No.24 in Texas
Rivals: High 3 stars and No.70 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars and No.46 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars and No.43 in Texas
Thoughts: Hey, I'm going to chalk this up as an LSR rank. No one else had him rated as a mid four-star and he's ranked higher on my list by 19 spots inside the state of Texas than anyone else had him. Ojomo was a second-team All-Big 12 player as a senior and made 40 career for the Longhorns, producing 95 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in his career. A win for the LSR list.
20. Texas DB Anthony Cook (Houston Lamar)
LSR: High 4 stars and No.5 in Texas
Rivals: High 4 stars, No.54 nationally and No.5 in Texas
247: Mid 4 stars, No.120 nationally and No.10 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 4 stars, No.80 nationally and No.10 in Texas
Thoughts: A two-time honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in his final two seasons at Texas, Cook went from being a potential bust to one of the best players in the class in his final two seasons. Made 167 tackles, 10 TFL, 2.5 sacks and 11 pass break-ups in his career.
19. Houston QB Clayton Tune (Lewisville Hebron)
LSR: NR
Rivals: Mid 3 stars
247: Mid 3 stars and No.127 in Texas
ESPN: High 3 stars and No.114 in Texas
Thoughts: His overall career numbers are just a shade better than Tanner Mordecai, but he earned first-team All-AAC honors in 2022 after throwing for 4,074 yards and40 touchdowns. It'll be interesting to see if he can get to an NFL camp once his college career is over.
18. USC RB Keaontay Ingram (Carthage)
LSR: Mid 4 stars and No.20 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars, No.218 nationally and No.23 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars, No.198 nationally and No.22 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 4 stars, No.125 nationally and No.15 in Texas
Thoughts: Easily the most productive running back in this class and was an active player this season in the NFL after being a 6th round Draft choice. Rushed for more than 2,700 in his career and broke 700+ yards in three different seasons with both the Longhorns and USC.
17. Texas DT Keondre Coburn (Spring Westfield)
LSR: Mid 4 stars and No.13 in Texas
Rivals: Mid 4 stars, No.167 nationally and No.16 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars, No.194 nationally and No.20 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.67 nationally and No.6 in Texas
Thoughts: An elevated version of Ojomo. After starting 45 of his 51 career games for the Longhorns, Coburn emerged as a consensus second-team All-Big 12 selection as a senior. Finished his career with 96 tackles, 14 TFL, 5.5 sacks and 2 FF.
16. Kansas State WR Malik Knowles (Mansfield Lakeridge)
LSR: NR
Rivals: 2 stars
247: Mid 3 stars and No.139 in Texas
ESPN: Low 3 stars and No.206 in Texas
Thoughts One of the top kick-returners in the country over the last few years and a player that developed into one of the best wide receivers in the Big 12 as a senior. Finished his career with more than 2,000 yards of offense and 18 touchdowns. It's hard to give anyone too much credit for his ranking, but at least ESPN and 247 didn't have him as a 2-star. Might end up being a better pro player than college player.
15. Baylor CB J.T. Woods (Cibolo Steele)
LSR: NR
Rivals: Mid 3 stars
247: Mid 3 stars and No.135 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 3 stars and No.157 in Texas
Thoughts: A two-year All-Big 12 honorable mention player, who led the Big 12 in interceptions as a senior. Finished his career with 157 tackles, 9 INT and 14 pass break-ups. Was drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the LA Chargers.
14. Texas Tech WR Erik Ezukanma (FW Timber Creek)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.28 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars and No.41 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars and No.34 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars and No.43 in Texas
Thoughts: A two-time All-Big 12 selection with Texas Tech, Ezukanma caught 94 passes for 1,403 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final two seasons. Was drafted in the 4th round by Miami in the 2022 NFL Draft and caught a single pass in his rookie season this year. Another baby win for the LSR.
13. Arkansas linebacker Bumper Pool (Lovejoy)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.46 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars and No.36 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars, No.254 nationally and No.29 in Texas
ESPN: High 3 stars and No.75 in Texas
Thoughts: A two time second-team All-SEC player, who made 38 career starts at linebackers for the Razorbacks. Recorded 441 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Finished his career without creating any turnovers in 55 career games.
12. Texas LB DeMarvion Overshown (Arp)
LSR: High 4 stars and No.8 in Texas
Rivals: Mid 4 stars, No.144 overall nationally and No.13 in Texas
247: 5 stars, No.28 overall nationally and No.2 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.32 overall nationally and No.3 in Texas
Thoughts: A first-team All-Big 12 player as a senior, who made 33 career starts during his time on the 40 Acres, twice being named honorable mention All-Big 12. Finished with a 165 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 5 sacks and two created turnovers in his career.
11. SMU wide receiver Danny Gray (Dallas Madison)
LSR: NR
Rivals: High 3 stars and No.90 in Texas
247: High 3 stars and No.109 in Texas
ESPN: High 3 starsand No.75 in Texas
Thoughts: Only played one season at SMU in 2021, when he emerged as a first-team All-AAC selection and a third round pick in the NFL Draft by San Francisco. Has only one career reception in the NFL at this point.
10. Oregon DB Verone McKinkley III (Lewisville Hebron)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.46 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars and No.47 in Texas
247: High 3 stars and No.70 in Texas
ESPN: High 3 stars and No.86 in Texas
Thoughts: Emerged as a consensus All-American and a first-team All-Pac 12 player as a sophomore in 2020. A finalist for the Jim Thirpe Award. Went undrafted in the 2021 Draft, but made the Miami Dolphins in 2022 and has played in 10 games this season. From a rankings standpoint, it's not a massive win for the LSR and Rivals, but small wins are better than big losses, I suppose.
9. Texas DB Caden Sterns (Cibolo Steele)
LSR: 5 stars and No.1 in Texas
Rivals: 5 stars, No.24 overall nationally and No.1 in Texas
247: 5 stars, No.32 overall nationally and No.3 in Texas
ESPN: High 4 stars, No.39 overall nationally and No.3 in Texas
Thoughts: Named Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and first team All-Big 12 in 2017, but never really finished his career as an impact college player. Was drafted in the 5th round of the 2021 NFL Draft and has started 5 of 15 career games thus far for Denver. This might be a little high for Sterns, but he's a solid starting pro player at this point and McKinley, who is one spot back of him, really hasn't found a niche at the highest level of football yet. I reserve the right to re-rank these a few of these guys in future years when we know how a lot of these other careers have finished.
8.Houston DL Logan Hall (San Antonio Wagner)
LSR: NR
Rivals: 2 stars
247: Low 3 stars and No. 214 in Texas
ESPN: NR
Thoughts:Talk about coming completely out of nowhere. Hall was a four-year contributor, who emerged as a first-team All-AAX player as a senior in 2021. Was drafted in the 2nd round by Tampa Bay and played in all 17 games as a rookie at defensive end.
7. UTSA OL Spencer Watts (San Antonio Wagner)
LSR: NR
Rivals: Low 3 stars
247: Low 4 stars and No. 51 in Texas
ESPN: NR
Thoughts: I have to give it up to 247 on this one because they are the only ones that had him ranked as a four star and near the top 50 in the state. Ended up being a two-time AAC selection at tackle and was drafted in the 4th round by the San Francisco 49ers. Has started 11 games for the 49ers this year.
6. Texas A&M DE Bobby Brown (Arlington Lamar)
LSR: Mid 4 stars and No.14 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 stars, No.205 overall nationally and No.20 in Texas
247: Low 4 stars, No.142 overall nationally and No.12 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars, No.243 overall nationally and No.33 in Texas
Thoughts: A two-year starter for the Aggies before leaving for the NFL early, Brown was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2020. Was drafted in the 4th round of the 2021 NFL Draft and has made 18 tackles in 10 games, while winning a Super Bowl ring with the Rams last season.
5. TCU CB Travis Moehrig-Woodard (Smithson Valley)
LSR: Low 4 stars and No.31 in Texas
Rivals: Mid 3 stars,
247: Low 4 stars, No.199 overall nationally and No.23 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 3 stars and No.133 in Texas
Thoughts: The Jim Thorpe Award winner in 2020 and a two-time first-team all Big 12 selection for TCU in his three-year career. Finished his career with 125 tackles, 7 interceptions and 28 pass break-ups. Was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2021 NFL Draft and has started 30 games in two seasons. Kudos to both 247 and the LSR list for having him rated significantly higher than Rivals and ESPN. I'm not sure what they were thinking.
4. Texas DE Joseph Ossai (Conroe Oak Ridge)
LSR: Low four-star and No.29 in Texas
Rivals: Low 4 star and No.31 in the state
247: Low 4 stars, No.181 overall nationally and No.18 in Texas
ESPN: Low 4 stars, No.120 overall nationally and No.20 in Texas
Thoughts: A consensus first-team All-American as a junior after recording 55 tackles, 16.0 TFL, 5 sacks, and 3 FF. Taken in the 3rd round of the 2021 NDFL Draft, Ossai is a very good player on a playoff team, All of the services had him rated in the same tier, but you have to give kudos to 247 and ESPN for having him slightly higher up in the rankings than the LSR and Rivals lists. How bout that? I underrated a Texas player!
3. Missouri LB Nick Bolton (Frisco Lone Star)
LSR: NR
Rivals: Mid 3 star
247: Mid 3 stars and No.148 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 3 stars and No.177 in Texas
Thoughts: A two-time All-SEC player, who won All-America honors in 2020 and was then taken in the second round of the NFL Draft by Kansas City. Has a chance to be a future Por Bowl type of player. Has made 270 tackles in his two seasons with the Chiefs.
2. Texas Tech DE Tyree Wilson (West Rusk)
LSR: NR
Rivals: High3 star and No.65 in the state
247: Low 4 stars and No.32 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 3 stars and No.162 in Texas
Thoughts: Sonofabitch. Of all the players for me to miss on, a 6-5, 235+ pound defensive end is the last guy I should miss based on all of the historical data I've pulled in the last 5 years. The problem with Wilson is that it was not done in time to use. Earned second-team All-America honors and first-team All-Big 12 honors at Tech after transferring from Texas A&M. Is projected by many to be a first round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Kudos to 247 for clearly having him rated higher than anyone else.
1. Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle (Houston Episcopal)
LSR: 5 stars and No.3 in Texas
Rivals: 5 stars, No.31 overall and No.2 in the state
247: High 4 stars, No.64 overall nationally and No.5 in Texas
ESPN: Mid 4 stars, No.77 overall nationally and No.9 in Texas
Thoughts: A two-time ALL SEC player at Alabama, who was the No.6 overall player in the 2021 NFL Draft. Set an NFL record with the most receptions (104) by a rookie. Is currently regarded as one of the top 10-15 players in the NFL at his position. It's crazy to look back and see that the LSR and Rivals lists were the only ones that regarded him as a 5 star prospect as a prospect. Getting this one right feels important.
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