Football
The Dotted Line: Five of the state’s top Fabulous 55 prospects remain uncommitted
Posted November 12th, 2019
The introduction of the early signing period sped up the recruiting process. Fewer recruits enter their senior seasons uncommitted. Only 11 members of the 2020 Fabulous 55 remain so entering the first week of the high school playoffs. Let’s take a closer look at where the five highest-ranked prospects on the list stand in their recruitment with five weeks until the early signing period:
Zachary Evans, running back, Galena Park North Shore
Teams in contention: LSU, Georgia, Texas A&M, Alabama
The latest: The nation’s top-ranked running back prospect appears destined for the SEC. Evans took an official visit to LSU on Oct. 26. He’s also visited Alabama and Georgia during the season. I’d imagine he waits until the early signing period and makes his commitment live on television with the safe bet being LSU. Some consider him the top overall prospect in the entire 2020 class. He led North Shore to a Class 6A Division I state championship as a junior.
Alfred Collins, defensive end, Bastrop Cedar Creek
Fab 55 ranking: 15th
Teams in contention: Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma
The latest: Most recruiting experts believe it’s a matter of if, not when, Collins will pledge to the Longhorns. The local talent plays 20 miles from campus and his mom, Benita Pollard, played basketball at Texas. Collins is a big-bodied lineman built to play in the three-man front preferred by UT defensive coordinator Todd Orlando. Collins has hinted at announcing in January at the All-American Game in San Antonio.
Princely Umanmielen, defensive end, Manor
Fab 55 ranking: 22nd
Teams in contention: Auburn, Florida, USC
The latest: The big-bodied lineman de-committed from the Longhorns in October and appears likely to leave the state. Florida, Auburn and USC offered him as his recruitment opened up. He’s planning an official visit to Florida on Nov. 29. He’s likely to take visits to Auburn and USC as well. The Trojans offered him on Oct. 30. Umanmielen wants to remain an end in a four-man front rather than grow into an interior defensive lineman.
EJ Smith, running back, Dallas Jesuit
Fab 55 ranking: 23rd
Teams in contention: Stanford, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Florida, Georgia
The latest: Smith played only six games before suffering a season-ending hand injury. He’s one of the most dynamic and well-rounded running backs in the state, and is gaining recruiting traction and attention from major programs across the country. Stanford was the favorite in the summer, but renewed interest from Ohio State, Texas A&M and Florida means he’s in for a tough decision in December. He’s the son of NFL legend Emmitt Smith.
Malik Hornsby, quarterback, Fort Bend Marshall
Fab 55 ranking: 25th
The latest: Hornsby led Fort Bend Marshall to a state championship appearance as a junior. He’s a winner with an insane amount of athleticism. He was once committed to North Carolina, but he backed off over the summer. He has taken official visits to Purdue and Maryland this season. The dual-threat quarterback keeps a low profile and does a great job of not tipping his hand on the recruiting circuit. He was talented enough to pick up offers from Texas and Texas A&M, though both of those teams found other in-state options at quarterback for the 2020 cycle.
RANK (PREV.) PLAYER POS. HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE
1. (1) Zachary Evans RB Galena Park North Shore (6A) Uncommitted
2. (3) Demond Demas WR Tomball (5A) Texas A&M
3. (5) Jaylon Jones CB Cibolo Steele (6A) Texas A&M
4. (2) Ja'Quinden Jackson ATH Duncanville (6A) Texas
5. (6) Drew Sanders OLB Denton Ryan (5A) Alabama
6. (4) Chad Lindberg OT Clear Creek (6A) Georgia
7. (8) Vernon Broughton DT Cy Ridge (6A) Texas
8. (15) Hudson Card QB Lake Travis (6A) Texas
9. (7) Jase McClellan RB Aledo (5A) Oklahoma
10. (18) Haynes King QB Longview (5A) Texas A&M
11. (10) RJ Mickens S Southlake Carroll (6A) Clemson
12. (39) Quentin Johnston WR Temple (6A) Texas
13. (11) Jaylen Garth OT Port Neches-Groves Texas
14. (13) Alfred Collins DE Bastrop Cedar Creek (5A) Uncommitted
15. (31) Xavion Alford S Alvin Shadow Creek (5A) Texas
16. (9) Troy Omeire WR Fort Bend Austin (6A) Texas
17. (25) Nate Anderson OT Frisco Reedy (5A) Oklahoma
18. (14) Jalen Kimber CB Mansfield Timberview (5A) Georgia
19. (19) Prince Dorbah OLB Highland Park (5A) Texas
20. (29) Jaxon Smith-Njiba WR Rockwall (6A) Ohio State
21. (21) Alec Bryant DE Alvin Shadow Creek (5A) Uncommitted
22. (28) Princely Umanmielen DE Manor (5A) Uncommitted
23. (20) EJ Smith RB Dallas Jesuit (6A) Uncommitted
24. (12) Chris Thompson Jr. S Duncanville (6A) Auburn
25. (16) Malik Hornsby QB Fort Bend Marshall (5A) Uncommitted
26. (23) Seth McGowan RB Mesquite Poteet (5A) Oklahoma
27. (24) Logan Parr OG San Antonio O'Connor (6A) Texas
28. (22) Courtland Ford OT Cedar Hill (6A) Uncommitted
29. (17) Dwight McGlothern CB Klein Oak (6A) Uncommitted
30. (27) Jake Majors C Prosper (6A) Texas
31. (26) Lorando Johnson CB Lancaster (6A) LSU
32. (32) Jahari Rogers CB Arlington (6A) Florida
33. (34) Collin Sullivan WR Round Rock (6A) Purdue
34. (45) Jerrin Thompson S Lufkin (6A) Texas
35. (40) Devon Achane WR Fort Bend Marshall (5A) Texas A&M
36. (37) Darius Snow S Carrollton Hebron (6A) Michigan State
37. (35) James Sylvester DE Newton (2A) Baylor
38. (30) Bryson Washington S C.E. King (6A) Oklahoma
39. (33) Branard Wright DT Dallas Carter (4A) Uncommitted
40. (36) Marvin Mims WR Frisco Lone Star (5A) Oklahoma
41. (47) Josh White OLB Cy Creek (6A) LSU
42. (38) Brennan Scott OLB Bishop Dunne (TAPPS) Kansas
43. (44) Ty'Kieast Crawford OT Carthage (4A) Arkansas
44. (49) Kitan Crawford CB John Tyler (6A) Texas
45. (NR) Jalin Conyers TE Gruver (2A) Oklahoma
46. (NR) Kevontre Bradford RB Lancaster (6A) Uncommitted
47. (48) Parker Washington WR Fort Bend Travis (6A) Penn State
48. (51) Akinola Ogunbiyi OG Fort Bend Kempner (6A) Texas A&M
49. (50) Ryan Watts CB Little Elm (5A) Oklahoma
50. (43) Michael Henderson ATH Carrollton Ranchview (4A) Oklahoma
51. (54) Avery Helm CB Fort Bend Marshall (5A) Florida
52. (46) Garrett Hayes OT Athens (4A) TCU
53. (NR) Chandler Morris QB Highland Park (5A) Uncommitted
54. (42) Ken Seals QB Weatherford (6A) Vanderbilt
55. (55) Trent Pullen OG Waco Connally (4A) Oklahoma State
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