Football
The Dotted Line: The updated 2021 Fabulous 55 is dominated by offensive linemen, quarterbacks
Posted August 5th, 2020
High school football practices began Monday for Class 4A schools and below as the state attempts a return to normalcy despite COVID-19 health concerns. The offseason was unique for all parties. The high school prospects in the 2021 class weren’t allowed to take visits or attend camps. College coaches couldn’t visit prospects in the spring. It has led to an interesting and challenging recruiting cycle.
The 2021 Fabulous 55 debuted in February. This is the updated version based on more film study, discussions with college and prep coaches, as well as offer lists. The list remains relatively unchanged, with five new members. The top three players on the list also remain unchanged.
The challenges presented this spring and summer haven’t slowed the pace of commitments. Forty-two of the 55 members are pledged somewhere. Twenty-two of those 42 are committed to out-of-state programs. The Big 12 leads with the most pledges (19), just ahead of SEC’s 16. Texas leads all schools with nine pledges. Texas A&M is second with five.
The class is offense-driven with a strong crop of offensive linemen and quarterbacks headlining the list. Donovan Jackson, an offensive lineman from Houston Bellaire Epicopal pledged to Ohio State, remains the top-rated player in the state. The 6-4, 308-pound five-star is considered the top guard in the country despite playing tackle for his prep team. Jackson was awarded the 2019 Offensive Line MVP award at The Opening last summer, beating out prospects from the 2020 class. Brockermeyer recently pledged to Alabama.
The state of Texas is the quarterback capital of the football world with NFL players like Patrick Mahomes and Drew Brees leading the charge. The future is in great hands with the 2021 class with 10 quarterbacks represented on the list. Texas commit Jalen Milroe is the top-rated quarterback at No. 13. Nine offensive linemen made the list, including UT commit Hayden Conner.
Texas’ top-rated pledges are a pair of athletes from Denton Ryan as Ja’Tavion Sanders and Billy Bowman Jr. check in at the fourth and fifth spot, respectively. Seventeen different programs possess at least one commitment on the Fab 55. Baylor and Oklahoma are tied with four pledges each.
RANK (PREV.) PLAYER POS. HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE
1. (1) Donovan Jackson OL Bellaire Episcopal (TAPPS) Ohio State
2. (2) Tommy Brockermeyer OL Fort Worth All Saints (TAPPS) Alabama
3. (3) Ja'Tavion Sanders ATH Denton Ryan (5A) Texas
4. (6) Billy Bowman Jr. ATH Denton Ryan (5A) Oklahoma
5. (12) LJ Johnson RB Cy-Fair (6A) Uncommitted
6. (23) Clayton Smith OLB Texas High (6A) Oklahoma
7. (13) Cody Jackson WR Richmond Foster (5A) Oklahoma
8. (5) Bryce Foster OL Katy Taylor Uncommitted
9. (4) Landon Jackson DE Texarkana Pleasant Grove (3A) LSU
10. (15) Camar Wheaton RB Garland Lakeview Centennial Uncommitted
11. (7) Savion Byrd OL Duncanville (6A) Uncommitted
12. (10) Jalen Milroe QB Katy Tompkins (6A) Alabama
13. (17) JoJo Earle WR Aledo (5A) LSU
14. (11) Marcus Burris DT Texarkana Pleasant Grove (3A) Texas A&M
15. (38) Shemar Turner DE DeSoto (6A) Uncommitted
16. (21) Demetrius Davis QB Galena Park North Shore (6A) Auburn
17. (9) Shadrach Banks WR Galena Park North Shore (6A) Texas A&M
18. (8) Preston Stone QB Parish Episcopal (TAPPS) SMU
19. (14) Quay Davis WR Dallas Skyline (6A) USC
20. (NR) Garrett Nussmeier QB Flower Mound Marcus (6A) LSU
21. (16) Latrell McCutchin CB Austin LBJ (4A) Oklahoma
22. (18) Ishmael Ibraheem CB Dallas Kimball (5A) Texas
23. (20) Reuben Fatheree II OL Richmond Foster (5A) Texas A&M
24. (28) Ketron Jackson WR Royse City (5A) Arkansas
25. (22) Sawyer Robertson QB Lubbock Coronado (5A) Mississippi State
26. (24) Theodore Knox WR The Woodlands (6A) Mississippi State
27. (25) Jordon Thomas DE Port Arthur Memorial (5A) Texas
28. (30) Eli Stowers QB Denton Guyer (6A) Texas A&M
29. (29) Landyn Watson DE Hutto (5A) TCU
30. (NR) Andrew Mukuba S Austin LBJ (4A) Clemson
31. (21) Dametrious Crownover TE Grandview (3A) Texas A&M
32. (32) JD Coffey S Kennedale (4A) Texas
33. (NR) Kaidon Salter QB Cedar Hill (6A) Tennessee
34. (35) Behren Morton QB Eastland (3A) Texas Tech
35. (26) Derrick Harris Jr. DE New Caney (5A) Texas
36. (44) Kyron Drones QB Alvin Shadow Creek (5A) Baylor
37. (27) Kendrick Blackshire ILB Duncanville (6A) Alabama
38. (31) Hayden Conner OL Katy Taylor (6A) Texas
39. (36) Hunter Washington CB Katy (6A) Florida State
40. (NR) Elijah Arroyo TE Frisco Independence (5A) Miami
41. (51) Jordan Jenkins RB Lindale (5A) Baylor
42. (39) Jaeden Roberts OL Galena Park North Shore (6A) Auburn
43. (41) Cisco Catson S Weatherford (6A) Baylor
44. (47) Terrence Cooks OLB Alvin Shadow Creek (5A) Texas
45. (40) James Brockermeyer OL Fort Worth All Saints (TAPPS) Alabama
46. (NR) Morice Blackwell OLB Arlington Bowie (6A) Texas
47. (46) Deuce Harmon CB Denton Guyer (6A) Texas A&M
48. (52) David Abiara DE Mansfield Legacy (5A) Notre Dame
49. (55) Byron Murphy II DT DeSoto (6A) Baylor
50. (34) Cullen Montgomery OL Bellaire Episcopal (TAPPS) Oklahoma
51. (33) Brandon Campbell RB Lamar Consolidated (5A) USC
52. (37) KJ Liggins WR Denton Guyer Uncommitted
53. (49) Cam'ron Valdez RB Rockdale (4A) Texas Tech
54. (42) Bryson Green WR Allen (6A) Oklahoma State
55. (50) Matthew Wykoff OL Magnolia (5A) Texas A&M
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