Football
The Dotted Line: Nine prospects from the 2021 Fabulous 55 remain uncommitted
Posted October 7th, 2020
Nine players of the 2021 Fabulous 55 remain uncommitted with two months remaining until the early signing period after four-star safety Andrew Mukuba, No. 30 on the list, chose Clemson over Texas and LSU. The 2021 cycle is unlike any other with COVID-19 restrictions preventing recruits from taking official visits to campuses. That hasn’t stopped the bulk of prospects from committing.
But where are those nine uncommitted players leaning?
LJ Johnson, running back, Houston Cypress-Fairbanks
FYI: 5-10, 204; four stars; No. 4-ranked running back
Fab 55 rank: 4
Top schools: Texas, Texas A&M, LSU
The state of Texas is home to two of the nation’s top five running back prospects. Johnson is my pick for the state’s top back by a smidge over Camar Wheaton, mostly because Johnson is proven against stiffer competition. The Longhorns wanted to sign one of the two entering the cycle, and Texas is poised to achieve that with Johnson leaning toward Tom Herman’s program thanks to a great relationship with UT running backs coach Stan Drayton. Texas A&M is the other team to watch.
Johnson was the District 17-6A newcomer of the year in 2018 as a sophomore and a Texas Associated Press all-state selection as a junior. He entered his senior season with 3,090 rushing yards and 57 touchdowns on the ground. He’s also a solid receiver out of the backfield, too. Cy-Fair is currently ranked in the top 20 of Class 6A. Johnson hasn’t announced when he’ll announce or if he’ll wait until national signing day in February in hopes that visits can happen early in 2021.
Prediction: Texas
Bryce Foster, guard, Katy Taylor
FYI: 6-4, 315; four stars; No. 4-ranked guard
Fab 55 rank: 8
Top schools: Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas
Foster wants to take visits before picking a school, and he might do so on his own family’s dime if the NCAA doesn’t loosen restrictions. Oklahoma and Texas A&M are in a two-team race for him with Oregon and Texas on the outside looking in, but that could change depending on season results, potential coaching changes and what school he enjoys the most when, or if, he gets to take a real visit. His Taylor teammate, Hayden Conner, is pledged to Texas.
Prediction: Oklahoma
Camar Wheaton, running back, Garland Lakeview Centennial
FYI: 5-11, 190; five stars; No. 1-ranked running back
Fab 55 rank: 10
Top schools: Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma
Wheaton is considered the top back in the state on 247Sports’ composite ranking. He dominates his competition in Garland, and he’s the most explosive running back in Texas with legit track speed. The truth is that he and Johnson are both fantastic prospects and ranking them as teenagers is likely splitting hairs. Wheaton’s offer list is impressive. Oklahoma must hold off SEC powers to earn his signature.
Prediction: Oklahoma
Savion Byrd, offensive tackle, Duncanville
FYI: 6-5, 265; four stars; No. 6-ranked offensive tackle
Fab 55 rank: 11
Top schools: LSU, Oklahoma, SMU, Texas
Texas appears to have fallen off pace for Byrd. He’s a naturally quiet person, so it isn’t surprising that he goes about recruiting without much fanfare despite being a consensus top-15 player in the state with an offer list of 21 power programs. But don’t rule out SMU. The Mustangs are playing well, it’s his hometown team and there are connections between the Duncanville and SMU coaching staffs.
Prediction: SMU
Shemar Turner, defensive end, DeSoto
FYI: 6-3, 282; four stars; No. 117-ranked nationally
Fab 55 rank: 15
Top schools: LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M
Had a great time at The University of Texas @CoachTomHerman @OscarGiles95 @FootballDesoto #HookEm 🤘🏾🧡 pic.twitter.com/AGJ4ZwD0vv
— 3️⃣2️⃣ (@TheShemarTurner) January 26, 2020
Turner is the state’s best defensive prospect still uncommitted. He’s a big-bodied lineman who plays defensive end now but could grow into a three-technique defensive tackle. He began making an impact at DeSoto as a sophomore when he was named the District 7-6A co-defensive sophomore of the year. He was a first-team all-district selection as a junior. Potential visits loom large for Turner. My feeling is that it is becoming a two-team race between Texas and Texas A&M.
Prediction: Texas
Dametrious Crownover, tight end, Grandview
FYI: 6-6, 275; four stars; No. 11-ranked tight end
Fab 55 rank: 31
Top schools: Baylor, Nebraska, Texas A&M
Crownover is ranked as a tight end, but he’s probably best listed as an athlete. He’s a big, athletic two-way player with potential as a tight end or defensive lineman. I like him more as a three-technique defensive tackle. His older brother is already at Texas A&M. It’d be surprising if Crownover didn’t follow the same path.
Prediction: Texas A&M
Terrence Cooks, outside linebacker, Alvin Shadow Creek
FYI: 6-2, 210; three stars; No. 25-ranked outside linebacker
Fab 55 rank: 44
Top schools: Baylor, LSU, Texas
Cooks is a long-time target of Texas’ defensive staff. A trip to Austin in February was one of the last recruiting-related events that Cooks did before the travel restrictions were put in place. He’s close with a few UT commits and current UT players, which is good news for the Longhorns. Texas needs to improve at linebacker. He’d already be pledged f it was a slam dunk, however. Baylor and LSU are legit players in Cooks’ recruitment.
Prediction: Texas
KJ Liggins, athlete, Coppell
FYI: 5-11, 185; three stars; No. 139-ranked wide receiver
Fab 55 rank: 52
Top schools: Texas A&M, Arkansas, Mississippi State, SMU
Liggins is at Coppell for his senior season after helping Denton Guyer reach the Class 6A Division I state championship game as a junior. Some see him as a wide receiver. Others as a safety. Either way, the two-way star is among the most impactful players in Texas.
Prediction: Arkansas
Cam’ron Valdez, running back, Rockdale
FYI: 5-10, 187; three stars; No. 18-ranked running back
Fab 55 rank: 53
Top schools: Nebraska, Arkansas, Arizona State, Texas Tech
Valdez avoids recruiting headlines because he plays relatively small-town football outside of a major metroplex. He’s still among the best players in the state despite the lack of attention from national recruiting services. He’s a big, athletic player holding 26 offers. Texas Tech is in the running, but my feeling is that he’s tempted to leave the state. Valdez was the District 10-3A Division I newcomer of the year as a sophomore and the same district’s offensive MVP as a junior.
Prediction: Arizona State
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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