Texas Longhorns: Clemson Tigers
McKINNEY, Texas -- The 2013 Nike Football Festival made a stop in north Texas, and 24 teams from the Dallas metroplex and east Texas showed their skills in 7-on-7 competition and individual skills challenges at Craig Ranch and the Michael Johnson Performance Center. Roughly 400 athletes were in attendance, some considered major FBS recruits.
Here is what we learned after the event:
2015 QB Murray wins ... twice
That sigh of relief you heard in McKinney? It’s still to be determined if it was from the Allen faithful or the Texas A&M faithful.
Saturday afternoon, Allen won the event's 7-on-7 tournament, and 2015 quarterback Kyler Murray looked phenomenal in competition. He made the same kind of plays in the air that allowed him to lead Allen to the Texas Class 5A Division-I state championship in December. In short, Murray was outstanding.
Shortly after, the 5-foot-11, 166-pound quarterback picked up the much-anticipated offer that made Aggies fans gush. Murray, the son of former Aggies quarterback Kevin Murray, finally got an offer from Texas A&M to join offers from Ohio State, Clemson, Texas Tech, Arkansas and Arizona State.
Life after Texas commit looks promising
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MESQUITE, Texas -- Class of 2015 quarterback Kyler Murray (Allen, Texas/Allen) has five offers so far, and his list of interested schools continues to grow.
Murray took in a satellite camp hosted by Sam Houston State and assisted by Arizona State, one of the schools to have offered, on Thursday afternoon. While he chose to watch the camp and not participate, Murray said he was a fan of what he saw from the Arizona State coaches.
"I've been talking to [offensive coordinator] Coach [Mike] Norvell, and he told me they liked me," Murray said. "I like what they're doing over there. I'm definitely interested."
Murray took in a satellite camp hosted by Sam Houston State and assisted by Arizona State, one of the schools to have offered, on Thursday afternoon. While he chose to watch the camp and not participate, Murray said he was a fan of what he saw from the Arizona State coaches.
"I've been talking to [offensive coordinator] Coach [Mike] Norvell, and he told me they liked me," Murray said. "I like what they're doing over there. I'm definitely interested."
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ATHENS, Ga. -- The youngest student at Stephens County High School in Toccoa, Ga., also happens to be the school's largest student. Freshman offensive tackle Ben Cleveland is only 14 and claims to be the youngest student in the ninth grade. Despite his youth, he already stands 6 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 315 pounds. Cleveland receives an abundance of slack-jawed stares when he is on the football field, but the real gawping comes when he steps onto the baseball diamond to man first base.
In fact, that was where a college football coach first spotted him.
In fact, that was where a college football coach first spotted him.
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#BlueChipBattles: ESPN 150 release edition
April, 19, 2013
Apr 19
11:49
AM CT
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
Student Sports, ESPN, ESPNSpeedy Noil, Adoree Jackson and Da'Shawn Hand are three of the most coveted recruits in the Class of 2014.
: RecruitingNation summoned its writers from around the country to outline the recruiting battles for the ESPN 150's top 10 prospects.
Plus, rank the battles in SportsNation.
#TopFBMixtapes: Athlete mixtapes are all the rage in this highlight-crazed era of sports. We reached out to our Twitter followers to find out which 2014 football stars had the best highlight reels on YouTube, then had our staff rank and comment on the top submissions.
Tom Luginbill writes
: After talking to many coaches across the country and hearing their frustrations, here are their five biggest complaints about homemade highlight videos.
ATHENS, Ga. -- ESPN Watch List wide receiver Demarre Kitt (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) recently cut his mammoth offer list down to a top-15 group of schools that he will consider.
“It got crazy at one point with almost everybody that offered me trying to talk to me,” Kitt said. “So I had to cut my list down to 15 schools. After spring practice I will cut it down to eight or 10. At the end of summer I will do five and then go from there.”
“It got crazy at one point with almost everybody that offered me trying to talk to me,” Kitt said. “So I had to cut my list down to 15 schools. After spring practice I will cut it down to eight or 10. At the end of summer I will do five and then go from there.”
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Watch List S decommits from Clemson 
January, 31, 2013
Jan 31
10:45
PM CT
By
Damon Sayles and
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
Clemson’s 2013 recruiting class is shaping up to be a pretty good one. Expectations were high -- perhaps higher -- for its 2014 class.
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Just because Dylan Sumner-Gardner committed to Clemson last June doesn’t mean the 2014 safety is shutting down his recruiting process. Far from it, in fact.
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Longhorns 11th in Way-Too-Early Top 25
January, 8, 2013
Jan 8
5:00
PM CT
By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
Streeter Lecka/Getty ImagesAlabama, with three of the past four national titles, is No. 1 in the Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2013.There's still seven months before the start of the 2013 season, and the teams and their order figure to change frequently, but it's never too early to take a look at the Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2013.
And with three national championships in the past four years, there's no reason to change the team that's on top. Texas, with plenty of talent returning, is 11th in the rankings.
Also see:
Army Bowl: Wednesday notebook
January, 2, 2013
Jan 2
2:08
PM CT
By
Damon Sayles and
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
SAN ANTONIO -- Wednesday was a day off for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl teams. Instead of working out and participating in drills, the players took in visits around the city -- including a stop at the Alamodome for photo opportunities and to see their game apparel -- and used the day to recover from two days of practice.
The teams will return to the fields on Thursday in arguably the most important practice of the week. Here are five things to keep an eye on for Thursday’s practice:
The teams will return to the fields on Thursday in arguably the most important practice of the week. Here are five things to keep an eye on for Thursday’s practice:
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U.S. Army Bowl: Monday notebook
December, 31, 2012
12/31/12
7:51
PM CT
By
Damon Sayles and
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
SAN ANTONIO -- ESPN 150 outside linebacker Mike Mitchell (Plano, Texas/Prestonwood Christian) isn’t big on speaking publicly. He’d rather let his game do the talking -- and it speaks volumes.
On Monday, the 6-foot-5, 222-pound linebacker officially confirmed that he will announce his college plans during Saturday’s U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Oregon, Texas A&M and Ohio State are his three finalists.
Mitchell said all three schools -- and even a fourth, Oklahoma -- had their positive qualities throughout his recruiting process. It was a feeling of comfort, however, that seemed to win him over.
On Monday, the 6-foot-5, 222-pound linebacker officially confirmed that he will announce his college plans during Saturday’s U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Oregon, Texas A&M and Ohio State are his three finalists.
Mitchell said all three schools -- and even a fourth, Oklahoma -- had their positive qualities throughout his recruiting process. It was a feeling of comfort, however, that seemed to win him over.
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#BlueChipBattles: Dec. 21
December, 22, 2012
12/22/12
8:00
AM CT
By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN.comReuben Foster (center) is torn between good friends Dee Liner (left) and Tray Matthews (right).No. 1 ILB Reuben Foster has voiced his desire to play with at least one of his SEC-bound friends next season. But will he follow Tray Matthews to Georgia or hook up with Dee Liner wherever the ESPN 150 DL settles? It remains to be seen, but the mystery surrounding his recruitment keeps Foster at the top of our #BlueChipBattles.
Each week, RecruitingNation summons its writers from around the country to compile a list of the top 10 battles for elite football recruits leading up to February's signing day.
Here are this week's top battles
, and you can take a shot at ranking the top 10 recruiting battles on SportsNation.#BlueChipBattles: Nov. 16
November, 16, 2012
11/16/12
11:13
AM CT
By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN.comUncommitted 2013 running backs Alvin Kamara and Derrick Green.ESPN 100 running backs Alvin Kamara and Derrick Green can score from anywhere on the field thanks to their breakaway speed, an attribute that makes them very attractive recruits to the Oregon Ducks. Oregon's pursuit of the duo headlines this week’s #BlueChipBattles.
Click through for our list to rank the top 10 recruiting battles
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ESPN 150 offensive lineman Tyrone Crowder (Rockingham, N.C./Richmond) would love to be able to get his recruitment over with as soon as possible. But unfortunately, he has not been able to fit any of his official visits into his schedule during his senior season. The 6-foot-2, 325-pound senior acknowledged his decision might not be made until signing day, depending on how quickly he can get his visits done.
The four-star prospect says two key factors stand out right now, with location not being one of them.
“A great coaching staff and a nice campus lifestyle,” Crowder said. “My family tells me that distance does not matter when it comes to me trying to achieve my goals.”
The four-star prospect says two key factors stand out right now, with location not being one of them.
“A great coaching staff and a nice campus lifestyle,” Crowder said. “My family tells me that distance does not matter when it comes to me trying to achieve my goals.”
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Marcell Harris taking third trip to see Texas
August, 27, 2012
8/27/12
9:30
AM CT
By
Max Olson | ESPN.com
Marcell Harris (Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips) has been to Texas twice. He can’t wait to find out what trip No. 3 has in store for him.
The four-star ESPN 150 safety is excited to take his first official visit this weekend, a three-day stay in Austin, Texas, for the Longhorns’ season opener against Wyoming.
“I’m pretty sure it’s going to be off the chain,” Harris said. “I’ve heard the fans are crazy and the stadium is going to be rocking and rolling. Being out there and sitting in the stands is going to feel pretty good. That’s something I’ve always looked forward to.”
The four-star ESPN 150 safety is excited to take his first official visit this weekend, a three-day stay in Austin, Texas, for the Longhorns’ season opener against Wyoming.
“I’m pretty sure it’s going to be off the chain,” Harris said. “I’ve heard the fans are crazy and the stadium is going to be rocking and rolling. Being out there and sitting in the stands is going to feel pretty good. That’s something I’ve always looked forward to.”
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Ed Paris doesn’t hesitate when asked what the highlight was of his Tuesday unofficial visit to Texas.
The 2014 safety recruit from Mansfield (Texas) Timberview was admittedly surprised when he stepped into Texas’ weight room during his facilities tour.
“We got to meet Earl Campbell,” Paris said. “That was pretty cool.”
The 2014 safety recruit from Mansfield (Texas) Timberview was admittedly surprised when he stepped into Texas’ weight room during his facilities tour.
“We got to meet Earl Campbell,” Paris said. “That was pretty cool.”
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ABOUT HORNSNATION
Sean Adams
Sean Adams has covered the Texas Longhorns and college football for the last 12 years as a writer and radio host. Sean co-hosts "The Big Show" with Erin Hogan each afternoon on ESPN Austin 104.9 The Horn. He lives with his family in Round Rock, Texas. Email him at thisean@gmail.com.
Max Olson
Max Olson joined ESPN in 2012 after covering the University of Nebraska for the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald and high school and college sports for the World-Herald and Rivals.com. Olson is a University of Nebraska graduate and lives in Austin, Texas. Email him at maxolsonespn@gmail.com.
Carter Strickand
Carter Strickland joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the University of Georgia for Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the University of Oklahoma for The (Oklahoma City) Oklahoman and Washington State University for The (Spokane, Wash.) Spokesman-Review. Strickland lives with his wife and family in Austin. Email him at cstrickland70@gmail.com.
William Wilkerson
William Wilkerson joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering high school sports, college sports and the Texas Rangers over four years at the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram. William is a University of Texas graduate and lives in Austin. He can be reached at wilkerson.espn@gmail.com.