Football Recruiting - Midlands Region: Alabama Crimson Tide
AUSTIN, Texas -- Deionte Thompson (Orange, Texas/West Orange-Stark) doesn’t feel any pressure when it comes to recruiting right now. And why should he?
The 2015 safety has been committed to Alabama since February. He’s perfectly content with that pledge. Recruiters aren’t backing off, but that doesn’t bother Thompson.
The 2015 safety has been committed to Alabama since February. He’s perfectly content with that pledge. Recruiters aren’t backing off, but that doesn’t bother Thompson.
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Q&A: 4-star prospect Martin deciding soon 
May, 15, 2013
May 15
1:00
PM ET
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
AUSTIN, Texas -- Versatility is a trait widely admired by college programs, but one that doesn’t always come in the form of someone 6-foot-6 and 247 pounds.
Koda Martin’s size alone makes him an attractive prospect, but couple it with his ability to play on either side of the ball and it’s easy to see why the four-star recruit from Manvel, Texas, has close to 20 offers.
Martin, who is rated as the No. 21 offensive tackle and No. 43 player in the state of Texas, was in Austin on Saturday to get a better feel for one of those schools that offered him.
We caught up with Martin at the Texas State track and field meet to see how everything went with the visit with Texas, and where he stands overall.
Koda Martin’s size alone makes him an attractive prospect, but couple it with his ability to play on either side of the ball and it’s easy to see why the four-star recruit from Manvel, Texas, has close to 20 offers.
Martin, who is rated as the No. 21 offensive tackle and No. 43 player in the state of Texas, was in Austin on Saturday to get a better feel for one of those schools that offered him.
We caught up with Martin at the Texas State track and field meet to see how everything went with the visit with Texas, and where he stands overall.
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HOUSTON, Texas -- It's the first play of Zach Whitley Jr.'s favorite part of practice on a warm May afternoon in East Houston, and the 2014 linebacker is ready to hit somebody.
The Houston North Shore coaches gather their players together for some full-contact work in the second week of spring football practice. They have the offense and defense compete with best-on-best, first teamers taking on first teamers.
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Recruiting has steadily picked up for four-star quarterback Brandon Harris (Bossier City, La./Parkway), and that trend continued Monday.
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Houston North Shore linebacker Zach Whitley Jr. originally wanted to take his time with the recruiting process. Even as late as last month, he said that he wanted to wait until his senior season was underway before making a commitment.
A visit to Alabama changed that.
The four-star linebacker committed to the Crimson Tide on Friday, according to North Shore recruiting coordinator Garrett Cross.
Whitley, the ninth-ranked inside linebacker in the country, had offers from Texas, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and TCU in addition to Alabama.
Earlier this year, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Whitley attended junior days at both Texas and Texas A&M but made his first trip to Alabama on April 20 for "A-Day." He is the sixth commitment in the 2014 class for the Crimson Tide and the second inside linebacker. Defense is a priority in this class for Alabama, with at least five of the six committed players projected to play on that side of the line of scrimmage.
ESPN scouts call Whitley a "tough, physical linebacker prospect who plays fast but disciplined in between the tackles." His trip to Tuscaloosa, Ala., was his first spring football game experience.
"He's what you look for in a linebacker," North Shore head coach David Aymond said. "All the attritbutes of a linebacker you want, he personifies. He has a commitment to working hard, believes the game to be physical, expects it to be physical around him. That's what you look for in a traditional linebacker -- dirty, grimy, physical and hard-working -- and that's what Zach is about. He works hard in the weight room and has good speed and quickness on the field."
A visit to Alabama changed that.
- Zach Whitley Jr.
- Inside Linebacker
- 2014
- Committed: Alabama
| Pos Rk | Stars | Grade | Hometown |
| 9 | | 82 | Houston, TX |
Whitley, the ninth-ranked inside linebacker in the country, had offers from Texas, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and TCU in addition to Alabama.
Earlier this year, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Whitley attended junior days at both Texas and Texas A&M but made his first trip to Alabama on April 20 for "A-Day." He is the sixth commitment in the 2014 class for the Crimson Tide and the second inside linebacker. Defense is a priority in this class for Alabama, with at least five of the six committed players projected to play on that side of the line of scrimmage.
ESPN scouts call Whitley a "tough, physical linebacker prospect who plays fast but disciplined in between the tackles." His trip to Tuscaloosa, Ala., was his first spring football game experience.
"He's what you look for in a linebacker," North Shore head coach David Aymond said. "All the attritbutes of a linebacker you want, he personifies. He has a commitment to working hard, believes the game to be physical, expects it to be physical around him. That's what you look for in a traditional linebacker -- dirty, grimy, physical and hard-working -- and that's what Zach is about. He works hard in the weight room and has good speed and quickness on the field."
Brandon Harris must feel like he's going through a tryout camp.
The 2014 quarterback from Bossier City, La.'s Parkway High has had coaches coming by his school all week to either watch him throw individually or to watch his team practice.
The week has worked out well for him so far. After a good workout in front of a group of teams led by Ohio State on Monday, Harris said he's been seen by Texas A&M, Tennessee, Baylor, South Florida and Louisiana Tech. Those workouts have yielded a new development in his recruiting process.
The 2014 quarterback from Bossier City, La.'s Parkway High has had coaches coming by his school all week to either watch him throw individually or to watch his team practice.
The week has worked out well for him so far. After a good workout in front of a group of teams led by Ohio State on Monday, Harris said he's been seen by Texas A&M, Tennessee, Baylor, South Florida and Louisiana Tech. Those workouts have yielded a new development in his recruiting process.
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MANVEL, Texas — On the wall across the Manvel (Texas) High School locker room and weight room, there is a poster with the words "Hoka Hey."
Though the term's original meaning was "It's a good day to die," when Crazy Horse let the Sioux to a victory at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, around Manvel High, it takes on a much more amiable meaning. Specifically, it's used to symbolize teamwork. At the top of the poster are the words "Hoka Hey = Play Unselfish."
Though the term's original meaning was "It's a good day to die," when Crazy Horse let the Sioux to a victory at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, around Manvel High, it takes on a much more amiable meaning. Specifically, it's used to symbolize teamwork. At the top of the poster are the words "Hoka Hey = Play Unselfish."
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HUMBLE, Texas -- Deionte Thompson's last visit to Alabama was a memorable one. And though it's hard to top that day, when the Orange (Texas) West Orange-Stark 2015 safety committed to the Crimson Tide, he had a pretty fun time when he returned to Tuscaloosa, Ala., recently for A-Day.
He even brought along a friend, fellow Southeast Texas defensive back Tony Brown (Beaumont, Texas/Ozen) an ESPN 150 prospect.
"It was great," said Thompson, who competed in the Texas Class 3A Region III track and field championships with his West Orange-Stark teammates over the weekend. "Tony Brown came with me. We talked to a lot of other recruits, two of the other commits from the Class of 2015. We watched the game, saw some stuff where they need to improve on and what they're good at, so it was a great time going out there and having fun."
He even brought along a friend, fellow Southeast Texas defensive back Tony Brown (Beaumont, Texas/Ozen) an ESPN 150 prospect.
"It was great," said Thompson, who competed in the Texas Class 3A Region III track and field championships with his West Orange-Stark teammates over the weekend. "Tony Brown came with me. We talked to a lot of other recruits, two of the other commits from the Class of 2015. We watched the game, saw some stuff where they need to improve on and what they're good at, so it was a great time going out there and having fun."
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Four-star DT has options, taking his time
April, 28, 2013
Apr 28
1:36
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By
Damon Sayles | ESPN.com
Four-star defensive tackle Josh Frazier (Springdale, Ark./Har-Ber) isn't worried about making a rushed decision regarding his college football future. Recruiting for Frazier, to an extent, is taking a back seat until after May 23 -- the last day of spring football for his school.
Spring ball, however, could lead to a variety of options for the No. 2 player in Arkansas, as it offers Frazier -- a player with nine offers -- the chance to attract even more programs. At 6-foot-4 and 336 pounds, Frazier has offers from SEC schools Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia and Texas A&M, in addition to Florida State, Notre Dame, USC and Arkansas State.
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In the few times he has found reprieve from his busy track season, ESPN 150 cornerback Tony Brown has managed to get out of town for two big spring game visits.
Things are moving so fast, though, that Brown has had little time to sit down and think things through. His grand plan is being made up on the fly right now.
Things are moving so fast, though, that Brown has had little time to sit down and think things through. His grand plan is being made up on the fly right now.
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ESPN 150 offensive tackle Roderick Johnson (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) had his spring game invitations this past week. His mind, however, is focused on helping his track and field team get as many accolades as possible.
Johnson is a thrower for Hazelwood Central, and while interested schools such as Missouri and Arkansas held spring games on Saturday, he was participating in a track meet in Kansas.
“We had a meet at KU. It was my first time going,” Johnson said. “It was a good experience.
Johnson is a thrower for Hazelwood Central, and while interested schools such as Missouri and Arkansas held spring games on Saturday, he was participating in a track meet in Kansas.
“We had a meet at KU. It was my first time going,” Johnson said. “It was a good experience.
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Methodical approach for 5-star DE Garrett
April, 23, 2013
Apr 23
8:00
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By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
When it comes to how he approaches athletics and everything that comes with it, Arlington (Texas) James Martin defensive end Myles Garrett is methodical.
The five-star defensive end does things his way -- and not in a bad way.
The five-star defensive end does things his way -- and not in a bad way.
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Offer changes timeline for 2015 DT Mack
April, 22, 2013
Apr 22
3:30
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By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
Gladewater (Texas) High School defensive tackle Daylon Mack felt confident in where his recruitment was headed.
Having picked up offers from the two most well-known programs in his home state, visiting both campuses and dissecting it all, he felt certain that he was ready to make a commitment to one of them.
Then Alabama extended the 2015 prospect a scholarship offer and Mack took a step back. Now, the 6-foot-2, 307-pound prospect intends to take his time when it comes to decision-making in the recruiting process.
Having picked up offers from the two most well-known programs in his home state, visiting both campuses and dissecting it all, he felt certain that he was ready to make a commitment to one of them.
Then Alabama extended the 2015 prospect a scholarship offer and Mack took a step back. Now, the 6-foot-2, 307-pound prospect intends to take his time when it comes to decision-making in the recruiting process.
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ESPN Watch List offensive guard D.J. Foster (Lincoln, Neb./Southeast) has been laying low in recent weeks, focusing on improving as a player and taking a closer look at the options he currently has.
A player knocking on double-digit offers, Foster said he doesn’t have plans on making an immediate decision regarding his college future. Foster has offers from Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Iowa, Iowa State and Nebraska, among others, and he said other top programs are showing heavy interest.
A player knocking on double-digit offers, Foster said he doesn’t have plans on making an immediate decision regarding his college future. Foster has offers from Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Iowa, Iowa State and Nebraska, among others, and he said other top programs are showing heavy interest.
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Plenty of suitors for 2014 Texas LB Whitley
April, 17, 2013
Apr 17
9:45
AM ET
By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
HOUSTON, Texas -- After a busy track and field season, ESPN Watch List linebacker Zach Whitley Jr. is turning his attention back to football.
The 2014 prospect's time on the track for this season is complete and on Tuesday at Houston North Shore, the soon-to-be-senior was out at Galena Park ISD Stadium, barking out calls to his defensive teammates during 7-on-7 sessions as he and the Mustangs prepare for the 2013 season.
The 2014 prospect's time on the track for this season is complete and on Tuesday at Houston North Shore, the soon-to-be-senior was out at Galena Park ISD Stadium, barking out calls to his defensive teammates during 7-on-7 sessions as he and the Mustangs prepare for the 2013 season.
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RECRUITING NATION MIDLANDS COVERAGE
The Midlands Region consists of the states of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and
Texas and is where Big 12 programs make a living recruiting. However, with the deep talent pool in the Lone Star State, teams from all over the country flock to the Midlands to find players.
More RecruitingNation blogs
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• Midwest Region blog
• Southeast Region blog
• West Region blog
MIDLANDS RECRUITING CONTRIBUTORS
Sam KhanESPN Archive |
Max OlsonESPN Archive |
Bob PrzybyloESPN Archive |
Damon SaylesESPN Archive |
Mitch ShermanESPN Archive |
William WilkersonESPN Archive |
