Texas full of defensive prospects

There are two old adages that seem to hover and link Texas and high school football every year: "Everything is bigger in Texas" and "Defense wins championships."

While there is legitimate size among the defensive linemen of the Lone Star State, the linebackers and defensive backs also bring good size to the masses. One of the biggest recruits yet to commit is 6-foot-4, 220-pound linebacker Mike Mitchell (Plano/Prestonwood Christian), who won the Nike SPARQ national competition in Beaverton, Ore., over the summer. He's being recruited by Ohio State, Texas A&M, Florida State, Oklahoma and a host of other schools.

While many athletes are looking to stay in state, some have already chosen to take their talents outside the border, including cornerback Maurice Smith (Sugar Land/Dulles) and outside linebacker Deon Hollins Jr. (Missouri City/Marshall), two ESPN 150 athletes who have committed to Alabama and UCLA, respectively.

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