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Spring practice in jeopardy?
Last week, I mentioned that Matt Rhule at Nebraska was talking about canceling their spring game due to the transfer portal and other people have started to consider that possibility as well. But it looks like that may not be the only change coming to spring football as we know it.
Apparently, there was serious discussion at the recent AFCA coach's convention in Charlotte about not only doing away with spring games, but spring practice entirely. Instead, there is a push to go to something similar to what the NFL does with OTAs, where players would come in and work for a few days at a time every month or so.
For example, here's how the Texans did it this past season: OTAs May 20-21, May 23, May 29-31, June 3-4 and June 6, then mandatory minicamp June 11-13, and then they were off until training camp. With college players being a bit more of a captive audience, shall we say, OTAs wouldn't be optional and they could probably spread them out further.
As it stands now, spring ball will start around March 24.
Sorrell out, Kiel in
With opening night this evening for the baseball team, one of the key bats from the run to Omaha is sidelined for a while. Coach Michael Earley said yesterday that Caden Sorrell is sidelined for the foreseeable future with a hamstring injury. As a result, true freshman Terrence Kiel II will be in right field tonight and until Sorrell is healthy.
Kiel, the son of the late Aggie safety Terrence Kiel, brings something to the lineup that it didn't really have: speed. He stole more than 100 bases during his high school career and could hit leadoff tonight as a result.
Sorrell will move back into the lineup when he's healthy, but Kiel will likely get a pretty long look in the non-conference schedule.
Recruiting updates:
4-star WR Ethan "Boobie" Feaster announced today that he is reclassifying from the 2027 class to 2026, so the pursuit for him has taken off in earnest. He is down to 12 teams, and A&M is one of them. The Aggies have been recruiting him hard for a while, and he has a strong report with coach Mike Elko. Texas is involved here too, along with LSU, Oregon, Ohio State, Alabama and Tennessee to name a few. Feaster immediately vaults into the upper echelon of wideouts in the 2026 class, and he is expected to take an official to A&M this summer.
At the very top of the WR charts -- and maybe overall -- for A&M is 5-star Brandon Arrington. Arrington ran a 6.67-second 60-yard dash the other day, so that gives you an idea of how fast he goes (Kiel reportedly ran a 6.3 last year). The Aggies have led for Arrington for quite a while, but Oregon is really making a push for him now. His first official, to this point, that's set is to Oregon June 13. But A&M isn't going to give up its advantage easily; before the dead period, Elko and much of the staff headed out west to see him.
Even with yesterday's surprise commitment from 4-star Jermaine Kinsler, the Aggies remain very intent on finding more defensive ends for '26 (as they should). Buford (Ga.) 4-star Bryce Perry-Wright has set up his A&M official for June 20, which is currently his last. He will also visit Texas, Georgia, Auburn and Clemson, so that gives you an idea of the competition. A&M has come on pretty strong for Perry-Wright over the past couple of months, so they've got more than a decent shot to land him -- at this point, at least.
Another Georgia prospect, 4-star RB Carsyn Baker, will also visit June 20. Right now, he's only got visits to A&M and Ohio State (June 13) scheduled, but he is likely to take an official to UGA as well. Clearly, A&M's up against some stiff competition as far as developing running backs go in this one.
The Aggies need to find some size in the middle of the defense and on the offensive line, so they're starting to narrow down their visitors at those positions as well. Flower Mound's Drew Evers has set an official for June 20 as well. Evers is projected as a guard at the next level, and the 4-star has a great offer list. Texas really wants him, but so far, the only school to lock down an official is A&M. They may lead for him at this point.
With Jackson Cantwell eliminating all the Texas teams from his final six, the Aggies have shifted to other targets at offensive tackle. Ishmael Iheanacho remains a possibility, but I don't know how far the 5-star from Georgetown Prep wants to go from the D.C. area. But there are two in-state prospects the Aggies are seriously after: John Turntine III of North Crowley and Zaden Krempin of Prosper. Both guys could end up being A&M-Texas battles. Turntine seemed like a Texas lock a few months ago, but they've placed more focus on Felix Ojo of late (and they'll probably get him). A&M, on the other hand, has cranked up the heat on Turntine and has definitely made up a lot of ground. I don't know if I'd say they lead for him, but they're certainly in the picture. He will visit June 5. Krempin will be in that weekend as well, after he visits LSU but before visits to SMU, Texas and Michigan.
4-star IOL Parker Pritchett from Columbus, Ga., will also visit that weekend. He's set up SEC-only officials, with ones to Auburn, Mississippi State and Georgia. Columbus is only about an hour from Auburn and the Tigers have been on him for a long time, so they have to be considered the favorite at this point.
June 13 is the defensive lineman weekend, with commit Trashawn Ruffin taking his official along with longtime target Lamar Brown and former LSU commit JaReylan McCoy, a 4-star out of Tupelo, Miss. In the case of Brown, it's A&M vs. LSU and that's it. LSU is pushing really hard, so a quality official is a must. McCoy may have the same finalists, though Ole Miss has definitely been nosing around. McCoy has set up officials to Aggieland, LSU, Ole Miss, Auburn and Florida.
Whether A&M expected TE Xavier Tiller to de-commit may have been answered quietly a couple of weeks ago, when they offered rapidly ascending 3-star TE Luke Sorensen from Anaheim, Calif. Sorenson very quickly set up an official visit for June 5, and will also visit Texas (them again), Miami, Florida and UCLA. He doesn't seem to have a whole lot of interest in USC.
Phone: 281-971-3362
Email: paul@westhoustonsf.com
Spring practice in jeopardy?
Last week, I mentioned that Matt Rhule at Nebraska was talking about canceling their spring game due to the transfer portal and other people have started to consider that possibility as well. But it looks like that may not be the only change coming to spring football as we know it.
Apparently, there was serious discussion at the recent AFCA coach's convention in Charlotte about not only doing away with spring games, but spring practice entirely. Instead, there is a push to go to something similar to what the NFL does with OTAs, where players would come in and work for a few days at a time every month or so.
For example, here's how the Texans did it this past season: OTAs May 20-21, May 23, May 29-31, June 3-4 and June 6, then mandatory minicamp June 11-13, and then they were off until training camp. With college players being a bit more of a captive audience, shall we say, OTAs wouldn't be optional and they could probably spread them out further.
As it stands now, spring ball will start around March 24.
Sorrell out, Kiel in
With opening night this evening for the baseball team, one of the key bats from the run to Omaha is sidelined for a while. Coach Michael Earley said yesterday that Caden Sorrell is sidelined for the foreseeable future with a hamstring injury. As a result, true freshman Terrence Kiel II will be in right field tonight and until Sorrell is healthy.
Kiel, the son of the late Aggie safety Terrence Kiel, brings something to the lineup that it didn't really have: speed. He stole more than 100 bases during his high school career and could hit leadoff tonight as a result.
Sorrell will move back into the lineup when he's healthy, but Kiel will likely get a pretty long look in the non-conference schedule.
Recruiting updates:
4-star WR Ethan "Boobie" Feaster announced today that he is reclassifying from the 2027 class to 2026, so the pursuit for him has taken off in earnest. He is down to 12 teams, and A&M is one of them. The Aggies have been recruiting him hard for a while, and he has a strong report with coach Mike Elko. Texas is involved here too, along with LSU, Oregon, Ohio State, Alabama and Tennessee to name a few. Feaster immediately vaults into the upper echelon of wideouts in the 2026 class, and he is expected to take an official to A&M this summer.
At the very top of the WR charts -- and maybe overall -- for A&M is 5-star Brandon Arrington. Arrington ran a 6.67-second 60-yard dash the other day, so that gives you an idea of how fast he goes (Kiel reportedly ran a 6.3 last year). The Aggies have led for Arrington for quite a while, but Oregon is really making a push for him now. His first official, to this point, that's set is to Oregon June 13. But A&M isn't going to give up its advantage easily; before the dead period, Elko and much of the staff headed out west to see him.
Even with yesterday's surprise commitment from 4-star Jermaine Kinsler, the Aggies remain very intent on finding more defensive ends for '26 (as they should). Buford (Ga.) 4-star Bryce Perry-Wright has set up his A&M official for June 20, which is currently his last. He will also visit Texas, Georgia, Auburn and Clemson, so that gives you an idea of the competition. A&M has come on pretty strong for Perry-Wright over the past couple of months, so they've got more than a decent shot to land him -- at this point, at least.
Another Georgia prospect, 4-star RB Carsyn Baker, will also visit June 20. Right now, he's only got visits to A&M and Ohio State (June 13) scheduled, but he is likely to take an official to UGA as well. Clearly, A&M's up against some stiff competition as far as developing running backs go in this one.
The Aggies need to find some size in the middle of the defense and on the offensive line, so they're starting to narrow down their visitors at those positions as well. Flower Mound's Drew Evers has set an official for June 20 as well. Evers is projected as a guard at the next level, and the 4-star has a great offer list. Texas really wants him, but so far, the only school to lock down an official is A&M. They may lead for him at this point.
With Jackson Cantwell eliminating all the Texas teams from his final six, the Aggies have shifted to other targets at offensive tackle. Ishmael Iheanacho remains a possibility, but I don't know how far the 5-star from Georgetown Prep wants to go from the D.C. area. But there are two in-state prospects the Aggies are seriously after: John Turntine III of North Crowley and Zaden Krempin of Prosper. Both guys could end up being A&M-Texas battles. Turntine seemed like a Texas lock a few months ago, but they've placed more focus on Felix Ojo of late (and they'll probably get him). A&M, on the other hand, has cranked up the heat on Turntine and has definitely made up a lot of ground. I don't know if I'd say they lead for him, but they're certainly in the picture. He will visit June 5. Krempin will be in that weekend as well, after he visits LSU but before visits to SMU, Texas and Michigan.
4-star IOL Parker Pritchett from Columbus, Ga., will also visit that weekend. He's set up SEC-only officials, with ones to Auburn, Mississippi State and Georgia. Columbus is only about an hour from Auburn and the Tigers have been on him for a long time, so they have to be considered the favorite at this point.
June 13 is the defensive lineman weekend, with commit Trashawn Ruffin taking his official along with longtime target Lamar Brown and former LSU commit JaReylan McCoy, a 4-star out of Tupelo, Miss. In the case of Brown, it's A&M vs. LSU and that's it. LSU is pushing really hard, so a quality official is a must. McCoy may have the same finalists, though Ole Miss has definitely been nosing around. McCoy has set up officials to Aggieland, LSU, Ole Miss, Auburn and Florida.
Whether A&M expected TE Xavier Tiller to de-commit may have been answered quietly a couple of weeks ago, when they offered rapidly ascending 3-star TE Luke Sorensen from Anaheim, Calif. Sorenson very quickly set up an official visit for June 5, and will also visit Texas (them again), Miami, Florida and UCLA. He doesn't seem to have a whole lot of interest in USC.
