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Phone: 281-971-3362
Email: paul@westhoustonsf.com
WILL A&M HAVE A SPRING GAME?
The answer is yes. It’s scheduled for April 19 at 2 p.m. Other programs have cancelled theirs, with some (Texas and Ohio State) claiming they need extra rest after a long playoff run.
Garbage.
The reason they, and programs like Nebraska and USC, are cancelling their spring games is because they are afraid of other programs scouting the game and using it as a springboard to tamper. And that, frankly, is a very valid reason and they shouldn’t hide it.
FSU has cancelled theirs, which is sort of odd because they’d probably want teams to take some of their players after last year.
Anyway, back to A&M. Their game is on, it’s scheduled and they intend to move forward with it. Spring ball will start on March 24, and I am not expecting any practices to be open to the public. I’m hoping that we (your intrepid reporters) get a full practice to watch at some point.
SORRELL A NO-GO FOR THIS WEEKEND
Coach Michael Earley told the media yesterday that right fielder Caden Sorrell will have to be “110%” to be put back in the lineup and his hamstring injury isn’t there yet. Considering that it is currently 36 degrees with a wind chill of 29, I wouldn’t play anyone with an injury today (or tomorrow). And, with Terrence Kiel II hitting .500 in his first three games and proving to be the hoped-for threat on the bases, there’s no reason to rush him.
Earley did say that Sorrell will play “the vast majority” of the season, so we’re not talking about a super-serious injury here. But they are going to be cautious with it, and reasonably so.
CONCEPCION LOOKS LIKE HE’S WHAT A&M NEEDED
One thing that the Aggie receivers lacked last year, with the exception of Aggie Heart Winner Jahdae Walker, was leadership. Noah Thomas isn’t much of a talker, and you had some problem children (looking at you, Moose Muhammad). Walker was banged up a lot of last season, as was Jabre Barber.
All of those guys are gone. Enter KC Concepcion.
Concepcion said when he got here he wasn’t messing around, he was looking to win and set an example. In the weight room, at least, he’s doing so. I’ve been told he’s already proven to be an extremely hard worker, both with the weights and his craft. He seems genuinely excited to be an Aggie and is trying to set a new tone for the receiver group.
Concepcion has, by far, the most production at the collegiate level of any A&M receiver, so they do need him to set an example. He’s the oldest. Here’s their receiver group right now:
Concepcion, a junior;
Redshirt sophomore Jonah Wilson
Sophomore Terry Bussey
Sophomore Mario Craver
Redshirt freshman Ashton Bethel-Roman
Redshirt freshman Izaiah Williams
Redshirt freshman Ernest Campbell
Freshman Jerome Myles
Freshman Kelshaun Johnson
Freshman TK Norman
I know people are sick and tired of hearing it, but that’s a young group.
MORE OFFICIAL VISITORS
We’ve got a legacy coming to visit. Michael Brown, the son of Reggie Brown, is a 3-star wideout at the Legacy School of Sports Sciences in Spring. That’s where new guard Josh Moses went. Brown will make an official visit in June, along with visits to Kansas, Arkansas and Alabama. I would think that, if the Aggies are serious about adding him, they’ll have the edge. I’ve gotten to know Reggie over the past several years and he’s a great guy. It would be good to have him around the program a more consistent basis, along with having another talented wideout.
A&M has two very good safeties coming to visit. 4-star Tamarion Watkins from Rock Hill, S.C., will visit June 12-14. The Aggies have made a strong run at him of late, but South Carolina is really, really all in on him. Shane Beamer is personally going after him. Georgia is also getting an official, along with the Age and Gamecocks.
5-star Jireh Edwards will be in the same weekend. I mentioned him earlier in the week, and Auburn, Oregon, Maryland and UGA will get visits from him as well. A&M has very quietly done some solid recruiting work here and I think they’ve got a really good shot at getting him. A lot can happen in four months, but it’s one to watch.
Brandon, Miss. 4-star Bralan Womack is the top-rated nickel in the nation, and he has also set up an official visit to Aggieland. He is down to a final four, and neither Mississippi school made the cut. A&M, Florida, Auburn and Ohio State did, and the Buckeyes seem to be a slight favorite at this point. But A&M can definitely make a sales pitch on playing time, with Tyreek Chappell leaving after this season.
Another big time Mississippi prospect, 4-star EDGE Nolan Wilson, will visit A&M in mid-May. He will also visit Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss and USC. Picayune is actually closer to New Orleans than Jackson, and certainly closer than Oxford, so Ole Miss doesn’t have the geographic advantage you might think. Tuscaloosa is the closest school on his list, by quite a bit.
A&M offered Carthage 4-star LB DaQuives Beck over a year ago, but their pursuit has really picked up in the new year. He was in attendance for one of the January junior days and he’s got a strong relationship with Jay Bateman. He will also visit in June, and I’m tempted to put in a Futurecast for him.
Duncanville 4-star EDGE Kevin Ford Jr. has four officials set up: one to OU, one to Alabama, one to Auburn and one to A&M. I don’t know where this one stands, but I think he’s leaning OU’s way at this point. Still, get ‘em on campus and you never know where things will go.
Speaking of that … A&M is going to host possible future 5-star and Maryland commit Zion Elee for an official as well. The Baltimore native is currently ranked 24th nationally and the number two EDGE in the nation. Being close to College Park gives the Terps an inherent advantage, but it’ll be interesting to see if that actually holds up as he looks at some other powerhouses. He’s already looked at Penn State, and they really want to get him, and he’ll visit Auburn and Ohio State as well.
Just an observation, but Auburn is becoming a real pain in the ass for A&M’s recruiting efforts.
Phone: 281-971-3362
Email: paul@westhoustonsf.com
WILL A&M HAVE A SPRING GAME?
The answer is yes. It’s scheduled for April 19 at 2 p.m. Other programs have cancelled theirs, with some (Texas and Ohio State) claiming they need extra rest after a long playoff run.
Garbage.
The reason they, and programs like Nebraska and USC, are cancelling their spring games is because they are afraid of other programs scouting the game and using it as a springboard to tamper. And that, frankly, is a very valid reason and they shouldn’t hide it.
FSU has cancelled theirs, which is sort of odd because they’d probably want teams to take some of their players after last year.
Anyway, back to A&M. Their game is on, it’s scheduled and they intend to move forward with it. Spring ball will start on March 24, and I am not expecting any practices to be open to the public. I’m hoping that we (your intrepid reporters) get a full practice to watch at some point.
SORRELL A NO-GO FOR THIS WEEKEND
Coach Michael Earley told the media yesterday that right fielder Caden Sorrell will have to be “110%” to be put back in the lineup and his hamstring injury isn’t there yet. Considering that it is currently 36 degrees with a wind chill of 29, I wouldn’t play anyone with an injury today (or tomorrow). And, with Terrence Kiel II hitting .500 in his first three games and proving to be the hoped-for threat on the bases, there’s no reason to rush him.
Earley did say that Sorrell will play “the vast majority” of the season, so we’re not talking about a super-serious injury here. But they are going to be cautious with it, and reasonably so.
CONCEPCION LOOKS LIKE HE’S WHAT A&M NEEDED
One thing that the Aggie receivers lacked last year, with the exception of Aggie Heart Winner Jahdae Walker, was leadership. Noah Thomas isn’t much of a talker, and you had some problem children (looking at you, Moose Muhammad). Walker was banged up a lot of last season, as was Jabre Barber.
All of those guys are gone. Enter KC Concepcion.
Concepcion said when he got here he wasn’t messing around, he was looking to win and set an example. In the weight room, at least, he’s doing so. I’ve been told he’s already proven to be an extremely hard worker, both with the weights and his craft. He seems genuinely excited to be an Aggie and is trying to set a new tone for the receiver group.
Concepcion has, by far, the most production at the collegiate level of any A&M receiver, so they do need him to set an example. He’s the oldest. Here’s their receiver group right now:
Concepcion, a junior;
Redshirt sophomore Jonah Wilson
Sophomore Terry Bussey
Sophomore Mario Craver
Redshirt freshman Ashton Bethel-Roman
Redshirt freshman Izaiah Williams
Redshirt freshman Ernest Campbell
Freshman Jerome Myles
Freshman Kelshaun Johnson
Freshman TK Norman
I know people are sick and tired of hearing it, but that’s a young group.
MORE OFFICIAL VISITORS
We’ve got a legacy coming to visit. Michael Brown, the son of Reggie Brown, is a 3-star wideout at the Legacy School of Sports Sciences in Spring. That’s where new guard Josh Moses went. Brown will make an official visit in June, along with visits to Kansas, Arkansas and Alabama. I would think that, if the Aggies are serious about adding him, they’ll have the edge. I’ve gotten to know Reggie over the past several years and he’s a great guy. It would be good to have him around the program a more consistent basis, along with having another talented wideout.
A&M has two very good safeties coming to visit. 4-star Tamarion Watkins from Rock Hill, S.C., will visit June 12-14. The Aggies have made a strong run at him of late, but South Carolina is really, really all in on him. Shane Beamer is personally going after him. Georgia is also getting an official, along with the Age and Gamecocks.
5-star Jireh Edwards will be in the same weekend. I mentioned him earlier in the week, and Auburn, Oregon, Maryland and UGA will get visits from him as well. A&M has very quietly done some solid recruiting work here and I think they’ve got a really good shot at getting him. A lot can happen in four months, but it’s one to watch.
Brandon, Miss. 4-star Bralan Womack is the top-rated nickel in the nation, and he has also set up an official visit to Aggieland. He is down to a final four, and neither Mississippi school made the cut. A&M, Florida, Auburn and Ohio State did, and the Buckeyes seem to be a slight favorite at this point. But A&M can definitely make a sales pitch on playing time, with Tyreek Chappell leaving after this season.
Another big time Mississippi prospect, 4-star EDGE Nolan Wilson, will visit A&M in mid-May. He will also visit Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss and USC. Picayune is actually closer to New Orleans than Jackson, and certainly closer than Oxford, so Ole Miss doesn’t have the geographic advantage you might think. Tuscaloosa is the closest school on his list, by quite a bit.
A&M offered Carthage 4-star LB DaQuives Beck over a year ago, but their pursuit has really picked up in the new year. He was in attendance for one of the January junior days and he’s got a strong relationship with Jay Bateman. He will also visit in June, and I’m tempted to put in a Futurecast for him.
Duncanville 4-star EDGE Kevin Ford Jr. has four officials set up: one to OU, one to Alabama, one to Auburn and one to A&M. I don’t know where this one stands, but I think he’s leaning OU’s way at this point. Still, get ‘em on campus and you never know where things will go.
Speaking of that … A&M is going to host possible future 5-star and Maryland commit Zion Elee for an official as well. The Baltimore native is currently ranked 24th nationally and the number two EDGE in the nation. Being close to College Park gives the Terps an inherent advantage, but it’ll be interesting to see if that actually holds up as he looks at some other powerhouses. He’s already looked at Penn State, and they really want to get him, and he’ll visit Auburn and Ohio State as well.
Just an observation, but Auburn is becoming a real pain in the ass for A&M’s recruiting efforts.
