Defensive slugfests are a defensive tackle’s dream to watch, and 5-star Marvin Wilson raved about Saturday’s Alabama-LSU game. Both schools are high on his interest list.
Part of the game of college football and recruiting is accepting the good with the bad. Both Texas A&M and North Carolina State were able to smile from recruiting news on Sunday after frustrating setbacks on the field on Saturday.
Texas A&M suffered a loss to Mississippi State that may have damaged its College Football Playoff hopes, but the Aggies managed to get a win on the recruiting trail Sunday with a recommitment from Devodrick Johnson, a 4-star athlete from Dallas. He is Texas A&M’s 23rd pledge of the 2017 class.
Johnson, the leading rusher and receiver—as well as a quarterback option—for Kimball High School, told Bleacher Report he will be used in college as a linebacker. The 6’2″, 210-pound standout, who chose the Aggies over offers from Oklahoma State, Cal, Illinois and Mississippi State, originally committed to Texas A&M in July but decommitted in August to further explore all of his options.
Thank you to all my family,friends and fans that stayed true but now I’m committed to… https://t.co/ojsPLbUiaB pic.twitter.com/XKC8uQfXiR
— Devodrick Johnson (@foebg_) November 7, 2016
North Carolina State also suffered a heartbreaking loss over the weekend, but like Texas A&M, the Wolfpack managed to find a silver lining. North Carolina State received a Sunday verbal from Adam Boselli, a 6’5″, 210-pound tight end from Jacksonville, Florida.
The last name may ring a bell to NFL purists, as he is the son of former Pro Bowl offensive tackle Tony Boselli, the No. 2 overall pick in the 1995 NFL draft who was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tony Boselli played his college ball at USC.
Adam Boselli chose North Carolina State over offers from Duke, Memphis, Kansas and others. He is the 15th pledge in the Wolfpack’s 2017 class.
Beyond blessed and excited to announce I'm committed to NC State! #gopack #1pack1goal @StateCoachD pic.twitter.com/aqVTSYfjX1
— Adam Boselli (@AdamBoselli) November 6, 2016
Here are some additional recruiting updates from some of the nation’s most coveted athletes—including an elite talent who was extremely impressed with what he watched on Saturday.
5-star DT Wilson: LSU, Bama defenses impressed
Courtesy: Scout.com
How does a 10-0 game look to a viewer? To a 5-star defensive tackle like Marvin Wilson, those types of games are few and far between, but extremely easy on the eyes.
The Bellaire, Texas, stud lineman has LSU and Alabama on his list of schools to consider, and even though Alabama left Death Valley with the shutout win, it was the defensive performances of both schools that caught his attention Saturday evening.
As a defender I'm loving this LSU vs bama game scoreless at half ?
— HOLLYWOOD MARV (@RDMW6) November 6, 2016
“It was the game of the year to me,” Wilson said. “That was the best defensive game I have ever seen in my life.”
Wilson then uttered words that will pique the interests of both Alabama and LSU supporters.
“They both have surged in my recruitment,” he noted.
The 6’4″, 329-pound defensive tackle, who has just south of 30 offers, is continuing to keep his recruiting an open book for all schools, but he’s mentioned on multiple occasions that he wants to play for a defensive juggernaut, a team that has a strong defensive history and a place where he can contribute immediately.
Alabama and LSU fit the bill, but schools like Florida State, Ohio State, Oklahoma and in-state schools Texas and Texas A&M also are looking to earn his signature when he signs in February.
It’s a process he said he’s continuing to narrow down. So far, Wilson’s taken official visits to Oklahoma and Florida State. He said he is looking to take the remaining three before making a decision—which could come in January at the Under Armour All-America Game.
“I mean, it’s been frustrating, stressful and confusing,” Wilson said of the process, “but at the same time it’s been everything I always dreamed of. It’s great to be wanted.”
Final official visit on deck for 4-star CB Graham
Credit: Student Sports
Rancho Cucamonga, California, 4-star cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. will take his fifth and final official visit this weekend. Oregon is hoping to make his final visit count.
Graham has taken September visits to Nebraska and Notre Dame, and October visits to Arizona and Arizona State. Oregon hosts Stanford on Saturday, and Graham said he is excited about being a part of what is anticipated to be an electric atmosphere.
“I look forward to meeting the coaches again and getting out there again,” said Graham, a 5’11”, 175-pound athlete ranked as the nation’s No. 7 cornerback, per Scout.
Whether or not the Ducks can earn his commitment is still up in the air. Oregon already has three cornerbacks committed, but getting him on campus is positive news for the Ducks.
Early playing time and a good education, he said, are two things high on his priority list in choosing a school. Graham was committed to USC back in July 2015 but decommitted in April to enjoy the recruiting process.
“The process has been good to me,” he said. “At first I was committed to my dream school, but I received more offers after I decommitted. Now, it’s at the hardest part, picking the school best for me.”
USF commit Judson discusses Minnesota visit, future
Credit: Scout.com
Cocoa, Florida, athlete Bruce Judson Jr. committed to South Florida over the summer, but many are wondering if the Bulls can hold on to his pledge. Judson has mentioned on several occasions that he plans on taking all five allowed official visits, and Big Ten country was his first stop over the weekend.
The 3-star standout was at Minnesota Saturday, as he watched the Gophers beat Purdue to improve to 7-2 on the year. On a scale of 1-10, Judson gave the visit a “nine-and-a-half.”
“It went great. I got to see a lot of great things, places and people, and the atmosphere was crazy at the game,” Judson said. “I got to experience a lot of cold weather, but it was nice.”
In Minnesota with it❗️?? Florida Boy?☀️ Ima long ways from home✈️ but they making me feel like I'm at Home❗️??? Ski-U-Mah 〽️ #BrickbyBrick〽️ pic.twitter.com/osUNXSkHBh
— Bruce Judson Jr™ (@4way_lilbruce) November 5, 2016
Judson is expected to visit Michigan State the weekend of Nov. 18, and he is expected to visit USF in January. According to Josh Newberg of 247Sports, schools like Kentucky, UCLA and Virginia Tech are in the running for getting the other two visits.
Judson is planning on riding his recruiting process out until national signing day. For the time being, he’s still USF’s top-ranked pledge—and the Bulls are hoping to keep him.
“It’s been crazy,” he said. “I hear from everyone telling me I should be playing in front of a sellout crowd every Saturday instead of being at USF or playing at a Power Five school.”
Whichever school that lands Judson will get an athlete who can play slot receiver, running back, Wildcat quarterback, cornerback and safety. He’s an athlete with great speed and elusiveness, and he plays the game with a high competitive edge.
Sleeper combo in Lone Star State turning heads
Credit: Scout.com
Looking for two sleepers on the recruiting trail? Timber Creek High School in Fort Worth, Texas, has a quarterback-wide receiver combo that is putting up huge numbers that lead the entire Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Cade Schrader is a 2017 quarterback who has thrown for 2,951 yards and 25 touchdowns in Class 6A, Texas’ largest classification. Schrader has also thrown only two interceptions for the year.
His favorite target is 2018 prospect Erik Ezukanma, an electric wide receiver who could become a common name in recruiting by the spring. Ezukanma has 79 receptions for 1,330 yards this season. Of Schrader’s 25 touchdowns, Ezukanma has caught 18 of them. He also has rushed 21 times for 312 yards and three scores.
Combined, the duo has two offers—and both belong to Ezukanma. Schrader has interest from Texas State and North Texas. Ezukanma has offers from Texas A&M and Kansas and early interest from Texas, Oklahoma, Houston and Texas Tech.
Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of Scout. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles
