First, a note about this list -- most recruiting rankings do a poor job of explaining how they go about ranking prospects and the great majority don't even seem to provide any explanations at all. Is it based on upside, on projections about how good a player could end up being or is it based on what they show on the field in high school?
Since upside is unreliable and comes with no guarantees about actually maximizing that talent, the major determinant of position on this list is based on what the film says about where the prospect is as a player leaving high school. That being said, this list does still project out over several years and is based on which players will excel at the collegiate level deep in their careers.
List after the jump...
- Jackson Jeffcoat, Plano West defensive end -- Wilson may have more upside, but Jeffcoat is more polished at this time and while he may not be an athletic freak, he has more than enough athleticism to be a superstar on the collegiate level.
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Tevin Jackson, Garland linebacker -- The most explosive defensive player in the Texas recruiting class, Jackson has shown the ability to excel as an all-around linebacker and is not simply a one-dimensional, downhill linebacker like Sergio Kindle was in high school. Already demonstrates a skill set that suggests he could become one of the best linebacker in the country by the time his college career is over.
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Reggie Wilson, Haltom defensive end -- The Ivory Coast native has an incredible combination of explosiveness and a high motor. Proven ability to learn quickly that increases the probability of him maximizing his prodigious talent.
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Luke Joeckel, Arlington offensive tackle -- Displays the ability to be an All-Conference type of left tackle in college because he has all the tools -- great size, great feet, a mean, nasty streak,and equal ability in the running and passing games, though he is probably a bit farther ahead as a run blocker. Stud prospect who plays at perhaps the second-most important position on offense.
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Mike Davis, Dallas Skyline wide receiver -- Easily the best route runner in the state of Texas at the receiver position, Davis is a nightmare for defensive backs because of his abilty to quickly get into and out of breaks. Also has excellent hands, leaping ability, and well above-average athleticism, though he isn't quite a burner.
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Darius White, Fort Worth Dunbar wide receiver -- Only the rawness of White keeps him from being higher on this list. Had White showed the same route-running acumen of Davis in high school -- or even approached -- he would be in contention for the top spot. He's that good. Kid is a freakish athlete for his size.
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Jake Matthews, Fort Bend Elkins offensive tackle -- The pedigree says it all. Though Matthews isn't quite as refined as Joeckel, the potential of Matthews weighs more heavily than with other players because it is almost a guarantee that he will continue to improve and grow into a position he hasn't played nearly as long as most of his peers.
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Temple running back, Temple running back -- This list is about the potential for collegiate success without attempting to quantify such a nebulous concept as "upside," but the Temple running back's character and work ethic came under question late in the process and at the Army game and raise some serious red flags about his ability to contribute. Despite the baggage, there's no question he has the ability to break a big play every time he touches the ball.
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Ashton Dorsey, Tyler John Tyler defensive tackle -- Played extremely well as a senior, showing the ability to use his explosiveness to shoot gaps, but also holding position against double and triple teams.
- Chris Jones, Daingerfield wide receiver -- Gamebreaker. A lack of experience running a variety of routes keeps Jones in the bottom part of the top 10. His pure speed is not in question -- he's one of the two or three fastest players in the state with the ball in his hands.
- Ahmad Dixon, Waco Midway safety -- Though he may lack elite testing speed, Dixon has all the tools to excel -- he's explosive, covers ground quickly, takes proper angles, and is strong in both run support and pass coverage. Little not to like here from a football standpoint.
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Trey Hopkins, Galena Park North Shore guard -- Long and lean, Hopkins is aggressive, but is hurt by the fact that he doesn't project as a tackle (more difficult to find) and needs to refine his pass protection technique. Smart and plays well in space.
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Cedric Ogbuehi, Allen offensive tackle -- Another lean prospect, Ogbuehi will need to spend some significant time in the weight room. His lack of overall mass didn't keep him from holding his own against Jackson Jeffcoat.
- Corey Nelson, Dallas Skyline linebacker -- An excellent linebacker in terms of his speed, explosiveness, striking ability, and range, but his height is a concern at the next level, particularly as it influences his ability to take on blockers at the point of attack. Coverage skills are also surprisingly lacking a bit considering his speed -- doesn't have great hip fluidity.
- DeAndrew White, Galena Park North Shore wide receiver -- Like Jones, White is a burner without a lot of wiggle in his hips. However, Jones is ranked more highly because of his demonstrated ability to make big plays in the running game.
- Connor Wood, Houston Second Baptist quarterback -- Exceptional athleticism for a quarterback with ideal size as well. Has a strong arm and can throw on the move, but needs to continue to refine his mechanics -- Wood has shortened his delivery, but continues to throw from an unorthodox arm slot.
- Taylor Bible, Denton Guyer defensive tackle -- 340 pounds. For a player whose greatest asset was his explosiveness, the incredibly poor conditioning displayed by Bible is a major cause for concern, as is his injury history. When in shape, Bible is as good as anyone in the country at his position.
- Aaron Benson, Cedar Hill linebacker -- Possessing a remarkable combination of football savvy and athleticism, Benson is slightly undersized, but gained strength as a senior to reach a college-ready weight.
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Adrian White, DeSoto cornerback -- Blessed with all the physical skills necessary to become a lockdown corner, White showed strong signs of finally putting that skill set to work on the field consistently with his excellent performance not only in the Under Armour game, but also during the week of practice.
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Eric Humphrey, Dallas Episcopal defensive lineman -- Instead of considering Humphrey a tweener, it's clear that he can play the five tech or three tech at the college level without having to predict a significant increase in mass, but still has the speed and explosiveness to be used as an edge rusher.
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Dominic Espinosa, Cedar Park center -- Benefited greatly from move to center. Has a nastry streak and has excellent feet that allow him to block well in space.
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Ross Apo Arlington Oakridge wide receiver -- The knock on Apo is the competition against which he played in high school, but he performed well in combine and camp settings and has a combination of size, speed, and has good hands, but needs to work on his route running.
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Bryant Jackson, Sulphur Springs defensive back -- The biggest projection on this list, Jackson qualifies because of the combination of his 6-3 frame and top notch ball skills. Projecting Jackson is necessary because he played so much on offense in high school and it's not clear yet if he's a cornerback or safety, but it is clear that Jackson has enough talent to be a difference maker in the secondary.
- Carrington Byndom, Lufkin cornerback -- While Byndom has the height to play cornerback in college, he needs to add some weight. Has excellent speeds and hips as a corner, but supports the run well enough to play some safety.
- John Harris, Garland Naaman Forest wide receiver -- Underrated by most recruiting services, Harris is a big receiver who knows how to use his body, has more than adequate speed for the position, but the most impressive thing on film from Harris is his ability to make defenders miss in the open field with his excellent feet.