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WHERE WILL THEY GO? H'Town Recruiting Notes of the Week
Now that student athletes are back in school, colleges are starting to send invites for Junior Days, host early unofficial visits and even offering kids with the next classes of recruiting on their minds.
This week we will be looking at a few athletes who have picked up some big offers and what visits they have planned in the next couple of months...
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Class of 2024, DJ Lagway Jr. , QB Willis HS
DJ Lagway Jr. has emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the State of Texas and also the nation. As a young sophomore, Lagway led Willis HS to a playoff berth in his first year as a starter, accounting for 1,580 yards passing yards, 21 passing TDs and 71 rushing yards with 5 rushing TDs.
This year, the sophomore QB picked up offers from Baylor, Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, Houston, Texas Tech, Arkansas, LSU, TCU, Buffalo, National Champions Georgia, and most recently North Carolina. When asked what it was like receiving his first offer from Baylor, his dad's alma mater, DJ said, "it was huge blessing to get that first offer from Baylor, and it felt amazing to get that call from Coach (Shawn) Bell , just showed how my hard work was actually paying off".
This past weekend, Lagway made a visit to College Station visiting Texas A&M. I asked Lagway what it was like talking to the staff and specifically Coach Fisher and he said, "I love talking to Coach Fisher. Every time we have conversations, I just learn new things about him and his coaching tactics".
Talking with DJ about what coaches he has built the best relationship so far, he said Baylor coach Shawn Bell, saying "he’s been here since the beginning of my recruitment, and we have a great relationship".
The Willis QB will be one of the top recruits coming out of the Houston area when its all said and done and will be a player to watch out for next year!
Class of 2023, Brad Spence, DE Klein Forest HS
Klein Forest football has struggled the past few years, but this year they have started to see some more success winning their first district game in four years. A big part of that was 4-star DE Brad Spence.
Though many people focus on the Kris Ross' and Harold Perkins' of the world, Spence is becoming one of the best defensive players in the state. The junior DE picked up offers from Colorado, Utah, Kansas, Tulsa, Texas, Buffalo, LA Tech, Cincinnati, Northwestern and SMU.
After talking with Spence about receiving that first offer, he said "getting my first offer was a relief for me and my family. I was excited". The young DE recruitment has started to heat up. This past weekend, he attended the Texas A&M Junior Day and has other Junior Days planned at Texas as well.
Some coaches Spence has been in the most contact with include coach Scruggs from Cincinnati, coach Choate from Texas, coach Scalley from Utah, and coach Ted Roof at Oklahoma.
Spence should be on everyone's radar leading up to his senior year and is primed for a great career at the next level.
Class of 2023, Nate Kibble, OL Atascocita HS
For the past five years, Atascocita HS has been a hot-spot for some of the top OLs in the nation, such as Kenyon Green and Kam Dewberry. The next guy up is Nate Kibble.
Kibble is 6-foot-3 280-pound OL who played tackle for the Eagles this year and earned first-team, all-district honors in a district with some big time talent at the OL position. The junior has received offers from Houston, UTSA, Texas State, Texas and most recently Memphis.
After asking Kibble about what it was like receiving that first offer from Houston, he said, "once I got that call, it was very exciting and I was surprised because being only a sophomore in high school and getting that DI offer made me a lot more confident when playing football. Knowing all of the time and effort I put into my position and the sport, I felt as though it is starting to pay off".
The junior doesn't have any Junior Days or unofficials planned at the moment, but Kibble was in College Station this previous weekend with lots of talented players along with him.
Kibble mentioned the coach he's made the most connection with so far has been, "Coach Jujuan, who was a OL coach for the Texans and is now at Houston". Kibble is primed for a big senior season and will be a recruit to keep an eye on in the offseason.
Class of 2023, Kaleb Black, WR/ATH Klein Oak HS
Though the season did not go as planned for the Panthers this year, there is a lot to look forward to in next season with Class of 2023 WR Kaleb Black.
Black is a game-changing athlete, who can play on both sides of the ball. This year as the Newcomer of the Year in the district, Black accounted for 787 yards receiving, 8 TDs and 1,011 all-purpose yards.
The junior has received offers from Kansas, Houston, Tulsa, Wisconsin, Marshall and Central Arkansas. The feeling of receiving that first offer from Kansas was, "great getting my first offer from a DI school. It was a great accomplishment for me", said Black.
Black plans on making an unofficial visit to Wisconsin in the near future and said he doesn't have any others planned but expects that to change. Some of the coaches who Black has had the best connection with so far, are the coaches from Tulsa, the coaches from UCA, and the coaches at Wisconsin.
Kaleb Black is primed for a spectacular senior season and his recruitment will start to heat up.... Don't sleep on this athlete from Klein Oak.
Gannon Tullos
MR. OAK: Tullos Impresses on Field, Track and Classroom
Gannon Tullos is a dude.
The Klein Oak dual-sport athlete gets it done on the fields of play and in the classroom.
In football, he's a no- nonsense linebacker who uses his track speed to run down running backs and quarterbacks, while dropping into coverage on pass plays.
Football has been in his blood since the age of five, and it will be beyond his days in the black and gold.
"I've had dreams of playing at the next level since I was really young playing Little League," he said. "It hit me when I was in the ninth grade that I could play in college."
He reached the varsity level at the end of his sophomore season and led the Panthers' defense a year ago earning first-team, all- district honors. Oak reached the postseason and won a Bi- District playoff game against Cy Ranch.
What sets Tullos apart is his cerebral approach to the game.
"My strength is definitely my knowledge of the game," he said. "I watch a ton of film and really prepare. That's a big part of who I am and my success."
It's no surprise seeing that the 6-foot-2, heat-seeking missile is a member of the National Honor Society. That is also reflective in the college offers he has compiled.
"Academics is everything to me," he said. "I'm looking at a school that is a good fit, that will develop me as an athlete and a person. The Ivy League and Academies are great examples of those types of schools."
The former Seatle Seahawk great Cam Chancellor-fan has big expectations for his Panthers this season as offensive coordinator Brandon Carpenter takes over the head coaching position.
"Coach Carpenter is a great leader and mentor. We have faith in him to grow this program the way it should.
"I want to push our guys by working hard and executing our game plan. Let's play as perfect as we can."
3 Things to Watch - Klein Oak
[Back Row] Kaleb Black, Jake Hufstedler, Gannon Tullos, Chris Terrazas and Drake Watson; [Front Row] AJ Broussard, Joshua Wiggins, Preston Hatter and Tré Tyson
HEY COACH: Brandon Carpenter takes over for coach Jason Glenn. It should be a smooth transition as Carpenter has been the OC and QB coach for four years. During that time, Oak has gone 31-15 and was in the postseason every year.
MAD HATTER: QB PJ Hatter is a difference-maker. The junior QB is 6-foot-2 and can run like the wind, and he's ready for
a breakout 2021 season. He had a tremendous playoff game performance against Cy Ranch, showing flashes of brilliance.
GETTING DEFENSIVE: Klein Oak has some special players on the defensive side of the ball in AJ Broussard, Joshua Wiggins (Colorado), Gannon Tullos and Dorian Gates (Vandy). They are going to need to get some stops so the offense can go to work.
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