GAMES
RANKINGS
HEATING UP: Hastings’ Orogbo shaking off sleeper tag
Every recruiting cycle, there seems to be one player that comes out of nowhere and becomes one of the top recruits in the city of Houston.
Come on down Hastings defensive end Smith Orogbo. At 6-foot-5, 215-pounds, Orogbo’s size screams DI, Power 5 talent. Pair that with his junior stats 73 Tackles, 17 Tackles for Loss, 7 Sacks, and 2 Forced Fumbles, it's easy to see why the offers are rolling in.
The crazy part about Orogbo’s is that he didn’t start playing the game of football until his freshman year of high school, and he's already has become a dominant force on the field.
“I was a basketball and track athlete before I started playing football my freshman year,” he said. “I loved the sport once I started and I love the feeling of dominating on the field.”
Orogbo’s recruitment has taken off this offseason picking up offers from Kansas, Oklahoma State, Pitt, TCU, Cal, Oklahoma, Texas, SMU, Tulsa, and most recently UTEP, Memphis and Florida. Now at 19 total offers, you could say the junior is enjoying the recruiting process so far.
“It has been amazing," he said. "The love I get from the coaches and getting to know their programs is just a blessing.”
The talented defensive end plans to attend the Baylor, Oklahoma and TCU junior days in coming weeks. He also mentioned that he has heard from Texas Tech, Baylor, Houston, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State the most as of late. Ohio State has been in contact as well.
Smith Orogbo is the diamond in the rough of this 2025 recruiting class and expect his offer list to grow quickly in the coming weeks.
RECRUIT SCOOP: Small-Town Prospect drawing Eyes of Texas, Among Others
The Hitchcock Bulldogs have become a powerhouse in Texas Class 3A football with major Division I recruits across the field.
Class of 2025 ATH Kelshaun Johnson is a player who’s having a tremendous junior year and has seen major increase in his recruitment since August.
“I feel like I’ve been showing out this year,” Johnson said. “Last year, I felt like I played okay but this year I’m showing everyone why I should be one of the top players at my position.”
The talented wide reciever has definitely shown his D1 talent on the field and it has translated into his recruitment heating up with Power 5 schools showing major interest as of late.
“Texas has really been pushing hard for me right now," he said. "I have a really strong relationship with Coach (Chris) Jackson, we talk almost everyday."
Johnson also mentioned that USC, Penn State, Kansas, Auburn, Tennessee, Texas Tech, TCU, Ole Miss and Tennessee have been in constant contact as well. He will be taking a visit to Texas Tech soon and will be at USC Nov. 4th.
What's the timeline for the rest of his recruitment?
“I plan to cut down my schools in the summer to a Top 5 and commit before my senior year.”
So, what’s the goal him and the team the rest of the season?
“I feel like we can make it to State. A lot of people have doubted us and we have been proving them wrong.”