Yesterday, the site revealed its post-spring rankings of the top 22 recruits in the greater San Antonio area from the class of 2017.
I won't argue against any of those 22 being on the list but the 2017 class is a pretty deep one that I think will look even deeper in a few years, and I wouldn't be surprised to see some others who haven't been ranked in either of the two SA 22s so far force their way into the rankings after a great senior season. There were six players on the initial SA 22 back in February didn't make the cut this time:
11. DE Jonathan Cox (SA Reagan)
13. RB Mi'kel Jackson (Judson)
18. DT Josh Ogbonna (SA Reagan)
19. DT Emmanuel Inweh (SA Stevens)
20. OL Julynn Aezquite (SA Jay)
21. TE Xander Yarberough (SA Roosevelt)
That's six names that were replaced by new ones, those new names being new #4 Ashton Smith, #11 Mychal Cooper, #12 Johnathan Gessner, #18 Jayden Jackson, #20 Preston Dimery, and #22 Zachary Didomenico. Each of those formerly-ranked players could certainly play their way back into the top-22, but I think it's just as likely some will while other previously non-ranked guys will stake their own claim if we do the rankings again after the 2016 season.
Here are 22 area players who haven't yet been ranked in the SA 22 who I'll be watching in particular this fall, a few of whom cracked my own top-22 but didn't make the consensus list.
ATH Dillon Ricord (Devine) - finished 2nd in the 200 meters at the 4A state track meet
ATH Josh Pitts (SA Memorial) - really tall, a more raw Marcus Davenport?
RB Brandin Bradford (SA O'Connor) - Could legitimately be a top-4 RB in the city this fall
RB Nate Davis (SA Madison) - Fast and productive but has missed parts of 2 seasons with injury.
RB Matthew Collier (SA Southside) - Does some Barry Sanders-esque things in his highlights.
WR Jawon Anderson (SA Sam Houston) - Raw athlete who could be a WR or DB at the next level
WR Jonathan Tapia (SA O'Connor) - Quick slot receiver who's also a good baseball player, had 11 TDs in 2015
WR Carter Snelling (Boerne) - Tall outside receiver, caught 45 passes for 774 yards in 2015
WR Justin Eaton (SA Brackenridge) - Could be in for a big senior year after catching 9 TDs in 2015.
OL Danny Garza (SA Harlandale) - Two-time All-District first team offensive lineman, plays LG
OL Joseph Pena (SA Holy Cross) - Set a state powerlifting record with an incredible 930-lb squat in April
DT Quincey Williams (Cibolo Steele) - Credited with 70 tackles, 13 TFL and 5 sacks in 14 games in 2015.
DE Kameron Bryant (SA MacArthur) - Made 19 TFL and 4 sacks in 2015.
DE Brandon Peterson (SA Alamo Heights) - Plays as a 3-tech DT but has the body of a DE
DE/LB Lord Tripp (SA Jay) - Made 90 tackles and 14 sacks as a pass-rushing 3-4 OLB in 2015.
DE Connor Watts (SA Marshall) - Tall DE on a terrible team, older brother signed with Central Arkansas in Feb.
LB Jack Gibbens (Smithson Valley) - Made 138 tackles and 21 TFL in 2015.
LB Jordan Jackson (SA Jay) - Looks relatively thin but a good tackling MLB
LB Derek Albers (New Braunfels) - Made 43 tackles and 3 sacks in 2015; undersized DE who could play LB
CB Abideen Bello (SA Roosevelt) - Maybe the best of a very thin 2017 CB class in the area.
CB Harold Watson (Converse Judson) - Defends the run relatively well, not sure if he has D1 recovery speed
S Ryan Robertson (Kerrville Tivy) - Made 100 tackles and 3 INTs in 2015, may be better than SA22 teammate Preston Dimery.
Thoughts on any of these guys? Are there any other unranked 2017 recruits who you think the BirdsUp staff and local fans should keep an eye on this fall?
I won't argue against any of those 22 being on the list but the 2017 class is a pretty deep one that I think will look even deeper in a few years, and I wouldn't be surprised to see some others who haven't been ranked in either of the two SA 22s so far force their way into the rankings after a great senior season. There were six players on the initial SA 22 back in February didn't make the cut this time:
11. DE Jonathan Cox (SA Reagan)
13. RB Mi'kel Jackson (Judson)
18. DT Josh Ogbonna (SA Reagan)
19. DT Emmanuel Inweh (SA Stevens)
20. OL Julynn Aezquite (SA Jay)
21. TE Xander Yarberough (SA Roosevelt)
That's six names that were replaced by new ones, those new names being new #4 Ashton Smith, #11 Mychal Cooper, #12 Johnathan Gessner, #18 Jayden Jackson, #20 Preston Dimery, and #22 Zachary Didomenico. Each of those formerly-ranked players could certainly play their way back into the top-22, but I think it's just as likely some will while other previously non-ranked guys will stake their own claim if we do the rankings again after the 2016 season.
Here are 22 area players who haven't yet been ranked in the SA 22 who I'll be watching in particular this fall, a few of whom cracked my own top-22 but didn't make the consensus list.
ATH Dillon Ricord (Devine) - finished 2nd in the 200 meters at the 4A state track meet
ATH Josh Pitts (SA Memorial) - really tall, a more raw Marcus Davenport?
RB Brandin Bradford (SA O'Connor) - Could legitimately be a top-4 RB in the city this fall
RB Nate Davis (SA Madison) - Fast and productive but has missed parts of 2 seasons with injury.
RB Matthew Collier (SA Southside) - Does some Barry Sanders-esque things in his highlights.
WR Jawon Anderson (SA Sam Houston) - Raw athlete who could be a WR or DB at the next level
WR Jonathan Tapia (SA O'Connor) - Quick slot receiver who's also a good baseball player, had 11 TDs in 2015
WR Carter Snelling (Boerne) - Tall outside receiver, caught 45 passes for 774 yards in 2015
WR Justin Eaton (SA Brackenridge) - Could be in for a big senior year after catching 9 TDs in 2015.
OL Danny Garza (SA Harlandale) - Two-time All-District first team offensive lineman, plays LG
OL Joseph Pena (SA Holy Cross) - Set a state powerlifting record with an incredible 930-lb squat in April
DT Quincey Williams (Cibolo Steele) - Credited with 70 tackles, 13 TFL and 5 sacks in 14 games in 2015.
DE Kameron Bryant (SA MacArthur) - Made 19 TFL and 4 sacks in 2015.
DE Brandon Peterson (SA Alamo Heights) - Plays as a 3-tech DT but has the body of a DE
DE/LB Lord Tripp (SA Jay) - Made 90 tackles and 14 sacks as a pass-rushing 3-4 OLB in 2015.
DE Connor Watts (SA Marshall) - Tall DE on a terrible team, older brother signed with Central Arkansas in Feb.
LB Jack Gibbens (Smithson Valley) - Made 138 tackles and 21 TFL in 2015.
LB Jordan Jackson (SA Jay) - Looks relatively thin but a good tackling MLB
LB Derek Albers (New Braunfels) - Made 43 tackles and 3 sacks in 2015; undersized DE who could play LB
CB Abideen Bello (SA Roosevelt) - Maybe the best of a very thin 2017 CB class in the area.
CB Harold Watson (Converse Judson) - Defends the run relatively well, not sure if he has D1 recovery speed
S Ryan Robertson (Kerrville Tivy) - Made 100 tackles and 3 INTs in 2015, may be better than SA22 teammate Preston Dimery.
Thoughts on any of these guys? Are there any other unranked 2017 recruits who you think the BirdsUp staff and local fans should keep an eye on this fall?
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