Power Ranking Top 2015 Recruits from Texas
Football players practically grow on trees in Texas. The state is so respected in college football recruiting that many of its top recruits are considered among the best players in the country.
This year is no different, as the Lone Star State has a ton of top-tier recruits for 2015. Ranking them was a tough task, but this list is a strong one.
A 5-star cornerback leads the way, but on his heels are a 5-star linebacker and two other elite players who play in the trenches. Plus, Texas boasts an elite safety prospect.
10. J.W. Ketchum III, ATH
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A 4-star athlete,ย J.W. Ketchum IIIย is an interesting recruit. He works as an undersized dual-threat quarterback, but his skill set is that of a running back.
Ketchum, who is just under 6'0", weighs 201 pounds. He can explode upfield with the ball after not liking what he sees in the pocket, plus he has good speed. He may attempt to stick at quarterback in college, but Ketchum is capable of being an excellent running back.
Texas, Texas A&M and Baylor are his top schools, according to 247Sports.
9. Kyler Murray, ATH
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At 5'11" and 170 pounds,ย Kyler Murrayย isn't the biggest player in the country. However, he has great athleticism and quickness, which allows him to do a lot of different things on the field.
Murray can play quarterback, as he has deceptive arm strength. However, he's at his best running with the ball. With his speed and agility, he projects best as a fantastic run-after-catch specialist at the receiver position in college.
Texas A&M leads several others, per 247Sports.
8. Ronald Jones II, RB
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Among the best players in Texas is 4-star running backย Ronald Jones II. At 6'0" and 185 pounds, Jones has a sudden and explosive running style that puts a lot of pressure on defenses.
He can accelerate through creases in a hurry, plus he does a good job of eluding defenders. Jones does a good job of using his eyes to find running lanes, and he has no problems cutting at full speed.
Baylor and Oklahoma are his main suitors, says 247Sports.
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7. Damarkus Lodge, WR
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At 6'2.5" and 190 pounds,ย Damarkus Lodgeย is a talented receiver with great ball skills. He has a large catch radius to bail out quarterbacks when they make bad throws, plus the Texan can catch in a crowd with ease.
Lodge has average speed, but he runs good routes and can separate from cornerbacks by quickly getting out of his cuts. He also has the potential to become a great blocker on the perimeter.
Texas A&M and Baylor are standing out right now, according to 247Sports.ย
6. Jarrett Stidham, QB
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A great NFL comparison forย Jarrett Stidhamย would be Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill.ย
Like Tannehill, Stidham has played some receiver in his career and is an athletic passer. At 6'3.5" and 190 pounds, the 4-star quarterback has a strong arm and can get outside the pocket to make throws on the run.
Stidham is also a threat as a runner due to his good speed. The Texas Tech commit has as much upside as any quarterback in the nation.
5. Deionte Thompson, S
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Deionte Thompsonย has a chance to become an All-SEC safety at Alabama. He's a smart player who defends the seams with good range and athleticism.
Thompson, who is 6'2" and 181 pounds, fits best as a free safety. The 4-star defensive back can sit on top of a defense by himself due to his ability to quickly get out of transition when attacking passing lanes. Thompson has good ball skills, plus he'll support the run when he can.
4. Maea Teuhema, OT
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Whether it's at guard or tackle, expect 5-star offensive linemanย Maea Teuhemaย to play early in his career at LSU.
Teuhema is a 6'4.5", 346-pound mammoth who has cat-like agility. He's light on his feet, which helps him slide and mirror pass-rushers when protecting the quarterback. The big Texan also is a dominant run-blocker due to his ability to powerfully punch targets before driving his legs to move them out of the way.
Greg Powers of Scout.com said, "Once he latches on you can forget about it, he will finish the block."
3. Daylon Mack, DT
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Guards in the SEC are going to hate playing againstย Daylon Mack. The Texas A&M pledge is a physical presence at the defensive tackle position, as he loves mixing it up at the point of attack.
Mack is 6'2" and 310 pounds. He is capable of playing with good leverage, and he displays incredible strength and power.
It's not a chore for Mack to explode at the snap and get under a blocker's pads, which usually results in the future Aggie walking his opponent into the backfield before shedding and making a stop.
2. Kendall Sheffield, CB
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While he can certainly make a case for being ranked No. 1 on this list,ย Kendall Sheffieldย is slotted hereโfor now.
The 5-star cornerback is an exceptional athlete who has tremendous speed and quickness. Sheffield also exhibits natural cover skills and short-area quickness, which are two crucial traits needed to excel as a college cornerback.
The 5'11", 180-pound player has quick feet in his backpedal, plus he plays with good awareness in coverage.
Texas A&M and Texas are Sheffield's top schools, says 247Sports, but many programs will be attempting to impress him throughout this cycle.
1. Malik Jefferson, OLB
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If he gets in the right scheme, it would be surprising ifย Malik Jeffersonย did not lead his college team in tackles for a season at least once.
Jefferson, who is 6'3" and 215 pounds, has outstanding range. He uses his excellent vision to quickly locate the ball after the snap, then he simply explodes and attacks.ย
Jefferson has good instincts, plus he has the speed and quickness to meet running backs at the edges of the box. He also has potential as a blitzer and pass-defender.
Alabama and Texas A&M are out in front, per 247Sports.
All recruiting ratings and rankings are fromย 247Sports.ย
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