Top 2016 Texas Recruits Most Likely to Leave the State

The state of Texas is loaded with talent at every position, and the Texases, Texas A&Ms, TCUs, Baylors and Texas Techs of the world would love to keep the in-state talent home.

But as we all know, that doesn't happen often times. In fact, with SEC, Pac-12 and Big Ten schools making their way more and more into the Lone Star State, more elite-level athletes are choosing to play far from home.

Of the top 100 players from 247Sports' 2015 class, 14 were from the state of Texas. Of those 14 players, six chose to sign letters of intent to out-of-state colleges. Among them were 5-star cornerback Kendall Sheffield, who signed with Alabama, and 5-star running back Soso Jamabo, who signed with UCLA.

Here are 10 Texans from the 2016 class, in alphabetical order, who could end up signing with an out-of-state school.

4-Star WR Dee Anderson

Credit: 247Sports

Dee Anderson ended his recruiting process in August, choosing LSU over offers from UCLA, Tennessee, Boise State and several other schools.

Anderson is a top-20 receiver nationally and a big target for the Tigers at 6'4" and 177 pounds. He is a solid LSU commit, but two in-state schools are hoping to change his mind. Anderson recently picked up offers from Texas and TCU.

Can the Longhorns or Horned Frogs sway Anderson into playing college ball closer to home?

5-Star S Deontay Anderson

Credit: 247Sports

The race for Deontay Anderson is expected to be another border battle. While Texas A&M feels it's in a great position—and Texas already has high school teammate and 4-star wide receiver Reggie Hemphill-Mapps committed—LSU is one of the schools with a good shot at earning his commitment.

Playing out of state isn't something that will make Anderson turn away. In fact, he's made unofficial visits to LSU, Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Auburn since May.

Keep a close eye on Alabama, which has been good in recent years at stealing away Texas defensive backs.

4-Star WR Devin Duvernay

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Devin Duvernay is a top-five receiver nationally, and he's a do-it-all athlete who can hurt opposing teams on offense and special teams.

Duvernay is expected to take his time with the entire process, and in-state schools Texas, Baylor, Texas A&M, TCU and Texas Tech are very much alive in the race.

However, schools like Oklahoma, Oregon and Clemson are teams that have been in the hunt. One school to keep an eye on is Ole Miss, particularly with 5-star quarterback Shea Patterson committing to the Rebels on Tuesday.

Patterson said Duvernay is one of his targets in recruiting for Ole Miss.

4-Star DE/LB Erick Fowler

Credit: 247Sports

Erick Fowler is an intriguing athlete, a hybrid linebacker-defensive end who is wanted by more than a dozen schools. Texas, Baylor and TCU are potential landing spots in the state, but they will have to fight off Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, among other out-of-state programs.

Alabama is the latest to offer Fowler, and he is planning on taking in the LSU junior day this weekend, per Jason Howell of Rivals.com. He also plans on attending the Texas junior day on Feb. 28.

At this rate, Fowler can go several ways with his recruiting process.

5-Star S Brandon Jones

Credit: 247Sports

Brandon Jones is the nation's top-ranked safety and a top-20 overall player.

After announcing a top 10 in December, Jones recently trimmed his list from 10 to six. He told Adam Friedman of Rivals.com that while Texas and Texas A&M are in the mix, Alabama, LSU, Ohio State and Florida State are strong contenders, as well.

Texas A&M could be the school to watch, as he is a fan of new defensive coordinator John Chavis. But Alabama has been a school to silently grab the state's top-ranked defensive backs the last two years in Tony Brown and Kendall Sheffield.

5-Star S Eric Monroe

Credit: 247Sports

The 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions say two schools are in the running for Eric Monroe: LSU and Texas A&M.

LSU holds a slight lead over A&M, but the Aggies hosted Monroe at their junior day last month and feel good about where they stand with the 5-star safety.

Monroe likes both schools, as well as Baylor and Texas.

There's a good chance one of the in-state schools will land him, but LSU in a major contender. Notre Dame and South Carolina, per 247Sports, are schools to keep an eye on, as well.

4-Star DT Ed Oliver

Credit: 247Sports

Ed Oliver has his share of schools interested, but he discussed a top three at the beginning of the year with Adam Gorney of Rivals.com.

Oliver said LSU, TCU and Baylor are in the running, and even with defensive coordinator John Chavis leaving LSU for the same position at Texas A&M, he was still interested in the Tigers.

Oliver's recruiting process is still young, and among the schools that could sneak in late are Oklahoma and Alabama. Houston also is a sleeper with new head coach Tom Herman coming over from Ohio State.

It'll be tough for a school outside of Oliver's top three to ultimately win the battle, but it's possible.

4-Star TE Kaden Smith

Credit: 247Sports

Of all the in-state recruits, Kaden Smith might be the one most expected to verbally commit to an out-of-state school.

He has Stanford and Alabama high on his list, but Auburn, Georgia and Texas are other schools that could land him, per Adam Gorney of Rivals.com.

Smith has been a fan of Stanford and Alabama for a long time, and both schools have received multiple visits. He told Shane Youngblood of 247Sports that he plans on taking more visits and attending camps before he makes a decision.

4-Star RB Christian Wallace

Credit: 247Sports

Christian Wallace recently decommitted from TCU, and with the decommitment came the opportunity for Wallace to completely start over with recruiting.

He took an unofficial visit to Texas A&M in September, and he told Paul Jones of 247Sports that he plans on attending the Texas junior day on Feb. 28.

Texas, Texas A&M and Baylor are among the in-state schools in the race. Out-of-state schools fighting for him include LSU and Mississippi State, and Wallace told Jones that proximity won't play a factor in his decision.

Wallace added that he expects to let his process ride out until signing day.

4-Star RB Devwah Whaley

Credit: 247Sports

Devwah Whaley is nearing 20 offers, and he's keeping all options open. Whaley is making a priority to take things slow with his recruiting process, but you can bet the in-state schools are doing everything they can not to lose him to an out-of-state school.

According to Drew Kohnle of Rivals, Whaley's been in contact with all of the in-state programs, while schools like Oklahoma, Ohio State, Arkansas, Notre Dame and Arizona State are keeping close tabs on him.

One offer to keep an eye on is Georgia, as the Bulldogs have shown they thrive on their run game.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles.