Best talent in Houston leaving Texas … again

Best talent in Houston leaving Texas … again
VYPE

This class is starting to trend just like the 2017 recruiting class.

Originally Appeared on VYPE

HOUSTON – Everyone knows that recruiting trends are like the stock market.

There are ups and downs. There are trends. When it comes to recruiting it follows that same pattern as there are years where more talent stays home and in other years the majority of the best talent leaves the borders of the Lone Star State.

Well, the best of the 2020 class of Houston recruits seem to be trending towards leaving Texas.

This isn't the first time that power programs outside of Texas – which has Texas, Texas A&M;, Baylor, Texas Tech, SMU, North Texas, Rice, University of Houston, UTEP, UTSA as quality programs to go play college football at – haven't been able to lure the best from the state.

This class is starting to trend just like the 2017 recruiting class.

That year, Episcopal's Marvin Wilson – the No. 6-ranked recruit that season – signed with Florida State. His teammate, Walker Little – the No. 9-ranked recruit – signed with Stanford the same year.

North Shore's K'Lavon Chaisson – the No. 37-ranked recruit – and Cy-Fair's Austin Deculus – the No. 48-ranked recruit – both signed with LSU that year. Cy-Fair's Brock Wright – the No. 71-ranked recruit – signed with Notre Dame.

In recent weeks the same trend has been seen for the 2020 class.

North Shore's Damieon George has verballed to Alabama and Corey Flagg just committed to Miami (FL). Shadow Creek's Ronald Triplette and Jeremiah Harris, along with North Shore's Jojo Wilson have all recently committed to Kansas State.


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Welcome back, Justin! Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images.

Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander will make his season debut Friday night at the Washington Nationals.

Houston manager Joe Espada made the announcement Wednesday.

“Getting him back is huge because it brings a level of confidence to our team, a boost of confidence that we’re going to get someone who’s been an MVP, a Cy Young (winner) on the mound,” Espada said. “It's (good) for the morale and to get stuff started and moving in the right direction.”

The three-time Cy Young Award winner opened the season on the injured list with inflammation in his right shoulder. He made two rehabilitation starts, the first for Triple-A Sugar Land on April 7 before Saturday’s start for Double-A Corpus Christi.

Espada wouldn't say how many pitches the 41-year-old would be limited to but said they'll keep an eye on his workload.

“We've got to be careful how hard we push him early,” Espada said. “I know he’s going to want to go and stay out there and give us an opportunity to win, but we've got to be cautious of how hard we push him early in the season.”

Verlander wasn’t thrilled with the results in his rehabilitation starts, but he said Monday that those games were valuable in getting him prepared to come off the IL.

He allowed seven hits and six runs — five earned — in four innings against Frisco on Saturday. He struck out three, walked one and threw 51 of 77 pitches for strikes.

Verlander allowed six earned runs and struck out six while pitching into the fourth inning for Sugar Land on April 7.

The Astros have gotten off to a tough start with Verlander and fellow starters Framber Valdez and José Urquidy on the injured list. They enter Wednesday's games last in the AL West with a 6-13 record.

Espada hopes Verlander can be the boost the team needs to get on track.

“It’s good to get him back in the rotation,” Espada said. “With what he means to this club just to get him back on track, getting some innings from him (to) build our rotation with the pieces that we need to move forward is exciting.”

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