Top Recruits
Pretty Hot Content—VYPE Hot 100—Top 2018 Recruits
VYPE Magazine
Jan 4, 2018, 8:06 am
Originally appeared on Vype.com
The 2017 #txhsfb season is in the books and so is the early National Signing Day just before Christmas.
With that in mind, we felt it was time to put the finishing touches on the final Class of 2018 Hot 100 player rankings.
“The early signing period was a game-changer,” VYPE Chief Content Officer Matt Malatesta said. “No one really knew what to expect and it was a little shocking to see how many athletes signed. From college coaching changes to bowl games to the Texas high school playoffs, it all happened very quickly. I think college coaches used the early signing day as leverage and it worked.”
There was significant movement in the Hot 100 from top to bottom. Manvel’s Jalen Preston moved into the No. 1 spot after a tremendous season, while Dekaney’s Malcolm Epps also moved up from the tight end spot. We knew he was good, but Texas has a game-changer with his size and skill set.
Another Manvel star climbed the rankings, significantly.
With that in mind, we felt it was time to update the Class of 2018 Hot 100 player rankings. After a year that saw Houston’s incredible talent on display, let’s take a look at who to watch on Saturdays next college football season.
“Kam Scott is a star,” Malatesta said. “He’s a big-play receiver and tremendous kick returner. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and as he continues to mature, he’s going to be a potential pro. Missouri got a steal.”
The University of Texas and coach Tom Herman has won the H-Town sweepstakes so far with five of the Top 10 players and eight of the Top 20 headed to the 40 Acres. The movement at Texas A&M left the Aggies with only three of the Top 20 stars.
How about Missouri? Scott and Ridge Point heat-seeking linebacker Chad Bailey inked with the Tigers, who were two of the Top 10.
So who is left? Episcopal’s Jaylen Waddle, Oak Ridge’s Joseph Ossai, Cy Springs’ Leon O’Neal, Cy Creek’s Miles Battle and Katy’s Moro Ojomo have yet to sign, so stay tuned to vypehouston.com and @vypehouston on Twitter for up to date recruiting news.
(This list will be updated throughout the year as players commit to college programs)
RANK | PLAYER | SCHOOL | POSITION | COMMITTED | VIDEO |
1 | Jalen Preston | Manvel | WR | Texas A&M | HUDL |
2 | BJ Foster | Angleton | ATH | Texas | HUDL |
3 | Jalen Green | Heights | DB | Texas | HUDL |
4 | Mustapha Muhammad | FB Ridge Point | TE | Michigan | HUDL |
5 | Luke Matthews | Elkins | OL | Texas A&M | HUDL |
6 | Malcolm Epps | Dekaney | TE | Texas | HUDL |
7 | Kam Scott | Manvel | WR | Missouri | HUDL |
8 | Anthony Cook | Lamar | DB | Texas | HUDL |
9 | Chad Bailey | FB Ridge Point | LB | Missouri | HUDL |
10 | Keondre Coburn | Westfield | DT | Texas | HUDL |
11 | Jaylen Waddle | Episcopal | WR | – | HUDL |
12 | Joseph Ossai | Oak Ridge | DE | – | HUDL |
13 | D’Shawn Jamison | Lamar | DB | Texas | HUDL |
14 | Craig Williams | Crosby | RB | Baylor | HUDL |
15 | Miles Battle | Cy Creek | WR | – | HUDL |
16 | Cole Blanton | Cy Ranch | OL | Texas A&M | HUDL |
17 | Brennan Eagles | Alief Taylor | WR | Texas | HUDL |
18 | KeSean Carter | The Woodlands | WR | Texas Tech | HUDL |
19 | Al’Vonte Woodard | Lamar | WR | Texas | HUDL |
20 | Donavan Mutin | Klein Collins | LB | Houston | HUDL |
21 | Caleb Chapman | Clear Brook | WR | Texas A&M | HUDL |
22 | Tamerik Williams | Angleton | RB | SMU | HUDL |
23 | Connor Galvin | Katy | OL | Baylor | HUDL |
24 | Barton Clement | FB Marshall | OL | Texas A&M | HUDL |
25 | Max Wright | Katy Taylor | DE | Texas A&M | HUDL |
26 | Dominic Livingston | Aldine Davis | DT | LSU | HUDL |
27 | Michael Woods | Magnolia | WR | Arkansas | HUDL |
28 | Erick Hallett | Cy Fair | DB | Washington State | HUDL |
29 | Montel Parker | Dickinson | WR | Texas A&M | HUDL |
30 | Leon O’Neal Jr. | Cy Springs | DB | – | HUDL |
31 | Taye Barber | Cy Springs | ATH | TCU | HUDL |
32 | Michael Matus | Katy | DE | Arizona State | HUDL |
33 | Ta’Zhawn Henry | Lamar | RB | – | HUDL |
34 | Trent Gordon | Manvel | DB | Penn State | HUDL |
35 | Joshua Landry | Lamar | DT | Baylor | HUDL |
36 | Starrland Baldwin Jr. | Cy Falls | DB | Oklahoma | HUDL |
37 | Kason Martin | Manvel | QB | UNT | HUDL |
38 | Tyrese Williams | Cy Ridge | OL | Oklahoma State | HUDL |
39 | Aaron Allen | FB Ridge Point | QB | LA Tech | HUDL |
40 | Peyton Sawyer | Clear Springs | WR | Houston | HUDL |
41 | Moro Ojomo | Katy | DL | – | HUDL |
42 | Ethan Bonner | The Woodlands | DB | Stanford | HUDL |
43 | John Holcombe | Summer Creek | QB | Kansas State | HUDL |
44 | Bryson Jackson | Kingwood Park | WR | TCU | HUDL |
45 | Payne He’Bert | Pearland Dawson | OL | Northwestern | HUDL |
46 | Jacob Jefferson | St. Pius | WR | Northwestern | HUDL |
47 | Christian Morgan | Porter | DB | Baylor | HUDL |
48 | Jake Syptak | The Woodlands | OL | SMU | HUDL |
49 | Joseph Ogunbanjo | Alief Taylor | DE | – | HUDL |
50 | Hasaan Hypolite | Hightower | DB | Colorado | HUDL |
51 | Ja’Kori Morgan | Clear Lake | WR | Houston | HUDL |
52 | Jacob Mangum-Ferrar | Kempner | LB | Stanford | HUDL |
53 | Spencer Wells | Pearland Dawson | TE | Houston | HUDL |
54 | Travian Blaylock | Atascocita | DB | Wisconsin | HUDL |
55 | Victor Curne | Second Baptist | OL | Washington | HUDL |
56 | Trenton Kennedy | Cy Fair | RB | – | HUDL |
57 | Brant Kuithe | Cinco Ranch | RB | – | HUDL |
58 | Christian Young | Foster | DB | Arizona | HUDL |
59 | Deneric Prince | Manvel | RB | Texas A&M | HUDL |
60 | Christian Duffie | Summer Creek | OL | Kansas State | HUDL |
61 | Cameron Godfrey | Klein Collins | DB | SE Louisiana | HUDL |
62 | Mark Milton | Clear Brook | DB | Baylor | HUDL |
63 | Henry Thomas | FB Marshall | WR | Houston | HUDL |
64 | Christian Jones | Cy Woods | OL/DE | SMU | HUDL |
65 | Austin Ogunmakin | Hastings | WR | UNT | HUDL |
66 | Jabari James | FB Marshall | WR | Tulsa | HUDL |
67 | Tyler Vrabel | St. Pius | OL | Boston College | HUDL |
68 | Deion Smith | Second Baptist | RB | Colorado | HUDL |
69 | Kase Rogers | Lamar | WR | Oregon State | HUDL |
70 | Willie Smith | Spring | DE | Houston | HUDL |
71 | Dennis Osagiede | FB Ridge Point | DT | UMass | HUDL |
72 | Devin Richardson | Klein | OLB | New Mexico St. | HUDL |
73 | Miles Oldacre | Klein Oak | DB | – | HUDL |
74 | Cameron Phillips | Clear Lake | DB | SMU | HUDL |
75 | Josh Oglesby | Katy | RB | – | HUDL |
76 | Frank Fillip | Clear Lake | OL | Colorado | HUDL |
77 | Will Brown | Lamar Consolidated | ATH | SMU | HUDL |
78 | Trace Oldner | Foster | OL | Navy | HUDL |
79 | Toluwashe Buoye | FB Bush | OL | – | HUDL |
80 | Blake Kuithe | Cinco Ranch | DE | – | HUDL |
81 | Jordan Cooper | New Caney | QB | – | HUDL |
82 | Ean Beek | Katy Taylor | RB | HBU | HUDL |
83 | Darrius Smith | Pearland Dawson | RB | Arizona | HUDL |
84 | Cam Arnold | Cy Fair | QB | Northwestern LA | HUDL |
85 | Joe Bissinger | Memorial | OL | Virginia | HUDL |
86 | Jon Campbell | Klein Oak | DT | Central Arkansas | HUDL |
87 | Rodney McGraw | FB Elkins | DB | – | HUDL |
88 | Max Yarbrough | Friendswood | OL | SMU | HUDL |
89 | Max Banes | St. Thomas | OL | Houston | HUDL |
90 | Otito Ogbonnia | Katy Taylor | DL | – | HUDL |
91 | Naveon Mitchell | FB Travis | WR | – | HUDL |
92 | Reese Mason | Magnolia | ATH | – | HUDL |
93 | Golden Eke | Langham Creek | WR | – | HUDL |
94 | Luke Junkunc | Strake Jesuit | OL | UL-L | HUDL |
95 | Matthew Jester | Klein | LB | Princeton | HUDL |
96 | Pat Ballard | FB Elkins | WR | UNLV | HUDL |
97 | Chris Elam | Kingwood | OL | – | HUDL |
98 | Amryn Jeffrey | FB Travis | QB | – | HUDL |
99 | Phillip Hill | Klein Collins | DB | UNLV | HUDL |
100 | Amon Byars | BF Terry | RB | Army | HUDL |
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Sure, it wasn’t pretty. But the Bills were an elite team, and the Texans beat them. We should be encouraged that the Texans have found a way to win four games, and they still haven't played up to their capabilities.
Be sure to catch the video above as ESPN Houston's Jeremy Branham and Joel Blank argue why the Texans deserve a spot among the NFL’s elite teams, despite the ugly wins this season.