Rivals.com national analyst Cole Patterson highlights prospects on five-star watch, the impressive season that Florida QB commit DJ Lagway is enjoying and predictions for some of the Mid-South’s top available recruits.
FIVE-STAR CANDIDATES IN THE MID-SOUTH
Terry Bussey is as electric of a player as there is in the nation for the 2024 recruiting cycle. Able to play all three phases, Bussey has a chance to make an immediate impact at Texas A&M after announcing his commitment this week. The Aggies want him in the secondary but have pitched the possibility of playing receiver, too – think Travis Hunter.
Kobe Black sits as the No. 3 cornerback prospect in the cycle. He’s a big, physical cover man that has many of the nation’s elite in hot pursuit. Black, like Bussey, plays all three phases on the high school level. He offers versatility in the secondary with the talent to see the field in a big role sooner than later. Texas and Texas A&M are among those most heavily in the mix.
Xavier Filsaime is right on the border of five-star status. A former receiver, Filsaime has made the move to defense without any troubles. He’s a highly-intelligent defender that patrols the secondary. Florida is preparing for him to see the field early once he gets to Gainesville.
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DJ LAGWAY’S IMPRESSIVE SEASON
Florida pledge DJ Lagway is off to a tremendous start to his senior season. The big, physical quarterback passes the eye test with ease and is a highlight-reel play waiting to happen each time that he steps onto the field, either with his rocket arm or his dynamic legs.
The question marks around Lagway center around his accuracy and how well he will be able to pass in the SEC. So far, Lagway has done his best to shut down those concerns. He’s completing over 70 percent of his passes through five games. In that span, he has a 28-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio and has accounted for nearly 2,000 total yards.
Already ranked inside the top-50, Lagway has cemented himself as one of the premier prospects that the current cycle has to offer. He’s making a compelling case to earn his fifth-star – especially if he keeps this level of play up.
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THREE MID-SOUTH COMMIT PREDICTIONS
There are a handful of prospects in the Mid-South region that remain uncommitted as the calendar is set to flip to October. Here are predictions on where those notable recruits will end up when it’s decision time.
Kobe Black: Texas. A five-star candidate, Black is the highest-ranked uncommitted prospect in Texas and the Mid-South region as a whole. The Longhorns have been viewed as the team to beat for the Waco Connally standout, and nothing has caused that to change at this point in time. Texas remains in the driver’s seat.
Daniel Hill: Alabama. Hill was initially set to make a commitment in August, but that did not happen. Instead, he’s opted to be patient with his decision. South Carolina is a real threat in this recruitment, but Hill has held Alabama in high regard since the early stages of his recruitment.
Vosky Howard: Houston. A teammate of Bussey, Howard is often overlooked. But he also brings big-play ability to the equation. A versatile weapon that can play either side of the ball, Howard has a number of programs in pursuit. I lean the Cougars winning out due to proximity to home and family connections. But Duke and Vanderbilt are both serious threats, too.
