Eight takeaways from Texas week one action

Rivals National Recruiting Analyst Marshall Levenson was on the sidelines for several marquee games featuring several of Texas’ top recruits in the 2025, 2026, and 2027 classes. Included in that group are several blue-chippers, including players committed to Ohio State and LSU.

Here are eight takeaways from the live in-person evaluations:

Four-star DB Chace Calicut was one of the the most active players I watched this weekend. By that, he was involved in the most amount of plays or affecting the play on a consistent basis. Calicut certainly passes eye test at a well built 6-foot-3, 190 pounds with a long, rangy frame. The versatile defensive back is a quick athlete with a suddenness to his abilities that help him read and react to get in the middle of a play. I saw him several times this offseason, where he made a number of plays in 7v7 and other offseason events.

But seeing him live in some of his first starting action was important. During Friday’s game, he had a clean strip with a return, a near interceptions, and a number of tackles. What impressed the most was his physical nature of play near the line of scrimmage. He had no problem crashing down his safety position and throwing his body at the ball carrier. Calictut is next up in a long line of standout North Shore playmakers.

The five-star and No. 1 cornerback in America, Devin Sanchez, is going to have quite a boring season it appears. South Oak Cliff, a team with power five talent all over the roster, elected to not test Sanchez even once. SOC ran the ball quite a bit but even when they did pass, it was rarely even on Sanchez’s side of the field. The Ohio State commit is one the most impressive looking prospects in the country and his opponents are going to wisely stay away from him.

The North Shore roster is ridiculous, both on offense and defense, but if you had to choose which was better, it would be the defensive side of the ball. In the middle of that defensive is the No. 2 inside linebacker in the country, Charles Ross. Ross is a freak athlete at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds as he runs a 10.3 100 meter and in the 4.3’s in the 40 yard dash. He is one of, if not the, fastest front seven players in the nation. He gets involved in every facet of the defense and makes plays constantly. And while he is a pretty quiet and polite player off the field, he plays with some fire on it. He says LSU is bringing him to fill the role of Harold Perkins, another freak athletic linebacker, who might be the fastest player on a field at any times.

Omarion Robinson and Little Rock (Ark.) Parkview made their way to Dallas-Fort Worth to take on a talented Melissa (Tex.) team. But Robinson was by far the best player on the field and made it known. The biggest play of the game came as Robinson jumped a five-yard stop route and housed it for a pick-6, a score that would eventually win them the game, 27-20. After a phenomenal summer, the No. 34 overall prospect started his senior season with a bang.

South Oak Cliff has potentially one of the best 2027 offensive line prospects on their roster. Brian Swanson, a 6-foot-6, 295 pound offensive tackle, was manning the left tackle position for SOC. Of course, he looks the part given his measurements, but I am very excited to see his progression in his sophomore season. He has a real chance to be a standout in his class.

Following a strong offseason of camp performances and a Rivals250 ranking, Quinn Murphy and a very talented Liberty Christian roster went to work. Playing for Dallas Cowboys legend Jason Witten, Murphy began his season to the tune of 12-for-16, 215 yards and five touchdowns, all of which came in just one half of play. He did not play in the second half. The video coming out of the game was very impressive. Murphy not only slung the ball at a high level, but he did on the move, with different arm angles, and some serious zip on the ball.

Most of the North Shore secondary has power five offers, is nationally ranked, or both. But the one starter of the secondary who has neither is Morris Taylor. But I don’t think that should be the case. Taylor was possibly the most impactful playmaker on their defense on Friday night. He was constantly in the middle of blowing up a play, making a big tackle, affecting a pass, or simply just making the routine plays flawlessly. Taylor has offers to his name such as UTEP, UTSA, Louisiana-Lafayette, Memphis and some others, but I would not be surprised if he gets some late cycle looks from some bigger programs looking to fill a safety need.

Many of those who following recruiting have become familiar with Boobie Feaster and Trenton Yancey as top prospects in the class of 2027. And while some may be aware of the third stud in the area, Antayvious “Tay” Ellis” is a part of this group. Ellis, 6-foot, 175 pounds is a route running technician type. He is going to beat you before he gets the ball. I was able to see Ellis in his first game of the season and he racked up 114 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions. He will fill up stat sheet as will Feaster and Yancey.