By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
The era of three yards and a cloud of dust still exists with some high school football programs in Texas, but smash mouth offensive mindset is not as exclusive as it used to be.
High-octane passing offenses are the rage in the Lone State State, especially with schools like Plano and Southlake Carroll throwing it all over the yard. Wide receivers and tight ends are not just blockers any longer.
A lot of the top talents in the Class of 2009 at these crucial positions in the passing game are allowing schools like Texas, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M to put up a fence around the state, keeping the best the state has to offer home.
Here are some of the most highly sought after wide receiver and tight end talents in Texas that have already committed to Division I-A programs:
Committed Wide Receivers in Texas
Jarrod Darden, Keller Central (6-4, 210)
Committed to Colorado
Colorado has found itself a mighty fine student-athlete. Darden hits the books hard, sporting a 3.8 grade point average. On the gridiron as a junior, Darden hauled in 46 passes for 739 yards and 14 touchdowns. Darden is a big-play threat and should continue to improve for Keller Central, a 5A-I playoff qualifier from a year ago.
A.J. Dugat, Dayton (6-0, 205)
Committed to Texas Christian
Dugat became a versatile weapon for Dayton last season, rushing for 311 yards and eight touchdowns. At his primary position, Dugat had 67 receptions for 957 yards and 14 touchdowns. Over his two years as a starter for Dayton, Dugat has caught 114 passes for 1,663 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Aaron Fisher, Keller Fossil Ridge (6-3, 175)
Committed to Texas Tech
Texas Tech is known for its pass-heavy offense, sometimes making college football a game of track with eye-popping statistics. Therefore, Fisher’s commitment to the Red Raiders makes total sense since he is used to supplying gaudy numbers. As a junior, Fisher caught 63 passes for 1,059 yards and 16 touchdowns. The transition for this prospect should be as smooth as silk.
Brandall Jackson, Navasota (6-1, 180)
Committed to Texas A&M
Jackson produced last season for Navasota, hauling in 39 passes for 756 yards and eight touchdowns. Jackson has 12 career touchdown grabs for the Rattlers. Navasota heads into the 2008 season as one of the favorites in 3A Region III, and Jackson is a huge reason.
Darius Johnson, Missouri City Hightower (5-10, 160)
Committed to Southern Methodist
Johnson is a speed-burner, running a legit 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. Johnson uses his speed well on the gridiron for the Hurricanes, catching 29 passes last season for 421 yards and seven touchdowns. Johnson also returned one of his five kickoff returns for a score last season for the 5A-II quarterfinalists.
Jeremy Moore, Austin Johnson (6-3, 170)
Committed to Georgia Tech
Moore was an automatic touchdown machine for Johnson last season. Johnson took eight of his 18 receptions for touchdowns to go along with 294 yards for the Jaguars. Moore was part of an offense that eclipsed 70 points in back-to-back games last season.
Dewayne Peace, South Grand Prairie (6-0, 180)
Committed to Michigan
Peace may not have been used enough in South Grand Prairie’s offense as a junior. The Michigan commit caught 18 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns in eight games. On special teams, Peace also averaged 28.2 yards per kickoff return. Peace could have a huge senior campaign in store.
Greg Timmons, Aldine Eisenhower (6-3, 190)
Committed to Texas
Whether it is going across the middle in traffic or a deep ball, Timmons has the tools to do it all. Timmons snagged 41 passes as a junior for 704 yards and six touchdowns. Timmons wasted no time, committing to Texas early.
Eric Ward, Wichita Falls Rider (5-11, 190)
Committed to Oklahoma
Joining forces with Michigan quarterback commit Shavodrick Beaver, Ward was sensational as a junior. Ward caught 53 passes for 1,063 yards and 15 touchdowns for Rider. Beaver and Ward will be back wreaking havoc on 4A this season, hoping to get further than its quarterfinal output in 2007.
Keith Blanton, Garland (6-0, 190)
Committed to Tulsa
Blanton was Garland’s leading receiver as a junior, snagging 30 passes for 404 yards and four touchdowns. Tulsa head coach Todd Graham used his ties built during his tenure at Rice to lure Blanton north to join the Golden Hurricane after this season.
Aaron Burks, Mansfield Timberview (6-4, 180)
Committed to Boise State
Burks caught seven passes for 79 yards and a touchdown as a junior for one of the top teams in Texas. Burks will take his game to Boise State after this season.
Committed Tight Ends in Texas
Trey Graham, Waco Midway (6-5, 230)
Committed to Texas
Graham produced solidly for Midway as a junior, grabbing 23 passes for 381 yards and one touchdown. Graham is seen as a prospect that has a tremendous upside and is regarded as one of the most fleet-footed tight ends in this season’s class nationally. Graham was also a second team All-Academic pick in Central Texas.
Anthony Kendrick, Katy Seven Lakes (6-4, 220)
Committed to Kentucky
Kendrick committed to Kentucky last week after a stellar performance at Seven Lakes in Katy as a sophomore and junior. Over the past two seasons lining up at wide receiver, Kendrick has caught 69 passes for 1,116 yards and four touchdowns. Kendrick projects as a tight end at the next level.
Barrett Matthews, Galena Park North Shore (6-2, 220)
Committed to Texas
Matthews is a player that can take a short-yardage gain and make it into a quick six points. Matthews caught 19 passes last season for North Shore for 449 yards, an average of 23.6 per grab. Matthews turned seven of his 19 receptions into touchdowns. Like Graham, Matthews excels in the classroom. He was honored by the North Area Channel Chamber of Commerce for his academics, posting a 3.34 GPA.
Hutson Prioleau, Fort Worth All Saints Episcopal (6-5, 245)
Committed to Texas A&M
Prioleau is a huge target for his All Saints Episcopal team. The Texas A&M verbal grabbed just 12 passes last season, but turned them into 249 yards and four touchdowns. Prioleau also excelled as a defensive end last season, notching 10 quarterback sacks. All Saints Episcopal participates in the Southwest Preparatory Conference, which features prominent private schools in Texas and Oklahoma.
Top Uncommitted Senior Wide Receivers
Emory Blake, Austin (6-1, 195)
Considering: Arizona, Colorado Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, Texas Tech, Tulsa amongst others
In just six games for Stephen F. Austin last season, Blake did it all. Blake made 22 grabs for 412 yards and five touchdowns for the Maroons. Blake also was given a chance to showcase his skills with some rushing attempts. Blake rushed for 289 yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries. Blake is one of the brightest receiving talents nationally.
Cobi Hamilton, Texarkana Texas (6-3, 225)
Considering: Baylor, Houston, Kansas State, Louisiana Tech, Tulsa amongst others
Hamilton made a sleuth of huge plays for the Tigers last season. In just 29 receptions, Hamilton compiled 726 yards and seven touchdowns. Hamilton also rushed for over 400 yards for Texas last season.
Uzoma Nwachukwu, Allen (6-1, 185)
Considering: Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisville, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Washington State amongst others
Nwachukwu has made a huge splash in his two seasons of varsity action for Allen. Nwachukwu has caught 59 passes for 952 yards and eight touchdowns. Last season as a junior with just 22 grabs, Nwachukwu hit paydirt eight times. Nwachukwu also rushed for a pair of touchdowns on his only carries of the season for the Eagles.
Terdema Ussery, Dallas St. Mark’s (6-3, 185)
Considering: Cal, Illinois, Kansas, Louisville, Stanford amongst others
As a sophomore, almost everything Ussery touched turned to six. Four of his five receptions went for touchdowns, and Ussery averaged 30 yards per reception. Ussery had 29 receptions last season for 431 yards and five scores for St. Mark’s.
Top Uncommitted Senior Tight Ends
Jordan Najvar, Klein Oak (6-6, 235)
Considering: Arizona State, Cal, Clemson, Kansas State, Miami, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, Texas A&M, Virginia amongst others
Najvar is one of the most sought after prospects at tight end in the country, holding offers from each and every corner of the country. As a junior in Klein Oak’s run-dominant offense, Najvar caught 12 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown. Najvar also doubled as a quarterback, rushing for a score as a junior.
Craig Wenrick, Flower Mound (6-5, 225)
Considering: Buffalo, Iowa State, Buffalo
Wenrick could use a huge senior campaign to find himself receiving more college looks. Flower Mound is in one of the toughest districts in all of Texas 5A football, along with Southlake Carroll and rival Flower Mound Marcus. Wenrick is one of the best-kept secrets in the state of Texas in a pass-heavy offense. This is a player that could emerge this season.
Scott Hansen: maxprepsok@sbcglobal.net