Takeaways from the weekend

We’re well into the stretch run of the high school’s regular season around the South. Week 8’s slate included a pair of showdowns in Denton County featuring notable recruits like five-star Notre Dame safety commit Peyton Bowen and Texas A&M pledge Anthony Hil. Jr.

On3 National Recruiting Analyst Sam Spiegelman was on hand for games including Denton (Texas) Guyer and Ryan High schools in their crosstown rivalry games against Dallas Metroplex powers Allen and Aledo, respectively.

Here are some takeaways from the action and around the area:

Bowen is a game-changer in multiple phases

The safeties in the 2023 cycle have a chance to go down as one of the deepest groups of elite-level prospects at the position in recent memory. The group is undoubtedly headlined by Caleb Downs (Alabama), Derek Williams (Texas) and Notre Dame commit Peyton Bowen, and further compounded by others having stellar senior campaigns like Javien Toviano, Dalton Brooks (Texas A&M, Kylin Jackson (LSU), Isaac Smith and Warren Roberson.

Bowen, one of three five-stars at the position already, has been a driving force of Denton (Texas) Guyer’s fast 8-0 start and was brilliant in the secondary and yet again on special teams in the lopsided defeat of Allen on Thursday. The hybrid defensive back darts to the ball and consistently puts himself in a position to make plays on the ball in the air, and can cover sideline to sideline as quick as anyone in the country.

Five-star Peyton Bowen reminding special teams coordinators around Texas not to kick it to 22 anymore

He is special https://t.co/U1TDXDcBdV pic.twitter.com/u0KIi877WB

— Sam Spiegelman (@samspiegs) October 21, 2022

Over the past three years, Bowen has been a playmaker as a pass-catcher out of the backfield as well as a ballhawk on the back end of the defense. This season, he has been dynamic in the return game and housed a 60-yard punt, running through a multitude of defenders’ grasps and flashing absurd balance and elusiveness in the process of scoring from the other side of the field. Bowen evaded six tackles and broke loose away from a seventh, and brings game-breaking ability to a team in so many different facets, including as a leader in the locker room.

The Notre Dame commit visited Oregon last weekend and is eyeing a few more before he figures out his next move. Bowen’s recruitment is not too far off from the finish line.

Arnold’s ascent continues

Texas routinely produces some of the nation’s premier high school quarterbacks year in and year out with Hudson Card, Haynes King, Quinn Ewers, Conner Weigman, Nick Evers, Garrett Nussmeier, Preston Stone, Behren Morton and Cade Klubnik just a few to emerge from the Lone Star State in recent cycles. In the 2023 cycle, no Texas-based quarterback has made a more convincing case as one of the state and country’s best better than five-star Oklahoma commit Jackson Arnold.

Sooners OC Jeff Jebby arrived in a helicopter to watch Arnold dissect Dallas-area powerhouse Allen to the tune of 25-of-28 for 334 yards and five total touchdowns, including a 58-yarder as Guyer vaulted to 8-0 in convincing fashion in a primetime tilt. Arnold sat for much of the fourth quarter, by the way.

Since taking over as the full-time starter and shouldering much of the workload on offense, which was enough to advance to the title game last year, Arnold continues to drive home the point that he’s the ultimate gamer. He plays with a unique comfortability operating this offensive attack. There might not be one quarterback in the country I’d lean on to win one game right now than Arnold, who is playing decisive, aggressive attacking downfield and also playing near-flawless football. He brings a whole other dimension to the Guyer offense with his mobility to escape pressure and make off-schedule plays out of the pocket.

The five-star Sooners pledge reminds me a ton of Russell Wilson early on his tenure with the Seattle Seahawks during their early to mid-2010s success.

Yaites prepping for future at safety

The Guyer secondary has stalwarts in it like Bowen back deep and four-star DB Ryan Yaites manning the other half of the field. Yaites, a longtime LSU commit, was expected to make the move to safety this fall. Thus far, the 6-foot-3, 190-pounder is playing field corner, where he thrives in coverage of bigger receivers. Against Allen’s high-octane running game, Yaites flashed tackling in the open field and containing outside runs.

Yaites, a mid-year graduate, arrives in Baton Rouge in January, where he’s expected to surpass 200 pounds in the spring and summer. He’s a seasoned corner with excellent length and football IQ, and he should transition nicely as a big-framed safety that can come downhill against the run and also cover. Yaites has as high of a floor as any DB in the country.

Hill is sound in the middle

Five-star Denton (Texas) Ryan LB Anthony Hill Jr. returned to action against Aledo in a hard-fought clash of Dallas Metroplex titans. Hill, playing through injury, piled up 18 tackles and was a force in the middle of Ryan’s defense. One of the most college-ready players at any position in this 2023 cycle, the Texas A&M commit plays downhill to clog running lanes and showed his range at 220 pounds patrolling out to the sidelines. Hill provides flexibility as a pass-rusher up the middle and off the edge and has the necessary high motor to be a driving force of a defensive unit.

In six games, Hill has collected 67 tackles. When healthy, he should provide some more fireworks for Ryan on the offensive side of the ball during their postseason run.

Hicks morphing into power rusher

On300 running back Kalib Hicks has been one of the big reasons why Denton (Texas) Ryan has been such a dangerous offense the past three seasons. Hicks has given a Ryan a jolt a big-framed back with speed as an underclassman, and as a senior the Oklahoma commit has been even more impactful between the tackles.

Hicks has filled out his 6-foot frame and is well north of 200 pounds, about 15 more than as a junior for Ryan. Not only is he hard to arm tackle, Hicks ripped off a handful of 10+ yard runs against a stout Aledo front. He’s able to run through contact andn run hard with enough speed to still break away at the end of runs.

Michigan State, TCU commits stand out

Four-star Michigan State CB commit Chance Rucker showed off his tenacity as a tackler against Aledo. The long, 6-foot defensive back lowered his shoulder on several occasions against ball-carriers and is a sure tackler that isn’t shy about defending the run. Rucker also made receivers earn their catches on throws underneath. He has a good feel for the position and his physicality was well-documented.

Consensus top-80 WR Jordyn Bailey provided speed in the passing game and is as smooth working through his routes and elusive in the open field. He also is a home-run threat every time he gets the ball in his hands, another high-floor slot and special teams ace for TCU to take full advantage of. He’s flown under the radar much like his older brother (Emani Bailey, Louisiana) did.

Keys shows out on both sides of ball

On300 LB Davhon Keys is coveted by defensive coordinators around the country for his athleticism and thump that he brings inside at linebacker. The 6-foot, 205-pounder is light on his feet, but extremely explosive at plugging in and closing off inside runs and meeting ball-carriers at the line of scrimmage. He was quick to diagnose plays and has range as good as a safety from the second level.

Keys also saw action as Aledo’s goal-line runner and walked into the end zone twice. The action not only at linebacker but also flashing speed and toughness out of the backfield is well-received trait from college coaches around the country. Oklahoma holds a slight edge over TCU early on On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine.

2025 TE Mitchell provides a taste

Class of 2025 four-star tight end Davon Mitchell is already the Consensus No. 1 tight end in the country for his respective recruiting class. With only one reception the game against Guyer and some more in-person observations from pre-game warmups, there’s a ton of intrigue when it comes to this sophomore.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Mitchell was easily making one-handed grabs along the sideline during pre-game activities. He is not only a physically imposing presence with or without the pads on, but provides a massive target for his quarterback. Mitchell has natural hands and demonstrated high-end hand-eye coordination with his second-half reception, reeling in a ball in traffic over the middle of the field that turned into a 30-yard play that pinned Allen inside the 10-yard line.

Even in limited action, Mitchell teased with his upside. He’s a physically gifted pass-catcher that’s used primarily to overpower defenders as a blocker. There’s no doubting that he also possesses the traits to be an outstanding TE1 in the same mold as Arik Gilbert or Thomas Fidone.

Additional notes

• 2024 On3 COnsensus No. 13 QB Michael Hawkins gets rid of the ball in a hurry and is a poised decision-maker. I’m high on his ability to extend plays and operate outside the pocket, and is a focal point for opposing defensive coordinator to account for. Hawkins throws with good velocity and is quick to release the ball with a sound throwing motion, but lost some accuracy on intermediate throws and throws downfield. Oklahoma leads on On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine.
• 2024 Aledo QB Hauss Hejny is emerging name in next year’s cycle as an accurate passer with excellent mobility. Hejnry is a good decision-maker able to manuever on the move with good accuracy, and brings another element with his contributions as a runner. He completed 9-of-12 passes for 149 yards and a TD, adding another 132 yards on 13 carries with two more TD. Nebraska is favored early on the RPM.
• 2024 top-100 EDGE Zina Umeozulu was quietly in the box score, but the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder generated pressure routinely and drew the attention of Guyer’s protection up front. Umeozulu is raw with outstanding length and moves well in his frame. He flashed in glimpses off the edge and is intriguing nonetheless. The Sooners lead narrowly over Texas A&M on the RPM for the Consensus top-50 junior.
• 2024 Guyer CB Eli Bowen, who last season came away with double-digit interceptions as a sophomore in this secondary, was a vital piece to slowing down Allen’s RPO game. Bowen crashed on outside runs and came away with several stops by the goal line in the first half. Notre Dame leads on On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine for the talented junior, who landed an offer from the Ducks while visiting Eugene over the weekend.
• 2024 WR Josiah Martin provides a jolt to the Guyer passing attack. The 6-foot, 180-pounder provides some juice in the passing game as a sure-handed pass-catcher that’s shifty in the open field and speed to burn deep. Martin was a favorite target for Arnold in the red zone and used on screen passes to let him maneuver and create on his own. He operates outside and is a flexible option in the slot, too. Baylor leads on the RPM.
• Landon Slide (Guyer) and Jalen Pope (Aledo) are two 2023 receivers that stood out for their respective passing attacks. Slide (6-foot, 180 pounds) has 10.5 speed and it shows on the field. He adds a vertical threat to the passing attack and is quick to accelerate after the catch. Pope (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) boast 4.5 speed more than 500 yards and seven touchdowns on the season for Aledo. Pope is a dynamic piece for Aledo’s passing game, used in the return game and out wide. Pope plays big with a Power 5 frame, wide catch radius and superb hands. He’s a big play waiting to happen every time he touches the rock. Currently, Air Force leads on the RPM for this under-the-radar WR.