AUSTIN — In the wake of the Big 12 Conference — specifically Texas universities — hit the jackpot after National Signing Day.
According to Lone Star Prospects’ (LSP) 2018 final cornerback rankings on Feb. 7, Texas Christian University and the University of Texas nabbed four of the top 10 high school prospects in the state. Oklahoma, last season’s Big 12 Champion grabbed two more.
Among them are Houston Lamar’s Anthony Cook and D’Shawn Jamison, Rockdale’s JaQuaylyn Crawford, and Smithson Valley’s Trevon Moehrig-Woodard.
It's go time! @TheReal_Tre44 is a Frog!#CarterBoys18 pic.twitter.com/BC8KGD3kI9
— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) December 20, 2017
Along with Houston Heights’ Jalen Green, Cook and Jamison make up three of the top five. Each of the trio signed National Letters of Intent as Longhorns, either during the early or recent regular signing period. They are also some of the deadliest defenders Texas has to offer.
Despite only logging 13 tackles last season, Green is an imposing cornerback at 6-foot and 171 pounds, one with the ability to out jump collegiate leapers and the quickness to keep up with the Big 12 speedsters like former Richmond Foster wideout CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma) and former Waxahachie slot receiver Kennedy Snell (TCU).
Cook and Jamison were Houston Lamar’s — better known as Defensive Back University — lockdown corners. The duo not only combined for 52 tackles and three interceptions in 2017. The former, an equally imposing defender at 6-foot-1, has 10 career interceptions. The latter has five takeaways.
Jamison, the smaller of the two at 5-foot-10, has a sack on his prep resume.
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LSP Final Class 2018 CB Rankings
Rank | Player | High School | College
1. Anthony Cook Houston Lamar Texas
2. Jalen Green Houston Heights Texas
3. Verone McKinley Carrolton Hebron Oregon
4. D’Shawn Jamison Houston Lamar Texas
5. JaQuaylyn Crawford Rockdale Oklahoma
6. Gemon Green DeSoto Michigan
7. Trevon Moehrig-Woodard Smithson Valley TCU
8. Starrland Baldwin Cy Falls Oklahoma
9. Christian Young Richmond Foster Arizona
10. Tanner McCalister Rockwall-Heath Oklahoma State
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TCU also grabbed its own defensive stalwart in Moehrig-Woodard, the heir apparent for Ranthony Texada after he graduates in the spring. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, the No. 23 player in Texas helped the Rangers hold opponents 16 points per game — including a pair of shutouts and five more games of 10 points or fewer.
Baldwin and Crawford, though, could make the where the Horned Frogs, Longhorns, or Sooners fall in the top three of the conference an interesting debate.
Crawford, a Class 3A state champion at Rockdale, has the hands to be one of the best cover corners of the 2018 national class. He has the speed to keep pace with dominating receivers like TCU’s Omar Manning, Jalen Reagor or Tevailance Hunt. So, too, does Baldwin.
Crawford had 690 yards rushing, 777 yards receiving, and two of the Tigers’ nine interceptions. Despite their respective 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10 frames, each near lockdown defender possesses the vertical to win 50/50 battles with the most lengthy and talented receivers, too.
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