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Fulshear’s Vargas commits to Aggies
Texas A&M baseball coaches went to Crosby last Thursday to take a look at Fulshear junior left-hander Austin Vargas.
Vargas, initially a University of Houston commit, certainly fits the part of premier prospect physically. He stands 6-foot-7, 200 pounds. He is long and lean. Self-assured. But after he allowed no runs on two hits while striking out nine and walking seven in five innings to lead Fulshear to an area playoff Game 2 win over Crosby, Vargas showed the Aggies he had the raw talent as well.
A&M invited Vargas for a visit and officially offered him. It didn’t take long for Vargas to reciprocate the interest. Two days after that initial A&M evaluation, Vargas committed to the Aggies.
“After many coaching changes and many talks with my family, I decided to decommit (from UH),” Vargas said. “Texas A&M presented me with the opportunity to play against the best teams in the nation and use the best technology to stay healthy and perform at my best. I love the culture Coach (Jim) Schloss (Schlossnagle) is building and his history with going to Omaha (site of the College World Series).”
Committed! Gig\u2019Em @CoachSchloss @ncain39 @NateYeskie @NicoMoran @FiveStarPB @coachgetschmannpic.twitter.com/N8kJGx9lnC— Austin Vargas (@Austin Vargas) 1652560108
Vargas had a breakthrough 2022 campaign. He finished 7-2 with a 1.99 ERA over 52 innings and a 3.1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (113 to 37) and helped lead the 20-11-1 Chargers to the area playoffs. He threw a perfect game against Terry in late April, striking out 17 Rangers on only 83 pitches in six innings.
Opponents barely hit better than .100 against Vargas, who tops out at 92 miles per hour on his fastball and sits around 89-91 mph. He has a devastating slider to accompany his fastball, and his curveball hovers around 78 mph.
“This year, I was most pleased to perform under pressure,” said Vargas, who went 2-0 in the postseason with 17 strikeouts and did not surrender a run on two hits in eight innings. “I’ve been in a lot of situations this year that aren’t easy to deal with and found a way to get out of it with no damage. The main thing I want to improve in my game is the ability to throw my off-speed for strikes whenever I want to.”
Round 1 3 IP 0 H 8 SO 0 R 3 BB. Sat 88-92!! @UHCougarBB @toddwhitting @CougarKiv23 @NicoMoran @FiveStarPB @TxHS_Baseball @coachgetschmannpic.twitter.com/4V1PDzEumM— Austin Vargas (@Austin Vargas) 1651900076
Vargas will next play for his summer team and attend showcases. He plans to spend a lot of time at Performance Edge, where he trains, to get bigger and stronger.
“To dominate my senior year,” he said.
Vargas has big goals.
“I’m focused on getting Fulshear a state championship,” he said, “and getting to Texas A&M to help win a national championship.”
Rams' Wilson making most of 'better opportunity'
Growing up in Monroe, Louisiana, idolizing LSU football, Tay'Shawn Wilson wondrously watched former Tiger great and current Kansas City Chief Tyrann Mathieu, marveling at the cornerback's dominant, soulful performances night in and night out.
"I would watch him and be like, man, I've gotta make this happen, because that's who I want to be," Wilson said.
To do that, however, to make his own gridiron glory a reality, Wilson understood he had to leave Monroe, one of the most dangerous cities in the United States, according to crimegrade.org. So, with his family's encouragement, Wilson left last summer to Houston and Mayde Creek High School.
"It's been great for me to be here," said Wilson, whose uncle, Dechristeon, is a defensive backs coach for the Rams. "I had to get away from all the negatives in Louisiana. All the bad things. When we moved out here, I wanted to get a better opportunity. It's rare to get an opportunity in Louisiana. I'm here to better myself and get looked at more."
Spent this morning getting to know @MCRamFootball CB @TayShawnWilson6, who is emerging as a top recruit in the Clas… https://t.co/o3TH1toANS— Dennis Silva II (@Dennis Silva II) 1624565010.0
Everything is coming as expected for Wilson, who is emerging as one of the top recruits in the Class of 2023. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound cornerback with a 4.45 laser-timed 40-yard dash has received DI offer after DI offer as he has opened many eyes on the camp scene this summer.
There was the first offer, from Louisiana Tech, on May 20. On June 5 came an offer from Baylor. Three days later, the University of Texas joined the list. And on June 18, the University of Houston became Wilson's third Power 5 offer in 14 days.
Wilson credits his new teammates—his new family—for his blossoming success.
"I wouldn't be here without them," Wilson said. "They didn't have to welcome me here when I came from Louisiana. But they push me in practice all the time. I'm around them all the time. Everything's been going up."
Wilson started nine games for Mayde Creek last season, totaling 20 tackles with two pass deflections and one fumble recovery. He showed a raw, obvious talent, and made a quick impression on new Rams head coach J Jensen when he was hired in March.
TayShawn Wilson Sophomore Szn
TayShawn Wilson Sophomore Sznwww.hudl.com
TayShawn Wilson Sophomore Szn
"Really, really explosive athlete," Jensen said. "I thought he was a junior going into his senior year, but loved it when I heard he was a sophomore to be a junior. He's strong in the weight room. He can fly on the track. When he took the baton on the relay anchor leg, I knew he'd go get it and give it his all. That's the kind of guy you want, someone you have to pull back and not have to prod and push."
Jensen said Wilson reminds him of former Alief Taylor star safety Greg Allen, who played at Kansas. Jensen was an offensive line coach for the Lions at the time. Allen was a physical, aggressive playmaker, and, like Wilson, also ran the anchor leg of relays for the Taylor track team.
Jensen plans to use Wilson, who played quarterback growing up in Monroe, all over the field. Wilson will blitz off the edge in nickel and dime packages. He'll play outside and cover the other team's best receiver. He'll play on the inside to cover the slot. He'll return kicks. He'll see plenty of time on offense, carrying the ball or running routes.
"He just adds to our playbook and game plan every week, and the other team is going to have to defend him as well and figure out a way to get the ball to their best receiver with Tay'Shawn in his pocket," Jensen said.
As skilled as Wilson is, however, Jensen has been most impressed with his maturity and confidence. "Coming out of his shell," as Jensen likes to say.
Wilson is smiling more. He's laughing and joking with coaches and teammates more. He's taking younger defensive backs under his wing, even though he's yet to see his first day as an upperclassman.
Most importantly, he's a team-first guy.
"This isn't a one-person game," Wilson said.
And it's not just hot air.
"Tay'Shawn will be in the battle with you," Jensen said. "He's locked in, and 100 percent focused on winning and doing the right things. He's all about the team. He gets excited that he's able to bring college coaches around to watch other kids, too, when they watch him. Our kids are getting looks because coaches come to watch Tay'Shawn."
Wilson is in Florida this weekend for another showcase. It's another opportunity to show he's the best, the fastest, the first one in line.
"I'm trying to show I can be that person that can help a program and everything around the program," he said. "I just love to compete."
Ideally, Wilson wants to go to a college that is what Mayde Creek is. A family. A sense of home. A place to be the best version of himself.
"I want a family environment, great academics, great sports," he said. "I really want that closeness of a family that the team brings and that everyone around the school brings. Diversity. I like a school that's a mixture of a lot of things and everyone just comes together as a team."