HOUSTON – Everyone knows that recruiting trends are like the stock market.
There are ups and downs. There are trends. When it comes to recruiting it follows that same pattern as there are years where more talent stays home and in other years the majority of the best talent leaves the borders of the Lone Star State.
Well, the best of the 2020 class of Houston recruits seem to be trending towards leaving Texas.
This isn't the first time that power programs outside of Texas – which has Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, Texas Tech, SMU, North Texas, Rice, University of Houston, UTEP, UTSA as quality programs to go play college football at – haven't been able to lure the best from the state.
This class is starting to trend just like the 2017 recruiting class.
That year, Episcopal's Marvin Wilson – the No. 6-ranked recruit that season – signed with Florida State. His teammate, Walker Little – the No. 9-ranked recruit – signed with Stanford the same year.
North Shore's K'Lavon Chaisson – the No. 37-ranked recruit – and Cy-Fair's Austin Deculus – the No. 48-ranked recruit – both signed with LSU that year. Cy-Fair's Brock Wright – the No. 71-ranked recruit – signed with Notre Dame.
In recent weeks the same trend has been seen for the 2020 class.
North Shore's Damieon George has verballed to Alabama and Corey Flagg just committed to Miami (FL). Shadow Creek's Ronald Triplette and Jeremiah Harris, along with North Shore's Jojo Wilson have all recently committed to Kansas State.
Poppa Caster this one for you....... #COMMITTED pic.twitter.com/SiZRT08kzA
— Corey Flagg Jr. ² (@CoreyFlaggJr) June 18, 2019
For players that haven't committed but have released their Top 12, Top 10 or Top 5 they really seem to be leaning out of state as well.
Sixth-ranked overall prospect for the 2020 class Zach Evans of North Shore, who is one of the most coveted running backs of the class didn't have one Texas school in his Top 5. When he released his list at the end of May, Ohio State, Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma and Georgia made the cut.
Cy Ridge defensive tackle Vernon Broughton II – who is the No. 70-ranked prospect of the 2020 class by 24/7 Sports – released his Top 6, which included Alabama, Arkansas, LSU, Ohio State, Texas and Texas A&M.
Another top talent that recently released his Top 5 was MacArthur's Josh Eaton, which included Texas, Texas A&M, Florida, Alabama and Oklahoma.
Of course, between now and the December early signing period and the traditional February National Signing Day, a lot can change.
These players could end up choosing a school in Texas, which right now Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies seem to be the trending choice.
Texas A&M – which can hang its hat on playing in the SEC – holds the No. 13-ranked recruiting class for 2020, which is the highest in the country of any Texas program. In that class, Tomball's Demond Demas (No. 15 overall), Fort Bend Austin's Troy Omeire (No. 95 overall), Fort Bend Hightower's Smart Chibuzo and College Park's Josh Bankhead headline the group from Houston potentially heading to College Station.
Texas, which has the No. 36-ranked class is coming off a Sugar Bowl win against Georgia, currently has no 2020 commits from Houston. TCU, which has the No. 39-ranked class, also has no commits from the Bayou City.
Don't get me wrong, there is nothing bad about playing at Alabama or Oklahoma, program's that are consistently in the College Football Playoff and in the running to win a National Championship. There is nothing wrong with going out of state but with the rising success of Texas and Texas A&M, and coaches like Fisher, Tom Herman and now Dana Holgerson at Houston - which plays in the American Athletic Conference - it is a slight surprise. But at the same time this is just the current trend.
The 2021 class could all end up staying in Texas or leave but time will tell on that. But right now the trend for the 2020 class is to leave the Lone Star State.
We will see where they really end up going when the time comes to put pen to paper.
*Player and team rankings for article are according to ones done on 247 Sports*
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