UA Next Camp Series: Dallas top performers
Arlington, Texas – More than 150 of the top prospects from Texas and surrounding states converged on Martin High School to take part in the Dallas stop of the Under Armour Next Series. The event featured dozens of blue-chip prospects from the 2023, 2024 and 2025 cycles. Here are On3’s top performers from the day, headlined by 2023 four-star defensive lineman Jordan Renaud.
On3 MVP: DL Jordan Renaud
Jordan Renaud, an On3 Consensus four-star prospect from Tyler (Texas) Legacy, came into Sunday as one of the top-ranked players in the Lone Star State. He didn’t disappoint. Renaud put together a standout performance with an ideal blend of speed and power. Initial movement skills and bend were obvious in drill work. But it was the one-on-one drills that Renaud stood out the most. He won reps with quickness, and speed to power. A long arm was evident on a winning rep working off the edge by the near 6-foot-4 and 245-pounder that ranks as the No. 83 player in the country. Texas A&M, Oklahoma and TCU are the teams to beat for Renaud, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.
UA Next Camp Series defensive line instructor Nathan O’Neal gushed about Renaud.
“He’s an explosive kid that is zero to sixty in one step,” O’Neal said. “He’s explosion power transfer is absolutely insane. Then at the same time his ability to be twitchy and turn a corner rushing from the edge. He literally ran over a kid rushing from the 4i. The kid’s upside is tremendous.”
2. WR Anthony Evans
Anthony Evans, an Arkansas commitment from Converse (Texas) Judson, dazzled in drills and one-on-ones. Evans was both quick and fast throughout the camp. He repeatedly received praise for the wide receiver position instructor for crisp movements without wasted motion.
The 6-foot, 175-pounder displayed as quick of feet as any receiver or defensive back on hand. He flashed suddenness off the line, separation creating change of direction and crisp cuts out of breaks. The San Antonio area prospect won every one-on-one rep On3 watched with clean and quick releases when pressed, and the ability to race past coverage. Evans has the ability to win over the top with sheer speed, or in the intermediate game with separation.
While Evans needs to add strength at the Power 5 level, he doesn’t play like a prospect that may lack strength. He showed competitive toughness during the day.
While he’s committed to the Hogs, he said remains open in the process with potential visits to Oregon and Ohio State. Evans is busy on the track with designs on running a low 21-second 200 meters this spring. He posted a best of 21.54 as a sophomore, as well as a 10.9-second 100-meter time.
3. CB Mario Buford
Mario Buford, a sophomore from area power DeSoto High, has been talked about as the next nationally recruited defensive back at the school since early in his freshman season. The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder was easily the smoothest cornerback in position drills. Buford received praise from the defensive back instructor after every rep.
UA Next defensive back instructor Don Cox echoed what On3 witnessed.
“Hands down the best corner movement skills out here,” he said.
When it came to one-on-ones, Buford backed up the ultra-impressive drill work. He matched up with teammate and On3 Consensus four-star receiver Johntay Cook II and stayed attached on multiple reps. Buford stayed on the hip of Cook multiple times in one-on-ones, along with getting his head around to make a play on the ball. Buford has the quickness and recovery speed to close on the ball when initially beaten. Not surprisingly, Buford took home camp DB MVP honors Sunday.
Buford has received offers from Louisville, Washington, Arkansas, Boston College and Georgia Tech since the end of the 2021 season.
4. CB Javien Toviano
Four-star 2023 cornerback Javien Toviano of Arlington (Texas) Martin comes across as a very mature prospect when engaged in a conversation. And his mature mindset carries over to the field as well. He approaches every rep with purpose, takes instruction and applies it to the following rep.
That ability makes Toviano a prospect that rarely makes the same mistake twice. He displayed controlled and balanced movement skills and does so with an ideal frame. In the one-on-one setting, Toviano flashed an instinctive break on the ball for a PBU.
Toviano recently made an unofficial visit to LSU, with programs such as Notre Dame, Texas and Oklahoma in hot pursuit.
5. WR Johntay Cook II
Four-star 2023 receiver Johntay Cook II was one of several big-time wide receiver prospects on hand Sunday. Cook was extremely quick, efficient, and crisp in drill work. He was consistently the best in a loaded group throughout the position drills. He continues to display explosive initial movement skills, the ability to accelerate to top end quickly, and an improved ability to gear down.
Cook’s ability to create instant separation out of cuts separates him from many of his peers. His ability to sink his hips, drop his weight and explode out of cuts received praise multiple times from camp position coaches.
Cook is fresh off a visit to LSU, and he told On3’s Inside Texas he plans to make back-to-back visits to Texas March 26 and April 2.
6. DL David Hicks
David Hicks, the On3 Consensus five-star defensive linemen from Allen (Texas) High, didn’t disappoint Sunday in a setting that many other elite players decline to compete in.
Hicks remains one of the most powerful defensive line prospects in the 2023 cycle, which also includes high-end lateral agility and hand quickness that wins. Hicks seemingly never drops his eyes, and thus plays with very impressive discipline and balance. The ability to take contact, and powerfully play through contact while keeping his eyes on the ball is on a different level from many in the cycle.
O’Neal has been a fan for three years since first working with Hicks.
“David Hicks is a powerful dude,” he said. “Smart, intelligent, really coachable, fast hands and good eyes. I love him.”
Hicks recruitment includes a strong relationship with Oklahoma defensive line coach Todd Bates and the Texas A&M staff. Miami, Oregon, Alabama and Texas are among the others in pursuit.
7. WR Cordale Russell
Four-star receiver Cordale Russell of Mesquite (Texas) North Mesquite always passes the eye test when he walks onto a football field, basketball court, seven-on-seven tournament, and now camp setting.
The No. 173 ranked prospect in the On300 won one-on-one reps with high-end physicality off the line, and an otherworldly catch radius at the position.
Russell easily snatched the ball out of the air on a windy day, and he is a ball winner against attached coverage.
Russell moves with ease for his size with improved route-running crispness in recent months. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder with broad shoulders has sneaky vertical speed. He will be a back-shoulder winner and high-end red zone threat at the next level.
Texas Tech is in a good position early due to a strong connection with Red Raiders receivers coach Emmett Jones. Baylor and TCU are among the contenders for the one-time Horned Frogs verbal.
8. S Corian Gipson
Corian Gipson’s sophomore tape is extremely impressive, and he backed it up Sunday.
The 2024 safety prospect from Lancaster (Texas) High is smooth in his pedal, remains balanced when reacting to sudden change of direction and closes on the ball like a corner.
While Gipson must add strength and weight to his frame, he’s blessed with tremendous movement skills.
The Lancaster High budding star flashes the ability to adjust to the ball, and ideal body control.
Gipson is a play finisher with the ability to make plays on the ball. Gipson’s offer list is up to 15, with seven Power 5’s since the end of the 2021 season.
The offer list includes Oklahoma State, Texas, Arkansas, Baylor, Arizona State and Texas Tech.
9. DL Terrance Green
Terrance Green — the No. 110 ranked prospect in the On300 and a four-star 2023 recruit — once again impressed Sunday.
The 6-foot-5, near 270-pound two-way lineman from Cypress (Texas) Cy Woods displayed impressive first step get-off for his size, with the ability to get skinny to win. Green’s future position is the question.
Programs such as USC and Oklahoma State are recruiting Green at offensive tackle, where we believe his highest ceiling resides.
However, there are a number of programs that will provide Green a chance at defensive tackle first. And that is Green’s preference currently. Green has visits to USC and Oregon on the books this spring, as well as an April official visit to Oklahoma State.
O’Neal has become a big fan of Green since first seeing him a few weeks ago.
“His get-off makes you a believer,” O’Neal said. “He’s a kid I know can really turn into something from a defensive tackle standpoint. I think he can be a big nose tackle similar to Tedarrell Slaton. Really good get-off with strong hands. He has to learn how to use his length. When he does, he will be a nightmare.”
10. IOL Jaydon Chatman
Jaydon Chatman, the On3 Consensus four-star from Harker Heights (Texas) High, impressed in various ways Sunday.
Chatman was a smooth mover in testing and drill work with impressive flexibility. Chatman looks athletic in his stance, moves with first and second step quickness, and has ideal length. The 6-foot-4, 285-pounder showed he can mirror, quickly react to sudden movement in his peripheral and understands how to use his length to redirect rushers. Chatman made a visit to LSU last weekend, and has a pair of trips to Texas scheduled to end March and begin April.
Additional Notes
- Riley Van Poppel of Argyle (Texas) High impressed On3 once again. The 6-foot-4.5, 271-pound defensive tackle that could play IOL long term attacks each rep and drill with a chip on his shoulder. Van Poppell moves with purpose and physicality. And he swiftly moved through pass rush drills with continued improvement in terms of bend and keeping the eyes up. The No. 139 ranked prospect in the On300 has made visits to TCU, Baylor and Nebraska since the end of the 2021 season. Vanderbilt, Houston and Washington are the most recent offers.
- College Station High 2023 linebacker Chantz Johnson also caught our eye. The 6-foot-1, near 210-pounder played defensive end last season out of team need but worked out at his natural position Sunday. Johnson flashed quick feet, the ability to effortlessly change direction and smoothness in overall movement skills. The son of Texas A&M sports performance coach Jerry Johnson has offers from Buffalo and Akron, but that list will grow during the spring evaluation period.
- Three-star SMU receiver commitment Jaxson Lavender of Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy proved today his quickness and speed travels against topflight competition. Lavender easily got deep in one-on-ones and tracked the ball well on a very windy day. Lavender has quick initial movement skills, gets to top end quickly and has play winning speed.