Texas RB target James Simon to announce commitment at the 2024 On3 Elite Series
2025 Shreveport (La.) Calvary Baptist Academy running back James Simon will commit at the 2024 On3 Elite Series in Nashville, Tenn. LIVE on YouTube on May 29, he announced on Monday.
[Sign up for Inside Texas and get ONE MONTH for $1!]
Inside Texas recently caught up with Simon during a trip to Calvary Baptist. Simon holds the Longhorns in high esteem.
“(Texas’) offense is explosive and they definitely use the running backs,” Simon said to Inside Texas’ Justin Wells. “I think it was (Jaydon) Blue who scored at touchdown out of the backfield (in the Spring game), I love how their backs can do so many different things.”
Texas has one tailback in the class of 2025, in Tyler (Texas) Chapel Hill four-star Rickey Stewart Jr. The Horns want one more in the cycle and Simon is the priority.
Simon is ranked as the No. 151 overall prospect, the No. 9 running back, and the No. 4 player in Louisiana according to the On3 Industry Ranking.
On3 ranks Simon as the No. 115 overall prospect, the No. 8 running back, and the No. 4 player in Louisiana.
Evaluation on Simon from the Recruiting Notebook
How he fits at Texas:
James Simon was in an interesting high school offense that emphasizes the old throwback run scheme known as the draw. The draw relies on a running back possessing great initial burst and lateral agility because he receives the ball at a standstill and has to pick a way through the interior. Simon is particularly great as a prospect in that realm, executing jump cuts and using his wiggle and burst to find creases between the tackles. He’d definitely translate with time into a zone running scheme but he’d fit as well as Jonathon Brooks did in gap schemes where he can threaten to bounce runs outside or jump cut and dart through interior gaps. – Ian Boyd
Coach Says:
Strengths — Height and weight are adequate from the start. Well-proportioned, muscular build with long-ish arms. As shuttle times suggest, change of direction is great with suddenness to his stop/start. Acceleration is very good. Doesn’t bleed speed with change of direction. Balanced out of his stance with sure first step. Shows great vision, even in traffic. Presses the gap aggressively. Shows good natural strength in the upper and lower body that is out of proportion to his size. Gives as good as he gets with contact and will run defenders over just as willingly as he’ll juke them. Contact balance is a plus. I see him as an effective between the tackles runner. Very productive runner who can contribute as a receiver. Self-reported vertical and shuttle are impressive, suggesting good lower body explosiveness. Hands look pretty natural in limited receiving film.
Areas for improvement — Speed appears functional, but game tape doesn’t really reflect reported long track speed. Forty time suggests he’s not going to win a lot of straight-line races against defenders. Pass-blocking is not represented. Will get impatient and overrun the blocking at times.
[Subscribe to the brand new Inside Texas YouTube channel!]
Texas targets at the 2024 On3 Elite Series
Five-Star Plus+ WR Dakorien Moore
Duncanville, TX
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 3
LSU commit
5-star SAF Jonah Williams
Galveston, TX
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 10
5-star OT Ty Haywood
Denton, TX
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 12
5-star WR Kaliq Lockett
Sachse, TX
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 14
5-star WR Caleb Cunningham
Ackerman, MS
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 17
5-star OT Michael Fasusi
Lewisville, TX
On3 Industry ranking: No. 18
5-star WR Jaime Ffrench
Jacksonville, FL
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 23
5-star CB Dorian Brew
Conroe, TX
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 25
4-star ATH Lance Jackson
Texarkana, TX
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 47
Texas commit
4-star QB Keelon Russell
Duncanville, Texas
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 78
SMU commit
4-star QB K.J. Lacey
Saraland, AL
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 88
Texas commit
4-star RB James Simon
Shreveport, LA
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 151
