After playing behind elite talents, CB Jabbar Muhammad (5'11, 170) has emerged as a national-level recruit in the DeSoto defensive backfield. 

"Last year I was behind a Michigan commit (Gemon Green), and a Baylor commit (Byron Hanspard)," Muhammad said. "They took me under their wing, and I learned from them. This year I'm just showing it all on the field. I had a hard summer, and all the hard work is paying off."

Muhammad paid particular attention to the advice of Hanspard. 

"You know Byron (Hanspard) is aggressive," said Muhammad who plays with a high level of confidence on the island. 

"He told me always to be aggressive with the receivers. You want to be the force. I feel like way more physical. I got a little bit bigger, taller, gained a lot more confidence and I feel like that has played a big part."

Hanspard has already verbally committed to Oklahoma State, but other schools are still chasing. 

"A big part of that is Tim Duffie," Hanspard said of his relationship with the OSU defensive backs coach.  

"I have a cousin up there (A.J. Green), and he has acclimated very well, and we talk every day as well as me and coach Duffie, we talk every day. I feel like that played a big role in my commitment."  

"Mizzou has been showing me love, and North Texas has been showing me a lot of love."

Muhammad has an eye on a potential college major.  

"As of right now, I want to study Business," Muhammad informed. "My dad is a real estate agent, and I would like to learn more about that and learn from him and try to be better than him."

DeSoto (9-2) has a showdown with Southlake Carroll (11-0) in the second round of the 6A-D1 TXHSFB Playoffs at Mansfield's Vernon Newsome Stadium on Saturday at 2 p.m.