OOS Prospects:
Texas is doing just fine at wide receiver in the 2016 class.
The Longhorns have notched commitments from four-star prospects Tren’Davian $#@!son, Collin Johnson and Reggie Hemphill-Mapps and sit in good position with top in-state targets like Dee Anderson and Devin Duvernay.
But that hasn’t stopped Texas from trying to lure elite out of-state-talent at the position. Texas is very much in the mix for four-star Starkville (MS) wide out A.J. Brown.
“My interest in Texas is really high,” Brown said. “I’m going to take one of my official visits there, so I can get a good feel for everything, meet the coaches, see the campus and things like that. I just want to check it out.”
Brown admits that he isn’t too familiar with the program at this time, but he does have a soft spot for the Longhorns.
“I used to like Texas when I was a little kid, and I remember they used to have really good wide receivers,” Brown said. “I always used to think that could be me. I just want to learn more about the program because right now, I don’t know too much.”
At 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Brown is ranked as the No. 14 wide receiver in the country and No. 4 overall prospect in the state of Mississippi, according to 247Sports Composite. Along with Texas, Brown said Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State and Ole Miss are making an impression on him.
It will be difficult for Texas to pull Brown away from those SEC schools, but quarterback commit Shane Buechele might be the Longhorns' secret weapon. The two played on the same 7-on-7 team at The Opening and hooked up for some big plays before Brown went down with an injury.
“It was good getting to play with Shane,” Brown said. “He had some good things to say about Texas, and he’s a good quarterback. I really liked playing with him.”
Brown is not sure when he plans on making a decision. (Holland)
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Texas appears to be in good position with Waco’s Eric Cuffee. But other than that, recruiting at cornerback — at least from an in-state perspective — appears to be a bit murky.
So it’s no surprised the Longhorns looked out of state earlier this summer and extended an offer to four-star Saguaro (AZ) cornerback Byron Murphy.
“It was amazing when I got that Texas offer because Coach (Tommie) Robinson came to the school and saw me (earlier in the spring),” Murphy said. “It was a big deal for sure. But right now, I don’t really know too much about them.”
The 5-foot-11, 160-pounder is currently ranked as the No. 9 cornerback in the country and No. 2 overall prospect in the state of Arizona, according to 247Sports Composite. Arizona State, Texas A&M and Washington are considered his leaders.
But Murphy said his interest level in Texas is growing. He also has a special connection to the university.
“My cornerbacks coach right now, Coach (Bryant) Westbrook, actually played at Texas," Murphy said. "He was telling me that I had to at least make a visit to Texas. He said the program is amazing and that I would benefit a lot from going there.”
Murphy plans to make an official visit to Texas A&M on October 16 and said he hopes to swing by Texas for an unofficial visit before he departs from the Lone Star State. (Holland)
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Caleb Roddy always dreamed of receiving an offer from LSU.
The three-star prospect out of Denham Springs (La.) earned a number of scholarships in the spring, but LSU continued to tell him to stay patient. Roddy did just that and finally earned the offer at a camp in early June.
He committed just a day later.
“It was a dream come true,” Roddy said. "I had been working my butt off to get that offer. When I finally got it, I had an explosion of emotions all at once. I just decided to commit. It was amazing.”
Before Roddy sided with the Tigers, he was extremely high on Texas. Roddy understands that crazy things can happen in the recruiting process and hasn’t completely shut the door on the Longhorns.
Roddy said he has a couple of backup schools “just in case,” and Texas is definitely one of them.
“If I do take any official visits, Texas will be one of the school I see, for sure,” Roddy said. “I really like Coach (Charlie) Strong. He’s a defensive-minded head coach. They had a really good recruiting class, so they have a bright future.”
At 6-foot-4, 255 pounds, Roddy is ranked as the No. 27 strong-side defensive end in the country and No. 28 overall prospect in the state, according to 247Sports Composite.
Roddy is fully committed to LSU at this time. (Holland)
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Texas offensive line coach Joe Wickline could target more out-of-state recruits
Strong and the Texas coaching staff are in pursuit of recruits that can fill key roles in the trenches. Due to their struggles in-state, the Longhorns might look at out-of-state players like Carl Thompson.
Thompson, a 6-foot-3 290-pound offensive guard out of Miami Jackson (Fla.), goes into his senior year anticipating some big offers, and Texas could be one of them.
“The UT coaches have talked to me a little bit and coach (Chris) Vaughn came out to visit us (in the spring)," Thompson said. "They told me to continue to work hard and learn and that they would continue to keep an eye on me throughout the season."
Thompson’s teammate, linebacker Shemar Smith, holds a Texas offer and plans on making an official visit to Austin on September 26. Thompson would like to join him on the trip.
“I don’t have any future visits scheduled yet, but I plan on getting to Texas at some point when I can,” Thompson said. “I’m hoping and waiting on a Texas offer, along with a few other schools.”
Thompson is ranked as the No. 107 offensive guard in the nation and No. 294 overall prospect in the state of Florida, according to 247Sports Composite. A two-star prospect, Thompson holds offers from Marshall and Syracuse. He hopes that offer sheet continues to grow this fall.
“My strengths come against the pass rush and I know that’s what teams like Texas are looking for,” Thompson said. “If I can get better in my work through the entire play and get a little bigger, I think Texas could offer me.”
Thompson said he will make it a priority to contact offensive line coach Joe Wickline as he prepares for the beginning of his senior season. (Sweet)
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Los Angeles Valley C.C. (Calif.) defensive end Raveon Hoston has not received a phone call from Texas defensive line coach Brick Haley since February, but he is a prospect to keep an eye on.
The three-star JUCO prospect remains interested in the Longhorns and is “very optimistic” his phone will start ringing later this year. Hoston admitted that his performance in the classroom is not up to standards, but his top focus is to improve them.
He is currently waiting for grades from his summer session and plans to continue the hard work in the fall semester.
“When my grades will get better, schools will start offering me," Hoston said. "As of right now, I could not get offered from a school.”
The 6-foot-4, 246-pound defensive end, who could also end up playing linebacker, mentioned he has also heard from Arizona State, Clemson, Fresno State, Missouri, UTEP and UTSA. Hoston explained his recruitment and the caliber of schools which offer him is up to him and his academic performance.
“I’m just taking care of what I can take care of and what I can control," Hoston said. "When that happens, then I will see what they will do.”
Hoston said his current top three is made up of Arizona State, Texas and Clemson.
A three-star prospect, Hoston is ranked as the No. 5 weak-side defensive end in the JUCO ranks, according to 247Sports Composite.