(Ketch)
A few notes about Thursday's events in college football before we get into team news and recruiting.
a. "Just relax," one Texas official told me on Thursday. "We're going to sit back and watch what happens. One of the things that needed to happen last year was for things to get so chaotic that the doors to the SEC kind of opened themselves without anyone having to pay their way through. I think it's fair to say that what we hoped would happen, didn't. It's too early to know exactly how this might impact us, but maybe this is the chaos agent that last year didn't quite turn out to be. Fingers crossed."
b. Fox and ESPN are pulling the strings on everything we're watching unfold. Fox's fingerprints on the move of USC and UCLA to the Big 10 are all over the place, as Fox is working on a new TV deal with the Big 10 and very much wanted to add USC and UCLA as West Coast partners in the looming deal.
When I asked around on Thursday about the potential for Texas and Oklahoma to use today's news as a means of getting into the SEC quicker than 2025, I was told that it will largely come down to what ESPN wants, especially after the deal the network made with the SEC upon the announcement that the two Big 12 schools would be going to the SEC.
"ESPN wants our move to happen in 2025 and we likely won't leave before unless ESPN gives us the green light to do so. Just look at the comments that Jimmy Pitaro made," one source said.
What comments are those?
Well, last week ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro did an interview with The Athletic's Richard Deitsch and when the subject of Texas and Oklahoma's move to the SEC came up, his remarks were fairly emphatic.
“Once Texas and Oklahoma are in, we will have 16 out-of-conference games, one per team," Pitaro said. “Well, with Texas and Oklahoma it will be in 2025, so in 2024 it will be 14 (games).
“That was the deal we struck a year ago with the SEC.”
The question that exists now is whether the events from today will change the dynamics in a way that allows for an earlier green light.
"What really needs to happen is what didn't happen a year ago," one senior UT official texted me. "The Pac-12 looks like the Big 12 did, except they might lose Oregon and Washington as well. Is the rest of the Pac-12 viable if that happens? Does an alliance with the Big 12 schools make sense? Does the Big 12 try to poach Arizona and Arizona State? Colorado? Utah? What happens with Stanford? There's just a lot of stuff that has to unfold and at the end of it, we need ESPN to want us to make the move in 2024. It does not right now. Simple as that."
c. Another source told me that he believes the Pac-12 is absolutely dead. "They lost the Los Angeles market. What else does it have? Not much."
d. Why would USC and UCLA be able to enter the Big 10 before Texas and Oklahoma could head to the SEC? It's simple really, as the Pac-12's Grant of Rights expires a year earlier (two years from today, ironically).
The bottom line from my vantage point is that with the future of college football changing in front of our eyes in real time, nothing is 100-percent set in stone. Even if there are roadblocks that need to be cleared, there's a better chance of Texas and Oklahoma entering the SEC before 2025 than there was a day ago.
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(Anwar)
The majority of Texas football fans believe it is just a matter of time before Steve Sarkisian hands the keys to his program to Quinn Ewers.
Sarkisian never attempts to shelter Ewers from the spotlight. He answered every question about Ewers throughout the offseason. Sarkisian talked about the process of developing his young quarterback. He always acknowledged the quarterback battle this offseason but never said Hudson Card had an advantage because of the veteran’s experience. Instead, Sarkisian indicated Ewers and Card were in a quarterback battle.
So far, the battle continues.
Ewers and Card continue to split reps during summer workouts, according to my sources. That is not out of the ordinary considering how Sarkisian handled the quarterback battle last season.
Former Texas quarterback Casey Thompson and Card split reps during spring football, summer workouts, and the beginning of training camp. They split reps to start training camp before Sarkisian decided Card would be his opening-day starter after the first scrimmage. After that decision, Card received the majority of first-team reps before last season.
Card was officially named the starting quarterback a week before the season-opener against Louisiana.
If Sarkisian uses the same formula, we may not be able to piece together who will start against Louisiana-Monroe until the beginning of August – at the earliest.
“Ultimately, Sark is the master and he knows how to handle these situations,” Card said during the spring. “I'm just trusting in him. Ultimately, it'll be his decision on whatever he wants to do.”
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Sarkisian patiently waited for reinforcements to arrive and strengthen his offensive line room.
One of the biggest achievements of Sarkisian’s 2022 class was obtaining seven offensive linemen at a position that desperately needed an upgrade. Devon Campbell, Kelvin Banks Jr., Malik Agbo, Cameron Williams, Neto Umeozulu, Cole Hutson, and Conner Robertson comprised arguably the best offensive line class in program history. Sarkisian recently obtained the verbal commitments of four offensive linemen in the 2023 class but the focus is on the players currently on campus.
Multiple sources lauded the performance of Campbell and Banks this week.
I was told Campbell is the biggest and strongest freshman offensive lineman on campus. My sources have praised every aspect of Campbell’s game.
In addition, Banks has been impressive. Most Longhorn observers expected Banks and Campbell to compete for playing time as freshmen. My sources indicated both players have impressed this staff and could start in the season opener. They have been that impressive in a short period.
In addition, I was told Texas is optimistic at least one other freshman offensive lineman can improve and land in the two-deep. For now, Sarkisian’s staff is happy with the performance of that group.
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I was told Texas strength and conditioning coach Torre Becton is focusing on agility and has designed his workouts around that goal.
Becton conducts drills to help improve the range of motion with each player. They are running a lot in practice. I was told many players struggled when summer workouts began but the improvements have been noticeable each week.
In addition, Becton has focused on clean lifts, snatches, and speed lifts. Becton does not emphasize utilizing heavy weights. Instead, this is Becton’s method to get the most out of his players.
My sources indicated players prefer Becton’s approach over the heavy lifting they underwent with the previous staff.
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This is a minor note but Texas running back Roschon Johnson was recently clocked at 23 miles per hour during practice.
Players wear a Catapult vest that monitors players during workouts. I was told that is how Johnson’s speed was calculated.
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Here are a few more nuggets:
--- My sources indicated the morale in practice appears to be high. The new additions to Sarkisian’s program have given this team a jolt of energy and positivity. One source said the players obtained in the transfer portal have displayed a lot of confidence due to the success at their previous programs – individually or as a team – and it is rubbing off on the team.
--- Defensive tackle Alfred Collins and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders were praised this week for their growth this offseason.
--- Sarkisian and his staff will start their respective vacations on Friday. The players are off, too, and are allowed to enjoy next week away from football. After they return, there will be three more weeks of summer workouts before training camp begins.
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(From Suchomel)
It’s been one hell of a ride for Texas in the seven days since Arch Manning committed, and the Longhorns aren’t done. Keep an eye out for some good news to pop this weekend that you all will enjoy.
Let the guessing begin …
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I caught up with Rivals250 OL Zalance Heard this week for what I thought was a pretty interesting update.
Heard, who Texas had previously been recruiting as a defensive lineman, is now being recruited as an offensive tackle by the Texas staff. Since Bo Davis had already developed a strong relationship, he’s still the point man and the two talked earlier this week.
Last weekend, Heard dropped a top eight consisting of Florida State, LSU, Nebraska, Louisiana Tech, Oklahoma State, Houston, Texas and Auburn.
Heard has taken one official visit, a June 10 stop at Nebraska. So far, he doesn’t have any other trips lined up for late July or the fall.
Here’s where things get interesting …
The Monroe (LA) Neville standout said he doesn’t have a timeframe for a decision and said it’s not out of the question that he could make a decision this summer without taking any other official visits.
“Pretty much when I feel like the time is right. It may be before the season, I know for a fact it won’t be after the season,” Heard said of a commitment timeframe.
Heard has been to Texas “four or five times” so he’s obviously very familiar with the program. He’s also familiar with UT’s recent recruiting run and said it impacts his thinking of the Longhorns.
“It actually does. That got me thinking. They had what, 7 people commit in the last week?,” Heard said. (actually 10, but who’s counting?)
When Heard and Bo Davis talked a couple of days ago, Davis told Heard he should go ahead and commit and join the fun.
“He said they want me to be a part of it. I told him I’m thinking about it,” Heard said.
Most predictions have Heard eventually committing to LSU and while that may wind up being the case, I don’t at all get the impression in talking to him that he’s locked in for the Tigers. Texas could be a sneaky contender here.
“I don’t mind going far away, don’t mind getting away from Louisiana,” Heard said.
Heard is friends with Texas commitment Derek Williams and target Jordan Matthews. That trio actually visited UT together once previously.
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Speaking of Jordan Matthews, there’s been a lot of talk about the Baton Rouge (LA) Woodlawn corner of late, wondering if he might jump on board with a Texas commitment.
The good news … Texas continues to be in a good spot in this one. The bad news … if you’re looking for an early commitment, Matthews probably isn’t your guy, barring a complete change of heart.
Arch Manning has reached out to Matthews, and as mentioned above, Matthews and new Texas commitment Derek Williams are friends, so that can only help UT’s chances.
“Arch has actually contacted me a couple of times. Yesterday we talked a couple of times on text message,” Matthews said. “Him going there is a big piece of the puzzle, I feel like. It would be a great addition to that legendary team if I would go. That’s not the main thing I would base my decision off of, but it does play a part.”
On the unofficial visit he took to UT with Derek Williams and Lance Heard:
“We went on that unofficial visit earlier this year together. We’re all from Louisiana, all three of us going over there, it really felt like a home vibe we could create over there and ultimately build in the team. I just feel like the Louisiana mindset is different. I’m not hating on Texas, but Texas high schools are kind of built to be successful. In Louisiana we have to kind of get out the mud.”
Matthews has taken official visits to Michigan, Stanford and Tennessee. His plan is to take a visit to Alabama for the Tide’s season-opener and then take one to Texas when the Longhorns host Alabama in week two. He hopes to have a decision shortly after those visits are completed.
Another factor that could weigh in UT’s favor … Matthews takes his academics very seriously and said he wants to study business. He’s anxious to get a good look at the McCombs School of Business when he visits UT in September.
“Academics are very important to me. My parents have always stressed that to me from a young age, you should always take good care of your academics,” Matthews said. “That will take care of you long after football. Being that I have considered Stanford, Michigan, Texas – them being athletically and academically sound is important to me.”
LSU isn’t a factor in this one, despite Matthews’ father having gone there. Like Heard earlier, Matthews is aware of Texas’s recruiting momentum.
“With arch and everybody starting to commit, they’ve been trying to get me to hop on the wave. I don’t want to rush anything, but I’m definitely heavily considering Texas,” Matthews said. “I’m going to be patient with them like they’ve been patient with me.”
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Recent Texas commitment Billy Walton was still on cloud nine when we caught up with him this week to talk about his decision.
The South Oak Cliff standout says he’s officially done with the recruiting process and won’t be taking any other visits.
“The reason why I ended up pulling the trigger, it was literally because of the coaches. They say all the right stuff, treated me right,” Walton said. “I feel like they’re really transparent with all the players. It doesn’t matter if you start or not, you’re going to be taken care of.
“It feels good, feels right. Nothing feels forced. It just feels like this is home at this point.”
Walton will now put on his recruiter hat for the Longhorns. He’d already been talking to Johntay Cook and said his big priority is getting Malik Muhammad to commit as well.
“Next is getting my cousin Malik on board. They all feel the same as I do,” Walton said. “I asked him what was the move, he said ‘I don’t know, you’ll find out.’”
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New OL offer Miles McVay tells OB he’ll definitely consider the Longhorns. In fact, McVay says a Texas visit is “in the works” and he’s looking to get to Austin at the end of July.
If that visit happens, it’ll most likely be an unofficial visit. McVay has already taken three official visits to Texas A&M, Michigan State and Oregon. He has October official visits scheduled for Alabama and Florida.
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I’ll have a full report on Braylan Shelby in the coming days, but if you’re looking for him to commit, you’ll probably have to wait for a bit. The Friendswood standout told me on Thursday evening that he’s hoping to decide in mid to late July, or possibly August at the latest.
Pretty much a Texas and USC battle and Shelby says it’s almost a 50/50 race. He also wants to study business and both schools are very strong in that area, making the decision even tougher.
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Lastly, a quick note on 5-star defensive end DJ Hicks …
There’s been a lot of chatter about Hicks and Texas over the last week (remember, Hick previously told OB he was intrigued with the possibility of playing with Arch Manning).
I checked in with a source close to Hicks who said Manning’s commitment doesn’t really change anything for Hicks and his family. Sounds like it didn’t need to. That same source went on to say how good of a job Bo Davis has been doing in recruiting Hicks and his family. Basically, if Texas wins out, it won’t be because of Arch’s commitment, it’ll be because the staff has done a really good job from top to bottom in this one.
A&M is still a major factor here. OU is in play and Hicks has taken OVs to Michigan State, Miami and Oregon.
Hicks will be in Austin again in September for the Alabama game and grapevine talk has Texas in a better position than many people realize for the nation’s top-ranked strong-side defensive end prospect.
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(Alex)
Here are a few notes about a handful of Texas' most recent commitments (and some of the earlier ones) from a recruiting source at a major D1 Texas university who has had the opportunity to evaluate, recruit and get to know many of the athletes that have committed to play at Texas:
ON OL CONNOR STROH: "We've seen him a lot, he's consistently gotten better every year ... obviously he's huge. Thick and stiff-ankled, but a giant. He has issues with his feet, but he knows it and works to address it. Do you remember when (Derek) Kerstetter came out? His feet were not good either. But he worked at it and was a good producer eventually (at Texas), right? I think (Stroh) can have an outlook like that. I don't think he'll play tackle, his upside would be a Kerstetter-level type. A best-case-scenario at tackle would be like that. If he plays guard he has a chance to be really solid. He's really strong. A lot of big schools were in on him and they had reasons to be."
ON OL ANDRE COJOE: "He's massive, but it was probably a reach (for Texas to take him). With the portal how it is, you shouldn't take high school players who you don't think can contribute in a way to help you win championships sooner than later. We (a lesser recruiting presence than Texas) weren't even really going full-speed after him. He has an inconsistent motor and is an inconsistent competitor. But if (Kyle Flood) likes him, then he likes him. He's still really young and so big. It's just ... can he play inside? He has zero foot speed. He's a big project."
ON OL TREVOR GOOSBY: "VERY Gifted! Just go to his twitter and look at the videos of him dunking. 360 dunks. I'm not sure how much he loves football, he has hoop dreams. But, I thought that about Sam Cosmi, too, and look at him now. People also said that about Mike Evans. Goosby is what your dream left tackle looks like coming out of school. He has the most upside of any of them (that committed to Texas)."
ON OL JAYDEN CHATMAN: "He's really good. I think he has the length to play tackle but they could use him at guard too. He's definitely the best (of the OLs committed to Texas) on film and will come in the most ready."
ON TE WILL RANDLE: "(Isidore Newman High School) beat up on bad teams. That's nothing against Randle or Arch (Manning) but that competition is not good and to me, Randle looks like a guy who normally you would think would go someplace like here (his university) but not Texas. I understand the dynamics in play with Manning, though. To me, he looks like a good high school football player. Maybe he can be a Cade Brewer type at Texas."
ON S DEREK WILLIAMS: "I watched like 20 seconds of his highlights and said 'yep, we're not going to be able to get his guy.'"
ON LB S'MAJE BURRELL: "Really very good. Explosive guy with a good vertical, and he's an all-around linebacker. He can turn and cover, he's into track. If (Texas) has any room on the depth chart, I'd think he could surprise people and play earlier than some would expect. Good player. A good get for sure."
ON LB/EDGE BILLY WALTON: "He's just a great kid, just great. Just all-around. We've seen him a lot and when he first committed (to OSU) he rushed his commitment. I know he had a great time at the Texas Spring BBQ and I don't think --- well I just don't know whether he thought his offer was committable. The South Oak Cliff coaches basically forced their players to commit before the spring game there. I don't think he would have committed to OSU otherwise. He's loose-hipped, sudden and natural. He cares a lot about academics. He is an excellent leader and a guy people are drawn to. The only question is, is he big enough? To that I say, there have been plenty of rushers in the Big 12 that have been slightly undersized."
ON WR RYAN NIBLETT: "Ask anyone in the city of Houston who's the best high school athlete in the city and (Niblett) will probably be your answer. Sark needs speed and Niblett has it but he's not just a lid-lifter, he really is a crazy athlete. I think he can play corner. You can see that in his ability to react and move in short-areas. Great player."
ON DE DYLAN SPENCER: "You know the saying looks like Tarzan plays like Jane? Well, I'm not saying he plays like Jane, but he does look like Tarzan. You can see when you meet him why everyone is so in love with the guy. He hasn't put it all together on film yet, and you wonder what is going on with .. well, has he transferred 3 times during his high school? He just hasn't had the continuity, but when you see his build and his frame and flashes of what he can do, that's what gets everyone excited."
ON WR JOHNTAY COOK: "Holy s*** dude, he's Devonta Smith 2.0. Sick player."
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(Cole)
Arch Manning is in the boat, effectively ending the Longhorns’ search for a quarterback in the 2023 class. His commitment, however, will have an impact on the Longhorns’ search for a quarterback in the 2024 class.
Texas has offered three quarterbacks in the 2024 class: five-stars Julian Sayin, Dylan Raiola, and Jadyn Davis. Raiola is committed to Ohio State, while Davis is being hotly pursued by Clemson and Michigan.
Steve Sarkisian is very selective in quarterback recruiting and is not afraid to go big-game hunting, evidenced by adding Quinn Ewers, Maalik Murphy, and Arch Manning to the QB room in a span of months.
Here’s a few names of interest behind center for the Longhorns in next year’s class.
Julian Sayin is the quarterback that the Texas staff has targeted for the 2024 cycle. Sarkisian has made Sayin a priority in next year’s class, hosting the California passer on campus for an unofficial visit earlier this month. Sayin has been open to Orangebloods about Manning having an impact on what he will ultimately decide to do. Arch committing to Texas will likely move the Longhorns down Sayin’s potential suitors. That said, he remains the top option in the class for Texas.
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DJ Lagway is the highest rated quarterback in the state for 2024. The athletic passer has connections to the Baylor program, but Texas A&M and Oklahoma appear to be the two big contenders in his recruitment to this point. Texas has not yet extended an offer to Lagway, but perhaps that changes if Sayin moves his attention elsewhere.
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Michael Hawkins Jr. is another Rivals250 QB in the state for 2024. The Allen passer took home QB MVP honors at Rivals Dallas in the spring, beating out the likes of four-star Baylor commit Austin Novosad and Texas Tech pledge Jake Strong. Hawkins’ father played at Oklahoma, but neither the Sooners or Longhorns have offered yet. Nick Saban and Alabama put an offer on the table this month. He is an athletic quarterback that has a big arm and plays for a high-profile program in the Metroplex. Hawkins has been on the 40 Acres and is on the Longhorns’ radar.
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Mabrey Mettauer out of The Woodlands is a four-star passer that has been adding to his offer sheet this spring and summer. Arkansas, Baylor, Florida, LSU, Ole Miss, and Wisconnsin are among those on the offer sheet. The 6-6 passer is tall in stature and performed well at the Rivals Underclassmen Challenge in Atlanta earlier this summer. Mettauer was recently on the Texas campus and could be one to watch depending on how things progress in the fall.
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Perhaps Sarkisian taps into the Mater Dei pipeline and pursues four-star passer Elijah Brown. Regardless of where the Longhorns turn, Sarkisian should have no trouble luring a talented signal caller to the 40 Acres.
5-STAR RECEIVERS SPEAK ON MANNING
OB reached out to a pair of five-star wide receivers in the 2024 class to get their thoughts on Arch Manning committing to Texas. The Longhorns hosted Ryan Wingo and Micah Hudson -- the top two receivers in the updated Rivals rankings -- earlier this month.
“I wouldn’t say it doesn’t mean anything, but I would say I’m going to go where it’s a better fit for me and not just commit simply because someone else did,” Hudson told OB. “I want to make sure I’m making the right decision for years to come.”
Wingo is aware that receivers need good quarterback play to succeed. Manning choosing Texas caught his attention.
“It’s good,” Wingo said of his thoughts on Manning to Texas. “He’s a good QB and you need that.”
Texas has already make an impression on the five-star out of St. Louis. Wingo is impressed with the Longhorns’ offense.
“(The offense) is a really good thing for a receiver like me,” Wingo told OB following his June visit. “I’d get the ball and run NFL-style routes. That’s good for development.”
The Arch Manning Effect has already had an impact on the 2023 class. Two receivers and four linemen have committed to Texas since Manning announced. The momentum has a chance to roll over to next year’s class, too.
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(Womack)
Some 2024 in-state basketball prospects offered by Texas, and what their games look like.
Tre Johnson of Lake Highlands is the highest-rated prospect in the state, and the third best in the nation. He’s a walking bucket, as the kids say these days, able to score from anywhere on the floor. He’s a volume shooter with efficiency, and can completely take over games with his offensive abilities.
In his game versus Richardson (TX), against highly touted guard prospects Cason Wallace and Rylan Griffen, Johnson scored 37 points. If you know anything about Wallace, a five-star Kentucky commit from the class of 2022, you know that he is a lockdown defender. Still, Johnson, as a sophomore, dominated the game for his team, even in the loss (Cason Wallace had 49). He’s got good size and can finish through contact at the rim. Overall, he’s the best scorer in the class, and will be a significant addition to any school in which he enrolls.
Dink Pate is a 6’7 shooting guard/wing from Pinkston HS in Dallas. A high four-star at this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if Pate ends up as a five-star sooner rather than later. He’s got excellent size for a guard, and shoots the ball really well from deep. He moves swiftly on the floor, running the length of the court with ease.
He’s very athletic, as can be said about pretty much any of the top prospects in the state. He’s got an impressive, SportsCenter-style dunk package that will have fans going crazy in the stands. His size lends itself to being a good defensive player, which he has been working on.
He has 22 offers so far, including Texas, Texas Tech, Arizona, Auburn, Houston, and LSU.
Another wing with size is Jalen Shelley of Prestonwood Christian in Plano, Texas, the same school that produced Julius Randle. The former wide receiver decided to focus on basketball last year, and the results have been impressive.
A versatile defender, Shelley, despite a slimmer frame, holds his own when playing on that end of the floor. Here’s what he had to say about Texas from his interview with Travis Graf:
“Texas is recruiting me pretty hard. Coach, we’ve been checking in with each other a lot over the past couple of weeks. It’s a good program and they get players to the next level pretty well. It’s in Texas, so it’s pretty close to home. We grew up watching Texas a lot, watching them against Oklahoma, Baylor, all of those schools.”
McNeeley is a highly skilled wing who can shoot the lights out as well as distribute the ball. Boasting a very high BBIQ, teams can run their offense through him, even at the next level. He’s a highly efficient scorer, with good percentages from all spots on the floor. He can be a legitimate sniper as just part of his role, wherever he ends up.
He transferred to Montverde Academy for his senior year from John Paul II in Plano, Texas, so he’ll be playing against future NBA stars for his entire season, which can only boost his profile and amplify the hype. Montverde has produced countless All-Americans and NBA lottery picks over the last few years. If McNeeley wants to play in the pros, he made the right choice to play for the Eagles.
Miller is a 6’9 forward who is high on Texas and Kansas State at the moment, as Texas was one of the first three Power Five programs to offer. The Pasadena, Texas native has climbed his way into the Rivals Top 100. He went on an unofficial visit two weeks ago to Austin, and seems to be very interested in the program.
Miller is a good post scorer with moves down low, and is also working on his three-point jumpshot, which is starting to come along. What he lacks at the moment is a great handle, which he can get away with in high school, but might be a problem at the next level. He projects to me as more of a post presence than a wing player, but he seems to be trying to develop the skills necessary to play at the wing spot. He’s full of potential and could end up being amongst the best at his position in the upcoming class rankings.
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