The Spec's Weekly football recruiting thread (2/4-2/11)
- By Suchomel
- Inside the 40 Acres
- 83 Replies
Not much UT news yet this morning, so I'll start with this clip of 2026 ATH Keisean Henderson, who picked up a UT offer last week.
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Wild Stalker Documentary On Netflix
- By DimiHorn
- Inside the 40 Acres
- 30 Replies
Looked interesting so I gave it a go over a couple glasses of Blanton’s on ice.
Holy shit…..
See post #26 below for a story from my hometown.
www.netflix.com
Holy shit…..
See post #26 below for a story from my hometown.
Watch Lover, Stalker, Killer | Netflix Official Site
In this twisting documentary, a mechanic tries online dating for the first time and meets a woman who takes romantic obsession to a deadly extreme.
Kobe statue
- By TexasHoops80
- Inside the 40 Acres
- 40 Replies
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Locked
The TCH War Room: On Ewers/Arch behind the scenes, UT's new rock star and a response to Elko
- By Ketchum
- Inside the War Room
- 120 Replies
(Ketch)
* I reached out to a number of people this week to get some thoughts on the four promotions handed out in the football program at a number of key administrative positions and there's no question that a number of people have very high opinion of new Texas general manger Brandon Harris. "I think he'll soon be a name that people from all over the nation know about," one source said. "One reason there was such a calm reaction to the loss of (Billy) Glasscock is that Harris was already performing a number of the jobs that he'll be taking on in official capacity. Now he just has a job title that covers what we've already been asking him to do. I really believe that the next job he takes will be in the NFL as an executive. When that happens, who knows? He's not even 30 years old. If we have the success that we think we're going to have, he's going to be instrumental behind it all and the word will get out that we have one of the true dynamic young people in the sport."
* The same source mention that Taylor Searels is an eye-opening hire as the Director of Recruiting. "This is a big step up for her and we'll have to see how it goes. She has a magnetic personality. She's already made a difference in recruiting. She's like the female version of Harris in that people think she's a star. She's in a star-making role. Her job is to be as impactful as Harris was in that role. That's the bar that has been set and Sark clearly thinks she's the right person to reach that bar."
* Spoke with another source this week about some of the early impressions being made by freshmen behind the scenes and to no one's surprise, Colin Simmons is a name that is already catching attention. "That guy just wants it," the source said. "He's not here to be second. He's a guy that want to be first in the line and he wants to set the tempo. Everyone in the building knows who he is."
* Another new player that has opened eyes in his first couple of weeks of winer off-seasoning is Clemson safety Andrew Mukuba. "That dude is a grown up and completely focused on ball," one person with knowledge of workouts told me. "Whatever one thinks about Dabo, that guy has players that stay focused on ball. Mukuba knows why he's here and he knows he doesn't have a lot of time. What we're doing in off-season workouts is not phasing him at all.
* Asked a source to name a non-starter from last year that looks like an automatic starter this year. His reply? "Johntay Cook didn't com here to just tag along with Sark's transfers. He's got a lot more dog in him than just letting transfers come in and take food off of his plate. If you're talking about wide receiver starters and not including him, you're not having the right conversation."
* Texas has its work cut out for it when it comes to keeping the commitment of 2025 Palm Bay, Florida defensive tackle Brandon Brown. "Losing Bo (Davis) hurts and the wolves are circling," one person told me this week. "I think he's an incredibly soft commit."
* From Rivals analyst Adam Gorney this week on 2026 Duncanville defensive end Kevin Ford Jr., who currently ranks No.25 in the 2026 national rankings: "Ford loves the program coach Steve Sarkisian is building in Austin and likened it to the glory years at Alabama plus Duncanville teammate Colin Simmons could be a pull there."
* Finally, I was texting with a team source on Thursday about the comments that Texas A&M coach Mike Elko made on Wednesday about A&M being the flagship university in the state of Texas. His response? "He's just needs to say his prayers and thank God that we didn't want any of his players because they have starters that would have bailed on the "flagship" in a heartbeat if we sent the signal for them to."
*****
(Anwar)
* Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is spending this offseason trying to add muscle weight before the season. Ewers has been working with the training staff to put on the pounds and I was told he currently weighs 205 pounds. I was told his weight fluctuated between 195 and 200 pounds during the 2023 season. The goal is for Ewers to weigh between 210 and 215 pounds this season. So far, everyone close to the situation believes Ewers is adding good weight and will be stronger and more durable this season.
* Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian was asked about redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning’s development during this signing day press conference on Wednesday.
For those who missed it, Sarkisian said, “I think for Arch, it’s continuing on the path that he's been on. I referenced it last year, kind of middle of the season about the growth that he really started to take there in the second half of the season, all the way up until the Sugar Bowl. So again, my idea, especially at the quarterback position, I just don't want to hurry up and get a guy on the field. I want to make sure when he gets on the field that he plays great football, and that's a little easier to do as you start to move and you get into year four of your program as opposed to year one and you're trying to get the best guy out there to give yourself a chance. But I think Arch has got an extremely bright future. We're very fortunate to have him on our roster. He's got great leadership skills and got a great skill set. Those two guys are going to be big for us in the fall.”
When a reporter asked if the quarterback position was open, Sarkisian said Ewers is his starter.
* I checked in with my sources to see how Manning reacted to Sarkisian stating there would not be a quarterback competition this spring. Previously, I was told Manning expected to compete for the position this year, especially with the departure of Maalik Murphy.
* I was told Manning still believes he has a chance to win the job and was not deterred by Sarkisian stating there would not be a competition. Apparently, Manning dismissed what Sarkisian said as “coach speak” and intends to fight for the job this offseason. The idiots who do not follow Texas closely will speculate about Manning’s future in Austin, but he intends to compete against Ewers.
* In addition, the message to Manning this offseason has been to stay ready. Ewers has sustained injuries during his last three seasons of football.
2020 – Sustained a rib injury during his junior season at Southlake Carroll but played through the injury and led his team to the state title game as a junior. In addition, Ewers had a double hernia that year which eventually required surgery.
2021 – Did not play at Ohio State
2022 – Ewers missed three games due to two sprains at his clavicle. Card sustained an ankle injury against Alabama and played through pain.
2023 – Ewers missed two games due to an AC joint sprain
Manning has been told to be ready in case Ewers has to miss any games in 2024.
*****
(Suchomel)
* A quick note on Texas QB commitment KJ Lacey. Ever since Lacey committed last summer, there’s been a lot of hand-wringing every time he’s taken visits to other campuses, most notably Auburn and Alabama. With Lacey’s former Saraland teammate Ryan Williams signing with Alabama, there’s some thought that the Tide could wind up being a bigger factor. Obviously, don’t discount Bama, but I’m told that the connection between Lacey and Williams isn’t as strong as some have made it out to be and Auburn might be more of a threat than Alabama right now.
* Lacey was previously scheduled to make two visits to UT in January, but I don’t believe either happened. Look for Texas to get him on campus this spring once the current dead period ends. Texas will obviously have to work to hold onto the potential 5-star QB, but as things currently stand I do favor Lacey sticking with his original commitment to the Longhorns.
* New Texas defensive line coach Kenny Baker recently stopped by Denton Guyer to see 2025 defensive tackle offer Xavier Ukponu. I caught up with Ukponu to pick his brain, and he gave Baker a glowing review.
I think he has a lot of energy. He really brings the juice,” Ukponu said. “I think he’s a real guy. He’s kept up with me after that. He has stayed in touch, even after. He wants me to be a Longhorn. I’m liking our relationship and we have a lot of things in common.”
Ukponu said Baker had literally texted him every single day since he showed up on the Guyer campus early last week.
“We’ve just been talking, getting to know each other. We have a lot in common. He’s making me a priority and wants me to be a Longhorn. He just has a lot of passion and desire for coaching. Even when we’ve talked, he’s teaching techniques, talking about hand placement and things like that.”
* Ukponu said he’ll get down to Austin in late March or early April to see a practice. Texas will probably get an official visit as well. He’s already talked to Texas A&M and LSU (Bo Davis) about setting up OVs to those two places. He’d like to take summer official visits and then commit before his senior season begins, if he’s ready.
* Ukponu said he’s realistically considering about 10 schools. “Texas is in my top 10 for sure. I like the culture. It’s very hard not to see that Texas culture is different,” Ukponu said. “Coach Sark is a great head coach. He changed the culture as the head coach since he’s gotten there.”
*****
(Ketch)
As we continue to track the recruitment of 2025 5-star point guard Mikel Brown (who might still reclassify and become a 2024 5-star point guard), I thought I would pass along some intel from Rivals National Basketball Recruiting Director Rob Cassidy.
"Nate Oats and his staff like their chances to land Brown, especially if he reclassifies to 2024 as expected. The Tide hosted the five-star point guard for an official visit in mid-January, and the trip catapulted the Tide to front-runner status.
There’s a strong relationship between Brown and the Alabama staff, and the program is well positioned to take him next year should he reclassify to 2024 as expected. Alabama should be treated as the ever-so-slight leader for now, but that’s subject to change if a visit to Texas materializes in the near future.
It’s a bit early to declare Texas the co-leader, especially considering the fact that Brown is yet to take an official to Austin. That said, the touted prospect and his family intend to get on campus in the coming months and say they’re working with the UT staff to finalize a date.
When that trip takes place, the Longhorns will have every opportunity to seize the lead in the five-star’s recruitment, as the groundwork for a solid relationship has already been laid. There’s serious mutual interest between the sides here and things could move quickly if a visit takes place and goes well. Expect a visit date to be announced in the next week or two."
