The early signing period has come and gone. We’re in a recruiting dead period for the next few weeks. Let’s take a look at where things stand, position by position, as Texas gets ready for the home stretch of the 2020 cycle.
QUARTERBACK
Nothing going on here. This one has been done for a while, but with two signees in the early period (Hudson Card and Ja'Quinden Jackson), you can official close the book on quarterback recruiting for the 2020 class.
RUNNING BACK
The signing of Bijan Robinson on Wednesday of last week was arguably the biggest story of the early signing period for the Longhorns. Looking forward to the February 5 signing day, the challenge is for the Longhorns to find another back to complement Robinson.
Last week, Texas offered Rivals250 RB Jahmyr Gibbs out of Georgia. He’s still committed to Georgia Tech, but that’s unlikely to stick with bigger programs now entering the picture. Schools like Florida, Ohio State and LSU are now in the mix. I’m told Gibbs is still trying to do some research on Texas. Nothing is set up yet, but word I received is that there’s a possibility UT could get a visit in January.
Kevontre Bradford told us a few weeks ago Texas had been in touch and a source close to Bradford believes the Lancaster standout has a genuine interest in the Longhorns. Ohio State’s no longer in the mix here but schools like Wisconsin and Nebraska are heavily involved. If Texas wants to offer and bring him in for a visit in January, this one could get interesting.
Denton Guyer’s Kaedric Cobbs is on the radar after an unofficial visit during the season. He told us recently he’d visit Texas again in January so we’ll keep an eye out for that one. Right now, that would probably be an unofficial visit but if the numbers worked out and Texas decides to make Cobbs a priority, this one would likely fall UT’s way based on my conversations with Cobbs.
WIDE RECEIVER
Texas signed two players in the early window in early enrollee Troy Omeire and fairly recent commitment DaJon Harrison. Adding at least one more would probably be a good idea.
Kelvontay Dixon is a name we’ve talked about a ton over the last couple months and that one still looks like it’ll fall Texas’ way if/when he’s brought in for a visit. That should happen in January, per Dixon.
This week, Texas put an offer on the table for Corey Wren, a speedster out of John Curtis H.S. in Louisiana. A one-time Georgia commitment, I’m still working to get in touch with Wren to get his thoughts on the offer but this one makes a lot of sense. He recently told Rivals that Arizona State was his top team but if Texas can get him on campus in January, you have to figure the Longhorns could make a quick surge up his list. He’s already taken four of his five OVs, so that’s something to watch.
Former Arkansas commitment Savion Williams is a name that’s been mentioned as a candidate to replace the decommitment of Quentin Johnston. That one would certainly seem to fit but when I touched based with Williams last week, he had yet to hear from the UT staff. I’ll follow up soon to see if that has changed.
TIGHT END
Nothing doing here. Texas didn’t take a tight end in this class, although Jaden Hullaby could be classified as an H-back of sorts.
OFFENSIVE LINE
All four of the Longhorns’ offensive line commitments committed very early, they all signed in the early window and that should be it for Herb Hand’s group.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Longhorns inked two defensive linemen in the early window thanks to the late addition of Sawyer Goram-Welch, and landing Vernon Broughton is probably the biggest addition on the defensive side of the ball. Heading into February, there’s confidence in Texas’ position with Princely Umanmielen and Alfred Collins, but there’s still work to be done with both.
In talking to Umanmielen recently, he said Texas going to more of a four-man front (insert Chris Ash) would help UT’s chances, but the Longhorns still trailed a few other schools. Look for Texas to push to get him on campus at least once following the end of the dead period on January 16.
With Collins, there’s confidence in Austin but the same can be said for Norman and there’s even been recent chatter of Baylor making a surge. Like Umanmielen, Texas will try to get Collins on campus and will try to get as much face time between Ash and Collins as possible. Tough one to predict because Collins doesn’t tip his hand much, but this one has always had so many signs that favor the Longhorns that I still think Texas is the odds-on favorite in the end.
LINEBACKER
Prince Dorbah remained true to his commitment the entire way and he signed early on Wednesday. Thursday held a bit of a surprise, with Texas getting a signature from Frisco Lone Star standout Jaylan Ford. Ford told us this week that he’d actually been in contact with UT for a few weeks, but he kept it under wraps while his team was still alive in the playoffs. Getting Ford was a big addition to bolster the linebacker numbers. I’m not expecting any late additions, but if the right guy surfaces, it wouldn’t hurt Texas to kick the tires.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The Longhorns inked three last week, including two early enrollees in safeties Jerrin Thompson and Xavion Alford. John Tyler speedster Kitan Crawford is the lone cornerback in the class and the staff will look to add one more.
Texas put an offer on the table for Isaiah Dunson recently and the Tucker (GA) standout tells OB that he’ll visit Texas in January. A former Florida State commitment, Dunson is also looking at schools like Penn State, among others.
Five-star corner Kelee Ringo is still out there, but there’s a lot of speculation that he silently signed in the early window. Keep an eye on Georgia if that’s true (the same can be said for Zach Evans, if anyone cares). If Ringo announces at the All-American Bowl in a couple weeks, or if he doesn’t take any visits in January and waits to announce at the February signing date, it’s a good indication the rumors of an early signing were true. Regardless, that one feels like a longshot for Texas, despite the UT staff doing an in-home visit in December.
Duncanville cornerback Ennis Rakestraw has been in contact with the UT staff recently. If Texas makes a move there and puts an offer on the table, there’s a terrific chance he would quickly join the class.
QUARTERBACK
Nothing going on here. This one has been done for a while, but with two signees in the early period (Hudson Card and Ja'Quinden Jackson), you can official close the book on quarterback recruiting for the 2020 class.
RUNNING BACK
The signing of Bijan Robinson on Wednesday of last week was arguably the biggest story of the early signing period for the Longhorns. Looking forward to the February 5 signing day, the challenge is for the Longhorns to find another back to complement Robinson.
Last week, Texas offered Rivals250 RB Jahmyr Gibbs out of Georgia. He’s still committed to Georgia Tech, but that’s unlikely to stick with bigger programs now entering the picture. Schools like Florida, Ohio State and LSU are now in the mix. I’m told Gibbs is still trying to do some research on Texas. Nothing is set up yet, but word I received is that there’s a possibility UT could get a visit in January.
Kevontre Bradford told us a few weeks ago Texas had been in touch and a source close to Bradford believes the Lancaster standout has a genuine interest in the Longhorns. Ohio State’s no longer in the mix here but schools like Wisconsin and Nebraska are heavily involved. If Texas wants to offer and bring him in for a visit in January, this one could get interesting.
Denton Guyer’s Kaedric Cobbs is on the radar after an unofficial visit during the season. He told us recently he’d visit Texas again in January so we’ll keep an eye out for that one. Right now, that would probably be an unofficial visit but if the numbers worked out and Texas decides to make Cobbs a priority, this one would likely fall UT’s way based on my conversations with Cobbs.
WIDE RECEIVER
Texas signed two players in the early window in early enrollee Troy Omeire and fairly recent commitment DaJon Harrison. Adding at least one more would probably be a good idea.
Kelvontay Dixon is a name we’ve talked about a ton over the last couple months and that one still looks like it’ll fall Texas’ way if/when he’s brought in for a visit. That should happen in January, per Dixon.
This week, Texas put an offer on the table for Corey Wren, a speedster out of John Curtis H.S. in Louisiana. A one-time Georgia commitment, I’m still working to get in touch with Wren to get his thoughts on the offer but this one makes a lot of sense. He recently told Rivals that Arizona State was his top team but if Texas can get him on campus in January, you have to figure the Longhorns could make a quick surge up his list. He’s already taken four of his five OVs, so that’s something to watch.
Former Arkansas commitment Savion Williams is a name that’s been mentioned as a candidate to replace the decommitment of Quentin Johnston. That one would certainly seem to fit but when I touched based with Williams last week, he had yet to hear from the UT staff. I’ll follow up soon to see if that has changed.
TIGHT END
Nothing doing here. Texas didn’t take a tight end in this class, although Jaden Hullaby could be classified as an H-back of sorts.
OFFENSIVE LINE
All four of the Longhorns’ offensive line commitments committed very early, they all signed in the early window and that should be it for Herb Hand’s group.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Longhorns inked two defensive linemen in the early window thanks to the late addition of Sawyer Goram-Welch, and landing Vernon Broughton is probably the biggest addition on the defensive side of the ball. Heading into February, there’s confidence in Texas’ position with Princely Umanmielen and Alfred Collins, but there’s still work to be done with both.
In talking to Umanmielen recently, he said Texas going to more of a four-man front (insert Chris Ash) would help UT’s chances, but the Longhorns still trailed a few other schools. Look for Texas to push to get him on campus at least once following the end of the dead period on January 16.
With Collins, there’s confidence in Austin but the same can be said for Norman and there’s even been recent chatter of Baylor making a surge. Like Umanmielen, Texas will try to get Collins on campus and will try to get as much face time between Ash and Collins as possible. Tough one to predict because Collins doesn’t tip his hand much, but this one has always had so many signs that favor the Longhorns that I still think Texas is the odds-on favorite in the end.
LINEBACKER
Prince Dorbah remained true to his commitment the entire way and he signed early on Wednesday. Thursday held a bit of a surprise, with Texas getting a signature from Frisco Lone Star standout Jaylan Ford. Ford told us this week that he’d actually been in contact with UT for a few weeks, but he kept it under wraps while his team was still alive in the playoffs. Getting Ford was a big addition to bolster the linebacker numbers. I’m not expecting any late additions, but if the right guy surfaces, it wouldn’t hurt Texas to kick the tires.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The Longhorns inked three last week, including two early enrollees in safeties Jerrin Thompson and Xavion Alford. John Tyler speedster Kitan Crawford is the lone cornerback in the class and the staff will look to add one more.
Texas put an offer on the table for Isaiah Dunson recently and the Tucker (GA) standout tells OB that he’ll visit Texas in January. A former Florida State commitment, Dunson is also looking at schools like Penn State, among others.
Five-star corner Kelee Ringo is still out there, but there’s a lot of speculation that he silently signed in the early window. Keep an eye on Georgia if that’s true (the same can be said for Zach Evans, if anyone cares). If Ringo announces at the All-American Bowl in a couple weeks, or if he doesn’t take any visits in January and waits to announce at the February signing date, it’s a good indication the rumors of an early signing were true. Regardless, that one feels like a longshot for Texas, despite the UT staff doing an in-home visit in December.
Duncanville cornerback Ennis Rakestraw has been in contact with the UT staff recently. If Texas makes a move there and puts an offer on the table, there’s a terrific chance he would quickly join the class.
