Jason Suchomel received feedback that 2017 JUCO-transfer LB prospect Gary Johnson and 2017 CB Chevin Calloway appear to be players the Texas staff sees itself as being true runners in the recruitment of. Following their official visits this weekend, I did some research on each in preparation for a few segments in this week's Deep Dig solo podcast. Here are my written notes on each:
background
LB Gary Johnson
played at Dodge City CC in Dodge City, KS
6-2, 225
4-star JUCO prospect
- Had his official visit to Texas over the weekend and has Texas as a finalist for his pledge on National Signing Day. He'll take his remaining visits to his other two (presumed) finalists over the next few weeks in USC and Oregon.
- The top-rated JUCO prospect left uncommitted, he's a consensus Top 5 guy nationally.
- Originally from Douglas, AL in the northeast part of Alabama. Played in high school at Douglas HS and was maybe more productive at that level as a wide receiver than he was an LB.
- Johnson was originally committed in the 2017 cycle to Alabama, but decommited in October, citing "academic requirements that are different in the SEC than in other conferences." The SEC has stricter rules against JUCO transfers than other conferences, mainly in that the player must attend for at least three semesters the school where he receives his associates degree.
scouting notes
- First thought when watching him was Arthur Brown from Kansas State.
- Never seen him live, and it's hard to tell too much from JUCO highlights. JUCO highlights are, at times, harder to trust than high school highlights. However, it's hard to argue with the offer list. Every school in the nation has seemingly offered him, all the big boys. Offers aren't everything, but they are something.
- Quick as a cat in pursuit of the ball-carrier both downhill and laterally; can flow with the play and cut into the hole as if he were the running back instead of the linebacker.
- Excellent sideline-to-sideline speed, and a player who doesn't look likely to get beat on his angles to the runner; the type of middle linebacker (MACK) who's fast enough to spy the RB in case he becomes the 3 receiver on a wheel route or to the flats.
- Although fast, still a downhill thumper and physical presence inside the box; not afraid to put his nose right in the middle of everything; very good at taking on and shedding blocks; uses great leverage and positioning to keep his body free to the ball-carrier's side and disengage.
- Great ball-skills in coverage as an ex-receiver; if the ball gets into his area and he can get his hands on it, he's going to make a play on it and he's probably going to catch it and go the other way; hips are a little stiff transitioning to get vertical, but recovery speed in trail technique more than suitable versus any but the fastest seam-receiving options.
- He just looks and moves like a guy who's more like 205 pounds, you can tell that he's a 220-pounder only when he makes initial impact on tackles; that's when you can tell that he carries a load; makes him a possible nightmare on special teams like kickoff where he has a chance to build up a 40-yard head of steam.
---
2017 CB Chevin Calloway 5-10, 180
Dallas Bishop Dunne
Calloway told Jason Suchomel that one of his worries was previously the young players Texas has on board at the corner positions. If this had been an issue with Calloway previously, it likely will remain an issue as he debates his final schools. Those things don't pop in and out of your mind like noise that doesn't need to be focused on. For many, it is a factor. When the time comes to start splitting the small hairs and making the tough decisions, prospects resort to all sorts of tie-breakers.
Ole Miss' depth chart is wide-open in a young secondary, especially at one of the outside corner positions
- SO Jaylon Jones is a 4-star prospect from Allen, was dynamic his freshman season; named by PFF as a freshman All-American
- outside of him, with guys graduating and others on the roster who don't appear to be huge factors, things are fairly open
- SO Jalen Julius is an ex 3-star prospect and ESPN 300 member, but he's a converted receiver
- at the nickel you have two players returning, one senior-to-be role-player then a sophomore in AJ Moore who is actually a very gifted athlete (who participated in The Opening), but he's more of a safety-type suited for an inside role
- Ole Miss has signed one JUCO transfer who'll enroll this spring in Javien Hamilton, who looks to be a desperation-depth signing and in the 2017 class they only have one other CB signed in Jamar Richardson.
Arkansas' depth chart is much the same as Ole Miss' in the sense that one player has emerged as a candidate to be a long-term starter, with the other side seemingly up for grabs
- two seniors graduating, and on the depth chart, one was their best cover-corner in Jared Collins
- behind them last year were a soon-to-be senior in Henre' Tolliver, who's been mainly a reserve and special teams guy
- JR Ryan Pulley came on in a big way during his sophomore season and looks cemented as the starter on one side for the next two seasons
- 2016 class JUCO transfer Britto Tutt (SO) tore his ACL to start the 2016 season in practice
- in the 2017 class, Arkansas already has three three-star corners signed
The bottom line is that if Calloway wants to come in and have the most realistic shot at competing to start immediately, Arkansas and Ole Miss might provide more navigable paths than Texas. Davante Davis, Holton Hill and Kris Boyd have all been somewhat enigmatic through their respective first two years at Texas, but it's going to be hard for a true freshman to compete with what each brings to the table physically. As things stand, you don't really like the fact that you can only start two of those guys.
All three are juniors (time flies), so that's likely two years of being a primary reserve if you're Calloway. Underneath them is not much, however -- only John Bonney (who's a year older than the trio mentioned above and was one of only two players in the Texas secondary to actually improve through 2016), Eric Cuffee, and the two other 2017 recruits.
Alex Dunlap's work on Orangebloods is sponsored by Wendy Swantkowski, DDS. The best in family and cosmetic dentistry for the Houston-Memorial area. Find out why so many OB members are her patients by scheduling an appointment at 281-293-9140!
background
LB Gary Johnson
played at Dodge City CC in Dodge City, KS
6-2, 225
4-star JUCO prospect
- Had his official visit to Texas over the weekend and has Texas as a finalist for his pledge on National Signing Day. He'll take his remaining visits to his other two (presumed) finalists over the next few weeks in USC and Oregon.
- The top-rated JUCO prospect left uncommitted, he's a consensus Top 5 guy nationally.
- Originally from Douglas, AL in the northeast part of Alabama. Played in high school at Douglas HS and was maybe more productive at that level as a wide receiver than he was an LB.
- Johnson was originally committed in the 2017 cycle to Alabama, but decommited in October, citing "academic requirements that are different in the SEC than in other conferences." The SEC has stricter rules against JUCO transfers than other conferences, mainly in that the player must attend for at least three semesters the school where he receives his associates degree.
scouting notes
- First thought when watching him was Arthur Brown from Kansas State.
- Never seen him live, and it's hard to tell too much from JUCO highlights. JUCO highlights are, at times, harder to trust than high school highlights. However, it's hard to argue with the offer list. Every school in the nation has seemingly offered him, all the big boys. Offers aren't everything, but they are something.
- Quick as a cat in pursuit of the ball-carrier both downhill and laterally; can flow with the play and cut into the hole as if he were the running back instead of the linebacker.
- Excellent sideline-to-sideline speed, and a player who doesn't look likely to get beat on his angles to the runner; the type of middle linebacker (MACK) who's fast enough to spy the RB in case he becomes the 3 receiver on a wheel route or to the flats.
- Although fast, still a downhill thumper and physical presence inside the box; not afraid to put his nose right in the middle of everything; very good at taking on and shedding blocks; uses great leverage and positioning to keep his body free to the ball-carrier's side and disengage.
- Great ball-skills in coverage as an ex-receiver; if the ball gets into his area and he can get his hands on it, he's going to make a play on it and he's probably going to catch it and go the other way; hips are a little stiff transitioning to get vertical, but recovery speed in trail technique more than suitable versus any but the fastest seam-receiving options.
- He just looks and moves like a guy who's more like 205 pounds, you can tell that he's a 220-pounder only when he makes initial impact on tackles; that's when you can tell that he carries a load; makes him a possible nightmare on special teams like kickoff where he has a chance to build up a 40-yard head of steam.
---
2017 CB Chevin Calloway 5-10, 180
Dallas Bishop Dunne
Calloway told Jason Suchomel that one of his worries was previously the young players Texas has on board at the corner positions. If this had been an issue with Calloway previously, it likely will remain an issue as he debates his final schools. Those things don't pop in and out of your mind like noise that doesn't need to be focused on. For many, it is a factor. When the time comes to start splitting the small hairs and making the tough decisions, prospects resort to all sorts of tie-breakers.
Ole Miss' depth chart is wide-open in a young secondary, especially at one of the outside corner positions
- SO Jaylon Jones is a 4-star prospect from Allen, was dynamic his freshman season; named by PFF as a freshman All-American
- outside of him, with guys graduating and others on the roster who don't appear to be huge factors, things are fairly open
- SO Jalen Julius is an ex 3-star prospect and ESPN 300 member, but he's a converted receiver
- at the nickel you have two players returning, one senior-to-be role-player then a sophomore in AJ Moore who is actually a very gifted athlete (who participated in The Opening), but he's more of a safety-type suited for an inside role
- Ole Miss has signed one JUCO transfer who'll enroll this spring in Javien Hamilton, who looks to be a desperation-depth signing and in the 2017 class they only have one other CB signed in Jamar Richardson.
Arkansas' depth chart is much the same as Ole Miss' in the sense that one player has emerged as a candidate to be a long-term starter, with the other side seemingly up for grabs
- two seniors graduating, and on the depth chart, one was their best cover-corner in Jared Collins
- behind them last year were a soon-to-be senior in Henre' Tolliver, who's been mainly a reserve and special teams guy
- JR Ryan Pulley came on in a big way during his sophomore season and looks cemented as the starter on one side for the next two seasons
- 2016 class JUCO transfer Britto Tutt (SO) tore his ACL to start the 2016 season in practice
- in the 2017 class, Arkansas already has three three-star corners signed
The bottom line is that if Calloway wants to come in and have the most realistic shot at competing to start immediately, Arkansas and Ole Miss might provide more navigable paths than Texas. Davante Davis, Holton Hill and Kris Boyd have all been somewhat enigmatic through their respective first two years at Texas, but it's going to be hard for a true freshman to compete with what each brings to the table physically. As things stand, you don't really like the fact that you can only start two of those guys.
All three are juniors (time flies), so that's likely two years of being a primary reserve if you're Calloway. Underneath them is not much, however -- only John Bonney (who's a year older than the trio mentioned above and was one of only two players in the Texas secondary to actually improve through 2016), Eric Cuffee, and the two other 2017 recruits.
Alex Dunlap's work on Orangebloods is sponsored by Wendy Swantkowski, DDS. The best in family and cosmetic dentistry for the Houston-Memorial area. Find out why so many OB members are her patients by scheduling an appointment at 281-293-9140!
