There was a time not too long ago when the Texas Longhorns weren't even in consideration for five-star safety Jeffrey Okudah. In early January, Okudah revealed an early top 10, and the Longhorns were nowhere to be found.
Things have changed for the South Grand Prairie standout after Texas signed another strong recruiting class in February. A few weeks ago, Okudah made his way to Austin for a Longhorn Junior Day and while Texas does have ground to make up, UT is now squarely in the mix.
Key quote: "It was just sitting down with coach Strong," Okudah said when asked about the highlight of the Texas Junior Day visit. "He's one of those guys, if you're with him, around him for too long, his personality is contagious. You're going to want be around him even longer."
Change of heart: Okudah openly admits that Texas wasn't on his radar as recently as a couple months ago, but a combination of factors now have the Longhorns under consideration, including the hiring of new DBs coach Clay Jennings.
"Just talking with coach Jennings and coach Strong," Okudah said about his renewed interest in Texas. "I can see what coach Strong is trying to do, having two strong recruiting classes in the last two years. He's trying to flip the program around, get them back to running the state."
"(Jennings) is a straight-up guy. Most of the guys are straight-up guys. When you get to campus, you're surprised, kind of taken back by how they treat you."
Still chasing Ohio State: The 6-1, 190-pound Okudah claims that all the schools on his top 10 (top 11 if you're including Texas) are still under consideration, but he admits that Ohio State is still out in front. Look for him to trim his list even further in the next couple months.
"Right now I have Ohio State out in front. But me and my family, we're going to cut down the list, try to sort all that stuff out," Okudah said. "I'll probably do five or six, probably before the summer."
I asked Okudah how big the gap is between Ohio State and the other schools giving chase, including Texas.
"I don't think any school is too far out from the other ones," he said. "It's pretty much an even playing field, a level playing field."
Versatility on display: Okudah certainly passes the eyeball test, with a tall, chiseled frame. He backed up his lofty ranking with solid play in 1-on-1 coverage, which is part of the reason he's so highly coveted.
Okudah has the size and is physical enough to play safety, but he's fast enough and fluid enough in his breaks that he can also line up at corner. I mentioned last week that he reminds me a bit of former Longhorn Aaron Williams in that regard, and after seeing up close this weekend it seems like a pretty accurate assessment.
"I bring versatility, being able to play all three DB slots. I take pride in that," Okudah said.
He even tried his hand at WR for a rep or two (more as a goof, but the kid is competitive). He was one of about 15 players who participated in the newly-formed iLLSPEED competition and though he didn't place among the finalists (he was penalized a second for missing a step in the ladder drill), Okudah showed terrific quickness and top-end speed.
Possible visits upcoming: It didn't sound like he had anything set in stone, but Okudah mentioned to me the possibility of visiting LSU and Ole Miss this spring.
Several key factors in his recruitment: Okudah is a kid who could literally pick up the phone tomorrow and commit to any school in the country. He does have a handful of criteria that he's looking for when it comes time to make a final decision.
"I want to be able to develop as a DB, establish a network in the school so I can have all sorts of connections when I get out of school," Okudah said. "And win national championships, compete at the highest level."
