With the news coming out today that UT running backs coach Tommie Robinson is leaving to take a job at Southern Cal, the next question is how it will impact the Longhorns' running back recruiting efforts with a little two weeks remaining until National Signing Day.
Realistically, the Longhorns have four RB targets remaining on their radar: Kyle Porter, Darius Anderson, Devwah Whaley and Kameron Martin.
Let's take a look at each, and how Monday's news of Robinson's departure could impact things ...
Kam Martin - Port Arthur Memorial (Baylor commitment) - Texas has been trying to get back in on Martin in recent weeks and the Longhorns had made quite a bit of progress. UT stopped by his school last week for a quick visit and while it hadn't come out yet, as of late last week, Martin was planning to take an official visit to Texas this weekend. It no longer looks like that visit will happen.
In talking to a source tonight, Martin has now decided against taking the Texas visit. He was actually leaning towards not visiting anyway after taking a very productive official visit to Baylor last weekend, but the news of Robinson to USC has sealed the deal.
Kam has been known to change his mind so it's possible a different Texas coach could reach out to him with hopes of getting him to still visit, but that trip is unlikely as of tonight. Would it help if Texas made a quick hire? Possibly, but from what we're told Martin feels a sense of loyalty to the Baylor coaches and is likely to stick with the Bears.
Kyle Porter - Katy - Porter visited TCU last weekend. He'll be at Texas this weekend and will take an official visit to Arkansas on January 29.
Porter doesn't say much, but a few people I've talked to expect him to stay in state and Texas is believed to be the leader.
Robinson was one of Porter's primary recruiters, but other staff members, including Chris Vaughn, have also been heavily involved. Charlie Strong was supposed to do an in-home with Porter today - the timing of that visit is not by coincidence.
Porter's a unique kid - he doesn't get too wrapped up in the recruiting process, he doesn't do social media and he really doesn't care for the media spotlight. In fact, he really isn't even too keen on talking to college coaches. Porter and Robinson had a good relationship and Robinson's presence is a big reason I think Texas is the team to beat, but he's also not the type that is likely to let one assistant coach be the determining factor on where he winds up.
Arkansas is rumored to be UT's biggest competitor, but I still like Texas' chances here.
Darius Anderson - Richmond George Ranch - There's been a lot of talk that Anderson will be visiting Texas this weekend, but I was told by a source today that the visit isn't expected to happen until January 29.
Anderson visited TCU last weekend and some people thought he might actually pull the trigger for the Horned Frogs during the visit. That obviously didn't happen, which gives the Longhorns a fighting chance in this one.
Texas offered Anderson very early but hasn't been really giving him the full-court press until recently. Robinson has been the lead there and while I don't know that Anderson and Robinson have developed a strong enough relationship where Robinson's leaving would be a deal-breaker, I'm having a hard time seeing him commit to a school where he doesn't know who his position coach is going to be. Then again, maybe Texas makes a quick hire and Anderson still gives the Longhorns a visit on the 29th.
Devwah Whaley - Beaumont Central (Arkansas commitment) - Whaley's visit plans have been on and off. The Arkansas commitment has been talked about as a possible visitor for Texas, either this weekend or next weekend (the 29th is more likely), but I'm just not feeling this one.
Whaley had a really good relationship with Robinson but had a hard time finding reasons to pull the trigger for Texas even when Robinson was on staff. I don't see him flipping from Arkansas at this point, and a visit may even be unlikely. If you're a believer in social media signs, Whaley was also tweeting re-tweeting a bunch of Arkansas edits today.
Realistically, the Longhorns have four RB targets remaining on their radar: Kyle Porter, Darius Anderson, Devwah Whaley and Kameron Martin.
Let's take a look at each, and how Monday's news of Robinson's departure could impact things ...
Kam Martin - Port Arthur Memorial (Baylor commitment) - Texas has been trying to get back in on Martin in recent weeks and the Longhorns had made quite a bit of progress. UT stopped by his school last week for a quick visit and while it hadn't come out yet, as of late last week, Martin was planning to take an official visit to Texas this weekend. It no longer looks like that visit will happen.
In talking to a source tonight, Martin has now decided against taking the Texas visit. He was actually leaning towards not visiting anyway after taking a very productive official visit to Baylor last weekend, but the news of Robinson to USC has sealed the deal.
Kam has been known to change his mind so it's possible a different Texas coach could reach out to him with hopes of getting him to still visit, but that trip is unlikely as of tonight. Would it help if Texas made a quick hire? Possibly, but from what we're told Martin feels a sense of loyalty to the Baylor coaches and is likely to stick with the Bears.
Kyle Porter - Katy - Porter visited TCU last weekend. He'll be at Texas this weekend and will take an official visit to Arkansas on January 29.
Porter doesn't say much, but a few people I've talked to expect him to stay in state and Texas is believed to be the leader.
Robinson was one of Porter's primary recruiters, but other staff members, including Chris Vaughn, have also been heavily involved. Charlie Strong was supposed to do an in-home with Porter today - the timing of that visit is not by coincidence.
Porter's a unique kid - he doesn't get too wrapped up in the recruiting process, he doesn't do social media and he really doesn't care for the media spotlight. In fact, he really isn't even too keen on talking to college coaches. Porter and Robinson had a good relationship and Robinson's presence is a big reason I think Texas is the team to beat, but he's also not the type that is likely to let one assistant coach be the determining factor on where he winds up.
Arkansas is rumored to be UT's biggest competitor, but I still like Texas' chances here.
Darius Anderson - Richmond George Ranch - There's been a lot of talk that Anderson will be visiting Texas this weekend, but I was told by a source today that the visit isn't expected to happen until January 29.
Anderson visited TCU last weekend and some people thought he might actually pull the trigger for the Horned Frogs during the visit. That obviously didn't happen, which gives the Longhorns a fighting chance in this one.
Texas offered Anderson very early but hasn't been really giving him the full-court press until recently. Robinson has been the lead there and while I don't know that Anderson and Robinson have developed a strong enough relationship where Robinson's leaving would be a deal-breaker, I'm having a hard time seeing him commit to a school where he doesn't know who his position coach is going to be. Then again, maybe Texas makes a quick hire and Anderson still gives the Longhorns a visit on the 29th.
Devwah Whaley - Beaumont Central (Arkansas commitment) - Whaley's visit plans have been on and off. The Arkansas commitment has been talked about as a possible visitor for Texas, either this weekend or next weekend (the 29th is more likely), but I'm just not feeling this one.
Whaley had a really good relationship with Robinson but had a hard time finding reasons to pull the trigger for Texas even when Robinson was on staff. I don't see him flipping from Arkansas at this point, and a visit may even be unlikely. If you're a believer in social media signs, Whaley was also tweeting re-tweeting a bunch of Arkansas edits today.
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