We’ll start this week’s War Room off with an update on the state of expansion in the Big 12, given the remarks that OU president David Boren made last week that have been the talk of the entire league and the article written by Sports Illustrated’s Pete Thamel earlier in the week.
Here is a few notes compiled this week after talking to a variety of sources at both the school and conference level.
1. As we’ve been reporting since the beginning of the most recent round of expansion discussion, there’s absolutely zero consensus among Big 12 members on specific schools or even a specific direction. Thamel didn’t go this deep into the discussion, but I continue to hear that there’s not a single school that is believed to have six votes among all of the conference members, let alone the eight that is required to receive an invite.
2. Texas officials have kept a very low-profile throughout the last few months on the topic of expansion and I wouldn’t look for that to change any time soon, especially as the very idea of expansion (something the school has never really been in favor of) begins a full implosion. One school source with knowledge of expansion discussion mentioned that he expects this thing to reach its ending without Texas ever needing to have fingerprints on any of it. The same sourced\ credited Texas AD Mike Perrin’s unassuming profile as a key component to Texas’ desire to reveal very little about anything in the last few months.
“There’s no way DeLoss would have been silent through all of this if he were still here,” the source said with a chuckle. “I don’t think he would have been able to help himself. All of this deserves some commentary and he would have enjoyed giving his. As it stands, there are a lot of people who are going to come out of this looking like clowns at the circus and it’s not going to be us. Reporters would have called DeLoss every week for a thought on whatever was being said at any time, but Perrin isn’t getting that because he’s just not going to put himself into a position to be in a headline. We get blamed for everything, but no one can put this on us. When the rubber noses get handed out, we’re going to be nowhere in sight.”
3. Almost everyone around the league threw their collective hands into the air following the remarks of Boren last week, as he poor-mouthed the chances of expansion after being one of the people responsible for this discussion being what it currently is.
One conference source told me this weekend that the vibe around his school following Boren’s remarks was that expansion was unofficially dead.
“Who would dare jump in front of this train now? It would have to come back from the dead at this point and who could pull that off? It’s done,” the source said.
4. Everyone on the Texas side of things who I spoke with just kind of chuckled over the Boren remarks. There’s little irony lost in how foolish he’s made himself look on the national level of his extreme swings in a very short amount of time. There’s been a sense from day one that he overextended himself in talking the idea of expansion up when the Board of Regents at his school has been on a different page.
5. One of the aspects of Thamel’s article that opened some eyes was the suggestion that any future Texas move might be connected to fellow in-state school Texas Tech. Not a single source that I spoke with this week believes that to be the case. In fact, one high-level source mentioned that Texas A&M had already done UT’s dirty work on that front with its move to the SEC without giving any regard to other in-state schools. The message given to me was loud and clear… when the day comes that Texas has to make long-term decisions, it’ll make them with its best interests in mind only.
(Ketch)
*****
We reported Tuesday regarding a few issues involving the football team; I thought it was important to circle back on them:
1) The safeties - after looking into the situation further with more people, the word is that freshman safety Brandon Jones has been getting at least a little work with the ones, but that the guy getting the most work with the first group of the younger players has really been DeShon Elliott. If there was to be a surprise starter outside of Dylan Haines or Jason Hall at safety versus OSU, it's starting to feel like it's more likely to be Elliott. Then Kevin Vaccaro; then Brandon Jones.
2) While the staff has reportedly been trying new things at safety at practice, we continue to hear that it's been Holton Hill and Sheroid Evans at the corners.
3) One person we spoke with said that Jake McMillon was taking the right guard snaps in the absence of Kent Perkins and a second source said the same when asked later this week. Sterlin Gilbert said at his availability Monday that both McMillon and Alex Anderson are working in, but based on everything we're hearing, the smart money remains on McMillon to run out there with the starters in Stillwater.
4) DE/LB Erick Fowler is a player we've speculated about recently regarding possible redshirt status and chances he'll play in 2016. One source with knowledge of the situation told OB Thursday that the coaches don't tell players one way or the other (about who's in line for playing time and who redshirts) and not even Fowler knows if he will redshirt or not at this time. We've heard from a few folks that there could be plans for Fowler this year. There's a feeling among some that he's the kind of guy you want to keep associated and engaged with the football program and not drifting off.
- One person told OB that Fowler's been working out with both the linebacker and defensive line position groups during drills leading into OSU. "He goes to the pass-rush drills (for OL vs. DL)," one person texted. From all this talk, it doesn't sound like Fowler is a player automatically destined to redshirt like many other scholarship true freshmen already working primarily on the scout team. There is also a "time-on-campus" variable to consider, per one source. Strong could simply be giving Fowler an extended look in real-practice settings this fall simply because he hasn't had the evaluation time on-field (and on film) that he's had with the others to see just exactly what he's dealing with. (Dunlap)
*****
The changes Texas coach Charlie Strong made to his team’s defense are either so dramatic, he has sworn everyone to secrecy, or so subtle, few people have been able to notice a difference.
Strong vowed to make changes after his team struggled defensively against Cal two weeks ago. Many Texas fans believed that meant Strong was going to demote defensive coordinator Vance Bedford, but as we reported in last week’s War Room, staff changes were unlikely to happen prior to Texas’ road game against Oklahoma State on Saturday. From what I was told, Strong was not interested in demoting Bedford and possibly ruining his friend’s career. Shawn Watson, Texas’ former offensive coordinator, did not land another coaching job after being demoted last season.
More importantly, I was told Strong does not believe Texas’ defense is in bad shape. By working closely with Bedford, Strong believes his input, plus a few changes, is all Texas needs to improve on defense.
That explains why when I interviewed players and asked them about the changes they have witnessed in practice, each person said everything seemed normal. Nobody noticed Strong calling plays, making personnel decisions, or overriding Bedford during practice the past two weeks. They also said Strong was not in the defensive meetings more than usual. From their recollection, his level of defensive involvement did not change.
Again, that is because Strong and Bedford met earlier this week and discussed the coach's requests behind closed doors. Strong did not rip Bedford a new one. Instead, I was told Strong simply informed Bedford he would be more involved during a pleasant conversation during the bye week. Bedford was not upset about the conversation, and was willing to defer to Strong’s expertise, according to a source.
As most fans know, Strong wants to see Malcolm Roach and Breckyn Hager on the field more. Their first half playing time against Cal was limited because Bedford was trying to play a dime coverage to keep up with the Golden Bears’ receivers. From what I have been told, Strong still wants to see both players on the field more this season.
The most interesting change might be Strong’s play-calling involvement on Saturdays.
Previously, Strong gave his input on defensive play-calls, but was not quick to override Bedford’s decisions. I get the impression that Strong will not be passive anymore and be more hands on defensively, in addition to calling the plays on special teams. I am not expecting Strong to make every defensive call against Oklahoma State. Instead, Strong worked with Bedford behind the scenes to develop a game plan prior to Saturday, and will call plays whenever he believes it is necessary.
As everyone saw on Wednesday, Bedford appeared to take Strong’s involvement pretty well. From the information I gathered, Bedford did not complain behind closed doors, either. People in the building who I spoke with said Bedford displayed his typical upbeat personality throughout the week. In fact, I was told Bedford was even in a good mood after his media session on Wednesday, which was definitely tense at times.
The one thing I have not been able to determine is how Strong’s need to become involved this year will affect Bedford’s long-term future at Texas. Considering Strong lost some level of confidence in Bedford to step in, there is a chance this move will not bode well for the defensive coordinator after the season - unless there is a dramatic defensive turnaround. However, it still appears Strong is more concerned about an immediate defensive fix more than worrying about next season, from what I can tell.
Whether the defensive changes are dramatic or subtle, everyone in the building knows it needs to be noticeable on Saturday. (Richardson)
*****
Five-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson continues to play it close to the vest with his recruitment, but we spoke with a couple people this week who feel Texas is in a very good spot right now and the Longhorns may have actually helped their standing over the past few weeks.
Wilson was at UT's win over Notre Dame and from what we've gathered, that visit elevated UT's stock in the eyes of Wilson and those close to him. The Houston Episcopal standout, who is out of action for a bit after a recent knee surgery, did take an official visit to Oklahoma and will take all five of his official visits, but one person we spoke with this week feels like Texas is the leader with all other schools giving chase.
One note of interest, Texas A&M has begun to pick up some buzz and one source told us he feels the Aggies could be legitimate threats in this one if A&M continues to play well. LSU, a team many believed was a major player in this one, likely takes a hit with the firing of Les Miles (until a new coach is announced, at least). The one school that seems to fly under the radar is Florida State. We heard back in the summer that people inside the FSU program actually felt like the Seminoles may have been the team to beat at that time. Don't discount Florida State if Wilson visits Tallahassee, as expected.
A couple other positive notes we heard this week ... one coach who is actively recruiting Wilson for another program that is in the mix believes the Longhorns are the clear leaders and that Texas has done a good job of not only winning over Wilson, but his family. Also, we were told by someone this week that there's a chance Wilson could be back in Austin for the Iowa State game. We'll work on getting that confirmed. (Suchomel)
******
Lancaster wide receiver Omar Manning doesn't talk much, but we caught up with someone who spoke with Manning this week to get an update.
Manning listed Oklahoma, TCU, Texas and Texas A&M as his four leaders this week but the person we spoke with said he still feels it's a battle between the Longhorns and Horned Frogs. Over the course of the summer, this one seemed to be leaning Texas' direction but the person we spoke with this week thought it was too close to call coming down the stretch. Manning is hoping to commit before his senior season ends. (Suchomel)
******
Four-star DB Kary Vincent, an LSU commitment, confirmed to OB this week that he'll be in Austin for an unofficial visit when the Longhorns host Baylor later this month.
Vincent is also strongly considering an official visit to Texas, but he has told me nothing is locked in yet as far as official visits.
With the coaching shake-up at LSU, I asked Vincent if he's still solid with his commitment or if he's taking a wait-and-see approach to see how the coaching situation plays out.
"Solid!," was Vincent's response.
We'll see. Vincent is obviously drawn to LSU and my guess is he sticks with his commitment if LSU makes a good hire. However, Texas getting him on campus should at least give the Longhorns a shot. (Suchomel)
******
For the longest time, the battle for Plano East linebacker Anthony Hines looked like it would come down to Texas and Oklahoma. Those two teams should still figure into the mix, but the buzz of late is that this could be an in-state battle between the Longhorns and the Aggies.
The Aggies were an afterthought for much of Hines’ recruitment, but in talking to a couple people this week, Texas A&M’s strong 2016 season combined with his official visit to A&M earlier this month has put the Aggies squarely in contention.
Hines has yet to set up his official visit to Texas, but assuming that trip gets locked in before his scheduled commitment date of November 29, the Longhorns should have an outstanding shot of landing the 6-3, 220-pounder.
“I think A&M has really cut into this thing and I’m not sure they’re not right up there with Texas right now,” one source said this week. “But Texas should get the last word and they’ll get it before the coaches can do in-home visits so I still think the Longhorns will get him.”
Hines doesn’t say much publicly so it’s hard to get a clear read on what he’s thinking, but this one still seems to be trending well if the Longhorns can stack up some wins. (Suchomel)
*****
Earlier this week, Westfield (Spring) 2017 guard Jase Febres told us he’d probably make a commitment decision this week. Well, it’s Thursday night and that decision hasn’t happened yet.
However, we’ve heard fans of those schools recruiting the four-star guard should still be on the lookout for a decision very soon from Febres.
Interestingly, there has been some chatter pointing a few directions regarding Febres, who exploded onto the hoops scene in July and took official visits to Houston, Stanford, Texas, and, this past weekend, Baylor.
Early on, it sounded like Houston could be a big factor, but we’ve heard the Cougars have faded. Febres’ response of “it was alright” when we asked about his Stanford official visit accurately portrays the Cardinal’s position. So, that leaves Baylor and Texas. Both head coaches of those programs visited Febres, the nation’s No. 63 prospect overall, this week to make their final pitches.
Lately, there has been some buzz about Baylor, who, along with Texas, is a school Febres referred to early in the process as a dream-type of school. The Bears have pushed hard in this recruitment. But we still believe Longhorns’ fans should feel good about Texas' chances in this one.
Consider what Texas has working to its advantage:
Febres is extremely tight with Texas commitment Royce Hamm. On both of his visits to Texas, Febres was joined by Hamm.
The Longhorns haven’t made a big push for any other scoring-type of guard like Febres. D.J. Harvey committed to Notre Dame, and Texas never really aggressively recruited him down the stretch. Jarrett Culver, a possible backup option, committed to Texas Tech. Shaka Smart and company have put a lot of eggs into the Febres basket, and considering how much time Smart and Jai Lucas have spent recruiting him relentlessly, he has to be aware of that.
Although Texas has a lot of guards, Smart can point to last year’s roster as a prime example of his willingness to play young players no matter what, especially those that can shoot. When Smart first arrived at Texas, he spoke about shooting being the key trait during VCU’s Final Four run. If you can shoot from deep, you’re going to find your way onto the floor quickly under Smart.
So all signs point to Baylor and Texas battling for Febres with an announcement from the four-star guard coming soon, which is what he stated – possibly deciding before October – immediately after he wrapped up Texas visit a couple of weeks ago. (McComas)
Here is a few notes compiled this week after talking to a variety of sources at both the school and conference level.
1. As we’ve been reporting since the beginning of the most recent round of expansion discussion, there’s absolutely zero consensus among Big 12 members on specific schools or even a specific direction. Thamel didn’t go this deep into the discussion, but I continue to hear that there’s not a single school that is believed to have six votes among all of the conference members, let alone the eight that is required to receive an invite.
2. Texas officials have kept a very low-profile throughout the last few months on the topic of expansion and I wouldn’t look for that to change any time soon, especially as the very idea of expansion (something the school has never really been in favor of) begins a full implosion. One school source with knowledge of expansion discussion mentioned that he expects this thing to reach its ending without Texas ever needing to have fingerprints on any of it. The same sourced\ credited Texas AD Mike Perrin’s unassuming profile as a key component to Texas’ desire to reveal very little about anything in the last few months.
“There’s no way DeLoss would have been silent through all of this if he were still here,” the source said with a chuckle. “I don’t think he would have been able to help himself. All of this deserves some commentary and he would have enjoyed giving his. As it stands, there are a lot of people who are going to come out of this looking like clowns at the circus and it’s not going to be us. Reporters would have called DeLoss every week for a thought on whatever was being said at any time, but Perrin isn’t getting that because he’s just not going to put himself into a position to be in a headline. We get blamed for everything, but no one can put this on us. When the rubber noses get handed out, we’re going to be nowhere in sight.”
3. Almost everyone around the league threw their collective hands into the air following the remarks of Boren last week, as he poor-mouthed the chances of expansion after being one of the people responsible for this discussion being what it currently is.
One conference source told me this weekend that the vibe around his school following Boren’s remarks was that expansion was unofficially dead.
“Who would dare jump in front of this train now? It would have to come back from the dead at this point and who could pull that off? It’s done,” the source said.
4. Everyone on the Texas side of things who I spoke with just kind of chuckled over the Boren remarks. There’s little irony lost in how foolish he’s made himself look on the national level of his extreme swings in a very short amount of time. There’s been a sense from day one that he overextended himself in talking the idea of expansion up when the Board of Regents at his school has been on a different page.
5. One of the aspects of Thamel’s article that opened some eyes was the suggestion that any future Texas move might be connected to fellow in-state school Texas Tech. Not a single source that I spoke with this week believes that to be the case. In fact, one high-level source mentioned that Texas A&M had already done UT’s dirty work on that front with its move to the SEC without giving any regard to other in-state schools. The message given to me was loud and clear… when the day comes that Texas has to make long-term decisions, it’ll make them with its best interests in mind only.
(Ketch)
*****
We reported Tuesday regarding a few issues involving the football team; I thought it was important to circle back on them:
1) The safeties - after looking into the situation further with more people, the word is that freshman safety Brandon Jones has been getting at least a little work with the ones, but that the guy getting the most work with the first group of the younger players has really been DeShon Elliott. If there was to be a surprise starter outside of Dylan Haines or Jason Hall at safety versus OSU, it's starting to feel like it's more likely to be Elliott. Then Kevin Vaccaro; then Brandon Jones.
2) While the staff has reportedly been trying new things at safety at practice, we continue to hear that it's been Holton Hill and Sheroid Evans at the corners.
3) One person we spoke with said that Jake McMillon was taking the right guard snaps in the absence of Kent Perkins and a second source said the same when asked later this week. Sterlin Gilbert said at his availability Monday that both McMillon and Alex Anderson are working in, but based on everything we're hearing, the smart money remains on McMillon to run out there with the starters in Stillwater.
4) DE/LB Erick Fowler is a player we've speculated about recently regarding possible redshirt status and chances he'll play in 2016. One source with knowledge of the situation told OB Thursday that the coaches don't tell players one way or the other (about who's in line for playing time and who redshirts) and not even Fowler knows if he will redshirt or not at this time. We've heard from a few folks that there could be plans for Fowler this year. There's a feeling among some that he's the kind of guy you want to keep associated and engaged with the football program and not drifting off.
- One person told OB that Fowler's been working out with both the linebacker and defensive line position groups during drills leading into OSU. "He goes to the pass-rush drills (for OL vs. DL)," one person texted. From all this talk, it doesn't sound like Fowler is a player automatically destined to redshirt like many other scholarship true freshmen already working primarily on the scout team. There is also a "time-on-campus" variable to consider, per one source. Strong could simply be giving Fowler an extended look in real-practice settings this fall simply because he hasn't had the evaluation time on-field (and on film) that he's had with the others to see just exactly what he's dealing with. (Dunlap)
*****
The changes Texas coach Charlie Strong made to his team’s defense are either so dramatic, he has sworn everyone to secrecy, or so subtle, few people have been able to notice a difference.
Strong vowed to make changes after his team struggled defensively against Cal two weeks ago. Many Texas fans believed that meant Strong was going to demote defensive coordinator Vance Bedford, but as we reported in last week’s War Room, staff changes were unlikely to happen prior to Texas’ road game against Oklahoma State on Saturday. From what I was told, Strong was not interested in demoting Bedford and possibly ruining his friend’s career. Shawn Watson, Texas’ former offensive coordinator, did not land another coaching job after being demoted last season.
More importantly, I was told Strong does not believe Texas’ defense is in bad shape. By working closely with Bedford, Strong believes his input, plus a few changes, is all Texas needs to improve on defense.
That explains why when I interviewed players and asked them about the changes they have witnessed in practice, each person said everything seemed normal. Nobody noticed Strong calling plays, making personnel decisions, or overriding Bedford during practice the past two weeks. They also said Strong was not in the defensive meetings more than usual. From their recollection, his level of defensive involvement did not change.
Again, that is because Strong and Bedford met earlier this week and discussed the coach's requests behind closed doors. Strong did not rip Bedford a new one. Instead, I was told Strong simply informed Bedford he would be more involved during a pleasant conversation during the bye week. Bedford was not upset about the conversation, and was willing to defer to Strong’s expertise, according to a source.
As most fans know, Strong wants to see Malcolm Roach and Breckyn Hager on the field more. Their first half playing time against Cal was limited because Bedford was trying to play a dime coverage to keep up with the Golden Bears’ receivers. From what I have been told, Strong still wants to see both players on the field more this season.
The most interesting change might be Strong’s play-calling involvement on Saturdays.
Previously, Strong gave his input on defensive play-calls, but was not quick to override Bedford’s decisions. I get the impression that Strong will not be passive anymore and be more hands on defensively, in addition to calling the plays on special teams. I am not expecting Strong to make every defensive call against Oklahoma State. Instead, Strong worked with Bedford behind the scenes to develop a game plan prior to Saturday, and will call plays whenever he believes it is necessary.
As everyone saw on Wednesday, Bedford appeared to take Strong’s involvement pretty well. From the information I gathered, Bedford did not complain behind closed doors, either. People in the building who I spoke with said Bedford displayed his typical upbeat personality throughout the week. In fact, I was told Bedford was even in a good mood after his media session on Wednesday, which was definitely tense at times.
The one thing I have not been able to determine is how Strong’s need to become involved this year will affect Bedford’s long-term future at Texas. Considering Strong lost some level of confidence in Bedford to step in, there is a chance this move will not bode well for the defensive coordinator after the season - unless there is a dramatic defensive turnaround. However, it still appears Strong is more concerned about an immediate defensive fix more than worrying about next season, from what I can tell.
Whether the defensive changes are dramatic or subtle, everyone in the building knows it needs to be noticeable on Saturday. (Richardson)
*****
Five-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson continues to play it close to the vest with his recruitment, but we spoke with a couple people this week who feel Texas is in a very good spot right now and the Longhorns may have actually helped their standing over the past few weeks.
Wilson was at UT's win over Notre Dame and from what we've gathered, that visit elevated UT's stock in the eyes of Wilson and those close to him. The Houston Episcopal standout, who is out of action for a bit after a recent knee surgery, did take an official visit to Oklahoma and will take all five of his official visits, but one person we spoke with this week feels like Texas is the leader with all other schools giving chase.
One note of interest, Texas A&M has begun to pick up some buzz and one source told us he feels the Aggies could be legitimate threats in this one if A&M continues to play well. LSU, a team many believed was a major player in this one, likely takes a hit with the firing of Les Miles (until a new coach is announced, at least). The one school that seems to fly under the radar is Florida State. We heard back in the summer that people inside the FSU program actually felt like the Seminoles may have been the team to beat at that time. Don't discount Florida State if Wilson visits Tallahassee, as expected.
A couple other positive notes we heard this week ... one coach who is actively recruiting Wilson for another program that is in the mix believes the Longhorns are the clear leaders and that Texas has done a good job of not only winning over Wilson, but his family. Also, we were told by someone this week that there's a chance Wilson could be back in Austin for the Iowa State game. We'll work on getting that confirmed. (Suchomel)
******
Lancaster wide receiver Omar Manning doesn't talk much, but we caught up with someone who spoke with Manning this week to get an update.
Manning listed Oklahoma, TCU, Texas and Texas A&M as his four leaders this week but the person we spoke with said he still feels it's a battle between the Longhorns and Horned Frogs. Over the course of the summer, this one seemed to be leaning Texas' direction but the person we spoke with this week thought it was too close to call coming down the stretch. Manning is hoping to commit before his senior season ends. (Suchomel)
******
Four-star DB Kary Vincent, an LSU commitment, confirmed to OB this week that he'll be in Austin for an unofficial visit when the Longhorns host Baylor later this month.
Vincent is also strongly considering an official visit to Texas, but he has told me nothing is locked in yet as far as official visits.
With the coaching shake-up at LSU, I asked Vincent if he's still solid with his commitment or if he's taking a wait-and-see approach to see how the coaching situation plays out.
"Solid!," was Vincent's response.
We'll see. Vincent is obviously drawn to LSU and my guess is he sticks with his commitment if LSU makes a good hire. However, Texas getting him on campus should at least give the Longhorns a shot. (Suchomel)
******
For the longest time, the battle for Plano East linebacker Anthony Hines looked like it would come down to Texas and Oklahoma. Those two teams should still figure into the mix, but the buzz of late is that this could be an in-state battle between the Longhorns and the Aggies.
The Aggies were an afterthought for much of Hines’ recruitment, but in talking to a couple people this week, Texas A&M’s strong 2016 season combined with his official visit to A&M earlier this month has put the Aggies squarely in contention.
Hines has yet to set up his official visit to Texas, but assuming that trip gets locked in before his scheduled commitment date of November 29, the Longhorns should have an outstanding shot of landing the 6-3, 220-pounder.
“I think A&M has really cut into this thing and I’m not sure they’re not right up there with Texas right now,” one source said this week. “But Texas should get the last word and they’ll get it before the coaches can do in-home visits so I still think the Longhorns will get him.”
Hines doesn’t say much publicly so it’s hard to get a clear read on what he’s thinking, but this one still seems to be trending well if the Longhorns can stack up some wins. (Suchomel)
*****
Earlier this week, Westfield (Spring) 2017 guard Jase Febres told us he’d probably make a commitment decision this week. Well, it’s Thursday night and that decision hasn’t happened yet.
However, we’ve heard fans of those schools recruiting the four-star guard should still be on the lookout for a decision very soon from Febres.
Interestingly, there has been some chatter pointing a few directions regarding Febres, who exploded onto the hoops scene in July and took official visits to Houston, Stanford, Texas, and, this past weekend, Baylor.
Early on, it sounded like Houston could be a big factor, but we’ve heard the Cougars have faded. Febres’ response of “it was alright” when we asked about his Stanford official visit accurately portrays the Cardinal’s position. So, that leaves Baylor and Texas. Both head coaches of those programs visited Febres, the nation’s No. 63 prospect overall, this week to make their final pitches.
Lately, there has been some buzz about Baylor, who, along with Texas, is a school Febres referred to early in the process as a dream-type of school. The Bears have pushed hard in this recruitment. But we still believe Longhorns’ fans should feel good about Texas' chances in this one.
Consider what Texas has working to its advantage:
Febres is extremely tight with Texas commitment Royce Hamm. On both of his visits to Texas, Febres was joined by Hamm.
The Longhorns haven’t made a big push for any other scoring-type of guard like Febres. D.J. Harvey committed to Notre Dame, and Texas never really aggressively recruited him down the stretch. Jarrett Culver, a possible backup option, committed to Texas Tech. Shaka Smart and company have put a lot of eggs into the Febres basket, and considering how much time Smart and Jai Lucas have spent recruiting him relentlessly, he has to be aware of that.
Although Texas has a lot of guards, Smart can point to last year’s roster as a prime example of his willingness to play young players no matter what, especially those that can shoot. When Smart first arrived at Texas, he spoke about shooting being the key trait during VCU’s Final Four run. If you can shoot from deep, you’re going to find your way onto the floor quickly under Smart.
So all signs point to Baylor and Texas battling for Febres with an announcement from the four-star guard coming soon, which is what he stated – possibly deciding before October – immediately after he wrapped up Texas visit a couple of weeks ago. (McComas)
