Cliff-notes: Texas missed out on picking up its 13 commitment for the 2016 class on Saturday, as Beaumont Central running back Devwah Whaley committed to Arkansas over Charlie Strong and Co. at the Under Armour game in Orlando.
Rankings: The Rivals250 star owns a low four-star ranking from Rivals.com and is slotted as the No.21 prospect from the Lone Star State in the Rivals.com post-season Texas Top 100. Overall, he’s regarded as the No.6 running back prospect in the entire country. In the recently released LSR Top 100, Whaley is ranked as the No.18 overall prospect and No.1 running back in Texas.
Key Offers: When the dust cleared, the one-time Georgia commit chose the Razorbacks over the Longhorns, although he also took an official visit to Texas A&M in November. Other schools that offered included Alabama, Baylor, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Stanford, TCU and Notre Dame.
Evaluation: If you’re looking for a player comparison, think of a young Selvin Young when he first signed with the Longhorns back in 2002. With perhaps the best feet and balance of any back in the state, the 6-0, 205-pound Whaley’s ability to dart in and out of daylight, combined with his plus top-end burst makes him one of the top offensive playmakers in Texas. A downhill runner, there’s very little wasted motion from Whaley, as he hits the hole quickly and usually explodes through it in the blink of an eye once he makes his decision. This kid has a chance to be a real difference-maker at the high collegiate level.
Why it matters: From the very moment Charlie Strong and his coaching staff started making 2016 evaluations, Whaley ranked as the No.1 clear-cut target at the running back position for the Texas staff. This isn’t just some guy… this is the guy that the Texas staff wanted above all others, so this clearly ranks as a huge loss for a staff looking to build momentum down the homestretch in this class.
What's next: Good question. Although Whaley has said he still might visit Texas on an official visit in January, it might be time for Strong and his staff to turn its complete focus on other possibilities, including Katy's Kyle Porter (No.7 running back in the nation) and George Ranch star Darius Anderson, who recently de-committed from Missouri and has re-opened the recruiting process. Both players have been keeping a low profile in recent weeks and months, but at this point neither has a confirmed visit scheduled with the Longhorns. With Porter, that might simply have to do with the fact that he isn't a fan of the recruiting process, but expect the spotlight to grow for both in the coming weeks.
Rankings: The Rivals250 star owns a low four-star ranking from Rivals.com and is slotted as the No.21 prospect from the Lone Star State in the Rivals.com post-season Texas Top 100. Overall, he’s regarded as the No.6 running back prospect in the entire country. In the recently released LSR Top 100, Whaley is ranked as the No.18 overall prospect and No.1 running back in Texas.
Key Offers: When the dust cleared, the one-time Georgia commit chose the Razorbacks over the Longhorns, although he also took an official visit to Texas A&M in November. Other schools that offered included Alabama, Baylor, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Stanford, TCU and Notre Dame.
Evaluation: If you’re looking for a player comparison, think of a young Selvin Young when he first signed with the Longhorns back in 2002. With perhaps the best feet and balance of any back in the state, the 6-0, 205-pound Whaley’s ability to dart in and out of daylight, combined with his plus top-end burst makes him one of the top offensive playmakers in Texas. A downhill runner, there’s very little wasted motion from Whaley, as he hits the hole quickly and usually explodes through it in the blink of an eye once he makes his decision. This kid has a chance to be a real difference-maker at the high collegiate level.
Why it matters: From the very moment Charlie Strong and his coaching staff started making 2016 evaluations, Whaley ranked as the No.1 clear-cut target at the running back position for the Texas staff. This isn’t just some guy… this is the guy that the Texas staff wanted above all others, so this clearly ranks as a huge loss for a staff looking to build momentum down the homestretch in this class.
What's next: Good question. Although Whaley has said he still might visit Texas on an official visit in January, it might be time for Strong and his staff to turn its complete focus on other possibilities, including Katy's Kyle Porter (No.7 running back in the nation) and George Ranch star Darius Anderson, who recently de-committed from Missouri and has re-opened the recruiting process. Both players have been keeping a low profile in recent weeks and months, but at this point neither has a confirmed visit scheduled with the Longhorns. With Porter, that might simply have to do with the fact that he isn't a fan of the recruiting process, but expect the spotlight to grow for both in the coming weeks.
