Cliffs Notes: The Longhorns landed commitment No.21 on Monday with the addition of Austin (Texas) Westlake defensive end/edge Colton Vasek, who ranks as one of the nation's best players at his position.
Rankings: Here's the industry breakdown...
Rivals: (5.9) Mid four-star, No.82 overall nationally, No.7 Edge, No.16 in Texas
ESPN: (82) Low Four-star, No.184 overall nationally, No.30 Edge, No.30 in Texas
On3: (93) Low four-star, No.143 overall nationally, No.20 edge, No.28 in Texas
247: (92) Low four-star, No.199 overall nationally, No.25 edge, No.38 in Texas
247 composite: (.9451) Mid four-star, No.127 overall nationally, No.4 17 edge, No261 in Texas
Notable offers: Texas (6/14 OV), Oklahoma (6/10 OV), Clemson (6/3 OV), Oregon (6/17 OV), Texas Tech (6/22 OV), Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Stanford, Texas A&M and USC
Evaluation: Hot damn, we're talking a potential high-level, first-year impact player in the 6-6, 230-pound Vasek, who can be an un-blockable blur off the edge, despite a frame that might typically suggest he'd be better-suited in the long-term as a strong-side defensive end. Ultra-quick off the ball, Vasek is a handful for opposing linemen, who struggle to get their hands on him and then struggle to keep their hands on him if lucky enough to get them on him. A player that succeeds with both inside and outside pass rush moves, Vasek has been a game-changer at the high levels of Texas high school football and it's impossible to not notice the explosive contact he makes upon contact with anyone owning the football. His raw explosiveness and violent impact as a tackler are the things that stands out the most about Vasek to me this season.
Data to Know: Nearly 40-percent of all four- and five-star defensive ends over the course of the last two decades have been drafted by NFL teams. 12 of 22 (54.6%) four- and five-star defensive ends from the state of Texas taller than 6-4 have been drafted by NFL teams, regardless of placement on the ratings scale, with 3 of 4 (75%) of all players 6-6 or taller making it to the NFL.
Player He Reminds Me Of: Former Florida defensive end and NFL first-round draft pick Jarvis Moss
Why it matters: From my perspective, we're talking about a super-blue prospect that's worthy of a national top 50 ranking and a five-star label. With Braylan Shelby committed to USC, Vasek is the only other prospect at his position in the state of this magnitude and it was critical that the Longhorns keep him home. He instantly becomes the best defensive end/edge prospect that the Longhorns have signed in the Steve Sarkisian era. Along with linebacker, this is the most important need in this class and supplying it with at least one super-blue chip was a dire necessity.
Expectations: We're talking about a kid that will have as small of a basement as a player than anyone in this class not named Arch Manning. His physical profile screams that he will be a successful, multi-year type of starter for the Longhorns and anything short of that would register as a massive disappointment. If he realizes his upside as a player, we're talking about a young man that can be a first- or second-day pick in the NFL Draft. His skill set is also one that this year's team could really use, which means that he projects as an instant contributor as a freshman next season.
Check out the highlights from the early portion of his senior season:
