Cliff notes: Two weeks ago, the Longhorns picked up a commitment from key defensive line target Keondre Coburn. Today, Texas added a key piece to the offensive side of the trenches with a verbal pledge from offensive lineman Rafiti Ghirmai.
Rankings: Ghirmai is ranked as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com with a 5.7 RR. He is unranked nationally but Rivals has him as the No. 69-ranked player in the state of Texas overall. Ghirmai checks in at No. 45 on the Lone Star Recruiting Top 100.
Key offers: UCLA, Florida, Alabama, LSU, Arkansas, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, TCU, Baylor
Evaluation: At 6-5 and 285 pounds, Ghirmai has a terrific frame that projects well to the collegiate level (although I’d put him at a tad under 6-5 after seeing him in person a couple times in the spring). Most services, Rivals.com included, have him listed as an offensive tackle prospect but Ghirmai looks to me like he could be a player who could help out at either right tackle or possibly a guard spot at the next level.
He moves pretty well but physically is probably a player who is going to need a year or two in a college weight program before he’s ready to contribute at the next level. He’s able to overpower most players he faces at the high school level because of the size discrepancy, but he needs to get stronger at the point of attack before he’s college-ready. One thing Ghirmai does well is control the defenders upper body and use his hands to get guys turned sideways and a bit off-balance. Once he does that, it’s game over. But if a defender is able to stay squared up, Ghirmai does sometimes have issues drive blocking. He has long arms but in camp settings had a bit of a tendency to use his arms a bit too much and grab defenders up high when they’d go inside on him.
Why it matters: This isn’t a pick-up that’s going to make a lot of big national headlines, but make no mistake about it, this is a big win for Texas. The Longhorns obviously need to recruit some talent along the offensive line and at offensive tackle, particularly after the transfer of Jean Delance.
It’s not a very deep year for in-state offensive line talent, and Ghirmai has a chance to be as good as just about anyone in the state if he progresses well over the next couple years. Texas couldn’t afford to miss on this one and see Ghirmai slip away to an out-of-state school, so getting him in the fold is a big recruiting moment for Derek Warehime and the staff.
Enjoy:
