Okay, I did not get a chance to write The Sunday Pulpit this week, but still have a few thoughts I would like to pass along.
By the way, I appreciate everyone who reached out to me privately, or in my thread on Sunday, to show concern about my sick son. He is doing much better now.
As my son started feeling better, and the sounds of Paw Patrol took over my home on Sunday afternoon, I started thinking about a few Texas-related topics as we approach signing day. If some of these topics were touched on in posts over the weekend, I apologize for any redundancy.
1. It has become clear to me Texas coach Tom Herman’s biggest task this year will be fixing Charlie Strong’s team. Unless Herman finds a way to close in dramatic fashion this week, it is hard to foresee many of his commits as starters this season. Instead, it appears most of this year’s class will provide depth for Herman and his staff.
As Geoff Ketchum noted in his weekly column, at least Herman inherits a talented group of players. In fact, Texas strength and conditioning coach Yancy McKnight said he was impressed with how players looked when he began their offseason workouts. Clearly, Herman has a team with a lot of potential.
Quarterback Sam Ehlinger, JuCo linebacker Gary Johnson, running back Toneil Carter and kicker Joshua Rowland are arguably the most important players in this year’s class. Rowland and Johnson are expected to start – man, Texas needs a consistent kicker – while Ehlinger and Carter are expected to push Shane Buechele and Chris Warren, respectively. I will also keep an eye on incoming freshman tight end Reese Leitao.
To me, Herman’s first junior at Texas is going to be huge in order to create a recruiting buzz around the program.
In addition, Longhorn observers need to see a team with potential during the spring game in April.
2. Texas’ current recruiting class is ranked 36th in the nation by Rivals. Unless there are some major surprises between now and Wednesday, this might be the lowest ranked Texas class since Rivals began grading teams in 2003.
Here are the previous Longhorn finishes:
2016 (28 commits): 7th
2015 (29 commits): 12th
2014 (23 commits): 20th
2013 (15 commits): 24th
2012 (28 commits): 2nd
2011 (22 commits): 3rd
2010 (25 commits): 3rd
2009 (20 commits): 5th
2008 (20 commits): 14th
2007 (24 commits): 5th
2006 (25 commits): 5th
2005 (14 commits): 20th
2004 (20 commits): 16th
2003 (18 commits): 15th
3. Okay, how is Herman doing with his first recruiting class compared to other coaches?
Well, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh’s class was ranked 51st in 2015. Harbaugh was hired in late December and had to throw together a class in a few weeks. Michigan finished 10-3 in Harbaugh’s first year and landed the fourth-best class in 2016. Harbaugh’s class is currently ranked fourth again.
Urban Meyer led Ohio State to the fourth-best class in 2012, Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly was 14th in 2010, while former USC coach Steve Sarkisian’s initial class was ranked 10th in 2014.
4. There may not be a lot of buzz heading into signing day, but it is important to remember Herman has obtained the commitments of four players with a four-star ranking since arriving in Austin.
Here are the players Strong obtain after he was hired: TE Blake Whiteley (three stars), OL Alex Anderson (three stars), DB Edwin Freeman (four stars), DT Poona Ford (three stars), DT Chris Nelson (three stars) and OL Elijah Rodriguez (two stars).
Here are Herman’s acquisitions: K Joshua Rowland (three stars), RB Toneil Carter (four stars), RB Daniel Young (three stars), TE Cade Brewer (three stars), OL Derek Kerstetter (three stars), TE Reese Leitao (four stars), LB Marquez Bimage (four stars), DE Max Cummins (two stars) and LB Gary Johnson (four stars).
5. I missed the latest fallout from the Casey Horny hiring, but will go back to a point I have made more than once.
Texas needs to hire an experienced athletic director.
Again, no offense to Mike Perrin, who I think is a really nice guy. Perrin is always friendly with me. He has never disrespected me, even though I stalked him after games last year. I think Perrin is a good guy.
However, a seasoned AD would have told Herman the school needs to hold off on hiring Horny because there is no telling when the stories from that Baylor scandal might end. We have been hearing horrible stories about sexual assaults by Baylor football players for a long time, and last week’s allegation is just the latest atrocity from Waco. Every time there is a new allegation, Texas fans feel linked to that Baylor scandal.
Herman has received nearly everything he wanted. A veteran AD may have told Herman he needed to wait a year, especially for a quality control coach, to make sure nothing else pops up, even if his friend is innocent. There is no need for Herman, or UT, to take the bullets for what occurred at Baylor.
Instead, Texas must hope another sexual assault allegation from Horny's tenure does not occur, which seems very unlikely at this point.
Funniest Thing You Will See This Week
In honor of @Ketchum 's recent day care drop off
Just for fun
Last edited:
