Don't look now, but 20 percent of the 2022 recruiting class hay is already in the barn.
With the commitment of a big-dog national quarterback prospect and the first of what should be numerous linebackers, new head coach Steve Sarkisian has added four commitments since four-star wide receiver Armani Winfield's pledge on January 12, which means that it has taken very little time for the Texas program to enjoy the fruits of a new coach bounce in recruiting.
Just to recap ...
* Not including the brief time Quinn Ewers was committed last summmer, Texas picked up the highest-ranked quarterback commit since 2009 and the first national top-50 out-of-state quarterback commitment since 2007 (John Brantley ... remember him?).
BAM!
* Nation's No. 2-ranked running back prospect and the highest ranked in-state running back commitment since 2012 (Johnathan Gray).
DOUBLE BAM!
* A top-15/national top 100-level wide receiver prospect from a high school the Longhorns haven't had much success recruiting during the last 20 plus years.
TRIPLE BAM!
When Kevin Eltife and the rest of the University of Texas power structure made the decision to kick Tom Herman to the curb following a 7-3 season, one of the big reasons for the decision was centered around the reality that recruiting could not sustain another year of recruits around the state associating the program with all of the emojis in their phone that they don't want to use.
If Eltife had any doubts about whether they made the right decision, the events of this weekend likely helped ensure that he slept very well.
Forget about what Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Alabama and others are doing in recruiting for a moment and just focus on what the Longhorns have already secured and what still appears to be available both in state and out of state from which to collect. It's not hyperbole to suggest that the Longhorns could be headed towards a top five-level class next December.
One of the more underrated storylines about the ongoing quarterback recruiting discussion was the need for the Longhorns to find a Pied Piper at the position around which build the 2022 class. While everyone would have loved in-state sensation Quinn. Ewers to be that guy, the events from the last seven months created a murky situation at best. It's impossible to know how the Cade Klubnik recruitment was going to go and at what pace a decision might be made there.
One way or another, the Longhorns need a statement piece at a position that would signal to all players at other positions that it is more than cool to jump on the Sarkisian Express. If you've read this column for more than 15 minutes over the last year, you know I love a good Tommy Boy "Guarantee on the Box" metaphor.
Well, that's exactly what having a national top-50 quarterback prospect brings to a recruiting class. It's possible that only the likes of Ohio State (Ewers), Georgia (Gunner Stockton), Clemson (Ty Simpson) and LSU (Walker Howard) will be able to make such a claim during this recruiting cycle, which makes it no small thing.
Sarkisian just did the hard part. Putting the rest of this class together might prove to be much easier because of it.
No. 2 - This part cannot be overstated ...
As this site creeps up on its 20th birthday in a couple of months, one thing I've come to know that I can take to the bank when it comes to you guys getting all into your feelings is this ... you guys love a kid that really, really, really wants to play for Texas.
When Ryan Perrilloux peeled off of his commitment on signing day in 2005, the OGs on this message board demanded that we take Perrilloux's face off of the front page of the website and replace it with Colt McCoy's because it didn't matter what McCoy's star ranking might have been (three stars), he wanted to be a Longhorn and sometimes that just means everything to a group of fans that would trade 10 years or more off of their own lives to be able to do the same.
Maalik Murphy really, really wanted to be a Longhorn.
How do we know that?
Well, it didn't matter that he'd never visited the 40 Acres or was going to make his first visit on a day when the weather will feel more like something out of Fargo than a typical February day. It was funny to see everyone worrying about the looming weather forecast for Austin this weekend when the reality is that Murphy was planning on being a commitment before he ever walked through the Austin airport.
After all, what's the big deal? He'll be back. A lot.
This is a kid that is giving the impression that he's ready to go all-in on being more than a wallflower in the coming 11 months.
No one else that the Longhorns might have coveted was willing to do the same.
We can talk about all we want about what Ewers might have done in the next six months, but I can tell you what he wasn't apparently ready to do today. Do you know how I know that? Because the action by Sarkisian to accept Murphy's commitment in February would seem to indicate at least one of the following realities:
a. Sarkisian values Murphy as a prospect to such an extent that he's not going to potentially waste his time worrying about anyone else if he could secure him.
b. Sarkisian valued Murphy as a prospect to such an extent that the idea of securing him now sounded a hell of a lot better than the idea of maybe getting someone else in an undefined future.
When the bird in hand looks a hell of a lot like the one you wanted in the first place, why would you bother worrying yourself with two birds in some other bush?
If Sarkisian really thought Ewers was as realistic as some message board posters might have you believe, he could have slow-played Murphy, in theory. He could have told him that they would rather wait to accept all offers from players that haven't visited until they actually visit (same thing Alabama does to almost every kid they offer). He could have sold him on the idea that it would be better for the program to make a big show out of it during the spring game or just at some other planned date.
Of all the possibilities that occurred, the one Sarkisian selected was the one that had Murphy committing as soon as possible. Birthday coming up? Before you visit? Sweet. Done.
I can't tell some of you to forget the Ewers brain-washing that you've picked up in other places. I can't tell you that you should give up your dream. What I can tell you is that your new football overlord (Sarkisian) just made a choice.
He took the kid that wanted to be in burnt orange so bad that he scooped up the offer to commit like a kid that had been dreaming his entire life of playing in Austin would.
I'd argue that in these circumstances, that reality isn't just a big thing. It's everything.
No. 3 - 2022 Offensive Recruiting Projections
With the Longhorns expected to take a full 25-man recruiting class in 2022, I thought I'd take a quick look at how the numbers at this position might break down, while also taking a peek at some of the current in-state and out-of-state options that exist.
Let's start with the offensive side of the ball.
Quarterbacks
Currently on the roster (3): Casey Thompson (So.), Hudson Card (Fr.), Charles Wright, (incoming freshman) and Cole Lourd (incoming freshman)
Needs: One or two.
Commitments: Maalik Murphy (Gardena, Ca.)
Other Offers: Quinn Ewers (Southlake Carroll) and Cade Klubnik (Austin Westlake)
Quick breakdown: Some of the thinking here could come down to how valuable walk-on Cole Lourd reveals himself to be and whether the staff truly feels like it has three of four scholarship-level quarterbacks on the roster at the moment. Given the reality that you're always a heartbeat away from a transfer at this position, it could be that this position is going to need another addition - whether through the transfer portal or by adding a second (likely) lower profile option as a No. 2 in the class to go along with Murphy. While you'd like to have four scholarship quarterbacks on campus at all times, the reality is that practice reps for more than three becomes really difficult, a truth that Ja'Quinden Jackson learned this past fall before his transfer.
Running Backs
Currently on the roster (4): Daniel Young (Sr.), Roschon Johnson (So.), Bijan Robinson (Fr.) and Jonathon Brooks (incoming freshman)
Needs: Two
Commitments: Jaydon Blue (Klein Cain)
Other Notable Offers: Tavorus Jones (El Paso Burges), Jamarion Miller (Tyler Legacy), Zach Evans (Rockwall-Heath), Jadarian Price (Denison), Jaylen Thompson (Playa Del Rey, Ca.) and Emeka Megwa (Fort Worth North Catholic)
Quick breakdown: It could be another game of musical chairs at the running back position as the Longhorns pursue a fifth scheduled scholarship player for the position going into the 2021 season. Depending on the needs at other positions, we might be looking at a large group of players and waiting to see who takes a seat at the table first. It's notable that the staff has been so liberal with offers at this position.
Wide receivers
Currently on the roster (13): Brenden Schooler (Super Senior,) Joshua Moore, R-So., Kai Money (So), Jake Smith (So.), Marcus Washington (So.), Al’Vonte Woodard (So), Kennedy Lewis (R-Fr), Jordan Whittington (R-Fr.), Kelvontay Dixon (Fr), Dajon Harrison (Fr.), Troy Omeire (Fr), Jaden Alexis (incoming freshman), Casey Cain (incoming freshman) and Keithron Lee (incoming freshman)
Needs: 🤷♂️
Commitments: Armani Winfield (Lewisville)
Other Notable Offers: C.J. Williams (Santa Ana, Ca.), Evan Stewart (Frisco Liberty), Brenen Thompson (Spearman), Kevin Coleman (St. Louis, Mo.), Chris Marshall (Fort Bend Marshall) and Nicholas Anderson (Katy)
Quick breakdown: Honestly, it's about to be sink or swim for a number of dudes at this position because there's a feeling inside the program that the Longhorns have way too many scholarship wide receivers on the roster and yet this could be a class where the Longhorns sign four ... maybe five ... if they are all a bunch of bad mamma-jammas. If the right guys want to say yes, it really will be all gas and no brakes.
Tight Ends
Currently on the roster (7): Cade Brewer (Super Senior), Malcolm Epps (So.), Jared Wiley (So), Brayeden Liebrock (R-Fr.), Ja'Tavian Sanders (incoming freshman), Juan Davis (incoming freshman) and Gunnar Helm (incoming freshman)
Needs: One
Commitments: None
Notable Offers: Jason Llewellyn (Aledo)
Quick breakdown: Like the wide receiver position, the Longhorns aren't hurting for numbers and judging by the fact that new tight ends coach Jeff Banks hasn't gone buck wild with offers to 2022 prospects, it's safe to say that the coaches will value quality over all else while they sort out what's inside of that five-person group of players that have three or more seasons of eligibility committed to the roster. Should Ja'Tavian Sanders stick on the offensive side of the ball, the need at this position from a numbers standpoint would appear to be minimal.
Offensive Linemen
Currently on the roster (14): Tope Imade (Super Senior), Derek Kerstetter (Super Senior), Denzel Okafor (Super Senior), Junior Angilau (So.), Rafiti Ghirmai (So.), Christian Jones (So.), Isaiah Hookfin (R-Fr.), Tyler Johnson (R-Fr.), Jaylen Garth (Fr.), Andrej Karic (Fr.), Jake Majors (Fr.), Logan Parr (Fr.), Hayden Conner (incoming freshman) and Max Merril (incoming freshman)
Needs: As many bad ass dudes as Texas can sign
Commitments: None
Notable Offers: Kam Dewberry (Humble Atascocita), Devon Campbell (Arlington Bowie), Kelvin Banks (Houston Summer Creek), Connor Robertson (Austin Westlake), Neto Umeozulu (Allen), Jacob Sexton (Edna, Oklahoma), Qaeshon Sapp (Leesburg, Ga.), Jacob Allen (Princeton, NJ) and Gunner Givens (Daleville, Va.)
Quick breakdown: After missing out so badly on a historically good offensive line class in 2021, the Longhorns will be looking to stock up in 2022. Simple as that.
No. 4 - Over on the defensive side of the ball ...
Defensive Linemen
Currently on the roster (14): Jacoby Jones (Super Senior), Marqez Bimage (Senior), Keondre Coburn (So), Moro Ojomo (So.), T’Vondre Sweat (So), Myron Warren (R-Fr.), Vernon Broughton (Fr.), Alfred Collins (Fr.), Sawyer Goram-Welch (Fr.), David Abiara (incoming freshman), Byron Murphy (incoming freshman), Barryn Sorrell (Incoming freshman) and Jordon Thomas (incoming freshman)
Needs: Two or Three
Commitments: None
Notable Offers: Bear Alexander (Denton Ryan), Kristopher Ross (North Shore), Omari Abor (Duncanville), Ernest Cooper (Arlington Martin), Jeray Bledsoe (Bremond) and DJ Wesolak (Boonville, Mo)
Quick breakdown: The Longhorns have a nice stockpile of numbers after the combination of the last two recruiting classes, so the dire thirst for players isn't quite what it is on the other side of the ball. The big dogs in state are probably the biggest targets, but if the Longhorns could land a single out of state big fish to add as a piece of the 2022 puzzle, it would represent a big win.
Linebackers
Currently on the roster (14): Ray Thornton (graduate senior), Juwan Mitchell (Jr.), DeMarvion Overshown (Jr.), Luke Brockermeyer (So), Jett Bush (So), David Gbenda (R-Fr.), Prince Dorbah (Fr.), Marcus Tillman (R-Fr.), Jaylan Ford (Fr.), Jaden Hullaby (Fr.), Morice Blackwell Jr. (incoming freshman), Terrence Cooks II (incoming freshman) and Derrick Harris Jr (incoming freshman)
(Note: Ovie Oghoufo is committed to Texas as a transfer from Notre Dame, but that isn't yet official. His addition would make for 14 scholarship bodies going into the fall.)
Needs: Three or four
Commitments (1): Trevell Johnson (Arlington Martin)
Notable Offers: Harold Perkins (Cypress Park), Martrell Harris Jr. (The Woodlands), Kip Lewis (Carthage), Niuafe Tuihalamaka (Mission Hills, Ca.) and Justin Medlock (Manvel)
Quick breakdown: This is a tough position to call because it really might come down to how much attrition takes place within the program at this position between now and this time next year. There's no question that the Longhorns are going to sign several prospects at this position, but if this things breaks apart from a numbers standpoint the way it might at wide receiver, you could see the Longhorns go with as many big-time talents that they can lasso.
Defensive Backs
Currently on the roster (15): Darion Dunn (Sr.), Josh Thompson (R-Jr.), Anthony Cook (Jr.), Montrell Estell (Jr.), B.J. Foster (Jr.),, D’Shawn Jaminson (Jr.), Chris Adimora (So.), Tyler Owens (So.), Marques Caldwell (R-Fr.), Jahdae Barron (Fr.), Kitan Crawford (Fr.), Jerrin Thompson (Fr.), JD Coffey III (incoming freshman), Ishmael Ibraheem, )incoming freshman) and Jamier Johnson (incoming freshman)
Needs: Four or five
Commitments (1): Jaylon Guilbeau (Port Arthur Memorial)
Notable Offers: Denver Harris (North Shore), Bobby Taylor (Katy), Austin Jordan (Denton Ryan), Bryce Anderson (Beaumont Westbrook), Bryan Allen Jr. (Aledo), Cristian Driver (Argyle) and Landon Hullaby (Arlington Timberview)
Quick breakdown: See wide receiver and linebackers. Just because there are a bunch of numbers on campus, don't view that as a lack of appetite for more.
Kicking Game
Currently on the roster (4): Cameron Dicker (Jr.), Ryan Bujcevski (Jr.), Justin Mader (Jr.) and Isaac Pearson (incoming freshman)
Needs: None
Commitments: None
Notable Offers: None
Quick breakdown: It's not out of the realm of possibilities that the Longhorns could bring in another kicker/punter, but the numbers are pretty maxed out for what you'd prefer to allocate to special teams.
No. 5 - About Cade Klubnik ...
I have no idea how his recruitment is going to play out at this point, but it's unavoidable to not point out that my favorite player in the 2022 class at the moment doesn't have a natural landing spot with the game of musical chairs that has taken place around him in the last few weeks.
It's hard to think that Texas, Texas A&M or LSU would be landing spots following their recent quarterback commitment additions, while Clemson could have Ty Simpson in the cupboard by the end of the week.
The byproduct of his junior season momentum arriving so much later than in a normal recruiting cycle has meant that he's barely had time to marinate on any of his key scholarship offers before those schools have potentially filled up at the position. What happens to him moving forward will be one of the key storylines of the 2022 recruiting cycle inside the state of Texas.
Could Oklahoma emerge as a possible team to watch? Assuming they miss on Simpson, the only other quarterback offer they have on the table without a commitment is Sachse's Alex Orji. Just something to keep an eye on.
No. 6 - Holding Serve at Home ...
As nervous as everyone is about the men's basketball program, the reality of the season through this weekend is that the Longhorns are 12-5 overall, 7-4 in the toughest conference in the country and in a position to avoid the dreaded four-seed line if they can close the season with a nice stretch of basketball.
Saturday's win over TCU was a sign that the dream of that two- or three-seed line isn't dead by any stretch, but if the Longhorns can survive the end of the season, they should be primed for the Tournament to say the least. Check this closing stretch out:
at No. 12 Oklahoma
at Iowa State
vs. No. 14 West Virginia
vs. Kansas
at No. 7 Texas Tech
All of this is going to lead us to March, which is when the real grade to this season will be given. Simple as that.
No. 7 – BUY or SELL …
(Sell) EVER? Do you remember how much Mack Brown used to put the Stoops brothers on tilt over recruiting?
(Buy) I'm still think Sweet 16 and depending on the draw, maybe more. Texas has the guard play to thrive.
(Buy) Yup.
(Buy) Based on what all of the West Coast people say about him, I'm going to say yes.
(Sell) Not in year one. Herman and Strong didn't need it.
(Sell) It's not impossible.
(Sell) That feels unrealistic.
(Buy) I was lukewarm on those last week at best.
(Buy) I love big-time quarterbacks.
(Buy) That's probably fair.
(Sell) I think we can see what kind of mobility and raw athleticism he brings to the table in such a way that we can have a good idea.
(Buy) Yup.
(Buy) I'm proud of you, @CenTex Horn.
No. 8 - Scattershooting on the world of sports...
... Hard day at the office on Sunday for Charli Collier and the rest of the women's basketball team. That Baylor wall is just tough to get over. Many have tried, few have succeeded.
... For the record, I switched it over to Fox to see a little bit of the Daytona 500 and it was in the middle of a rain delay. I tried.
... I considered watching UFC258, but watching a movie on Netflix proved to be the more desirable option.
... James Harden apologized this weekend for his actions at the end of his run with the Rockets. Ummm .... Rockets fans ... we good?
... Go Serena! Rooting for a Serena/Osaka semi-finals match-up if at all possible. There could be some real doozies this week Down Under on both sides of the Aussie Open Draw.
... For all of you soccer heads out there that have been miserable because of my happiness as a Liverpool fan, you can take comfort in the fact that 2021 has been about as much fun as a case of gout thus far. I'm f'ing miserable.
No. 9 - The List: Top 10 Denzel Washington movies ...
Oh, boy. It didn't take me long to realize that there might not be anything remotely close to a consensus on this discussion.
Let's not waste any time.
10. Man on Fire
9. American Gangster
8. Glory
7. Mo Better Blues
6. Crimson Tide
5. Inside Man
4. Flight
3. Remember The Titans
2. Malcolm X
1. Training Day
No. 10 - And Finally ...
I'm diving into my Oscars season movie list and knocked out several movies this weekend on Netflix.
What's the best 2020-21 movie you've seen in the last year?
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