Dallas Carter defensive end Jarell Cherry attended the Texas Longhorns' Under the Lights camp on Saturday night. The 2018 prospect put on a strong showing and following the camp, it sounded like Cherry had an inkling that a Longhorn scholarship offer could be presented in the not-too-distant future. Nothing had been finalized immediately following the camp, but Cherry indicated that any talk of an offer would likely go through his high school coaches first.
On Monday morning, the Texas scholarship offer became official.
During the camp performance, the cat-quick Cherry was tough for any of the linemen to handle. He blew past blockers with speed off the edge or inside moves, making a strong impression on the UT staff. Following the event, the Texas coaches' message was pretty simple - keep working on his craft but make sure to get some rest as well.
Cherry said he keeps in contact with Texas assistant coach Brian Jean-Mary and also communicated with Charlie Strong while he was on campus. Cherry now has offers from Texas Tech, SMU and Texas. Speaking of the Longhorns specifically, Cherry said he likes UT's tradition.
"What I think about Texas, the old school mentality, how they've grown. Even though people forget what Texas is, they've always been a strong mentality football team," Cherry said. "They've been doing it for the longest ... they've been good for a long time."
The visit to Texas was the last of the summer for Cherry. The 6-3, 226-pound standout said he'll now turn his focus to what should be a successful 2016 season.
"I took on the summer strong. Now I'm ready to take on the season strong," Cherry said.
So what does Cherry bring to the table? He has a terrific frame with room to grow and he's a high-character player. What really stands out though, in watching Cherry at the camp, is his explosive quickness. Cherry can play at either linebacker or defensive end, making him a perfect candidate for the FOX position in Texas' defensive scheme.
"I feel like I bring to the table a good person who can transition from outside linebacker to defensive end," Cherry said. "Really, you could say linebacker/defensive end. That's a special place on the field. That's exactly what Von Miller plays and he's a special person on the field."
