Lots going on so I'm going to keep these short and sweet. Just a few notes I've heard today, most of which only add to the confusion.
The one thing you should take away from this update ... if anyone tells you they absolutely know what is going to happen with most of the recruits on the board, don't believe them. I've talked to plenty of sources at plenty of places today, people who have more reason to be interested in this stuff than you, me or anyone else on this board, and even they don't know for sure what some of these kids are going to do. They have their gut feelings and are putting together the pieces like the rest of us, but nobody knows for sure.
Patrick Hudson - One person I talked to today communicated with Hudson a few days ago and got direct word it was Baylor. You can't ignore that, but you also have to put some emphasis on "a few days ago." This one could have changed 20 times since then. A source at Silsbee tells me Hudson isn't tipping his hand. Not one bit. A UT source tells me they're in the dark as well. Texas feels it has done everything possible in this recruitment and given itself a chance, but everyone's basically waiting to hear his final choice.
Chris Daniels - Announced a final two of Texas and OU. This one's in the bag, IMO.
Erick Fowler - I've mentioned this all week, but I've heard good things about UT's chances. But this one also flip-flops a lot and with so many people weighing in, I could see it changing down to the wire. The word I was given by a Texas source this afternoon was "cautiously optimistic." I agree.
Dontavious Jackson - In late December, I thought Texas had to get Jackson in for an official visit to win out. That didn't happen, but he took an unofficial visit last weekend. My common sense tells me that was good enough and Texas wins out, but as I mentioned this morning, I'm hearing more confidence from people connected to FSU than I am Texas. Him leaving the state after visiting UT (with his teammate, no less) goes against everything my brain tells me but for whatever reason, people with connections in the Florida State program think he's heading there.
Brandon Jones - Very quiet and not hearing anything more than a lot of guessing, but I think Texas holds on.
Stephon Taylor - What was believed to be a Texas-FSU battle may not be. South Carolina is squarely in play. One FSU source told me this morning that the Florida State coaches think it's 50/50. Another FSU source thinks it's down to Texas and South Carolina. I've said all along and reiterated in the podcast that I think Taylor actually wants to pick UT, but the DT numbers may wind up scaring him off. That could be helping South Carolina's cause down the stretch. This one is pretty interesting now.
The one thing you should take away from this update ... if anyone tells you they absolutely know what is going to happen with most of the recruits on the board, don't believe them. I've talked to plenty of sources at plenty of places today, people who have more reason to be interested in this stuff than you, me or anyone else on this board, and even they don't know for sure what some of these kids are going to do. They have their gut feelings and are putting together the pieces like the rest of us, but nobody knows for sure.
Patrick Hudson - One person I talked to today communicated with Hudson a few days ago and got direct word it was Baylor. You can't ignore that, but you also have to put some emphasis on "a few days ago." This one could have changed 20 times since then. A source at Silsbee tells me Hudson isn't tipping his hand. Not one bit. A UT source tells me they're in the dark as well. Texas feels it has done everything possible in this recruitment and given itself a chance, but everyone's basically waiting to hear his final choice.
Chris Daniels - Announced a final two of Texas and OU. This one's in the bag, IMO.
Erick Fowler - I've mentioned this all week, but I've heard good things about UT's chances. But this one also flip-flops a lot and with so many people weighing in, I could see it changing down to the wire. The word I was given by a Texas source this afternoon was "cautiously optimistic." I agree.
Dontavious Jackson - In late December, I thought Texas had to get Jackson in for an official visit to win out. That didn't happen, but he took an unofficial visit last weekend. My common sense tells me that was good enough and Texas wins out, but as I mentioned this morning, I'm hearing more confidence from people connected to FSU than I am Texas. Him leaving the state after visiting UT (with his teammate, no less) goes against everything my brain tells me but for whatever reason, people with connections in the Florida State program think he's heading there.
Brandon Jones - Very quiet and not hearing anything more than a lot of guessing, but I think Texas holds on.
Stephon Taylor - What was believed to be a Texas-FSU battle may not be. South Carolina is squarely in play. One FSU source told me this morning that the Florida State coaches think it's 50/50. Another FSU source thinks it's down to Texas and South Carolina. I've said all along and reiterated in the podcast that I think Taylor actually wants to pick UT, but the DT numbers may wind up scaring him off. That could be helping South Carolina's cause down the stretch. This one is pretty interesting now.
