It's been a long day/night, my refrigerator is calling me and the wife/kids are gone all night so I've got the house to myself ... considering all that, let's blow through some quick-hitter updates from today's junior day attendees. Of note, we'll have much more detailed reports with quotes from these players over the coming days.
--- The big news of the day was the commitment from Ocala (FL) Vanguard athlete Justin Watkins. Not exactly unexpected, but a huge development for Texas in kicking off its 2018 class.
Watkins said he pretty much knew he was going to make the move (he told some of his Florida buddies before the trip) and he loves how Texas is going to use him as a slot receiver, running back and on special teams. He was feeling really good about his decision but did say he may take some other visits at some point.
ICYMI, Ketch's instant analysis on Watkins' commit
--- Carthage RB Keaontay Ingram really enjoyed the visit and admitted that it crossed his mind during the day to give Texas a commitment. Ingram decided to hold off and wants to see some other places (OU in particular), but Texas feels like the team to beat here.
--- Houston Lamar RB/ATH Ta'Zhawn Henry said he's supposed to touch base with Tom Herman and Stan Drayton tonight, and he's hoping an offer will come his way. If it happens, Henry said he probably would not commit on the spot but would definitely wind up at Texas. He and the rest of the Houston Lamar crew have talked about playing together.
--- Some mixed signals from 2019 OL Kardell Thomas, who is committed to LSU. While leaving the junior day, Thomas said Texas didn't offer but he felt one was close. Shortly after he left, he said his father informed him that he had been offered. If he was offered, he was the only one of the day that I'm aware of, so I'm not quite sure what to make of this one. Regardless, Thomas said it was a great visit and Texas is No. 2 behind his current commitment to LSU.
--- Quarterback Casey Thompson said he was blown away by the city and the UT campus. He's not looking to make a commitment just yet (he wants to do it this spring) but Texas seems like it's the clear leader right now. Miami and North Carolina round out his top three. Thompson father, former OU quarterback Charles Thompson, was also on the visit and he too said he enjoyed it.
--- Cypress Springs safety Leon O'Neal is a big-time player with a big-time personality. Infectious smile. O'Neal wasn't ready to name leaders but he raved about his visit and said he does see the benefit of playing for an in-state school. That being said, O'Neal does want to check out some places like Michigan and Ohio State. He and safety B.J. Foster have talked about what it would be like to play together.
--- Texas was the team to beat for Angleton safety B.J. Foster coming into this visit and today only helped UT's status. Foster, who will graduate early, plans to decide in December. Texas did talk to him about committing early and setting the tone for the class, but Foster is going to wait things out. He was accompanied by both his parents. Foster was staying in Austin tonight and going to hang out with some of the current team members, which can only be a good thing for Texas.
--- South Grand Prairie safety Atanza Vongor said he'll release a list of favorites in the next week or so and wants to commit in about a month. Texas will definitely be in the mix. TCU is also a heavy player here. Vongor really likes UT safeties coach Craig Naivar.
--- Tulsa Union safety Patrick Fields plans to make a decision this spring. There's some thought Texas is the team to beat and Field said he really enjoyed his visit, but he didn't really tip his hand to me in terms of a leader when I talked to him.
--- Wide receiver Tommy Bush snuck out early so I didn't get a chance to talk to him face-to-face, but I did exchange a couple texts with him. No offer on Saturday but he's supposed to call the coaches on Sunday so don't be surprised if something happens then. He'll take his time regardless, but Texas is very high on his list.
--- Fort Bend Marshall offensive lineman Barton Clement said the visit went well enough that Texas is now a co-leader with Texas A&M.
--- Houston Lamar cornerback Anthony Cook said he really liked the visit. Cook isn't deciding any time soon but he said the visit elevated Texas in his mind and the Longhorns are definitely in his top three. I still think he's Texas' to lose. Cook mentioned that there's a different vibe with the current staff and said the new coaches made a big impact.
--- Alief Taylor WR Brennan Eagles had a good time on the visit but doesn't plan to announce a decision until National Signing Day. He said he's pretty open and hasn't even thought about favorites. He'll drop a top-10 at The Opening over the summer. Sources at his school tell me Texas is very much in the hunt for this one.
--- Allen offensive lineman Trey Stratfordhopes to make a decision before beginning of his senior season. He said he liked the visit but doesn't have a list of favorites. Texas is in a good spot here.
--- Conroe Oak Ridge defensive end/linebacker Joseph Ossai said A&M is his dream school but Texas made headway with him today. Texas was near the top of his list but probably still chasing A&M
--- Rivals100 WR Terrace Marshall Jr. said he'll definitely be returning to Austin for an official visit. He listed Texas in a group of favorites that includes A&M, LSU and TCU.
--- A little bit of a surprise, but no offer for Marshall's teammate, Rivals100 QB Justin Rogers. Rogers declined to do interviews after the junior day. We'll try to catch up with him this week.
--- Houston Westside defensive tackle Keondre Coburn said he talks to Corby Meekins all the time and said it's like talking to a friend. He plans to return for another visit this spring.
--- 2019 QB Roschon Johnson said it crossed his mind to commit today, but he's going to take his time. He plans to look at OU and TCU next. Met with Tim Beck for a while today. Texas is in a great spot here.
--- Arp LB/DB DeMarvion Overshown was a guy I thought might pull the trigger but that didn't happen. He told me via text that the visit went really well. I still like where Texas stands in this one.
--- DT Shabazz Dotson said Texas really helped itself today. No offer, but Dotson said Oscar Giles wantsto stay in contact and he really likes Texas.
--- TE Austin Stogner didn't pick up an offer but said he'll be back this spring and Texas is one of his favorites. He's picked up quite a few offers of late and is a name to file away.
--- OL Rafiti Ghirmai ... Texas will be in his soon to be released top 10 and maybe as high as his top three. Planning on taking an official visit to Texas.
--- Houston Lamar WR Al'Vonte Woodard said he is planning to come back on spring break. Says Texas will for sure be in his top 10 that will come out soon and also mentioned Texas' facilities upgrades that will come in June.
--- Forgot to mention, Leon O'Neal told me there was one commitment, but a couple others were close to pulling the trigger. When I asked who he was talking about, he said it wasn't his place to say (smart kid).
--- Again, we'll have more detailed reports on all these guys in the coming days, but I wanted to get these notes out tonight.
--- The big news of the day was the commitment from Ocala (FL) Vanguard athlete Justin Watkins. Not exactly unexpected, but a huge development for Texas in kicking off its 2018 class.
Watkins said he pretty much knew he was going to make the move (he told some of his Florida buddies before the trip) and he loves how Texas is going to use him as a slot receiver, running back and on special teams. He was feeling really good about his decision but did say he may take some other visits at some point.
ICYMI, Ketch's instant analysis on Watkins' commit
--- Carthage RB Keaontay Ingram really enjoyed the visit and admitted that it crossed his mind during the day to give Texas a commitment. Ingram decided to hold off and wants to see some other places (OU in particular), but Texas feels like the team to beat here.
--- Houston Lamar RB/ATH Ta'Zhawn Henry said he's supposed to touch base with Tom Herman and Stan Drayton tonight, and he's hoping an offer will come his way. If it happens, Henry said he probably would not commit on the spot but would definitely wind up at Texas. He and the rest of the Houston Lamar crew have talked about playing together.
--- Some mixed signals from 2019 OL Kardell Thomas, who is committed to LSU. While leaving the junior day, Thomas said Texas didn't offer but he felt one was close. Shortly after he left, he said his father informed him that he had been offered. If he was offered, he was the only one of the day that I'm aware of, so I'm not quite sure what to make of this one. Regardless, Thomas said it was a great visit and Texas is No. 2 behind his current commitment to LSU.
--- Quarterback Casey Thompson said he was blown away by the city and the UT campus. He's not looking to make a commitment just yet (he wants to do it this spring) but Texas seems like it's the clear leader right now. Miami and North Carolina round out his top three. Thompson father, former OU quarterback Charles Thompson, was also on the visit and he too said he enjoyed it.
--- Cypress Springs safety Leon O'Neal is a big-time player with a big-time personality. Infectious smile. O'Neal wasn't ready to name leaders but he raved about his visit and said he does see the benefit of playing for an in-state school. That being said, O'Neal does want to check out some places like Michigan and Ohio State. He and safety B.J. Foster have talked about what it would be like to play together.
--- Texas was the team to beat for Angleton safety B.J. Foster coming into this visit and today only helped UT's status. Foster, who will graduate early, plans to decide in December. Texas did talk to him about committing early and setting the tone for the class, but Foster is going to wait things out. He was accompanied by both his parents. Foster was staying in Austin tonight and going to hang out with some of the current team members, which can only be a good thing for Texas.
--- South Grand Prairie safety Atanza Vongor said he'll release a list of favorites in the next week or so and wants to commit in about a month. Texas will definitely be in the mix. TCU is also a heavy player here. Vongor really likes UT safeties coach Craig Naivar.
--- Tulsa Union safety Patrick Fields plans to make a decision this spring. There's some thought Texas is the team to beat and Field said he really enjoyed his visit, but he didn't really tip his hand to me in terms of a leader when I talked to him.
--- Wide receiver Tommy Bush snuck out early so I didn't get a chance to talk to him face-to-face, but I did exchange a couple texts with him. No offer on Saturday but he's supposed to call the coaches on Sunday so don't be surprised if something happens then. He'll take his time regardless, but Texas is very high on his list.
--- Fort Bend Marshall offensive lineman Barton Clement said the visit went well enough that Texas is now a co-leader with Texas A&M.
--- Houston Lamar cornerback Anthony Cook said he really liked the visit. Cook isn't deciding any time soon but he said the visit elevated Texas in his mind and the Longhorns are definitely in his top three. I still think he's Texas' to lose. Cook mentioned that there's a different vibe with the current staff and said the new coaches made a big impact.
--- Alief Taylor WR Brennan Eagles had a good time on the visit but doesn't plan to announce a decision until National Signing Day. He said he's pretty open and hasn't even thought about favorites. He'll drop a top-10 at The Opening over the summer. Sources at his school tell me Texas is very much in the hunt for this one.
--- Allen offensive lineman Trey Stratfordhopes to make a decision before beginning of his senior season. He said he liked the visit but doesn't have a list of favorites. Texas is in a good spot here.
--- Conroe Oak Ridge defensive end/linebacker Joseph Ossai said A&M is his dream school but Texas made headway with him today. Texas was near the top of his list but probably still chasing A&M
--- Rivals100 WR Terrace Marshall Jr. said he'll definitely be returning to Austin for an official visit. He listed Texas in a group of favorites that includes A&M, LSU and TCU.
--- A little bit of a surprise, but no offer for Marshall's teammate, Rivals100 QB Justin Rogers. Rogers declined to do interviews after the junior day. We'll try to catch up with him this week.
--- Houston Westside defensive tackle Keondre Coburn said he talks to Corby Meekins all the time and said it's like talking to a friend. He plans to return for another visit this spring.
--- 2019 QB Roschon Johnson said it crossed his mind to commit today, but he's going to take his time. He plans to look at OU and TCU next. Met with Tim Beck for a while today. Texas is in a great spot here.
--- Arp LB/DB DeMarvion Overshown was a guy I thought might pull the trigger but that didn't happen. He told me via text that the visit went really well. I still like where Texas stands in this one.
--- DT Shabazz Dotson said Texas really helped itself today. No offer, but Dotson said Oscar Giles wantsto stay in contact and he really likes Texas.
--- TE Austin Stogner didn't pick up an offer but said he'll be back this spring and Texas is one of his favorites. He's picked up quite a few offers of late and is a name to file away.
--- OL Rafiti Ghirmai ... Texas will be in his soon to be released top 10 and maybe as high as his top three. Planning on taking an official visit to Texas.
--- Houston Lamar WR Al'Vonte Woodard said he is planning to come back on spring break. Says Texas will for sure be in his top 10 that will come out soon and also mentioned Texas' facilities upgrades that will come in June.
--- Forgot to mention, Leon O'Neal told me there was one commitment, but a couple others were close to pulling the trigger. When I asked who he was talking about, he said it wasn't his place to say (smart kid).
--- Again, we'll have more detailed reports on all these guys in the coming days, but I wanted to get these notes out tonight.
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