What question can’t you take anymore regarding recruiting?
There’s no question that is going to ruin my day, but I pretty much go into each week knowing I’ll get a question on Texas’ chances with Zachary Evans. Which leads me to …
Any word if Z Evans will make it in for the big recruiting weekend of May 3rd-5th?
Good question and it prompted me to reach out to his brother last night. I posted a note on the board, but for those who missed it, his brother will be traveling for work so won’t be able to bring Evans up to Austin, but he said Evans will probably come to Austin with one of his coaches. That’s obviously a positive development knowing a visit is a possibility, but remember, Evans has had to cancel plans a few times at the last minute due to travel issues so let’s wait to see how this one plays out.
What's going on with Justin Flowe, you didn't address him in your update. Any scheduled visits to the 40?
I’m assuming you’re referencing my recruiting board update. He’s on there, of course, but I didn’t move his percentage because I had previously dropped him down to 30 percent. Texas is definitely still in the mix there, but I lowered the chances due to the fact that he’s taken a couple other unofficial visits this spring (Georgia, Miami) but has yet to make it to Austin.
Texas absolutely has to get him on campus, probably multiple times if I’m being honest. I expect him to visit at some point, but haven’t heard anything concrete about him locking in plans.
We still sitting pretty for Chad Lindberg?
I think so. Lindberg, per his mother, will be in Austin next weekend (May 3) for his official visit. He’s scheduled to officially visit Georgia in late June and is also planning an LSU official visit. Those trips can’t be discounted and Stanford is obviously still in play, but I just feel like Texas has too many advantages for other programs to overcome (proximity, brother at UT, strength of Texas’ football and academic programs, connections with coaches and current commitments).
The chances of us getting the Brockermeyers are greater than 99.99%?
Sell, but not by much. James Brockermeyer told me after getting his UT offer that he and brother Tommy Brockermeyer were going to take their time, but those two landing anywhere but Texas would certainly be a surprise.
1. Next commitment?
2. Prediction for number of summer commitments in 2020 class
3. Do you think Chad Lindberg shuts it down over the summer?
1. Tough to say on the next commitment. There are several guys with whom I think Texas is in a good spot, but the timing of some of the decisions are tough to pin down. Bryson Washington has a decision date of July 4, but I’d be mildly surprised if some others didn’t decide before him. Kitan Crawford seems like a possibility with him scheduled to take his UT official visit in June.
2. Again, pretty much impossible to say but I’d put the over/under at 5.
3. I lean slightly towards Lindberg making a decision this summer and it being Texas, but the Stanford issue could really throw a wrench into things if he’s dead-set on taking an official visit to the Cardinal. Lindberg has told me he won’t force the issue if he’s not ready, but my gut tells me Texas wins out sometime over the summer.
If you had to pick right now, who is the QB for the 2021 class?
Texas has offered only one QB and the Longhorns seem to be in good shape with him, so Preston Stone seems like the logical choice right now.
Troy Omeire - does he commit to Texas?
How many LB commits do we take this year?
Omeire rarely talks and when he has, I haven’t been able to get a good read on what he’s truly thinking. It’s pretty much a Texas-Texas A&M battle (schools like Baylor and Notre Dame are also involved but I don’t see that happening) and in trying to read the tea leaves, I do like Texas’ chances. He’s been on campus a ton and speaks very highly of the UT staff when I talk to him. I like UT’s position.
On the linebacker situation, those numbers are always flexible, but even more so this year due to the uncertainty with Gabe Floyd’s future. Not to mention it’s a bit of an odd year to need linebackers because there’s not an abundance of in-state talent. Prince Dorbah could fit into this group, which would elevate the number, but I’d think they’ll try to land three or four.
I saw a story that Texas is expected to have a top-5 class for 2020. Is that what we can expect every year with the way the coaches are kicking butt?
I believe there was a Rivals.com story (if we’re talking about the same one) that listed Texas as one of the top-10 most likely programs to land a top-five class, and it makes sense. This staff has done it two years in a row and has shown that it has the recruiting chops to go up against any coaching staff in college football. Assuming Texas continues to play well on the field, I would think being in that top-5 range should be a consistent expectation.
If Texas wins at least 11 games in 2019, the 2020 and 2021 are going to be the back to back classes Texas has ever signed, at least on paper ...Yes, or no?
It would probably be close, but I’m not sure I’d project 2020 and 2021 to surpass the 2002 and 2003 classes (on paper). Remember, in 2002 Texas had the runaway leader for the top class in the country. The 2003 group wasn’t ranked as highly because it was smaller, but it still ranked second nationally in average star ranking per recruit.
Who's your Jared Wiley this year?
By my “Jared Wiley” I’m assuming you mean a player who I’m much higher on than most fans, his ranking and his offer sheet? If so, give me offensive lineman Nate Anderson. I’m a big fan of his film and from what I’ve seen in camp. Throw in the fact that he’s played only one year of offensive line and he has a frame that should develop well over the next few years and I’m a big fan. Interestingly, Anderson just picked up an offer from none other than Mack Brown and North Carolina.
How much does a successful year on the field in 2019 (maybe beating LSU and a Big 12 Championship) help with 2020 recruits?
It will help tremendously. I’ve always said that winning trumps just about everything else in recruiting. The University of Texas sells itself in a lot of ways and this staff has been very impressive with its ability to recruit ever since arriving on campus. If Texas continues to put a winning performance on the field and accomplishes the things you mentioned in your question, recruiting will really take off (as if consecutive top-four finishes haven’t been impressive enough).
1) Princely Umanmielen, Price Dorbah, Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton …
Odds we land all 4
Odds we land 3 out of 4
2) Chad Lindberg gives his verbal tomorrow how much do you raise your 55% chance to land Zachary Evans.
1. Texas is in a strong position with each of those four players your listed, but the collective odds of all four falling UT’s way is obviously lower than when you look at them individually. It’s kind of like playing a parlay in Vegas … odds are, one is going to bust your bet. I’d put the odds at roughly 25 percent.
2. If Lindberg committed tomorrow, it would help with Zachary Evans so my percentage would go up, but I don’t think it would move the needle dramatically. That’s not to say the two aren’t friends and haven’t talked about playing together – they are and they have – it’s just that my gut tells me Evans is going to do what’s best for him in the end regardless of where any one player is going. If anything, landing Lindberg helps with Texas’ overall recruiting momentum, which would have a bigger impact on a guy like Evans as opposed to Lindberg and Evans being tied at the hip.
Any kickers or punters on the radar and if so would you add them to the recruiting board?
Not that I’m aware of. If Texas actively pursues some, I’ll certainly add them to the board. But remember, both starters going into this year are only sophomores.
What’s the one position you feel is being under-recruited at this point and why?
I’m not sure I’d say a position is “under-recruited” because that brings up a bit of a negative connotation, but the staff does continue to look for linebacker and defensive tackle talent, mostly because there just isn’t a ton of it in state this year. Vernon Broughton could be considered a tackle if we want to split hairs, but if we’re talking traditional DTs, Texas has only two scholarships out. At linebacker, the Longhorns do have a few out-of-state offers out but it’s slim pickings in state. It is the spring evaluation period so we could see some new names surface over the next month.
There’s no question that is going to ruin my day, but I pretty much go into each week knowing I’ll get a question on Texas’ chances with Zachary Evans. Which leads me to …
Any word if Z Evans will make it in for the big recruiting weekend of May 3rd-5th?
Good question and it prompted me to reach out to his brother last night. I posted a note on the board, but for those who missed it, his brother will be traveling for work so won’t be able to bring Evans up to Austin, but he said Evans will probably come to Austin with one of his coaches. That’s obviously a positive development knowing a visit is a possibility, but remember, Evans has had to cancel plans a few times at the last minute due to travel issues so let’s wait to see how this one plays out.
What's going on with Justin Flowe, you didn't address him in your update. Any scheduled visits to the 40?
I’m assuming you’re referencing my recruiting board update. He’s on there, of course, but I didn’t move his percentage because I had previously dropped him down to 30 percent. Texas is definitely still in the mix there, but I lowered the chances due to the fact that he’s taken a couple other unofficial visits this spring (Georgia, Miami) but has yet to make it to Austin.
Texas absolutely has to get him on campus, probably multiple times if I’m being honest. I expect him to visit at some point, but haven’t heard anything concrete about him locking in plans.
We still sitting pretty for Chad Lindberg?
I think so. Lindberg, per his mother, will be in Austin next weekend (May 3) for his official visit. He’s scheduled to officially visit Georgia in late June and is also planning an LSU official visit. Those trips can’t be discounted and Stanford is obviously still in play, but I just feel like Texas has too many advantages for other programs to overcome (proximity, brother at UT, strength of Texas’ football and academic programs, connections with coaches and current commitments).
The chances of us getting the Brockermeyers are greater than 99.99%?
Sell, but not by much. James Brockermeyer told me after getting his UT offer that he and brother Tommy Brockermeyer were going to take their time, but those two landing anywhere but Texas would certainly be a surprise.
1. Next commitment?
2. Prediction for number of summer commitments in 2020 class
3. Do you think Chad Lindberg shuts it down over the summer?
1. Tough to say on the next commitment. There are several guys with whom I think Texas is in a good spot, but the timing of some of the decisions are tough to pin down. Bryson Washington has a decision date of July 4, but I’d be mildly surprised if some others didn’t decide before him. Kitan Crawford seems like a possibility with him scheduled to take his UT official visit in June.
2. Again, pretty much impossible to say but I’d put the over/under at 5.
3. I lean slightly towards Lindberg making a decision this summer and it being Texas, but the Stanford issue could really throw a wrench into things if he’s dead-set on taking an official visit to the Cardinal. Lindberg has told me he won’t force the issue if he’s not ready, but my gut tells me Texas wins out sometime over the summer.
If you had to pick right now, who is the QB for the 2021 class?
Texas has offered only one QB and the Longhorns seem to be in good shape with him, so Preston Stone seems like the logical choice right now.
Troy Omeire - does he commit to Texas?
How many LB commits do we take this year?
Omeire rarely talks and when he has, I haven’t been able to get a good read on what he’s truly thinking. It’s pretty much a Texas-Texas A&M battle (schools like Baylor and Notre Dame are also involved but I don’t see that happening) and in trying to read the tea leaves, I do like Texas’ chances. He’s been on campus a ton and speaks very highly of the UT staff when I talk to him. I like UT’s position.
On the linebacker situation, those numbers are always flexible, but even more so this year due to the uncertainty with Gabe Floyd’s future. Not to mention it’s a bit of an odd year to need linebackers because there’s not an abundance of in-state talent. Prince Dorbah could fit into this group, which would elevate the number, but I’d think they’ll try to land three or four.
I saw a story that Texas is expected to have a top-5 class for 2020. Is that what we can expect every year with the way the coaches are kicking butt?
I believe there was a Rivals.com story (if we’re talking about the same one) that listed Texas as one of the top-10 most likely programs to land a top-five class, and it makes sense. This staff has done it two years in a row and has shown that it has the recruiting chops to go up against any coaching staff in college football. Assuming Texas continues to play well on the field, I would think being in that top-5 range should be a consistent expectation.
If Texas wins at least 11 games in 2019, the 2020 and 2021 are going to be the back to back classes Texas has ever signed, at least on paper ...Yes, or no?
It would probably be close, but I’m not sure I’d project 2020 and 2021 to surpass the 2002 and 2003 classes (on paper). Remember, in 2002 Texas had the runaway leader for the top class in the country. The 2003 group wasn’t ranked as highly because it was smaller, but it still ranked second nationally in average star ranking per recruit.
Who's your Jared Wiley this year?
By my “Jared Wiley” I’m assuming you mean a player who I’m much higher on than most fans, his ranking and his offer sheet? If so, give me offensive lineman Nate Anderson. I’m a big fan of his film and from what I’ve seen in camp. Throw in the fact that he’s played only one year of offensive line and he has a frame that should develop well over the next few years and I’m a big fan. Interestingly, Anderson just picked up an offer from none other than Mack Brown and North Carolina.
How much does a successful year on the field in 2019 (maybe beating LSU and a Big 12 Championship) help with 2020 recruits?
It will help tremendously. I’ve always said that winning trumps just about everything else in recruiting. The University of Texas sells itself in a lot of ways and this staff has been very impressive with its ability to recruit ever since arriving on campus. If Texas continues to put a winning performance on the field and accomplishes the things you mentioned in your question, recruiting will really take off (as if consecutive top-four finishes haven’t been impressive enough).
1) Princely Umanmielen, Price Dorbah, Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton …
Odds we land all 4
Odds we land 3 out of 4
2) Chad Lindberg gives his verbal tomorrow how much do you raise your 55% chance to land Zachary Evans.
1. Texas is in a strong position with each of those four players your listed, but the collective odds of all four falling UT’s way is obviously lower than when you look at them individually. It’s kind of like playing a parlay in Vegas … odds are, one is going to bust your bet. I’d put the odds at roughly 25 percent.
2. If Lindberg committed tomorrow, it would help with Zachary Evans so my percentage would go up, but I don’t think it would move the needle dramatically. That’s not to say the two aren’t friends and haven’t talked about playing together – they are and they have – it’s just that my gut tells me Evans is going to do what’s best for him in the end regardless of where any one player is going. If anything, landing Lindberg helps with Texas’ overall recruiting momentum, which would have a bigger impact on a guy like Evans as opposed to Lindberg and Evans being tied at the hip.
Any kickers or punters on the radar and if so would you add them to the recruiting board?
Not that I’m aware of. If Texas actively pursues some, I’ll certainly add them to the board. But remember, both starters going into this year are only sophomores.
What’s the one position you feel is being under-recruited at this point and why?
I’m not sure I’d say a position is “under-recruited” because that brings up a bit of a negative connotation, but the staff does continue to look for linebacker and defensive tackle talent, mostly because there just isn’t a ton of it in state this year. Vernon Broughton could be considered a tackle if we want to split hairs, but if we’re talking traditional DTs, Texas has only two scholarships out. At linebacker, the Longhorns do have a few out-of-state offers out but it’s slim pickings in state. It is the spring evaluation period so we could see some new names surface over the next month.
