E.J. Holland: Tuesday VIP recruiting nuggets
— Texas defensive line coach Brick Haley was busy in Baton Rouge yesterday. He saw a handful of key targets, including Madison Prep defensive end Bryan Jones, University Lab offensive lineman Adrian Ealy and Southern Lab outside linebacker Christopher Allen. Texas is squarely in the mix with all three.
— While in Louisiana, Haley and Texas extended an offer to five-star Amite wide receiver Devonta Smith. I spoke to a source who told me that Smith is not exactly an Alabama lock, but he is a 'heavy lean.' LSU seems to be Alabama's biggest threat here.
— I spoke to a source about five-star South Grand Prairie safety Jeff Okudah. While Texas is in the mix, Okudah still seems to be leaning out of state. Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, OU and LSU are all major players. USC was not originally listed in his Top 10 but has worked itself back into the picture.
— Cedar Hill wide receiver Camron Buckley will be making an unofficial visit to Ole Miss this weekend and hopes to make a decision at some point next week. Remember, Texas wide receivers coach Charlie Williams will evaluate Buckley this week and decide if UT should take him now or continue to evaluate him.
The Eyes of Texas - Recruiting
When Strong first went recruiting after taking the Texas job, he told a story of how one recruit told him he wasn’t interested in the Longhorns because he felt players didn’t get better when they went to Texas. That story Strong told was eerily similar to what a notable recruit from the 2014 recruiting cycle told me as to why the Longhorns dropped off his list of favorites at one point, with the recruit telling me that he saw a lot of talented guys go to Texas who left without getting better. Fast forward to now, and not only does the NFL have a different view of Texas prospects, so do high school recruits giving the Longhorns a look. When asked after his junior day visit what he likes the most about being committed to Texas, Bullard tight end Major Tennison gave a response that signals a turning of the page with how Texas is being viewed. “Just the tradition,” Tennison said. “You’re expected to win if you come here. You’re not going to come here to be average.” An 11-14 record and the on-field product reflects that there’s still plenty of work for Strong and his staff to do. However, player development might be the one area where he’s made the biggest and most recognizable strides to this point in his career.
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Before heading up to the Northeast to compete in Elite 11, Austin Westlake quarterback Sam Ehlinger spent some time working out with two fellow elite quarterbacks. Last weekend, Ehlinger took part in the Steve Clarkson Red Zone Camp along with Texas A&M pledge Tate Martell and TCU commit Shawn Robinson. Robinson said he was extremely impressed with his counterpart and believes that Ehlinger will have a bright future at Texas. “They’re good dudes (Ehlinger and Martell),” Robinson said. “I like competing with them. Sam is a good quarterback. He’s accurate. He’s got everything you want in a quarterback. Iron sharpens iron.”
There have been a lot of comparisons drawn between Ehlinger and Martell and many debates started as to which quarterback will end up being the better prospect. After getting to work side-by-side against Ehlinger at Clarkson’s camp, Martell came away impressed with what he saw from the Austin Westlake product. “Sam, that dude is a great quarterback,” Martell said. “There’s a reason he’s right there with me. He’s got great size, he’s built really well, he moves really well -- he reminds me of me but more built with his size. Just watching him out here and watching him move around, we look very similar. He has a great arm and he’s accurate.”
One thing that was noticeable about Ehlinger and Martell is there was no animosity towards each other, and they weren’t playing anything up in front of the cameras. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think the two had been friends for years prior to the camp given how they interacted with each other throughout the day, a dynamic Martell said was present because of how well he and Ehlinger clicked, which was made possible due to Ehlinger’s personality. “I didn’t know if he was going to be cool or how he was going to act, you just don’t know with some guys,” Martell said. “He’s cool though. I’ll see him again soon. It was awesome getting to hang out with him because he’s just a cool dude to be around. If I lived here I’d definitely hang out with him all the time.”
With all of that said, the camp was about some of the best quarterback prospects in the country competing against each other. Based on what he experienced in a competitive environment with Ehlinger, Martell came away from the camp with nothing but praise for the future Longhorn. “I have so much respect for him and his game,” Martell said. “He’s a baller.”
Before committing to TCU last June, Robinson had high interest in Texas. In fact, many pundits believed Robinson would land in Austin when it was all said and done. Robinson, however, is 100 percent committed to the Horned Frogs and is only hearing from a handful of other programs. Robinson’s take on Texas reflects what he saw from Ehlinger in Bastrop for the few hours where they were able to compete on the same field with each other. “They haven’t reached out,” he said. “They’ve got Sam. That’s a great fit for them.” (Holland/Howe)
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Shawn Robinson transferred from Denton Guyer to DeSoto this offseason. And while he’s still getting acclimated to the new system and his new teammates, Robinson said Texas offensive line commit Xavier Newman is making an impression on him. While he has only practiced with Newman for a week, Robinson said he could that he won’t have many protection issues with Newman leading a group that features two other FBS recruits. “Xavier is a dog,” Robinson said. “He’s a beast. I’m going to try to get him to flip to TCU. But Texas is a good program for him. He’s a great player.”
When it comes to the DeSoto offensive lineman, Texas might be getting one of the biggest steals in the 2017 class. Newman is actually a year younger than most of his peers. He is just 16 years old, but that hasn’t stopped him from earning multiple Power Five offers and an invite to The Opening Finals. “He’s still growing,” said DeSoto head coach Todd Peterman. “He’s actually just 16 years old. He doesn’t turn 17 until August. When he arrives at the University of Texas, he’s only going to 17 years old, if he arrives next June. His dad is 6-foot-7, so he’s not done growing.”
Newman committed to Texas a couple of weeks ago over offers from Arizona State, Colorado, Mississippi State, Missouri, Texas A&M and a slew of other major programs. At 6-feet-2-inches, 272 pounds, Newman is projected to play guard when he arrives on the Forty Acres next year. But Peterman actually believes he’s a better fit at a couple of other positions. “I see him as a center or a tackle,” Peterman said. “I don’t know how Texas plans to use him. It could be guard. But I could see him doing any of them. He’s got about a 6-foot-8 wingspan, so he has the versatility to do either.”
Wherever he lines up, Peterman said Texas is getting an impact offensive lineman that can be a multi-year contributor. “He’s always been able to run well,” he said. “He has exceptional feet. He’s always been versatile enough to play three spots on the offensive line at the high school level. He’s a great competitor as well. He just needs to keep getting stronger and improve his footwork.” Newman is ranked as the No. 23 offensive guard in the country and No. 86 overall prospect in the state, according to 247Sports Composite.
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Tyrese Robinson stands out from the pack. At 6-feet-4-inches, 310 pounds, Robinson is a monster up front and towers over his high school teammates. In 1-on-1 drills at practice on Monday, no one had any luck avoiding a Robinson pancake. But how could they? Robinson is one of the state’s premier offensive linemen and is currently committed to Oklahoma. “He’s a great kid first and foremost,” said McKinney Boyd head coach Don Drake. “He’s very coachable and humble. He comes in with a smile and is ready to work. He doesn’t think he’s better than anyone else. Athletically, he’s very gifted. It’s nice to have a kid that can anchor the offensive line. He’s versatile. He’s strong. He’s what you want in a kid.”
Still, Drake believes Robinson can continue to work and improve in a few areas of his game. “Everyone has room for improvement,” Drake said. “He’s a big kid that moves well. He just has to anticipate things prior to the ball being snapped. I think the mental aspect is what can separate you. The more he understands how to leverage his body, the better he’ll be.”
Boyd picked the Sooners in January over a slew of major offers. While he is a solid commit, Robinson hasn’t shut the door on other programs and is still listening to a handful of schools, including Texas. Wherever he ends up, Drake believes Robinson will be a force. At McKinney Boyd, Robinson plays tackle, but he will more than likely slide inside to guard. “I think he could play either or,” Drake said. “He moves well for a big kid. He has good feet. He’s started at center for the basketball team for two years. He’s very athletic. He’s got a ton of size and potential. It’s a wait and see deal.” Robinson is ranked as the No. 4 offensive guard in the country and No. 11 overall prospect in the state, according to 247Sports Composite. (Holland)
— Texas defensive line coach Brick Haley was busy in Baton Rouge yesterday. He saw a handful of key targets, including Madison Prep defensive end Bryan Jones, University Lab offensive lineman Adrian Ealy and Southern Lab outside linebacker Christopher Allen. Texas is squarely in the mix with all three.
— While in Louisiana, Haley and Texas extended an offer to five-star Amite wide receiver Devonta Smith. I spoke to a source who told me that Smith is not exactly an Alabama lock, but he is a 'heavy lean.' LSU seems to be Alabama's biggest threat here.
— I spoke to a source about five-star South Grand Prairie safety Jeff Okudah. While Texas is in the mix, Okudah still seems to be leaning out of state. Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, OU and LSU are all major players. USC was not originally listed in his Top 10 but has worked itself back into the picture.
— Cedar Hill wide receiver Camron Buckley will be making an unofficial visit to Ole Miss this weekend and hopes to make a decision at some point next week. Remember, Texas wide receivers coach Charlie Williams will evaluate Buckley this week and decide if UT should take him now or continue to evaluate him.
The Eyes of Texas - Recruiting
When Strong first went recruiting after taking the Texas job, he told a story of how one recruit told him he wasn’t interested in the Longhorns because he felt players didn’t get better when they went to Texas. That story Strong told was eerily similar to what a notable recruit from the 2014 recruiting cycle told me as to why the Longhorns dropped off his list of favorites at one point, with the recruit telling me that he saw a lot of talented guys go to Texas who left without getting better. Fast forward to now, and not only does the NFL have a different view of Texas prospects, so do high school recruits giving the Longhorns a look. When asked after his junior day visit what he likes the most about being committed to Texas, Bullard tight end Major Tennison gave a response that signals a turning of the page with how Texas is being viewed. “Just the tradition,” Tennison said. “You’re expected to win if you come here. You’re not going to come here to be average.” An 11-14 record and the on-field product reflects that there’s still plenty of work for Strong and his staff to do. However, player development might be the one area where he’s made the biggest and most recognizable strides to this point in his career.
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Before heading up to the Northeast to compete in Elite 11, Austin Westlake quarterback Sam Ehlinger spent some time working out with two fellow elite quarterbacks. Last weekend, Ehlinger took part in the Steve Clarkson Red Zone Camp along with Texas A&M pledge Tate Martell and TCU commit Shawn Robinson. Robinson said he was extremely impressed with his counterpart and believes that Ehlinger will have a bright future at Texas. “They’re good dudes (Ehlinger and Martell),” Robinson said. “I like competing with them. Sam is a good quarterback. He’s accurate. He’s got everything you want in a quarterback. Iron sharpens iron.”
There have been a lot of comparisons drawn between Ehlinger and Martell and many debates started as to which quarterback will end up being the better prospect. After getting to work side-by-side against Ehlinger at Clarkson’s camp, Martell came away impressed with what he saw from the Austin Westlake product. “Sam, that dude is a great quarterback,” Martell said. “There’s a reason he’s right there with me. He’s got great size, he’s built really well, he moves really well -- he reminds me of me but more built with his size. Just watching him out here and watching him move around, we look very similar. He has a great arm and he’s accurate.”
One thing that was noticeable about Ehlinger and Martell is there was no animosity towards each other, and they weren’t playing anything up in front of the cameras. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think the two had been friends for years prior to the camp given how they interacted with each other throughout the day, a dynamic Martell said was present because of how well he and Ehlinger clicked, which was made possible due to Ehlinger’s personality. “I didn’t know if he was going to be cool or how he was going to act, you just don’t know with some guys,” Martell said. “He’s cool though. I’ll see him again soon. It was awesome getting to hang out with him because he’s just a cool dude to be around. If I lived here I’d definitely hang out with him all the time.”
With all of that said, the camp was about some of the best quarterback prospects in the country competing against each other. Based on what he experienced in a competitive environment with Ehlinger, Martell came away from the camp with nothing but praise for the future Longhorn. “I have so much respect for him and his game,” Martell said. “He’s a baller.”
Before committing to TCU last June, Robinson had high interest in Texas. In fact, many pundits believed Robinson would land in Austin when it was all said and done. Robinson, however, is 100 percent committed to the Horned Frogs and is only hearing from a handful of other programs. Robinson’s take on Texas reflects what he saw from Ehlinger in Bastrop for the few hours where they were able to compete on the same field with each other. “They haven’t reached out,” he said. “They’ve got Sam. That’s a great fit for them.” (Holland/Howe)
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Shawn Robinson transferred from Denton Guyer to DeSoto this offseason. And while he’s still getting acclimated to the new system and his new teammates, Robinson said Texas offensive line commit Xavier Newman is making an impression on him. While he has only practiced with Newman for a week, Robinson said he could that he won’t have many protection issues with Newman leading a group that features two other FBS recruits. “Xavier is a dog,” Robinson said. “He’s a beast. I’m going to try to get him to flip to TCU. But Texas is a good program for him. He’s a great player.”
When it comes to the DeSoto offensive lineman, Texas might be getting one of the biggest steals in the 2017 class. Newman is actually a year younger than most of his peers. He is just 16 years old, but that hasn’t stopped him from earning multiple Power Five offers and an invite to The Opening Finals. “He’s still growing,” said DeSoto head coach Todd Peterman. “He’s actually just 16 years old. He doesn’t turn 17 until August. When he arrives at the University of Texas, he’s only going to 17 years old, if he arrives next June. His dad is 6-foot-7, so he’s not done growing.”
Newman committed to Texas a couple of weeks ago over offers from Arizona State, Colorado, Mississippi State, Missouri, Texas A&M and a slew of other major programs. At 6-feet-2-inches, 272 pounds, Newman is projected to play guard when he arrives on the Forty Acres next year. But Peterman actually believes he’s a better fit at a couple of other positions. “I see him as a center or a tackle,” Peterman said. “I don’t know how Texas plans to use him. It could be guard. But I could see him doing any of them. He’s got about a 6-foot-8 wingspan, so he has the versatility to do either.”
Wherever he lines up, Peterman said Texas is getting an impact offensive lineman that can be a multi-year contributor. “He’s always been able to run well,” he said. “He has exceptional feet. He’s always been versatile enough to play three spots on the offensive line at the high school level. He’s a great competitor as well. He just needs to keep getting stronger and improve his footwork.” Newman is ranked as the No. 23 offensive guard in the country and No. 86 overall prospect in the state, according to 247Sports Composite.
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Tyrese Robinson stands out from the pack. At 6-feet-4-inches, 310 pounds, Robinson is a monster up front and towers over his high school teammates. In 1-on-1 drills at practice on Monday, no one had any luck avoiding a Robinson pancake. But how could they? Robinson is one of the state’s premier offensive linemen and is currently committed to Oklahoma. “He’s a great kid first and foremost,” said McKinney Boyd head coach Don Drake. “He’s very coachable and humble. He comes in with a smile and is ready to work. He doesn’t think he’s better than anyone else. Athletically, he’s very gifted. It’s nice to have a kid that can anchor the offensive line. He’s versatile. He’s strong. He’s what you want in a kid.”
Still, Drake believes Robinson can continue to work and improve in a few areas of his game. “Everyone has room for improvement,” Drake said. “He’s a big kid that moves well. He just has to anticipate things prior to the ball being snapped. I think the mental aspect is what can separate you. The more he understands how to leverage his body, the better he’ll be.”
Boyd picked the Sooners in January over a slew of major offers. While he is a solid commit, Robinson hasn’t shut the door on other programs and is still listening to a handful of schools, including Texas. Wherever he ends up, Drake believes Robinson will be a force. At McKinney Boyd, Robinson plays tackle, but he will more than likely slide inside to guard. “I think he could play either or,” Drake said. “He moves well for a big kid. He has good feet. He’s started at center for the basketball team for two years. He’s very athletic. He’s got a ton of size and potential. It’s a wait and see deal.” Robinson is ranked as the No. 4 offensive guard in the country and No. 11 overall prospect in the state, according to 247Sports Composite. (Holland)
