DE Taquon Graham (Temple). Not even sweating it. Strong does his work at the end.
IT on Graham - Mom laid down the law and told him once he commits even if it's just a verbal he's done.
hammster on Graham: Just talked to him. A&M still on the outside looking in. Has not been invited to the BBQ event (that could be because the staff was expecting him to be off the board on Friday) and the only visit he knows he wants to take is OU.
Temple defensive end Taquon Graham will no longer be making a decision at his spring game on Friday. Graham was considered a Texas lean, and it would have been a major surprise if the four-star prospect would have committed to any school other than UT at the end of the week. So what changed? According to a source close to Graham, somebody blatantly anti-recruited Texas over the last few days, which made him second-guess his intentions to make a verbal pledge on Monday. While the situation might look troublesome for Texas, I’m told the Longhorns are still in a prime position to land Graham. He’s visited UT on a number of occasions, his mother loves the staff and Charlie Strong is a key figure in his recruitment.
With that said, TCU has made a major surge as of late — Horned Frogs head coach Gary Patterson has made Graham one of his top personal targets. Graham is listening to TCU, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him make a visit. Texas A&M is also making a strong push for Graham, but according to sources, TCU is the bigger threat to Texas in this recruitment. Right now, Graham has no new date for a decision, but he will likely make a commitment at some point in the summer. At 6-foot-3, 251 pounds, Graham is ranked as the No. 12 weak-side defensive end in the country and No. 26 overall prospect in the state, according to 247Sports Composite. (Holland)
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Don’t be surprised if Texas extends some new offers over the next 24-48 hours. The Longhorns staff is off of the road and will meet tomorrow to go over prospects they watched this spring. Some names to know in the 2017 class are Nacogdoches cornerback Josh Thompson, Cy Ranch wide receiver RJ Sneed, Magnolia West defensive back Myles Jones, Keller Timber Creek offensive lineman Alan Ali and Houston Christian defensive tackle Joshua Rogers.
Offers will likely not be limited to 2017 recruits. Guys like Yoakum safety Jordan Moore, Yoakum wide receiver Joshua Moore, Sachse quarterback Jalen Mayden, Prestonwood Christian cornerback Verone McKinley III, Rockwall linebacker Alston Orji and Crosby running back Craig Williams have all been in frequent contact with the staff. (Holland)
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Ondario Robinson is a local defensive end with national offers, who Texas is recruiting to play Fox end. If that sounds familiar, it’s because the Longhorns recruited another very similar player last season in Manor’s Erick Fowler. Their two towns are separated by just 17 miles and the schools have often been paired together in the same district. So it’s little wonder that Fowler and Robinson are friends. They met at a JV game between the two schools a few years ago and discovered common ground because Fowler is cousins with Davion Davis, who is the last standout to come out of Hutto – he currently plays at Sam Houston State. That interaction led to a lot of common ground between the two Austin-area football stars. “Erick is cool,” Robinson said. “He’s not how you would expect a five-star athlete to be. He’s not in your face or anything like that.”
Robinson and Fowler have a lot in common, including recruiting, but when together the pair actually stays away from the subject. They talk football, but both have done enough recruiting talk in their lives. Yet, when it comes down to it, Robinson knows that Fowler is a guy he can talk with if he needs advice on the subject of recruiting, specifically in regards to Texas. Fowler is one of the few guys from the area who has landed at a huge school, and Robinson will take that under consideration when looking at the Longhorns. “Right now that’s the only guy I really know who went somewhere,” Robinson said. “So if Erick and I get closer there’s a possibility Texas moves up on the radar.”
Robinson is rated as the No. 583 overall player in the country and the No. 26 strong-side defensive end, according to the 247Sports Composite. (Hummer)
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John Tyler wide receiver Damion Miller said he was tired of answering the same questions about his commitment to Texas. Since we just had an update on Miller and where he stands, I decided to go a little off the grid and asked him some abnormal questions about the recruiting process. Here is our candid conversation with Miller.
Horns247: What’s the best part of the recruiting process?
DM: I like the pictures! People sending me those edits. They’re pretty cool. I’m starting to know new people. Just getting to meet people and talk to different people.
Horns247: What’s the craziest part of the recruiting process?
DM: Dealing with coaches. Sometimes, coaches come at the recruits like they already know us and what we’re about in our personal lives. But really, they don’t know us because they’ve never talked to us before. I just don’t like that.
Horns247: What about dealing with reporters?
DM: At first, it was cool. But after a while, you just don’t want to talk. They keep calling you and calling you and calling you. It’s tough to talk to a lot of reporters a lot.
Horns247: What’s the best visit you’ve been on?
DM: Texas Tech. I know a lot of people from Texas Tech. There are like five or six people that I grew up with like Pat Mahomes and Dylan Cantrell. Jake Parker is like my God brother. I felt comfortable around them, so they made it fun.
Horns247: What’s the worst visit you’ve been on?
DM: SMU. They really didn’t talk about much. They didn’t tell me about the education or anything. They just went straight to the football. The first thing for me when thinking of college is education. But SMU didn’t tell me anything.
Horns247: Who do you feel is the best recruiter?
DM: Coach (Jeff) Traylor. He’s picking up some nice players. To me, I know I feel comfortable with him. Coach Traylor will tell you the truth. He will be 100 with you, so I really like that about him.
Horns247: You’re obviously committed to Texas and Traylor but are looking at other schools. What do you say to the people that say you’re ‘not really committed’?
DM: To me, it’s business. I’m trying to do the best thing for me. I want to find a place where I can have a good life, get a good education and play football. Even though I committed to Texas, I still want to see other schools to make sure there isn’t another place better for me. Coach (Charlie) actually says he doesn’t want recruits to be stuck on the school. He wants us to visit other schools because there might be a better place for us that we don’t know about.
Horns247: Who is the best defensive back you’ve gone up against in this class?
DM: That’s a tough question. The best one I probably went against was Justin Broiles. His footwork is nice. He breaks well on balls. He’s just a good player overall.
Horns247: Who are some of your personal top recruits in the state?
DM: Trestan Ebner is one of them. Derrick Tucker. Octavius Evans is a good receiver with decent size. Sam Ehlinger. He’s going to be my quarterback. And Damion Miller.
Horns247: That’s pretty much it, man.
DM: That’s the weirdest interview I’ve ever had… (Holland)
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Like Miller, Henderson athlete Trestan Ebner said he was tired of answering the same questions about recruiting. Since we just had an update on Ebner and where he stands, I decided to go a little off the grid and asked him some abnormal questions about the recruiting process. Here is my candid conversation with Ebner.
Horns247: What’s the best part of the recruiting process?
TE: What?
Horns247: Obviously, getting the ladies since you’re texting a girl heart emojis and not paying attention.
TE: Anyway… it’s talking to EJ Holland. For real. You’re the only recruiting reporter I talk to. I don’t like talking to any of the others. EJ is a laid back dude and a nice guy overall.
Horns247: Damion should have said that (laughs). So why don’t you like dealing with reporters in general?
TE: I just don’t like answering all those questions. I just don’t like talking to people all the time about football. It gets boring. I don’t really care for them.
Horns247: What’s the best visit you’ve gone on?
TE: The best one I’ve ever been on is TCU. Our tour guide actually explained the reasons to come to the school. Their coaches were all about talking to and getting to know the players. It was also a good game. They beat Texas.
Horns247: What’s the worst visit you’ve been on?
TE: I actually haven’t had a bad one.
Horns247: What’s the craziest part of the recruiting process:
TE: Fans. I don’t like when they say that a school didn’t like me and really didn’t want me there. There is this dude from Arkansas that’s crazy. He always replies to me every time I get an offer. He always mentions me. I don’t even know these people.
Horns247: Who is the best recruiter?
TE: I like Coach (Chad) Morris. He keeps it real with me. I like Coach Traylor a lot. He’s honest. He understands where we come from. Coach (Vincent) Marshall from Syracuse really cool. He keeps it 100. He tells me what I need to do and all of that.
Horns247: Who is the best defensive back you’ve gone against?
TE: Jeffrey Okudah. He’s so good. He’s the No. 1 safety and he can cover. You don’t really see too many safeties that can play man like that.
Horns247: Who are some of your personal top players in the state?
TE: Damion Miller, of course. I like Octavius Evans a lot. I have to name myself because I’m very versatile and can play many positions. Just saying. I think Omar Manning is really good. Jeffrey Okudah. Eno Benjamin is really good. K.D. Nixon is short and quick. (Holland)
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Dylan Moses was a household name on the recruiting trail before he even took a high school course. Sometimes middle-school phenoms peak too early and drop off when they get to high school. But not Moses. Now a five-star outside linebacker at IMG Academy (Fla.), Moses is one of the most sought after recruits in the country. And the scary thing is he’s only getting better. In fact, IMG Academy head coach Kevin Wright believes "the sky's the limit" for his new star. “Dylan is a special talent,” Wright said. “He’s a guy that you look at physically, and he looks like a grown man. He does some things in the weight room that grown men do. When you see a guy squatting 500 for reps and power cleaning more than 350, that’s impressive. One is lower body strength and one is explosive strength. “He has the ability to do that and convert it on the football field. I think the greatest thing with him is that he’s had the opportunity to come in and concentrate on playing linebacker.”
It’s hard to find faults in Moses’ game. After all, many consider Moses the top recruit in the country. But Wright said there is always room to grow and added that Moses is far from reaching his ceiling. “He has to continue to be more detailed at his position,” Moses said. “In the past he’s done everything. He’s played linebacker and running back and has returned kicks. We play him at Will and Mike so he has to continue to evolve as a linebacker and play fast.” Moses is doing just that at IMG Academy. After transferring from University Lab (La.) this offseason, Moses has been able to work specifically on perfecting his craft at IMG Academy, which offers a variety of skill specific training programs. “I’ve seen him grow in his ability to process run-pass reads and just his ability as a linebacker,” Wright said. “I think early on he was just out there playing. With more reps, he’s been able to hone his ability to read keys and become a better linebacker.”
Moses currently has a Top 5 of Alabama, LSU, Texas, UCLA and USC. Alabama and LSU are rumored to be the frontrunners in his recruitment, but Moses recently named Texas his leader. Wright didn’t find that too difficult to believe and added that he has nothing but respect for Texas and head coach Charlie Strong. “I saw (Strong) at Louisville and he has Florida roots,” Wright said. “Just following his career, he’s a man of integrity. He’s going to do things right. It’s the University of Texas. It’s one those elite places likes Ohio State or Florida or Florida State.” (Holland)
Horns247 Nightly Notes: Tidbits on DB Recruiting
— Five-star Grayson (GA) cornerback Deangelo Gibbs plans to make a commitment late in his senior season or after. Gibbs wants to make all five officials before coming to a conclusion. He is expected to visit Texas this summer.
— North Texas is the latest school to extend an offer to four-star Mansfield athlete Saiid Adebo. Texas recently offered the versatile prospect and is courting him a cornerback.
— Fast-rising Nacogdoches cornerback Josh Thompson added new offers from Houston and Texas Tech today. Thompson plans on camping with Texas this summer and is optimistic an offer will come his way.
— Four-star 2018 Prestonwood Christian cornerback Verone McKinley III received an offer from Alabama today. McKinley plans to camp with Texas this summer and could be nearing an offer.
— Four-star 2018 Sachse safety Isaiah Humphries notched a new offer from Northwestern. Humphries visited Texas for junior back in February and is on the Longhorns’ radar.
EJ Holland:
Robert Beal (Fox DE) is still high on Texas. Creed Humphrey (C/G) is in the mix. I know Josh Clarke (OLB) has some interest. But things don't look so great on the OOS front. I think you might see some more Florida offers go out in the near future. But it appears locking down the state is a priority.
Jason Higdon:
Will we see Texas do any OOS satellite camps in California, Georgia, NOLA, Florida, etc.?
Some talks Texas would partner with Florida. Texas would go to the state of Florida for two and Texas would have Florida come to Texas for two. Right now, not sure if that is going to happen or not. I believe you will see Texas more than likely hold two in the state of Texas, and that could be the end of it this recruiting season.
What is the status of JK Dobbins recruitment? Ever since he committed to Ohio State, it's been really quiet on him. Is he firm to them or do we still have a shot?
Yes, Texas still has a shot at JK Dobbins. Some of these early verbal pledges to these OOS schools tend to diminish the closer NSD comes. That may not entirely be the case with JK, but I believe you will see him visit Texas moving forward. As long as kids are visiting, they are not 100% committed imo. That goes for anyone committed to Texas as well.
Who, in your opinion, are the best five players Texas has a realistic chance to land this cycle?
Dylan Moses – Speed, Strength, and Toughness-- Where do you want Moses to play? Do you want him to score touchdowns as a running back? Do you want him to play with speed sideline to sideline at linebacker? Do you want him to rush the passer? Not many are like this young man. He does so many things at an extremely high level, and he could be a Sunday-guy on either side of the ball. He has the rare combination of size, speed, strength, athleticism, and toughness. A quick-twitch athlete.
Marvin Wilson – Size and Strength.-- Wilson is a massive defensive line prospect who dominates at the point of attack. Possesses the strength and power to overwhelm most opponents at the high school level. Tall, long-armed, thick-trunked. Consistently gets off blocks to make plays vs. the run and as a pass-rusher. Powerful bull-rusher, sometimes even when doubled. Explosion off the ball looked noticeably better on junior tape compared to sophomore film. Pursues well for such a large interior defender. Potentially scheme-versatile as even-front 3-technique DT and multi-position prospect in an odd front. Can play a bit too high at times because of his height. While pursuit ability is impressive, can sometimes (understandably) get off-balance laterally. Must be ready to acclimate to a significant jump in competition going from private school football in Texas (a state ruled by public schools) to Power Five college level. Overall, one of the top prospects in Texas - and the nation - in the 2017 cycle. - Gabe Brooks
Anthony Hines –Athleticism, Frame and hitting ability -- Hines is a prospect who brings a lot of the qualities to the table that you are looking for in a top-tier linebacker prospect. He can play sideline-to-sideline, and he will also deliver booming hits. He is a versatile prospect who could play middle linebacker or outside linebacker once he arrives in college and it is that scheme versatility that has helped him secure one of the nation's most elite offer lists. He is always around the football and collected crazy stats as a junior in 2015. - Greg Powers
Jeffrey Okudah – Instincts, Size, and toughness -- We like Okudah's game because he's just a great all-around football player. SGP has lined him up in some different positions, and he has played passionately at all of them. He will likely project out as a jumbo safety by the time he is done growing, but has the coverage skills and experience as a junior playing extensively at cornerback. He is long and muscular with great explosion. He can tackle well in space and tracks down faster backs with relative ease. Good coverage abilities as well as he spent a lot of time at cornerback and had the ability to play one-on-one coverage against some of the top receivers in the nation. - Greg Powers
Baron Browning – Frame, Blitzing Ability, Aggressiveness -- Browning is a big and physical presence on the field, especially intimidating at the linebacker position where you just do not see many guys with his size playing standing up. He missed much of his sophomore season but bounced back with a strong junior year that saw him pile up a ton of honors and accolades. He moves all around the Kennedale defense. He will play up on the line of scrimmage as an edge rusher, and he will move to the middle to stop the run. He shows a high acumen for playing against the pass, which is rare for a linebacker with his size. Could play a range of positions: outside linebacker, middle backer or defensive end. - Greg Powers
Top 10 players in the state of Texas this cycle?
If you ask me this each week, I will more than likely have a different top 10 list. Today it would look like this.
Marvin Wilson
Anthony Hines
Jeffrey Okudah
Baron Browning
Lagaryonn Carson
Walker Little
Brock Wright
Chevin Calloway
Toneil Carter, Jr
Sam Ehlinger
The schools running for browning services. In your opinion is Texas number 1 or have they fallen behind? I truly believe he will be a Longhorn, in the end; he loves strong. But long way to go. Ohio state is the team I fear and most concerned about.
Well said sir and I feel the same way today.
If the star rankings stayed like they were today. How many 5* players does Texas sign in your opinion
I believe in this class you will see three on NSD.
Does Texas sign any OOS skill position guys this year?
They have a chance with running back AJ Davis. He should visit over the summer and then we will see how things progress from there if at all. The only other skill player with an offer from OOS is WR Devonta Smith. I do not believe Texas will have a legitimate shot with Smith even with recent success in Louisiana.
Does Buechele have an IV of muscle milk at all times and are there any updates how he is doing?
Players are off right now. Shane is going to be just fine – Goal will be around 200-205 come August.
Is the staff interested in Arizona WDE Jalen Harris?
Most people like him at Wide Receiver. The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder from Mesa (AZ) Desert Ridge High School. Offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado State, Illinois, Iowa State, Oregon State, San Diego State. Texas has extended nine verbal offers at this time. They will land three defensive ends, but Jalen Harris is not going to be one of them.
Where does Texas stand with Will Farrar? Are we at the top of his list, and if not who are our biggest competitors for his services?
Texas will not go down this path sir. He will end up somewhere other than Texas in my opinion.
O/U on Avg. Star rating at the end of 3.7 (2 5s, 12 4s, eight 3s)?
I am going to lean with over the 3.7 average star ranking on NSD.
Did Browning enjoy tOSU?
I have not caught up to him about the trip. I can tell you if he made the trip he enjoyed it for sure!
Is he close with Okudah friends-wise? Meaning could they influence each other's decision?
At the end of the day, the kids do what's best for each other. Yes, they can impact each other but not to the point of going to a school they were not seriously considering to begin with. Neither one of those kids is going to Ohio State because the other decides that’s what he wants to do. Ohio State is a serious threat because of the success and coach.
Does Dobbins know those guys personally?
I have no clue
Getting worried seems like kids rarely go OOS unless there are others from TX they know (see Jordan Elliott). Wondering if Urban is trying to package these guys.
Urban is recruiting the top players in the country. A few of them just so happen to be in Texas. I am sure Ohio State and Urban Meyer are working that angle. All great recruiting coaches would be doing the same thing.
How do they identify players they want to recruit??
The film, friends, coaches, recruits etc…you name it, and it happens. Once they are made aware of a kid they watch his film. Some jump off the film right away, and they offer. Others, they need to see in person and watch them work.
First, contact with recruits?
They are allowed to text the kids now. Usually, first contact comes from the high school coach getting the kid on the phone.
Correspondence with recruits. Obviously, he talks by phone, texts, facetime's with players. Anything unique or interesting here??
There is no secret formula it's simply hard work. Creating the line of communication (LOC) and keeping it open as long and frequently as possible.
How does he conduct background checks on players and people close to the recruit like family and handlers?? Just feel like character issues are critical going forward because of mess at Baylor!!
They have a system of checks and balances in place – they do as much checking on kids as possible.
Are recruits subject to drug screening??
I am not aware of this but do not believe they are.
How does Charlie make sure recruits are on board with core values??
You must get to know people before you can understand what they are all about –relationships is the key to recruiting
How are coaches allowed to determine whether a recruit has a decent shot at qualifying academically at Texas?
They must work with their compliance departments AND school counselors, teachers, head coaches etc….There is no easy way around it you must do your due diligence, and even then you might not be able to get a kid into school because at the end of the day its up to one person, the recruit
Clemson recruiting staff got a lot of praise for the 21st-century process used to recruit. What does Texas recruiting have/use to compete??
All the bells and whistles mean little in my opinion. It comes down to three things with relationships, location and playing time. It will always come down to those three factors despite what anyone tells you.
I know your opinion on our win-loss record this year. Given your assumption and call that we beat ND to start out. Is winning even more key than normal this year, to land what you're calling Charlie's strongest recruiting class from a "rating" perspective?
I think so yes. It’s time for Texas to turn it around on the field and I believe through recruiting they have some of the players in place to do that very thing starting this season.
Or still key ingredient being relationships driven?
Its always about relationships above all else but sooner or later you must start putting it together on the field of play.
Higs do you think Texas will go into Cali this cycle?
I do not.
Where do you feel Texas recruiting is currently versus a year ago?
I believe they are ahead of the game –Texas right now is on an equal playing field regarding knowing who the recruits are and being on them at least as soon as other schools. That was not the case the first couple of years because they were playing catch up mostly.
How confident are you on a scale of 1-10 in regards to your prediction that this class will have the highest player rating average of CS first three classes?
I think that is going to happen as long as they win some games in 2016. It comes down to relationships, location and playing time. Charlie now needs to go back up the message they have been selling and it will happen.
I read on another website that Marvin Wilson wants to see Texas win at least nine games, and then he will seriously consider us. Assuming that's true, do you think 9+ wins makes Texas the favorite for him? Or does it just get us a seat at the finalist table?
So if Texas wins eight games, Marvin Wilson won't consider Texas? Putting a number on some wins, they must have to equal landing a certain player to me is kind of silly. Yes, Texas needs to turn this thing around compared to the last two years no question, but Marvin is already seriously considering Texas. The challenge for him is the amount of DL Texas landed last year. That was always the biggest challenge in my mind in regards to Marvin Wilson. It hits one of my key three factors of playing time.
I know the staff does their due diligence when handing out early offers, and rightfully so, but I expected there to be a few more 2018 offers during this evaluation period. Who are a few kids that you feel are in line from the '18 class to receive offers from Texas?
That is a great question and one I am not able to answer right now. The focus is all on 2017. When the staff was on the road, they had numerous questions/answers regarding some 2018 players when they met with the high school coaches. They take those names back to Texas –The entire staff will watch, and they will make some decisions on a few early 2018 offers basically, but that’s not the primary focus. They will try and get those key 2018 kids to a camp over the summer or the satellite camp so they can see them in person and watch them work before extending the offer.
Hearing anything new on Creed Humphrey or Stephan Zabie?
Do not expect to see Creed Humphrey at Texas. Zabie is a camp kid I think. Mattox went to the school during the evaluation period to get a look at the kid. He would need to come to camp in June or July and impress the staff I believe to get an offer. He is on the board, and they are well aware of him so if no offer comes its because they don’t feel he is good enough.
