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Recruiting Thread 2017

Mondy's Brainiacs:

Levi Jones: Westlake (TX) OLB Levi Jones went from an underrated recruit to an Under-Armour All American who holds offers from all over the nation. Recently Jones visited some schools out west in UCLA and USC, and told me the trips were outstanding.

However, Jones does have some connections to Texas as his older brother Cayleb was a Longhorn before a few off the field incidents caused him to transfer to Arizona. Another connection Jones has to Texas is QB commit and his HS teammate, Sam Ehlinger are extremely close. Jones told me he plans to visit Texas sometime this spring and Ehlinger told me that he’ll probably head over to UT on the same day Jones visits.

Jones doesn’t want to rush his decision but with him being a local recruit for Texas the more they get him on campus, the better. – (Andrew)

Tyrell Shavers: Lewisville (TX) WR Tyrell Shavers is blowing up and it’s just the beginning for the talented pass-catcher. Shavers lit up the Dallas Opening regional combine by running a 4.38 40-yard dash and measuring 6’5. Needless to say but that’s impressive. He finished the day by adding offers from Miami, Texas A&M, and Georgia. Shavers told me he hasn’t really thought of where he plans to visit this spring and doesn’t have any current visits set up.

I talked to a source and was told that the Texas coaches are going to take a closer look at his film before deciding to offer. I was also told that the coaches really like Shavers’ size and play making ability. This is the kind of guy Texas needs more of at the WR position and I wish they had jumped in for him earlier but Strong likes to take his time.

I don’t expect the offer to come this week. I was also told that the coaches will mostly be out of the office this week for spring break. They will return on Sunday to get ready for the rest of spring practice. – (Andrew)

Kobe Boyce: Texas cornerback target and recent visitor, Kobe Boyce (Lake Dallas, TX) tested well at yesterday’s Opening event. We had Alex and Brandon on hand at the event but unfortunately they didn’t get a good look at Boyce in 1 on 1s. However Boyce’s measurables to go along with solid junior film have certainly bumped his stock. Baylor and TCU both immediately got in touch and Boyce let me know he will visit TCU today.

In general a number of the in-state schools like TCU, Texas A&M and Texas have been slow to offer defensive backs. But it isn’t for lack of talent. In fact it’s quite the opposite. In speaking some folks to multiple in-state programs there are so many good in-state defensive backs prospects this year that everyone is trying to figure who to offer. Boyce had a great trip to Texas recently and coach Clay Jennings let him know that offer is on the way. – (Super K)

Taquon Graham: Texas defensive end target, Taquon Graham (Temple, TX) tested well yesterday.

One of the things you’ll note when watching Graham on film is he can often times look a little lax when he comes off the line. If you haven’t seen Graham in camp it can cause you to question his twitch and explosion off the line. But as you get to know his athleticism you realize the ability to generate energy is clearly there. The number above certainly corroborate that.

Graham recently visited Texas and raved about his trip. In talking to someone close to Graham I’m told he’d like to make a return trip to Texas after spring break to watch the Horns go through spring practice. We’ve been told Graham will likely end up at TCU or Texas and if Texas recruits him hard enough, some folks around him believe he’s Texas’ to lose. – (Super K)
Those are some impressive numbers by Boyce and Graham

With more wins this recruiting class is going to be scary

Baron Browning is the bell cow and key to this class
 
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Texas making big impression on Anthony Hines

Anthony Hines is trying to speed up the recruiting process. The four-star inside linebacker out of Plano East hopes to make a decision before beginning of the season and is leaning towards enrolling early. Right now, Hines has a Top 20 but isn’t sure when he will narrow it down again. Once the next wave of cuts does come, it’s almost a guarantee that Texas will remain on his short list. “Texas is definitely one of my top schools,” Hines said. “I love Coach (Charlie) Strong and what he’s doing there. The facilities are great and the people are great. Austin is a great city, and the education is great.”

Hines, who holds more than 80 offers, was recently on the Forty Acres for Texas junior day. He plans to make a return trip for UT’s spring game and knows exactly what he wants to see. “I just hope to see plenty of young kids getting the opportunity to show what they can do,” Hines said. “That’s something unique about Texas is that they allow freshmen to come in and play early. It’s a big factor.” Hines is still keeping things pretty open at this time. He will make an unofficial visit to Baylor this weekend and will likely see some out of state schools at some point in the summer.

Texas is in a good position early on. The staff has made a big impression on Hines, and a pair of current linebackers are also heavily involved in his recruitment. “I was actually just talking to Jeffrey McCulloch,” Hines said. “He just told me that it’s the right place to be. It’s a smart choice. I’ve been talking to him, and I’ve talked to Malik (Jefferson) about it as well.” At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Hines is ranked as the No. 2 inside linebacker in the country and No. 10 overall prospect in the state, according to 247Sports Composite.

LB Anthony Hines of Plano East tells 24/7 he'll be in Austin for the spring game in April.


Update on DE Earnest Brown of Denton Ryan (24/7):

“It (Texas' Junior Day) went really well,” Brown said. “I got to talk to Coach Strong a lot. He just told me that he could see me as being a great fit with the program. He said they were going to keep recruiting me hard, which was good to hear. I liked him.”

“I like them,” Brown said. “I know that the coaching staff really cares about academics. I like Coach Strong a lot and the way he runs his program. I could see myself playing for him in the future. So I do have interest in Texas for sure.”

“Right now, Northwestern is really the school standing out to me,” Brown said. “I really liked my visit and the academics. I’m also looking hard at Baylor, Texas A&M and Texas Tech. Texas is also in there.”


Quotes from five-star S Jeffrey Okudah of South Grand Prairie (24/7):

“Coach (Clay) Jennings, Coach (Charlie) Strong and Coach (Vance) Bedford all reached out to me a couple of days ago and let me know that I’m a top priority on the board,” Okudah said. “That meant a lot to me. I think they are all great coaches, and I appreciate how honest they are.”

“It’s (winning games) really important,” Okudah said. “I want to be a part of a winning team. I think everybody does. I want to be able to help a team win a national championship and play against the best competition. It’s really important to see them win.”


“Most schools I talk to want me as a versatile corner,” Okudah said. “They want me to do a little bit of everything kind of like Jalen Ramsey did at Florida State. They feel I can play any spot in the secondary. And I feel I can do that as well.”


S Grant Delpit of Houston Lamar tells Scout he plans on visiting UT for a spring practice.


Brainiacs:
Stephan Zabie: We’ll keep it at Westlake HS with the next update, this time it is OT Stephan Zabie who has seen some big offers come in recently. Texas A&M and Oklahoma have put offers on the table for the 2017 OT and that causes some to ask the question, will Texas join them? I certainly think it would be smart if they did at some point eventually. Zabie has so much upside. He’s only being playing the offensive tackle position for one year. Even though Zabie is actually originally from Maryland but there are some University of Texas connections around him that could work in the Longhorns favor.

Zabie actually visited Texas for a game last season and the staff is communicating with him currently. Zabie let us know that he’s spoken with coach Mattox and hopes to stop by for a spring practice. He’s already visited Oklahoma and Texas A&M and from everything Zabie has said it’s clear that both schools are high on his list. However, as we said, Zabie has some Texas connections through his family and if the Horns get involved, they’ll be the team to beat.

As we reported recently this could be a smaller OL class for Texas in 2017 that could go as low as 2 but will likely be 3 or 4 and Zabie is the 3rd in-state OT on the board at best behind Grayson Reed and Walker Little. I recently talked to someone close to the situation and was told that they are aware of Zabie but are wanting to see how he develops over the Spring and Summer.

Trevor Kent: I caught up with 2017 DE/TE, Trevor Kent (Pittsburg, KS) last week. Kent is setting up a visit to Oklahoma and Nebraska in the next few weeks but mentioned that he has begun to hear from Texas. Kent said that coach Traylor reached out to him and expressed his interest in Kent. While schools like Oklahoma have offered Kent as a defensive end, Trevor said that Texas likes him as a tight end prospect.

Kent tells me doesn’t have a preference as to which side of the ball he plays on. – (Super K)

Langston Frederick: A cornerback prospect to keep an eye on is 2017 CB, Langston Frederick (League City, TX). Frederick is exactly the kind of cornerback coach Bedford likes, specifically the kind with great ball skills but will come downhill and hit like a linebacker.

Frederick recently picked up his first power five offer from Michigan State. I’m told that Texas has reviewed Frederick’s film and they are impressed. But with such a deep cornerback class, Texas will likely continue to build relationships with guys like Frederick, Boyce and others and then make a decision who to offer.

I’ve known Frederick for a little while and I can tell you that should Texas choose to get involved, they would be team to beat. – (Super K)
 
It's one of the quieter weeks on the Forty Acres in terms of action in or around the football program. The players are on spring break and a good number of the UT coaches are scattered as well, catching their breath after the first week of spring football. Similarly, there wasn't a ton of recruiting news this week, but we were able to dig up a couple team and recruiting notes of interest ...

Texas tight end commitment Major Tennison took an unofficial visit to Alabama last weekend. As one might expect, the visit went well and Tennison came away impressed, but the good news for the Longhorns is that he remains committed to Texas.

Key quote:"Obviously, it was a great experience to get to sit down with the coaches. I really enjoyed it, loved the campus," Tennison said. "I haven't decommitted or anything. I'm not really thinking about that. I still am committed. I always have loved the Longhorns. That's the best I can say it right there."

Details on the visit:Tennison said he got to sit down with a few of the Alabama coaches, including Nick Saban and described it as "overall a good experience." He also got to see an Alabama spring practice.

His thoughts on the meeting with Saban ...

"He's super intense, super to the point. It was awesome to get to talk to him. He's just a very disciplined man, all about business. I think in private, he's more lighthearted but he is intense," Tennison said.

Up next:Tennison will be at Michigan's spring game on April 1 and then will hit the Texas spring game on April 16. Those are the only two visits he has scheduled.

Contact with Texas:Tennison said he communicated with UT tight ends coach Jeff Traylor following the visit. He told Traylor via direct message on twitter that he enjoyed the visit but is still solid with Texas.

Confirming my thoughts:I mentioned in the War Room last week that view on this one is as follows:

- Tennison really likes Texas, thus the early commitment.

- Tennison committed early and probably didn't realize his stock was going to blow up the way it has.

- With Texas going through a change in offensive philosophy, he has concerns about the "unknowns" of the UT offense and how the tight end will be used.

- If Texas shows him this fall that the tight end will be a big part of the game plan, he'll likely stick. If not, it's going to make it tough for the Longhorns to hold on to his commitment.

I ran my thoughts by Tennison to see how close I was ...

"I'd say that's pretty darn accurate," Tennison said. (Suchomel)

******

Texas offered Houston Lamar safety Grant Delpit earlier this spring. Delpit has been pretty quiet since receiving the UT offer, but I did exchange a couple direct messages on twitter with the four-star prospect.

Delpit has seen interest from schools really pick up this spring and he's now holding more than 20 offers. He has some heavy-hitters chasing him, but Delpit does sound like he has an interest in Texas.

"I've always wanted the UT offer. I love the town, the coaches, but they're up in my list," Delpit said.

The 6-1, 180-pounder said he's going to try to get to Austin for a spring practice at some point over the next few weeks.

"I like how they started so many freshman last year and how they play a lot or DBs," Delpit said.

For those wondering, Delpit transferred to Lamar last year so he said he really doesn't talk to former Houston Lamar products and current Longhorns John Bonney and Holton Hill about recruiting. (Suchomel)

******

I'll be making my way up I-35 tomorrow to get ready for Saturday's Rivals Camp Series Dallas event and Sunday's Dallas QB Challenge.

There should be a lot of talent on hand, so be on the lookout throughout the weekend and into next week for a bunch of recruiting updates.

Among the players on UT's radar who are expected to attend ...

DB Robert Barnes - Southlake Carroll (OU commit, UT offer)

RB Eno Benjamin - Wylie East

DB Kobe Boyce - Lake Dallas

DE Earnest Brown - Denton Ryan (UT offer)

LB Baron Browning - Kennedale (UT offer)

WR Camron Buckley - Cedar Hill (UT offer)

RB Rajan Cunningham - Bishop Dunne

DT Damion Daniels - Bishop Dunne (UT offer)

OL Austin Deculus - Cy Fair

DB Grant Delpit - Houston Lamar (UT offer)

RB J.K. Dobbins - La Grange (Ohio State commit, UT offer)

DB Darrion Green - Dallas Woodrow Wilson

LB Anthony Hines - Plano East (UT offer)

OL Matthew Huhn - San Antonio John Jay

OL Edward Ingram - DeSoto (UT offer)

OL Brendan Jaimes - Lake Travis

WR CeeDee Lamb - Richmond Foster (OU commit)

OL Will Lawrence - Memphis Harding Academy

OL Walker Little - Houston Episcopal (UT offer)

WR Omar Manning - Lancaster (UT offer)

QB Jalen Mayden - Sacshe

WR Manny Netherly - Crosby (A&M commit, UT offer)

WR K.D. Nixon - DeSoto

DB Jeffrey Okudah - South Grand Prairie (UT offer)

DE Troy Porche - Houston Lamar

WR Jalen Preston - Manvel (UT offer)

WR Charleston Rambo - Cedar Hil

WR Jalan Reagor - Waxahachie

OL Grayson Reed - Cypress Creek (UT offer)

DE Ondario Robinson - Hutto

OL Tyrese Robinson - McKinney Boyd (OU commit, UT offer)

LB Mohamed Sanogo - Plano West

WR Tyrell Shavers - Lewisville

DT Deiontae Watts - Plano East (UT offer)

DT Marvin Wilson - Houston Episcopal (UT offer)

******

Last weekend was the Dallas Regional camp for The Opening (Nike Camp). We were able to catch up with a coach who was in attendance to get his thoughts on some of the players who showed up ...

"Wide receiver Tyrell Shavers was the big winner of the day. He clocked an impressive sub-4.4 40 and went under 4.1 in the shuttle. Considering he is all of 6-foot-6 and he showed some great foot quickness, speed, and change of direction, he put himself squarely among the elite receivers from the start. He was on the radar before camp, but it is safe to say the attention is sure to increase soon.

"Xavier Newman had the best day out of a strong DeSoto OL group which included Edward Ingram and Hyrin White. Ingram got beat a few times with quick inside moves and Hyrin White lost his technique and got too high at times, but Newman was able to handle the speed and strength of opponents while working at tackle throughout one-on-one drills.

"Brey Walker (OU commit) was the most impressive OL prospect. He has a very large frame with little bad weight on it. He still has so much room to grow which is incredibly scary. His feet are not quick but he is very smooth and keeps a great base in pass protection. He covers so much ground at once that it is a bit deceiving but he was never caught off balance whether his opponent used speed or strength or a combination of both.

"The linebacker group was flat out ridiculous. Anthony Hines, Levi Draper and Baron Browning were the big headliners, and all three lived up to their billing. Of the group, Browning seemed to have the better day. He used a strong combination of speed and strength and quickly conquered opponent after opponent during RB/LB drills. Hines and Draper were also very impressive during the drills and showed great range throughout the day. All have a lot of length and are comfortable working in space. Linebacker MVP went to Mohamed Sanogo. He has a rock solid build and a powerful base. He has the look of a true inside linebacker and he had a strong performance from beginning to end.

"Oklahoma quarterback commit Chris Robison took home QB MVP honors, and defensive backs Robert Barnes, Tre Brown and Justin Broiles (all OU commits) all showed they can play with anyone. Throw in Levi Draper and the Sooner defense is primed for a stout future. Offensive lineman Tyrese Robinson checked in at 6-4, 310 with some bad weight, but he was also light on his feet. He worked at offensive tackle during one-on-one drills and got his long arms in the chest of opponent after opponent.

"Quarterbacks Chris Robison and Shawn Robinson took the headlines, but the guy who stole the day was Cam Roane. The Colleyville Heritage quarterback is a known prospect around the state of Texas, but offers have been slow to arrive. He more than held his own. I fully expect to see him be the next QB college coaches jump on and he will be a steal.

"Denton Ryan defensive end Earnest Brown has a great first step, a ton of length and a huge frame. His offer list has taken off because of those three things. On Sunday, he flashed those abilities, but he was not able to counter when he was not able to blow by his opponent. He has some stiffness to him but he also has some room to grow.

OL Jack Anderson is polished and nasty and he does not have a lot of bad weight on his frame. He didn’t take many reps but he took care of business when he did.

Kennedale, Texas defensive tackle Gjemar Daniels is going to get knocked because of his height but he was quick, explosive, and strong throughout drills and proved to be too much for interior offensive linemen. (Suchomel)
 
Quotes from LB Baron Browning of Kennedale (24/7):

The reason I really like Texas is Coach (Charlie) Strong and the way he runs his program,” Browning said. “I like how he keeps everybody in line. He helps you mature as a man. I also like the academic support that they provide for the students.”

“Coach BJ and Coach Strong talk to me a lot, but lately, I’ve been really talking to Coach Jennings,” Browning said. “I’ve known him for a while. Arkansas was one of the first schools to offer me. He’s really good people and he knows my track coach. We have a really good relationship.”

“Texas has some great linebackers,” Browning said. “If I went there it could be a dynamic duo with Malik (Jefferson), I guess you could say. I’m just looking forward to seeing them this season and how Coach BJ is helping them develop. I’m not worried about seeing them win. I want to see how the linebackers develop.”


Texas making Baron Browning top priority

Not much has changed for Baron Browning since his junior day visit to Texas a few weeks ago. The five-star Kennedale outside linebacker is focused on powerlifting and track, working on setting up some visits to out-of-state schools and trying to formulate a plan to enroll early. Browning did reiterate, however, his interest level in Texas is high.

Both Strong and linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary have been working hard on Browning. But new defensive backs coach Clay Jennings has been in contact the most as of late. Browning backed out of his verbal commitment to Baylor last month and is now considering TCU, Texas and slew of out of state programs. Browning does not have a decision timeframe at this time.

While Texas sits in a good spot early on, the Longhorns can help themselves even more this season. At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, Browning is ranked as the No. 2 outside linebacker in the country and No. 3 overall prospect in the state, according to 247Sports Composite.
 
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It's been a very long time since there was a WR I really wanted Texas to sign, with that said, really really want Tyrell Shavers. If his numbers are legit, he is like a little Megatron.

He is a must get. Two things you can't coach, 6'6 size, and sub 4.4 speed.
 
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It's been a very long time since there was a WR I really wanted Texas to sign, with that said, really really want Tyrell Shavers. If his numbers are legit, he is like a little Megatron.

He is a must get. Two things you can't coach, 6'6 size, and sub 4.4 speed.
Can you imagine him with Johnson and burt. CRAZY GOOD
 
It's been a very long time since there was a WR I really wanted Texas to sign, with that said, really really want Tyrell Shavers. If his numbers are legit, he is like a little Megatron.

He is a must get. Two things you can't coach, 6'6 size, and sub 4.4 speed.


So, you want this little Megatron, but you didn't want the young Megatron we already have?
 
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Did y'all catch that comment by Jeffrey Okudah to Anthony Hines in Scholz post...telling Hines-'Texas is the place to be.'

Very interesting...
 
If we are going to keep or land a lot of guys our offense is going to need to show a lot.
One would think it would take success to recruit--and it had sure better happen--but all it's taken so far is a head coach with morals. Our nearest rivals are busy negatively recruiting themselves: School of Rapes-Swept-Under, School of Bookings-and-Arrests, School of Second-Chances-for-Thugs...

I mean, Strong is selling 6-7 and 5-7, and look what he did, both times.

Imagine what the man can do with a winning record. Or a Big 12 title!

More seriously, though, another losing season would put an end to Let's Ride.
 
Strong isn't selling losing records he is selling the future which is expected to be a lot of wins. He has yet to produce that. None of these top guys are expecting to continue to lose.
 
OrangeBloods saying OL Walker Little of Bellaire Episcopal will be in Austin for UT's spring game.

DT Marvin Wilson claims he's planning on attending a practice.

Per 24/7, LB Dylan Moses says he'll be visiting UT next week.
 
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With appoligies to Jerry Jeff Walker....this to the tune of "Charlie Dunn"

If you want to play college football
and you dream of one day turning Pro
I'm gonna tell you the name of a man to see
and I'm gonna tell you right where to go

He's coaching the University of Texas
He will help you to full fill your plan
He's Charlie Strong
and you cant go wrong
He'll help you become a man....

Charlie Strong
he's sure to set you straight
Charlie Strong
knows how to make you great

it makes Charlie real proud
to lift you above the crowd

Charlie Strong
he'll see you become first rate....







thats the kind of thing that happens when there is no damned football news at all.
 
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Per HS:
Texas already holds a commitment from defensive end Lagaryonn Carson, but the need to pick up an athletic pass rusher to play the “fox” position is still there. The top target on that list is Temple (TX) defensive end Taquon Graham. Graham attended a Texas junior day in February, and we were able to catch up with a source close to his recruitment for some information. From what we were told, Texas is in a very strong position to land the local product. TCU is also in the mix, but there is some thought Texas is pulling away. Graham loves the idea of playing close to home, and he wants to go to a school where he can contribute early. He’s very close with Texas signee Davion Curtis, and his mother is on-board with Texas for their academic prowess and strong discipline. We were told Graham plans to make a decision before his senior season, and our source told us that if this race ended now it would be Texas.

+++++

Lake Dallas (TX) defensive back Kobe Boyce is one of the hottest players in the state right now. After emerging this spring, Boyce grabbed several offers, including Arkansas and Houston. He’s also on the cusp of receiving more from some big time schools. Will the Longhorns be one of them? Vance Bedford and Clay Jennings have told Boyce they really like his game, and an offer could be coming his way after the spring evaluation period. We were told that Boyce speaks with Bedford just about every day, so the interest from the Longhorns is there. If he were to receive an offer, Texas would jump right to the top of his list, though I’m not sure he’d pull the trigger immediately. Texas A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma, and TCU are also showing a ton of interest in Boyce, so this looks like it could be a regional battle for one of the top corners in the state.

+++++

We are still in the first stages of recruiting for the 2017 class. The Longhorns have been a bit more deliberate in doling those offers out, but we expect to see a flurry of offers after the spring evaluation period in April and May. Once that period comes and goes, we will offer you a large recruiting primer going into the summer. For now, we will give you a smaller version of the "state of Texas recruiting on offense" to look at.

QB – Sam Ehlinger – Austin Westlake (Committed to Texas)

This one needs no explanation. Ehlinger is deeply committed to Texas, and he’s the unquestioned leader of this class.

RB – JK Dobbins – La Grange (Committed to Ohio State)

Dobbins was thought to be an early lean to Texas, but he surprised everyone when he committed to Ohio State seemingly out of nowhere. We expect Texas to fight this one until the end, and it wouldn’t surprise us to see Dobbins on campus a few times before the season begins.

RB – Eno Benjamin – Wylie East

Texas is slow playing Benjamin on an offer for some reason, and Eno did not include them in his recently released top 10. If Texas were to offer they would be in that mix, but they are losing ground every day on this battle.

RB – Toneil Carter – Langham Creek

Carter holds a Texas offer, but the Longhorns aren’t in the mix here. Carter is a Louisiana native, and he loves LSU. Texas A&M is also in play for the talented runner.

RB – Najee Harris – Antioch (CA) – (Committed to Alabama)

It was good to see Texas get in on perhaps the best player in the nation, but Harris seems pretty locked in to his Bama commitment. Don’t expect any fireworks here.

WR – Damion Miller – John Tyler – (Committed to Texas)

Miller is saying some things that have people worried, but if Texas can show that the offense is headed in the right direction, they should be able to hold on to the east Texas star. Texas A&M will try to dig in here, but Texas still holds a comfortable lead.

WR – Camron Buckley – Cedar Hill

Buck is taking his time with the process, but he really enjoyed his Texas visit on junior day. If the Longhorns really wanted to go after him hard they could possibly get this done, but that’s just not Charlie Strong’s style.

WR – Mannie Netherly – Crosby – (Committed to Texas A&M)

Netherly called Texas his dream school when they offered, but we’ve been told this will be a tough battle to win his services.

WR – Omar Manning – Lancaster

Texas got in very late on Manning, but now that they have offered they are coming after him hard. Manning is cutting his list to 10 very soon, and Texas should make it, but they will have a dog fight on their hands.

TE – Major Tennison – Bullard – (Committed to Texas)

Tennison is also making some Texas fans nervous with his comments about looking around, and the recent visit to Alabama. To his credit, he’s been incredibly honest throughout the process, and no one can blame a kid for wanting to take those visits. In the end I believe that if Texas can sell him on his role in the offense they should be able to hang on to him.

TE – Brock Wright – Cy-Fair – (Committed to Notre Dame)

Texas will continue to show interest here, but Wright has been committed to Notre Dame for a while, and he will be very tough pry from his commitment.

OL – Grayson Reed – Cy-Creek

Reed is talking to everyone about Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M. From what we’ve heard, Texas is leading the race for the athletic cousin of former Horn Cedric Reed.

OL – Walker Little – Bellaire Episcopal

Little and Texas are starting to establish a better relationship after it dropped off following Joe Wickline’s dismissal. Little does have strong ties to Ole Miss, so that is definitely something to keep an eye on. The Longhorns will probably be selective when it comes to offensive line targets this year.

OL – Adrian Ealy – Baton Rouge (LA) University Lab

Ealy likes Texas and Strong a lot, but pulling a U-Lab guy away from LSU only happens once in a while. I expect Texas to get a visit, but they are going to have to do a masterful job to close.

OL – Edward Ingram – Desoto

Ingram hasn’t shown much interest in Texas following their offer last month. This one feels like an out of state commitment, probably to Alabama if I had to guess.

OL – Will Farrar – Richmond Travis – (Committed to UCLA)

Farrar is committed to the west coast, and he never showed a lot of interest in Texas before he made that pledge.
 
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Per TFB:
Taquon Graham: Texas already has top defensive end prospect, Lagaryonn Carson (Texarkana, TX) committed in this class. The current leader on the defensive staffs board now is 2017 DE, Taquon Graham (Temple, TX) and the more I get word about Graham the more it feels like Texas is in a great spot to land him.

I spoke to someone close to Graham who mentioned that the fight right now really seems to be between Texas and TCU. Graham recently visited TCU and while he enjoyed the trip, I’m told it didn’t quite match his recent visit to Texas. I’m also told that there is a good chance Graham will take a return visit to Texas sometime this spring for a practice or a scrimmage. If that happens, I fully expect Texas to solidify the top spot.

I’ll need to check on the numbers but if Graham commits at some point before the summer, it’ll be interesting to see if Texas continues to pursue some of the other defensive ends targets they’ve offered like Bryan Jones (Baton Rouge, LA). – (Super K)

Bryan Jones: Speaking of 2017 DE Bryan Jones, just a reminder that he is confirmed to visit Texas on April 16th for the spring game.

Cameron Jones: A name to file away right now is Euless Trinity (TX) 2018 DB Cameron Jones, who had a big Jr season for one of the top teams in the nation in 2015. Right now Jones doesn’t have any offers but I fully expect that to change in the future. Jones plans to camp at Texas, TCU, Tennessee, Baylor, and Arkansas this summer.

Jones told me that his “close friend” and Texas DT signee Chris Daniels is already in his ear about the Longhorns and said “Chris told me to its a amazing place so i want to showcase my talents to them this summer”. Jones is also very good on the track has he holds the school record in the 200M and the 400M at Trinity and will 100% be a name to remember in my mind. – (Andrew)

Grant Delpit: I caught up with star safety, Grant Delpit (Houston, TX) recently whose offer sheet has exploded in the last month or two. Delpit said that Texas is one of the school he hears from the most. In fact he said he communicates regularly with coach Bedford and coach Jean-Mary.

Delpit has a few trips scheduled for this spring including trips to Baylor, LSU, Florida and USC. But he tells me that he will try to make it over to Austin for a Texas practice. As many of you already know, LSU will likely be the team to beat for Delpit’s committment as he is originally from New Orleans and moved to Texas after the Katrina tragedy.

Academics will play a big role in Delpit’s recruitment as I’m told it is very important to his parents so I suspect Texas will work hard to sell that aspect of the program as well as the alumni base. – (Super K)

Dylan Moses: Multiple people have reported that IMG Academy (FL) 5-star LB Dylan Moses plans to visit Texas this week. Moses, and his father have always been big fans of HC Charlie Strong and he named Texas in his recent top 6. Getting Moses on campus this Spring is huge for Texas but it will be tough for anyone to beat out Alabama or LSU as of today. But as the old saying goes, get the player on campus and you’ve got a chance. – (Andrew)
 
The above article basically says that there was an Un-ranked juco LB who was offered by Bama and then he became a 4star automatically. Crazy how recruiting sites help/are bias towards the SEC.
 
The above article basically says that there was an Un-ranked juco LB who was offered by Bama and then he became a 4star automatically. Crazy how recruiting sites help/are bias towards the SEC.

I do agree with you, but nature of the business that sort of thing is going to happen with or without bias. An explanation for this is the recruiting sites have yet to watch this guy (they can't watch everyone) and someone gets offers from big time schools and they have to watch him. There is certainly plenty of bias in the system though, but fans interpret everything as bias. That's why every fan base thinks all of the national analysts are out to get them.

Case in point, when it's the other way around the fans bitch and moan as well. This guy has offers from so and so and is only a 2 or 3 star.
 
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I do agree with you, but nature of the business that sort of thing is going to happen with or without bias. An explanation for this is the recruiting sites have yet to watch this guy (they can't watch everyone) and someone gets offers from big time schools and they have to watch him. There is certainly plenty of bias in the system though, but fans interpret everything as bias. That's why every fan base thinks all of the national analysts are out to get them.

Case in point, when it's the other way around the fans bitch and moan as well. This guy has offers from so and so and is only a 2 or 3 star.
Well said bubba
 
Brainiacs:

Anthony Hines: I was told yesterday that Plano East (TX) LB Anthony Hines plans to visit Texas for their Spring Game on April 16th. This is big for Texas as it would be Hines’ 2nd trip to Austin this Spring. He also plans to visit Texas A&M for their Spring game but in talking to a source I’m told that the biggest threat to Texas in Hines recruitment is going to be Oklahoma. – (Andrew)

Damion Miller: I recently spoke with John Tyler (TX) Texas WR commit Damion Miller and he told me he wants to visit as many schools as possible to make sure he has made the right choice in picking Texas. Right now two visits he has set up is to Texas A&M on April 1st, which makes his 2nd visit to College Station this spring. The other one is to Texas on April 16th for their Spring game, which would also be his 2nd visit to Austin this spring. I asked Miller how strong his commitment to Texas is on a scale of 1-10 and he said as of right he’d classify his commitment as an, “8”.

I get the sense in talking to him that the only hesitation there is with Miller and Texas is the question marks surrounding the offense. If Texas can answer those questions this fall it should assuage any concerns Miller has and help recruiting in general. – (Andrew)

Grayson Reed: Last night I caught up with the father of 2017 offensive lineman, Grayson Reed (Houston, TX). Reed has a visit scheduled this week to Oklahoma. As many of you know by now, Grayson is the cousin of former Longhorn, Cedric Reed.

Grayson’s father talked about a decision timeline and it sounds like they are looking to make a final decision at the latest by early summer. Reed Sr. did say that a decision could come sooner if Grayson feels he’s ready.

Reed Sr said that after the Oklahoma trip they will schedule a return trip to Texas for a spring practice. “We want to get a chance to see the new offensive staff in action during a practice…get a sense of how they do things and how coach Mattox coaches”.

The Sooners will be hoping to make an impression this weekend but Texas is the team to beat here. – (Super K)
 
Here are Monday's notes on Texas targets (Horns247).

— Manvel safety Derrick Tucker made an unofficial visit to Houston today. The four-star prospect has visited the campus a number of times and is extremely high on the Cougars. UH and Texas appear to be out in front.

— Lewisville wide receiver Tyrell Shavers continued to blow up as he added new offers from Florida State and Missouri today. As mentioned, Texas is evaluating him and could offer down the line.

— SMU became the first school to extend an offer to Nacogdoches cornerback Josh Thompson. In a down year at the position, Thompson, who was invited to junior day, could garner a closer look from the Longhorns.

— Louisiana Lafayette put an offer on the table for Sachse inside linebacker Riko Jeffers. The three-star prospect attended Texas junior day and is a Plan B along with guys like Mohamed Sanogo and Loren Mondy.

— A name to keep an eye on is Cedar Hill running back Kaegun Williams. The Dallas Opening Regional RB MVP earned a new offer from North Texas today. Texas has shown minimal interest so far.

— Elite 2018 Prestonwood Christian cornerback Verone McKinley III now holds an offer from Houston. A four-star prospect, McKinley visited Texas last fall and has high interest in the Longhorns.


Taquon Graham breaks down Top 2
TCU and Texas. Those have been the clear Top 2 schools for four-star Temple defensive end Taquon Graham over the last month. Graham has visited both schools, has developed a great relationship with the coaches and feels comfortable with the two Big 12 programs. Right now, TCU and Texas are deadlocked with no school having an advantage over there other. When asked to break down the positives and negatives of each school, Graham had this to say: “With TCU, I really love the family feel there,” Graham said. “The coaches have created a great family atmosphere. I really like that it’s a smaller school. The downfall is because it is small, you might not necessarily get recognized or get as much exposure. The great thing about Texas is that you will get the exposure and recognition. It’s a big school with a lot of tradition. And there is just something about Texas. As a Texas boy, getting an offer from Texas means something special.”

Graham plans to make unofficial visits to both TCU and Texas and ‘maybe some out of state schools’ later this spring before making his final decision in the summer. When it comes time to pull the trigger, Graham said he knows exactly what the determining factors will be. “I just want to be comfortable with a school, knowing that I have to be there for four or five years,” Graham said. “I want to find the best opportunity for me to make an impact on the football field and get a degree.”

Texas defensive line coach Brick Haley and offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert are working hard on Graham and are making him a priority at the Fox end position. But they aren’t the only ones recruiting Graham to Texas. UT wide receiver signee Davion Curtis, who played with Graham at Temple last season, is also trying to sway the talented defensive lineman. “Every time I see him in the hallway, he throws up the horns sign,” Graham said with a laugh. “He’s always telling me about Texas and to join him there. You know how he is. He’s a funny guy.” At 6-foot-3, 251 pounds, Graham is ranked as the No. 9 weak-side defensive end in the country and No. 19 overall prospect in the state, according to 247Sports Composite.


WR Tyrell Shavers wants to hear more from UT
Tyrell Shavers is blowing up. The fast-rising wide receiver out of Lewisville turned heads at The Dallas Opening Regional, running a 4.38 in the forty yard dash – the fastest time he had ever run. “I had to dig deep for it but I knew it was in there somewhere,” Shavers replied when asked if he knew he had that kind of speed in him. Shortly after the event, Shavers racked up offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Stanford and a handful of other major program. At 6-foot-6, 202 pounds, Shavers has tremendous speed for his size, and schools are quickly taking notice of his potential.

With his recruitment just heating up, Shavers said he is taking things slow. “I’m just taking them in as they come I’m not really looking into any schools right now,” Shavers said. “I’m just going to take what I can get.”

Texas has shown minimal interest in Shavers but did host him for an unofficial visit in the fall. Shavers has yet to hear from new Texas wide receivers coach Charlie Williams but said Texas is a 'great' program and added that he would like to hear more from the Longhorns this spring. Former Lewisville offensive lineman Denzel Okafor, who will be on the Longhorns sidelines next fall, has talked to Shavers about Texas. “He said it’s a great place, his relationship with the coaches is great and he’s always happy when he’s there,” Shavers said.

Shavers said that he could see himself playing at Texas with Okafor. But at this time, he's just hoping for an offer. Texas will take a closer look at Shavers during the spring evaluation period. Shavers is ranked as the No. 57 wide receiver in the country and No. 56 overall prospect in the state, according to 247Sports Composite.
 
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re_Taquon Graham listed as a defensive end. I've read that he his Strong's top pick to play FOX position.

I'm somewhat confused about the FOX position...do the play defensive end or linebacker. Seems to me if they played either of the two they wouldn't be termed as a FOX.

Thanks in advance for any input.

 
I think the Fox is the rush DE who can also drop into coverage.
 
Thanks Scholz.

Also read that FOX is a position that is Strong's top position on defense to scheme around. ..fwiw.
 
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