Per IT:
The most anticipated recruiting event in Austin in years is finally here and the list of invitees certainly lives up to the hype. Not only is Saturday loaded, but Jaylen Waddle is headed to Austin as we speak, Casey Thompson will be in later today/tonight, and Sunday is a good day of visits in its own right. We'll take a look at each confirmed name and offer our thoughts. These thoughts are equal parts inside info and intuitiveness.
2018
QB Chance Amie, Lee (Tyler, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Slim
Now up to 6-foot-4, Amie could potentially become a pure quarterback take, or a player who offers flexibility with the potential of also being a wide receiver. He has a lot of tools. A better passer, but not as good of an athlete as Kai Locksley. Either way, he's a long play.
QB Tanner Mordecai, Midway (Waco, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Medium, but not on Saturday
Mordecai is firmly in the second tier of QB's, and has the arm and athleticism to become an early Spring offer.
QB Justin Rogers, Parkway (Bossier City, LA)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Very high
He's one of the highest rated quarterbacks on the board and his offer should be coming any day now. Texas would still want to wait to see him throw in person before pushing hard. This is a big-time talent, forget the rankings.
QB Casey Thompson, Southmoore (Moore, OK):
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Warm
We've been pretty optimistic Thompson could end up in the class and after talking to a new source regarding him I think it's even more likely, but there are still a hurdle or two, namely the staff wanting to wait until Spring ball to really push. Thompson is already high on Texas having never visited. He told a friend of mine Texas is right at the top. He's spoken very favorably of UT to me. One thing to watch, he may be joining a Houston based 7 on 7 team loaded with talent. This kid likes to play football. A note on his trips to Houston, his brother is down here training as a wide receiver.
RB Keaontay Ingram, Carthage (Carthage, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Good, but not yet
The only running back we know of scheduled to attend. Texas is the team to beat.
WR Kalon Barnes, Silsbee (Silsbee, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Not likely
He's a take as an athlete in most classes, but he's very unrefined. Very explosive, but numbers are going to be his issue.
WR Miles Battle, Cypress Creek (Houston, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Slim
Great length at all of 6-foot-4, Battle is a good target receiver, but again, numbers.
WR Tommy Bush, Clemens (Schertz, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Getting warmer
Bush recently picked up Texas A&M and Alabama, but we think he really wants Texas. This is going to be tough for the coaches to manage because of numbers. They really like him, they also really like where they sit with guys at the very top of the board. They probably need to offer if they want to be able to circle back. I've seen this episode many times; a kid loves Texas, doesn't receiver an offer, and then completely shuts them out the rest of the way. It could happen here.
WR Brennan Eagles, Alief Taylor (Houston, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Warm, but no time soon
Eagles will take a number of visits across the country before his recruitment gets serious. Texas is guaranteed to make his top-5. UT will push for him to the wire. He's probably the #1 receiver on their board.
WR Erik Ezukanma, Timber Creek (Keller, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Slim
Numbers game. The state is loaded. In the Mack Brown years this guy would have been a no-brainer Junior Day offer.
WR Terrace Marshall, Parkway (Bossier City, LA)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Not likely
Let's see what happens with Justin Rogers first, then let's see what LSU does at quarterback. Getting him to campus is a start. He comes to Texas often to train and I believe he has family in Dallas.
WR CJ Moore, Union (Tulsa, OK)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Probably not
They might as well hard-sell Bush if they'd take Moore. Moore will be tough to pull from Oklahoma.
WR Ja’Kori Morgan, Clear Lake (Houston, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Not likely
Slick receiver who should have just about every offer in the Big 12. I'm a fan, but he's sledding uphill this cycle.
WR Jalen Preston, Manvel (Manvel, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Slim
I think he's much more open than people realize and his recruitment hasn't really even started. Raw as hell, but one of the best pure playmakers in the state.
WR Kam Scott, Manvel (Manvel, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Not likely
See Ja'Kori Morgan. Combine Scott and Preston and you have a 6-star.
WR Jonathan Shepherd, Kilgore (Kilgore, TX) --- Sunday visitor, Feb 26
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Not likely
East Texas sleeper. Get him to campus, start the relationship, evaluate senior year footage.
WR Jaylen Waddle, Episcopal (Bellaire, TX) --- Friday visitor, Feb 24
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Getting warmer
Texas is in fine shape here. FSU is definitely a threat but Waddle loves UT and the scheme fit is a huge selling point. Waddle's on the 7 on 7 team Casey Thompson would join.
WR Al’vonte Woodard, Lamar (Houston, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Warm
Woodard is very pro-Texas behind the scenes. I've seen A&M moderators are confident so maybe he's pro-A&M behind the scenes too. We feel like Texas is the team to beat unless we're missing something. He picked up Ohio State yesterday, but he doesn't like the cold. If he did, his dad's alma mater -- Michigan -- would be a bigger threat. Yay, Sun!
TE Mustapha Muhammad, Fort Bend Ridge Point (Missouri City, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Not likely
I was surprised when I heard he canceled his visit because word I've received is he's very high on the Longhorns. This recruitment could put Corby Meekins on the map. Or Muhammad may throw a dart at the map and go out-of-state. Don't discount Texas, though.
TE Bralen Taylor, Cuero (Cuero, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Slim, but maybe down the line
He might be a take even in a one-man class. He's a basketball player who is just now discovering his football identity. He's poorly used at Cuero but his athleticism and size are unmistakable.
TE Malcolm Epps, Spring Dekaney (Houston, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Not likely
Epps is similar to Muhammad in that he's very receptive to Texas at this point. He won't be in any hurry to make a commitment, however.
OL Barton Clement, Fort Bend Marshall (Missouri City, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Not likely
It would be foolish for the staff to take Clement and Chasen Hines, and right now it feels good on Hines. That said, I'm not even sure where Clement is leaning, if anywhere.
OL Rafiti Ghirmai, Wakeland (Frisco, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Warm
In a down year at OT he's a take, and I might be under-selling him. Very nice traits.
OL Chasen Hines, Marshall (Marshall, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Very toasty
LSU is the only school standing in the way. We could see Hines being caught in a wave of excitement and pulling the trigger.
OL Malik Johnson, Elysian Fields (Elysian Fields, TX) --- Sunday visitor, Feb 26
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Not Likely
Still awaiting his first offer, Johnson is a long-play for the staff at guard.
OL Kaitori Leveston, Midway (Waco, TX) --- Sunday visitor, Feb 26
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Not likely, but perhaps down the road
Texas likes the versatility and if Herman and Warehime want a center in the class, this could be the guy. He's a very high mental evaluation, and Herman prioritizes that.
OL Silas Robinson, Yoakum (Yoakum, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Not likely
He's raw, but the former defensive linemen has some real upside. He's the son of Longhorn Bo Robinson. Mack Brown would honor the offer he laid in Silas' bassinet. Good player.
OL Trey Stratford, Allen (Allen, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Nice and toasty
He'd be a versatile piece, and perhaps a center himself. Perhaps the most likely commitment of the weekend.
OL Dylan Wonnum, Tucker (Tucker, GA)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Very strong
Heard he showed to be real physical in a camp setting. He's visiting everywhere and is wide open. Make an impression, get in the conversation, and see if there's anything to it.
OL Hakeem White, Midway (Waco, TX) --- Sunday visitor, Feb 26
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Not likely
He's a tackle athlete in a guard's body, and there's a lot of value in that. He'll have most of the offers in the Big 12 by the time it matters.
DT Keondre Coburn, Spring Westfield (Houston, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Slim
Time for Texas to make its move. Coburn wants to wait until NSD but if Texas can coax him into the class before then he'd emerge as a big-time leader. I don't see him getting away from Corby Meekins.
DT Shabazz Dotson, Cedar Hill (Cedar Hill, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Slim
I mean, he's going to Baylor, right? Probably not a Texas kid but a good player.
DT Jordan Kelley, Union (Tulsa, OK)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Solid
I'm not sure he's the 6-foot-5 his Hudl lists him at, but he wears #88 and we know what does for his evaluation. Texas wants to push northward into Oklahoma. An offer would not surprise. He picked up OU last weekend.
DT Josh Landry, Lamar (Houston, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Not likely
They like his bounce but not his weight. He needs to get bigger. Firmly on the radar, though.
DT Moro Ojomo, Katy High (Katy, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Not likely
Good player, but needs to get bigger. If he puts on 25 pounds and moves like this, he's a take. Could be an interesting prospect over the next 10 months.
DE Miles Emery, Blue Valley North (Overland Park, KS)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Not likely
He could end up being a really good fit, but the staff will likely explore other options first.
DE Izaih Filikitonga, Trinity (Euless, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Very possible
The staff sounds like its high on him. Solid size, good quickness and closing ability, and strong at the point of attack. Could be a take. Good player, but seems like a traditional WDE.
DE Tyler Lacy, Sachse (Sachse, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Not likely, but maybe down the line
6-foot-4, 240 pounds is right about where they like future 4i's. Lacy moves well, too. A take for 75% of the schools in the country, maybe more.
DE Joseph Ossai, Oak Ridge (Conroe, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Slim
You know the story here, recruit the father as much as the player, and stress academics/life after college. Ossai picked up Alabama yesterday. He's a good schematic fit. After this weekend we'll get a better idea of whether or not he's an Aggie-lock. I question that line of thinking.
DE Taylor Upshaw, Braden River (Bradenton, FL)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Very possible
A big, intelligent kid, with athleticism who projects to 4i? Seems like an offer. Upshaw could be a guy all the big boys push for. Tons of upside.
DE Max Wright, Taylor (Katy, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: No
A definite Aggie lean, the staff needs to make a big impression, but it's an uphill battle because Wright seems to like a smaller environment (not a knock on A&M). Texas needs to build a strong relationship and let the chips fall where they may.
DE/LB Tahj Brown, Donaldsonville (Donaldsonville, LA)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Decent
Sort of like Marqez Bimage. He says he's in line for an offer but that could be recruiter-talk.
LB DeKalen Goodson, John Tyler (Tyler, TX) - Sunday visitor, Feb 26
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Not likely
Not very big, but athletic. They'd have been all over him at Houston.
LB Juan Henry, Steele (Cibolo, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Not likely
Has some athletic traits but isn't consistent of physical.
LB Byron Hobbs, Eastern Hills (Fort Worth, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Strong
Tons of upside here. The staff needs to get a good feel for his body projection. If it's good, they might pull the trigger.
CB Starrland Baldwin, Cypress Falls (Houston, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Decent
He's on a good run of offers starting with OU and TCU. One of the quickest players in the entire country with a 3.85 (!) shuttle. There's some Kobe Boyce here. Numbers make it tough to project whether he'll be offered but the staff likes him. I heard he shut Brennan Eagles and Arjei Henderson down in a 7 on 7 setting.
CB Anthony Cook, Lamar (Houston, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Decent, but not Saturday
We still feel good on one of the nation's best players, but he probably won't announce until the Summer at the earliest. I expect Michael Huff to be all over him.
CB Trent Gordon, Manvel (Manvel, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Decent
Damn good player and a sure offer in almost any other cycle. Mom went to UT. This is one of those recruitments where if he isn't offered it may be tough to circle back.
CB Gemon Green, DeSoto (DeSoto, TX) --- Sunday visitor, Feb 26
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Decent
Great size. Good offers: Michigan, TCU, Oregon, Ole Miss. Numbers.
CB German Green, DeSoto (DeSoto, TX) --- Sunday visitor, Feb 26
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Not likely
Needs to stay on the field more. Not as coveted as his twin.
S Patrick Fields, Union (Tulsa, OK)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Decent
One of the storylines of the weekend is whether Fields will try and commit and if so, does Texas take it? Numbers made it a questionable offer, though he's a solid player. The problem is you really don't want to offer a Union player and then not accept the commitment (really you don't want to do that in general).
S BJ Foster, Angleton (Angleton, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Good, but not Saturday
They should fly Quandre in for this. No joke. We're still feeling good here, though we're keeping a keen eye on Ohio State.
S Leon O’Neal, Jr., Cypress Springs (Cypress, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Slim
Huge weekend here. Herman and Naivar need to spend some time with O'Neal. Sumlin is all over him personally, Herman needs to follow suit. This isn't a mercenary; the Alabama offer did little for him. He's not a football factory sort. Strong relationships and academics will win the day. This kid is a stud on and off the field.
S DeMarvion Overshown, Arp (Arp, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Decent, but not Saturday
A good sign will be Overshown emerging from Moncrief stating he thought about committing on the visit. He loves Texas and he's Herman's to lose.
S Josh Proctor, Owasso (Owasso, OK)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Not likely
Like Moore will be tough to pull from Oklahoma, but if UT lands Casey Thompson he'll be in his ear.
S Atanza Vongor, South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Hard to gauge, probably not
He's stated he doesn't want to take much longer and that he talks to UT frequently.
ATH Taye Barber, Cypress Spring (Cypress, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Slim
A really good athlete in a class filled with them. He can play at pretty much any school.
ATH Jaquayln Crawford, Rockdale (Rockdale, TX) --- Sunday visitor, Feb 26
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Strong
One of the most electric athletes in the last several classes. Schools like Notre Dame and Florida are jumping in of late trying to stem UT's chances but Texas looks good. We'll see if he's ready or if he wants to take some time.
ATH Ta’Zhawn Henry, Lamar (Houston, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Slim
Too many athletes in-state. Really good player, though.
ATH Justin Watkins, Vanguard (Ocala, FL)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Very high
You know how we feel here. We'd be very surprised if he doesn't pull the trigger.
2018 MAYBES
OL Reese Moore, Seminole (Seminole, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Decent to strong
Possible LT, Texas will be tough to beat unless Stanford offers.
S Dayven Coleman, West Mesquite (Mesquite, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Not likely
Good all around safety, but....you guessed it, numbers.
DE DeMarvin Leal, Converse Judson (2019)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Strong
Giant kid who moves well. Lagaryonn-ish?
2019 CONFIRMED
QB Grant Gunnell, St. Pius X (Houston, TX) --- Sunday visitor, Feb 26
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Nice and toasty
I spent a lot of time getting familiar with this situation. Gunnell is going to announce in July after attending Stanford's camp. Grant isn't gung-ho towards Stanford but he's going to check them out. Schools standing out right now are Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Florida State, and A&M -- though I had to ask about A&M, it wasn't told to me unsolicited which I found odd. Gunnell has an extremely strong relationship with Herman to the point UofH would have been under serious consideration had Herman never left. Now, from the Gunnell's perspective, they think Texas wants true dual threats. Gunnell can run but they don't want to run the same offense Greg Ward did. So, if Texas doesn't offer it's simply due to fit. If Texas wants him, it needs to offer, and discuss how it would modify the offense. There are zero hard feelings from the Gunnell's if no offer is extended, they understand you offer guys who fit what you want to run. We should have a good idea by Sunday night if this recruitment is worth covering the rest of the way. July isn't that far off.
QB Roschon Johnson, Port Neches-Groves (Port Neches, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Decent, but not Saturday
He'd likely commit if they pressed him.
QB Grant Tisdale, Allen (Allen, TX) --- Sunday visitor, Feb 26
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Not likely
Holds some smaller offers already, but hard to see anything substantial happening with him in the immediate future.
WR Jalen Curry, Stafford (Stafford, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Decent
With Theo Wease and Arjei Henderson committing to OU last week perhaps Texas wants to get the jump on this stud 2019 receiver.
TE Austin Stogner, Prestonwood Christian (Plano, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Strong
Stud, national level recruit. Great size, fluid kid, good hands.
OL Jade Ashalintubbi, Elysian Fields (Elysian Fields, TX) --- Sunday visitor, Feb 26
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Not likely
OL Brannon Brown, O’Connor (San Antonio, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Decent
Holds a Tech offer, probably too soon for Texas to move on him but he's solid.
OL Kenyon Green, Atascocita (Humble, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Not likely
LSU commit. Still very open to schools.
OL Tyler Johnson, Oak Ridge (Conroe, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Slim
Stress education, build the relationship.
OL Kardell Thomas, Southern University Lab (Baton Rouge, LA)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Strong
LSU commit. Just a giant mauler.
DT Lloyd Murray, Jr., Hirschi (Wichita Falls, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Decent
He already has better offers than his tape would seemingly warrant, Notre Dame, FSU, etc.
DE Patrick Bayouth, Episcopal (Bellaire, TX) --- Friday visitor, Feb 24
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Slim
Big, strong, muscled up kid. Hard to gauge his ceiling at this point.
DE Marcus Stripling, Mayde Creek (Houston, TX)
Offer status: Yes
Commit chances: Not likely
Built like a grown man, still growing into his body athletically. Scary thought.
ATH Jordan Whittington, Cuero (Cuero, TX)
Offer status: No
Offer chances: Warm
He's a good wide receiver, could also be a great DB.