THREE THINGS WE LEARNED
1. Bijan Robinson’s decision to come to Texas was largely faith-based
When the Texas Longhorns’ 2019 season wasn’t going the way most had expected, there were some nervous moments for Longhorn fans as it related to the commitment of five-star running back Bijan Robinson. Schools like Ohio State and LSU were still working the Longhorns’ prized commitment, and fans were anxious that Robinson might decide to flip his decision for one of those schools that was enjoying more success on the field than Texas was.
It turns out, none of those concerns were really that warranted. Yes, Robinson stayed in contact with coaches from other programs – mostly because he’s a respectful young man and he didn’t want to be rude to the coaches with whom he’d built relationships – but there was never really a time when Robinson seriously considered changing his Texas commitment. The Tucson (AZ) Salpointe standout said his initial decision to choose Texas was based on a number of factors, including what he said was a calling from above.
“It was just a lot of prayer. God, after praying, I feel like that’s where he was telling me to go,” Robinson said of his Texas commitment. “And just the development there with coach (Stan) Drayton, who he’s coached and his experience in the NFL, college football, what he can do with me and all the running backs there. That’s what I was looking for the most.”
When Robinson chose Texas over Ohio State (after having given the Buckeyes a short-lived silent commitment), there was speculation that it might have been his family that wanted him in Austin. Not true, Robinson has told Orangebloods, and he said it was his faith and prayer that led him to Austin.
“It was the biggest (factor). I put it all in God’s hands,” Robinson said. “Praying to him, I feel he showed me the message and the vision that Texas is the best place for you at the end of the day, because if you follow his word, then everything else becomes good.”
Late in the recruiting process, Ohio State and LSU continued to push with hopes of getting Robinson to flip his commitment, or in the case of LSU at least give that program an official visit. The 6-1, 205-pound Robinson admits there were fleeting thoughts on whether or not he’d made the right decision, but after stepping back and taking a broader view, his heart was always with Texas. And with the Longhorns hiring Mike Yurcich as offensive coordinator – a coach Robinson got to know when Yurcich was helping recruit him to Ohio State – he feels his decision to sign with Texas was meant to be.
“It was tested tremendously. But I just look at the big picture of things. Now we have a great offensive coordinator in Mike Yurcich,” Robinson said. “And then, everything that’s coming along with the program, our class that’s coming in, I feel things are right at Texas and what we can do in the future.”
Robinson and Yurcich have been in touch in the couple weeks following Yurcich accepting the job at Texas. They had a solid relationship when Yurcich was at Ohio State and Robinson said that has carried over now that Yurcich is on the Texas side of things.
“We talked a lot in the summer. Obviously he was trying to get me to Ohio State. Now that he’s here and the relationship that we’ve built, that was the biggest thing. I texted him right after he got the job and we talked right after everything happened, so we’re good,” Robinson said.
“I found out (about Yurcich’s hire) when everyone else found out. And then when I texted him, it was all love. He was very happy, I was very happy that he made that decision. When we did text each other, it was like we had just kept it going.”
Another big factor for Texas was the presence of Drayton, who is expected to remain on the UT staff despite the coaching transition taking part on both sides of the ball.
“It was pretty big. I’m very blessed and glad that he is staying there,” Robinson said. “Just that relationship that we built throughout the whole recruiting process, it’s kind of a father-son thing already. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
Now that he’s signed, Texas has sent Robinson a training package. He’s hoping to get started on learning the new playbook as early as this week. Robinson has a trainer in Tucson who does a lot of the same types of lifts Texas has asked him to do, so he has no concerns about being ready once he moves to Austin next summer. When he does officially make his way to the Forty Acres, Robinson said he just wants to give his best effort and let the chips fall where they may.
“I just want to get in there and work hard. I don’t want to set any expectations for myself. I just want to get in there, start the grind, don’t focus on any distractions, just go in there and be ready to compete and be ready to go,” Robinson said.
2. Jalen Milroe’s commitment to Texas remains solid
Not that there was really any doubt about the commitment status of 2021 quarterback Jalen Milroe, but I checked in with the Rivals100 member over the weekend to get the latest, now that Texas has a new offensive coordinator in place.
Milroe, always a vocal supporter of the Longhorns, said the staff shake-up, including the departure of former OC/QB coach Tim Beck, hasn’t lessened his enthusiasm about his Texas commitment.
“As far as recruiting, I’ve spoken with the new OC (Mike Yurcich), built a relationship with him. So far, it’s going great,” Milroe said. I’m been communicating with him. He’s been talking to my parents, so we’re all building a relationship. I’m still 100-percent committed, still comfortable with what’s going on.”
The 6-3, 195-pound Milroe said he’s spoken with Yurcich “more than once” and the two have already started building a good relationship. He’s hoping to get to Austin in the near future to meet the new coaches in person.
“He’s really personable. He asked about my background and is just getting to know me. I don’t know too much about him, but I like the relationship we’re building,” Milroe said.
As one might expect, other schools have continued to recruit Milroe despite his Texas commitment and he’s continued to pick up new offers. Milroe is courteous to any coach that reaches out, but he lets them know he’s still very happy with his decision to be a Longhorn.
“Other schools are trying to get in the picture, but they’re still being respectful. I tell them I’m still 100 –percent committed to Texas. But I’m all about relationships, because anything can happen,” Milroe said. “But I’m still 100-percent committed to Texas.”
3. Texas is on top for Kelvontay Dixon
Carthage athlete Kelvontay Dixon has stuck to his plan of announcing in February, and the Carthage product is getting closer to working his way to a conclusion.
Dixon, a one-time Arkansas commitment, tells OB he has two official visits set up for January, with a third a possibility as well. Dixon will take his second visit to Arkansas the weekend of January 17 (he took a trip there in April but due to the coaching change, can take a second OV to see the Razorbacks). He’s a maybe to see UTSA on December 24 and will visit Texas on the last weekend before National Signing Day (January 31)
Dixon said UTSA is “coming into the picture more” after the recent hire of Jeff Traylor, who recruited him while Traylor was at Arkansas. The new Razorbacks coaches have done a good job of getting Arkansas back in the mix, but Dixon said it’s the Longhorns that are standing out right now.
“Texas kind of stands at the top of the list,” Dixon said.
Interim UT wide receiver coach Andre Coleman has done a good job of holding things down for Texas over the past few weeks, including stressing what UT can do for Dixon away from the football field.
“Really, he just tells me that he’s going to get me to where I can really focus on my education and become a better man,” Dixon said.
The plan for Dixon, who scored three touchdowns in Carthage’s state championship win, is to make a decision after his Texas official visit. Dixon said he’d like to have it done before National Signing Day on February 5.
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TWO QUESTIONS
1. What’s the latest with Prince Dorbah?
Texas linebacker commitment Prince Dorbah took part in last week’s All-American Bowl, where he got a chance to hit the football field one last time as a high schooler and for the first times since signing with the Longhorns in December. The Highland Park product said he’s glad to have the recruiting process officially behind him.
“It feels good. It’s time to get to work,” Dorbah said. “All the talking, recruiting is in the past. Now it’s time to get down and get to work.”
The 6-4, 215-pound Dorbah committed to Texas back in July and never looked back. Even with the shake-up to the defensive staff, Dorbah said he never even thought of looking at any other schools.
“I only took one official visit. That was UT and it was the only one I needed to take,” Dorbah said. “It was home. It’s in my backyard. I wanted to stay home and get a great education and also play for a great team. They had all that, so it was the perfect place for me to be.”
A big part of Dorbah staying so solid is his faith in Tom Herman. The 2019 season wasn’t what he was expecting, but Dorbah’s looking forward to being part of getting the Longhorns back on top.
“I want to play for my home state. I have a lot of faith in Tom Herman, have a lot of faith in this program that it’s going to be turned around and I want to be a part of that,” Dorbah said.
New defensive coordinator Chris Ash has been in touch with Dorbah. They haven’t discussed schemes or detailed plans yet, instead focusing on getting to know one another and how excited they are to work together.
“He says he can see me playing at linebacker. The same position pretty much,” Dorbah said. “Or four down, just get after the quarterback. He’ll use the best four guys to do it.”
Dorbah won’t enroll at Texas until June. In the meantime, he’ll play basketball and focus on working out. Dorbah currently weighs in at 215 pounds and said he’d like to get up to about 225 before he arrives in Austin.
2. How might the Longhorns finish out the 2020 class?
We’re still in a dead period for about another 10 days so there’s not a ton of recruiting action on which to report, but things should begin to pick up again pretty soon. Texas will certainly add to its class, but you’re probably not going to see a huge influx of commitments between now and Signing Day in February.
The Longhorns currently sit at 17 commitments/signees, and if we’re going off what Tom Herman said at his signing day press conference, I’d guess four or five additions is a likely target number.
“We will probably sign fourish more in February,” Herman said (at the time, linebacker Jaylan Ford had not signed but I’m guessing he was already accounted for in Herman’s numbers). “We knew, though, that this was going to be a small class, only 10 scholarship seniors. We knew it would be a smaller class when we started and more about quality than quantity.”
So what might be left for Texas, and at what positions will the staff focus on bringing in additional talent?
The guess here is that the coaches will look to bring in an additional tailback, one wide receiver with an outside possibility of two, one or two defensive linemen and one cornerback.
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ONE PREDICTION – Donovan Jackson to Ohio State this week
Houston Episcopal 2021 offensive lineman Donovan Jackson will announce his commitment at his school on Wednesday. There was a time early in the fall when I thought Texas would win out with Jackson based on some things he was telling other recruits, but after chatting with him during the All-American Bowl on Saturday, this one won’t be going the Longhorns’ way. Look for Ohio State to win out. There’s still a long way to go before Jackson will sign, so things could certainly change, but that’s the vibe as of right now.
