THREE THINGS WE LEARNED
1. De’Gabriel Floyd continues to actively recruit for Texas any chance he gets
It seems like forever ago that linebacker De’Gabriel Floyd gave Texas a commitment. The Westlake Village (CA) standout made his decision back in March, he’s been rock solid with his pledge ever since he announced it and he’s been one of UT’s biggest recruiters behind the scenes.
Floyd was back in Austin last week and this week (he’ll be here until Sunday) and he took in the Longhorns’ big win over Iowa State. Once again, Floyd was recruiting on the Longhorns’ behalf, including talking up Texas to guys like Kelee Ringo, Myron Warren and Jacoby Jones.
“It was great. I feel like I do a pretty good job of getting my point across to these recruits’ heads. Most of them are my boys, so they trust me and listen,” Floyd said. “Once I tell them what I feel, they can kind see what I’m saying.”
Floyd has become a bit of a fan favorite because of his unwavering (and very public) support of the Texas program. He said he didn’t make a conscious decision to be such an active recruiter … he’s just doing what comes naturally to him.
“That’s just natural. When I’m committed, if I feel like guys are 100 percent with me, and everything feels right for me, that’s just who I am,” Floyd said. “I don’t’ even look at how it’s perceived by fans or anything, that’s just who I am.”
Texas picked up a commitment from Warren on Monday afternoon. Floyd has confidence that the Longhorns will land a number of their top remaining targets as well, and he continues to push for some key out-of-state prospects. With his help, maybe Texas will be able to get over the hump. If not, it certainly won’t be for lack of trying on Floyd’s part.
2. Floyd turned in a very good senior season
Floyd will sign with Texas in December and enroll in January. He recently finished up his senior season, and said he feels good about the performance he put on the field.
“I honestly think it was my best season yet,” Floyd said. “I think I cut myself loose in a sense, played free, was able to use every bit of the energy and ability I have. I feel I had a pretty good season.
“It was like a switch that everyone talks about. Like a fire that was burning inside me just got turned up this year. Mentally, I’d just come into the game like I’m going to kill you. Before, I was thinking too much about trying to do a job instead of just using all of my abilities while doing my job.”
On Monday, Floyd was named as one of five finalists for the 2018 High School Butkus Award. He found out about the honor from a tweet from future teammate and fellow UT linebacker commitment Marcus Tillman.
“I didn’t even know they announced the final five. Marcus posted a picture of me and him, said ‘Congrats to my brother on making the Butkus finalist list.’ I retweeted it and quoted it and was like, “I did?” Then he sent me the link and I saw it. I actually found out in the bathroom. I was like ‘Oh dang.’”
Floyd said the biggest improvement he made as a senior was to be more instinctual and just let his preparation take over. Texas fans have heard Tom Herman stress the need for the Longhorns to play in a similar fashion at times this year, and Floyd said he’s determined to bring that same mindset to the Texas program when he arrives in January.
“I think the best thing I could have done this year was just cut myself loose. Everybody tells me and sees the athleticism, my ability and size. But something was different this year,” Floyd said. “I wasn’t playing like that guy, it was just something that just hit me and I started playing like nobody can stop me.”
As he closes out his high school days, Floyd said his current focus is on readying himself for his arrival in Austin in January. Once on campus, he said his main focus will be on learning the intricacies of Todd Orlando’s defense.
“I’m just getting ready for college. That’s kind of the next step,” Floyd said. “I’m coming in January, trying to make an impact. I’m starting off-season training. I’m not getting into it too heavy already, doing a little bit of conditioning, some weight training. I’m tuning up my skill set so I can be able to play in space, guard receivers, my pedaling, getting my running form back.
“Pretty much just the playbook (will be his focus when he gets to Austin). Just learning. I know I’m going to be moving around to a lot of different spots with the versatility I bring. Coach Orlando and I have been talking. He’s been telling me get ready to learn.”
3. Texas put itself in a great position with five-star DB Kelee Ringo
Scottsdale (AZ) Saguaro five-star DB Kelee Ringo made his way to Austin last weekend for an unofficial visit, and the 2020 standout said Texas blew him away and the Longhorns are definitely a team that will be a factor as he works through his recruitment. The nation’s No. 13-ranked prospect overall in the 2020 class, Ringo said he felt at home as soon as he got to the UT campus.
“I like coach (Jason) Washington, coach (Tim) Beck, coach (Tom) Herman. I love all the coaches. I’ve definitely built a good relationship with them,” Ringo said. “It’s a beautiful place, honestly. They definitely will be one of my top schools. I like the people there. It was just a very nice feeling. I was treated very well also. Everybody was very welcoming - the players, the fans, especially the coaches.”
Ringo said he plans to trim his list to 15 teams after his 2018 season ends. He said the Longhorns will “easily” make the cut.
Texas has recruited the greater Phoenix area aggressively and successfully in the 2019 class with commitments from Jake Smith and Brayden Liebrock. Ringo has been in contact with both players and last weekend got a chance to spend a lot of time with the current Texas players and a couple UT commitments, including De’Gabriel Floyd.
“I’ve seen Jake Smith, Brayden Liebrock. I’m in contact with them both,” Ringo said. “They said before I came down here that I’d like it. De’Gabriel Floyd, I hung out with him last night and was with him throughout the whole game. We actually met at the Five-Star Challenge for Rivals. I already knew him a little bit, so it was cool to hang out with him.”
Ringo’s DB coach at Saguaro is none other than former Longhorn great Bryant Westbrook. In talking to Westbrook, Ringo said he had an idea of what to expect on his visit, and Texas lived up to the hype.
“Before I came down here, he told me everything I should expect, and it was exactly that,” Ringo said. “Just the players, the community, everything. It was exactly like he said it would be.”
Ringo wants to take his time with the process but said he plans to return to Austin at some point, probably for an official visit.
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TWO QUESTIONS
1. What led Myron Warren to commit to Texas?
The Longhorns picked up a commitment from Many (LA) defensive end Myron Warren on Monday afternoon, giving Oscar Giles his third d-line commitment in the 2019 class. Warren is a player who has been a hot topic on this board ever since Texas offered and he decommitted from TCU, and he’s been trending UT’s way ever since picking up the UT offer on October 8. Warren’s commitment to Texas became official on Monday, but he’d pretty much made up his mind last week – before getting to Austin – that he’d be a Longhorn. The Saturday visit was just the clinching factor.
“I like the atmosphere there, I love the coaches and player and it’s a great fit for me,” Warren said.
The 6-4, 230-pound Warren will graduate in May and said once he gets to Austin he’ll be “bringing the energy and just doing all I can to help to win.” Prior to the Texas visit, Warren did visit LSU and there was talk that an offer from the in-state Tigers could really shake this one up, even if it came after his Texas pledge. Warren isn’t planning to sign until February, so his recruitment could be one we’ll have to watch over the next couple months, but he said he’s not planning to look at any other options, regardless of what new offers might come his way.
“I’m staying solid to Texas,” Warren said.
Warren returned home from his Texas visit on Sunday night and he’ll be back in Austin the weekend of December 14 for his official visit. He’s still on cloud nine after making his announcement on Monday.
“It feels great. This is the best feeling ever,” Warren said.
2. What to make of the Big 12 after a wild week of action?
Here we are with one week left in the Big 12 regular season, and the race to the conference championship took some interesting twists last weekend. Texas, of course, gets into the title game with a win over Kansas. The winner of Friday’s Oklahoma-West Virginia game is in. It should make for a hell of an interesting week of football. My Big 12 rankings heading into the last week …
1. Oklahoma – I give the Sooners the slightest of advantages since they’d probably be favored over any team in the conference on a neutral field. But man, that defense is awful. (Last week: 2)
2. West Virginia – Yeah, they lost last week but that same OSU team beat Texas and WVU beat the Longhorns in Austin, so they get the nod for the second spot. (Last week: 1)
3. Texas – The Longhorns played their best game of the season last weekend and seem to be hitting their stride down the stretch. (Last week: 3)
4. Iowa State – The Cyclones were outclassed in Austin, but they’re still better than anyone else in the league. (Last week: 4)
5. Oklahoma State – Don’t look now, but this group is playing very well of late. (Last week: 6)
6. Texas Tech – How did Tech’s offense struggle so badly one week after lighting up the Texas defense? Six points and 181 yards of total offense? Yikes. (Last week: 5)
7. Kansas State – Spots 7, 8 and 9 are pretty much interchangeable. (Last week: 8)
8. Baylor – They lost last week but I’ll still take them over TCU on most weeks. (Last week: 7)
9. TCU – The Frogs have to beat Oklahoma State this weekend to become bowl eligible. That won’t be easy. (Last week: 9)
10. Kansas – The Jayhawks are improved, but still not very good. (Last week: 10)
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ONE PREDICTION – Texas will win out with Jacoby Jones
JUCO defensive end Jacoby Jones set up a UT official visit and quickly decommitted from Oklahoma last week. Jones has been quiet since taking his Texas visit but people who spent time with him over the weekend seemed to think he really enjoyed it, and the timing of the recruiting action with him sure seems to point to the Longhorns winning out. My Rivals forecast was on Texas landing Jones before his official visit, and I still feel good about that pick. The guess here is that we’ll have an answer pretty soon.
