THREE THINGS WE LEARNED
1. Texas is putting an early emphasis on 2020 recruiting
While most programs are focused on putting the finishing touches on their 2019 recruiting classes, the Longhorn staff is doing some double dipping – trying to add a few key pieces to the 2019 group while also placing an emphasis on getting a good start with the 2020 class.
Last weekend, Texas hosted two key 2020 targets for unofficial visits in Alfred Collins and Princely Umanmielen. More 2020 targets are expected to be on campus this weekend, including Rivals100 members Zachary Evans and Bryson Washington. The coaches have also been on the road starting last Friday, the day the dead period ended, making stops at high schools around the state to check on some of the program’s top targets.
The early emphasis on underclassmen prospects makes perfect sense, for a number of reasons. With the early signing period and early official visit window (which begins April 1), it’s imperative for the staff to have the groundwork laid with prospects earlier than ever. On top of that, the Longhorns have only a limited number of legitimate targets remaining for the 2019 class, so it affords the staff some time to keep a large part of its attention on the 2020 class. And most importantly, Texas needs to get a head start on the 2020 class to help fend off programs like Texas A&M and Oklahoma, both of which recruited the state very well in 2019.
A lot of factors weight into a recruits decision – things like proximity, depth charts and on-field success. But the biggest factor that can make or break a recruitment is still relationships, and the more time spent showing your face around a recruit the better the odds are of landing him.
Texas is riding a wave of momentum after its Sugar Bowl win, and there’s no better time for the UT coaches to start bringing guys to campus while that win is fresh on everyone’s mind. Recruiting in the state is going to be a slugfest once again and while Texas had some success in the 2019 class with some top-level talent, the Longhorns do need to do a better job overall with in-state prospects than they did in 2019. Getting guys on campus will only help the Longhorns lay the foundation and the more facetime the coaches get with these top targets, the more likely it will pay dividends for Texas in the long run.
2. Texas has several lines in the water for graduate transfer offensive line targets
It’s no secret that the Longhorns are in the market for a graduate transfer offensive lineman (maybe a JUCO OL and/or prep OL as well).
We mentioned in last week’s column that Herb Hand has been in touch with Virginia grad transfer R.J. Proctor. Hand was supposed to visit Proctor on Sunday but snow in Virginia cancelled those plans. Proctor said the visit will be rescheduled soon.
I checked around with sources around the Rivals.com network to get some thoughts on the graduate transfer offensive line targets Texas is eyeing.
R.J. Proctor – Virginia
Background: Suffered a knee injury in fall camp last year but went on to appear in 11 of UVA’s 13 games in 2018 with six starts at left guard.
Analysis: “Proctor really improved throughout his junior season. After suffering a knee injury in fall camp, he missed some time and then a couple of games dealing with it but he made the most of his opportunities. One of the strongest players during off-season conditioning, Proctor was at his best in run blocking and was a big reason why the Cavaliers had success between the tackles. Rumblings around the program have pointed to his conditioning as being a potential issue as his flexibility was a concern at times.”
Justin Murphy – UCLA
Background: Murphy has dealt with knee injuries throughout his career. Out of Belton, he started his college career at Texas Tech (suffered two season-ending knee injuries there) before transferring to UCLA, where he missed six games with a meniscus injury. He was granted a sixth year of eligibility in December and announced his decision to be a graduate transfer a couple days later.
Analysis: “Great teammate, gives 100 percent. Was a leader for a very green line that turned into a serviceable unit. Solid player. Wish I would have seen him with healthy knees. I don’t know that he will ever be what he was before getting hurt at Texas Tech but I think he can be serviceable if nothing else than helping young players out.”
Drew Richmond – Tennessee
Background: A former 5-star prospect, Richmond has started 25 games for Tennessee over the last three seasons, including all 12 last year at right tackle.
Analysis: “Richmond brings experience. It’s as simple as that. The former 5-star has never lived up to his recruiting hype but he isn’t a total bust either. He started at both tackle spots over the last three seasons. The one part of his game where he will have to improve going forward is his physical style of play. Now that he is moving on, he will have a different offensive line coach in each of his four seasons, which has had an impact on his growth.”
Hayden Mahoney – Miami
Background – Started 10 games at all three interior line spots for Miami in 2018.
Analysis: “Mahoney is a solid utility lineman who can play multiple positions on the line. He won’t intimidate anybody and was never polished enough to become a full-time starter. But he was always ready to pitch in when called upon and was smart enough to know the assignments regardless of where he was needed.”
* Of note, Rice grad transfer defensive tackle Zach Abercrumbia said this week that Texas has been in touch and Oscar Giles may visit him on Tuesday, so he’s a name to file away on the defensive side of the ball.
3. Caleb Johnson will head to Austin this week, and he’s ready to get started
Longhorn signee Caleb Johnson will head to Austin on Wednesday, and the JUCO linebacker said he’s ready to officially start the next chapter of his academic and athletic career. Johnson, out of Fullerton Community College in California, is still rehabbing a shoulder injury he suffered in January, but he said he’s ready to put in whatever kind of work Texas strength and conditioning coach Yancy McKnight feels will get him prepared.
“I’m excited to finally get down there, get to work,” Johnson said. “I’m definitely ready for how hard they go, but I’m also focused on getting my shoulder right. Then I know (McKnight’s) workouts will transform me, and make me a better player so I’m excited.”
Looking back at his recruitment, Johnson was more settled on the Longhorns than most realized. Texas always held a favorable spot on his list and he actually silently committed about a week before he publicly announced his decision. Johnson did take an official visit to Colorado after giving Texas a silent pledge, but said there was never a moment – even on that visit – when he had any second doubts about his decision to play for the Longhorns.
“Pretty much as I’ve said when I first got there, Texas was my favorite school. On top of that, it had everything I needed. A good opportunity to play was at the top,” Johnson said. “Coach (Todd) Orlando, coach (Tom) Herman, they coach tough, but I’m used to that. Texas is up and coming and I want to be a part of that. I think it can be a good platform for me to grow on.”
Coming out of high school, Johnson held offers from Wyoming and Fresno State. Due to some academic missteps, both schools withdrew their offers, which forced Johnson to hit the JUCO circuit. At the time, it was a devastating development, but looking back at things, Johnson said it’s all been a blessing.
“At the time, it was horrible. But it’s pretty much just come full circle,” Johnson said. “At the time, I feel like I wasn’t ready with the right mindset. I was just kind of going along, got free school, and that’s what I wanted. Going through this has made me realize how much I love football, how much better I can be. Have my mind right. Now what I have to do is learn how to use my tools to my advantage. I really think JUCO has been good for me.”
Not only has Johnson discovered how much he loves the game of football, he’s found a new appreciate for academics as well. On Monday, Johnson learned he had made the Dean’s list for the fall semester.
As he gets ready to start his Texas career, Johnson is a player most feel will have a chance to compete for playing time in his first season in Austin. The 6-1, 220-pound Johnson knows nothing will be handed to him, but he feels if he puts in the work he can be a valuable contributor for the Texas defense.
“I can’t predict anything, can only go by what I think. I think I’m going to have a huge impact,” Johnson said. “That’s just how I feel. I think coming in I’m going to be more than ready. I think I’m going to be a huge part of the defense.”
Like departing senior Gary Johnson, Johnson’s game is built on speed. He was clocked at a hand-timed 4.4 in high school (4.5 in college) and feels his speed and ability to make plays in space will allow him to thrive in the Big 12.
“Even in high school, my coaches would always make the defense kind of around me, put me in situations to cover the fastest receiver or be out in space towards the field because that’s pretty much what I’m good at. I think it’s a perfect fit,” Johnson said.
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TWO QUESTIONS
1. What’s the backstory on Caleb Johnson’s health?
We haven’t talked a lot about Johnson’s injury situation over the course of his recruitment, but he did give us an update this week and it sounds like the Texas staff will bring him along slowly once he gets on campus.
Some background on the injury …
“It happened in October, early October. I think it could have been hurt over time, I just didn’t realize it,” Johnson said. “The time I realized it was in a game. I got held by a lineman, was trying to break off and make the tackle and he held my arm. I kind of popped it out. It felt like it was dead, but I kept on playing. I got surgery on Halloween.”
Johnson had a pretty good idea right away that something was off with his shoulder, but it was initially misdiagnosed. Doctors at first told him it may be tendonitis and that it wasn’t serious. Johnson took a week off and then played the following week despite his shoulder still being in considerable pain. His team would then learn that it was ineligible for post-season play due to alleged infractions by head coach Tim Byrnes, which helped Johnson make the decision to take a medical redshirt. He went to another doctor and was diagnosed with a torn labrum.
Johnson is expecting to be cleared at the end of this month to do heavy weight lifting with his shoulder, so he feels good about his progress. In his conversations with the Texas staff, he’s been told he may be held out of spring drills to play it safe.
“They said I should be completely fine by (spring football practices),” Johnson said. “Coach Orlando said I probably won’t even do it (practice) just to stay safe. At the end of the month, they said I can start power lifting. I’ve been doing regular lifting, just light workouts.
“(If I can’t practice), I’ll just be soaking it up mentally, just showing that when I get on the field I’ll be ready to go. I think I’ll be 100-percent fine. I was playing with it anyway. It will be fine. I know with their workouts, being at a major university, it will make my body better. I’m not worried about it at all.”
2. Will Texas get JUCO offensive lineman Desmond Bland in for a visit?
I mentioned in last week’s War Room that JUCO offensive line Desmond Bland wants to take a Texas visit. The Arizona Western Community College product is still committed to Nebraska, but said he’d like to take visits to Nebraska, Texas and Florida State.
Bland is originally from Homewood, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. On Saturday, Texas offensive line coach Herb Hand flew into Chicago and the two parties talked before Bland returned to Arizona.
The 6-4, 300-pound Bland said he hasn’t yet set up a Texas visit, but he’s hoping to do so in the near future. According to Bland, Texas needs to have its compliance people give him the okay before a visit can be set up. Assuming everything checks out, don’t be surprised to see the staff bring in Bland on one of the final weekends of the recruiting season.
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ONE PREDICTION - Jalen Catalon commits to Arkansas on Friday
Mansfield Legacy defensive back Jalen Catalon will announce his decision on Friday from a group that includes Texas, Arkansas, TCU and Oklahoma.
The Longhorns have always been in the thick of this race, but Arkansas has been believed to be the leader ever since Catalon took his official visit there in October. Look for Texas to visit Catalon this week but I’m not sure it will be enough to win him over. Per reporters who cover Arkansas, the Razorbacks remain confident and Arkansas will do an in-home with Catalon on Thursday, so they’ll get a chance to make a last impression. TCU did host Catalon on an official visit last weekend and Gary Patterson will go in-home this week, but the guess here is that the Razorbacks win out on Friday.
