THREE THINGS WE LEARNED
1. Texas is a major player for Zac Swanson
The name of defensive lineman Zac Swanson hasn’t generated a ton of conversation on this board (partly because I’d been unable to get him on the phone until this week), but it might be time for that to change.
Swanson, a four-star defensive lineman out of Phoenix, picked up a Texas offer in February. A couple weeks later, Swanson dropped a top four of Texas, USC, Oregon and Kentucky. In the last month, the Longhorns have really surged here thanks to the efforts of Bo Davis.
“It’s the coaches. I love the coaching staff. Coach Davis, he’s one of the smartest d-line coaches I’ve talked to throughout my recruitment,” Swanson said. “They want me to come up there, possibly start playing my freshman year. Then I just love the school. Texas is just a great school.”
This is where things get really interesting. Swanson told me this week he’s considering making a decision in early May. Before that happens, he’s trying to get to Austin for an unofficial visit. His sister is a soccer player who will be in the state in late April so he may try to hit the UT campus then, but he’s trying to schedule a visit for much sooner, possibly even this weekend. He’s also in talks with the UT staff about setting up his official visit for June 11.
If Swanson makes it to Austin this month and IF he decides shortly after that trip, that’s a good sign for the Longhorns. The 6-4, 250-pound Swanson is a guy who the Texas coaches feel can move up and down the defensive line, and he likes what he’s heard from the UT staff about how he’d be used.
“Coach (Kwiatkowski) told me it’s mainly like a 4-3 kind of scheme they’ll run. Coach Davis told me he sees me able to play inside, but the main focus for me would be playing outside,” Swanson said. “He said I’d be switching around, since I’m explosive enough and strong enough to play both.”
Swanson has previously visited USC and he said the potential Texas visit for this month is the only other trip he’s currently planning. If he does come to a decision in early May as he’s hoping to do, he said it’ll be a welcome weight off his shoulders.
“I think it will be a big relief. The whole recruiting stuff is really stressful, just keeping up with coaches, trying to make sure to keep everyone happy. I kind of want it to be done, think I’m finding out what I need to find out and getting closer.”
2. Tavorus Jones is in play for UT’s second running back commitment
The Longhorns currently have one running back commitment in the 2022 class from Jaydon Blue, but the staff would love to bring in a second piece to help fill out that room. El Paso Burges standout Tavorus Jones would appear to be the leading candidate to fill that second spot.
The 5-11, 205-pound Jones has his Texas official visit set for June, and so far it’s the only trip he has on the calendar.
“Not yet,” Jones said about other visits. “They’re just now opening the visits, so once I get on with some coaches, I’m sure that will play out.”
Along with Texas, Jones said Penn State, TCU, Texas A&M and Florida are the main schools he’s been in contact with. Alabama is another school he’d like to get out and see at some point. As for the Texas visit, he said he set it up early because the Longhorns have been recruiting him for so long.
It’s the relationships that I have with the coaches. It’s almost an every-day type basis. And them being my first offer, I wanted it to be the first visit,” Jones said.
Texas has talked to Jones about combining with Blue for a one-two punch. In talking to Jones, it sounds like it’s a situation he’d be fine with.
“They said I fit in with what they’re trying to do with new coaching staff. They said they’re going to run two backs, so me and him would be a good duo,” Jones said. “All the teams I’ve been on ran a two-back system, so it’s not something I’m mad about.”
There was a time early in the recruiting process when Jones told me he might make an early decision. He also told me very early on that Texas was the team to beat. He’s since become more open, and said he’ll probably put out a top five around the time he can start taking visits in June. Texas will certainly make the cut and the relationship Jones has with Stan Drayton could ultimately win out if the Longhorns can convince Jones to be part of a two-back class.
“It’s just the relationship I have with the coaches from the start,” Jones said of Texas. “And how they make me feel about how I’ll fit into their program. That’s the main thing that has me hooked on them.”
3. The Rivals camp series is back in action this weekend
After getting shut down last year due to COVID, the Rivals Camp Series is back in action this weekend and it kicks off with a stop in the Dallas area. It’s a condensed schedule this year due to COVID (no Houston camp), but it’ll be good to have things back in full swing beginning this weekend.
Guys like WR Armani Winfield, RB Rueben Owens, OL Kam Dewberry, OL Kelvin Banks, WR Nicholas Anderson, DB Terrance Brooks, OL Cole Hutson, OL Jacob Sexton, LB Derrick Brown, DE Jadon Scarlett, DB Daniel Emery, WR Jalen Hale, DB Jamel Johnson, OL Isaiah Robinson, ATH Tre Wisner, OL Harris Sewell, WR Johntay Cook are among some of the top Texas targets expected to attend.
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TWO QUESTIONS
1. Will Bryce Anderson announce his commitment this month?
There’s been a lot of speculation that Rivals100 safety Bryce Anderson could announce on his birthday later this week, but in checking with Anderson this week it sounds like people may have to wait a while before he makes any sort of commitment.
“I’m going to wait until after all five of my officials,” Anderson told OB about a timeline for deciding.
We’ll keep an eye on this one just in case because recruiting can turn on a dime (or curve balls can be thrown), but Texas may have to battle this one out a little longer than originally expected. I still like the Longhorns’ chances here, but any time a recruit is taking official visits to other campuses, there’s always an opportunity for some late twists and turns.
We’ll see.
2. Harris Sewell will be in Austin this summer
Offensive lineman Harris Sewell is part of a group of 2023 prospects that will visit Texas in June and the Rivals100 member is a definite name to know in his class. Out of Odessa Permian, Sewell checks in at No. 71 on the recently-released 2023 Rivals100 and picked up a Texas offer in mid-February.
“Coach Sark actually offered me. I had talked to coach Flood and coach Milwee before that though,” Sewell said. “I would definitely consider Texas. They’re just all blessings right now. I think it’s a great program, great coaches there.”
Along with Texas, schools like Texas A&M, USC, LSU, Notre Dame, TCU, Texas Tech, Oregon, Oklahoma State and Baylor have offered the 6-4, 290-pounder.
Sewell is playing things close to the vest at this early stage of the recruiting process, saying all schools “are equal right now,” but Texas has told him they’d love to have him in Austin.
“They said they love my aggressiveness and finishing people. And my speed off the ball,” Sewell said.
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ONE PREDICTION – Texas lands Zac Swanson
I mentioned on the board on Sunday night that I liked Texas position with recent defensive line offer Zac Swanson, and after talking to him over the weekend I get the feeling the Longhorns could have a decent lead over his other three finalists.
If Swanson makes it into Austin sometime this month for a visit, I’ll take my chances on Texas closing this one out with a spring commitment.
--- Interested in sponsoring the 3-2-1 and our Recruiting Q&A? Email me at jason@orangebloods.com.
