Texas football coach Tom Herman and his staff have been hitting it hard in recruiting. They face an uphill battle trying to obtain players who have established relationships with other programs. It was one hell of an accomplishment to have a shot at Houston offensive lineman Walker Little before he committed to Stanford. The signing of running back Toneil Carter might be the biggest recruiting achievement of Herman’s staff in 2017.
Most Longhorn observers have placed realistic expectations on Herman’s first recruiting class at Texas. He is probably not going to land any five-star players. His staff will be forced to find three-star recruits with high upsides. They might be able to snag a few guys late if a recruit believes the school he wants to attend has too many players at his position. We know Herman will have a better chance to lock up elite recruits in 2018 and beyond.
However, if Herman can win on the field, he has a chance to do something other coaches have been unable to do in this state.
Keep the very elite players in Texas.
Do not get me wrong. Texas A&M is putting together a nice recruiting class right now. The Aggies currently have 26 commitments, and their class is ranked seventh in the country, according to Rivals. Texas Tech has 21 commits and is ranked 30, Texas is ranked 46th (13 commits), TCU is ranked 54th (12 commits) and Baylor is ranked 99th (eight commits).
That being said, here are a few alarming statistics I uncovered while doing some research:
There is not a single top-10 player from Texas committed to an in-state school in this current class.
If that number holds up, more players ranked in the top 10 have left the state of Texas than stayed in three of the past four years.
Since Rivals began ranking players in 2003, there have been only five players ranked as the state’s top recruit who committed to a program in Texas.
Here is a breakdown of current and previous decisions from in-state prospects ranked in the top 10:
2017 top Texas recruit: Marvin Wilson, DT, Houston – Currently undecided, but has visited Oklahoma, Florida, State, LSU, and will visit the University of South Florida on January 20, according to Rivals. Wilson was iffy on attending Texas when former coach Charlie Strong was here, which makes his decision to take an official visit to Tampa a big blow to in-state schools.
Top 10: There is not a single top 10 player from Texas currently committed to an in-state school. Right now, Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (12th) is the highest ranked player committed to an in-state school, followed by Desoto quarterback Shawn Robinson, the 13th ranked player who will play for TCU.
2016 top Texas recruit: Gregory Little, OL -- Mississippi
Top 10: Six of the state’s top 10 players committed to in-state schools. Texas landed three of those players (Erick Fowler, Devin Duvernay and Patrick Hudson).
2015 top Texas recruit: Soso Jamabo, RB – UCLA
Top 10: Four players committed to in-state schools: #2 Malik Jefferson (Texas), #6 Daylon Mack (Texas A&M), #9 Kyler Murray (Texas A&M) and #10 Anthony Wheeler (Texas)
2014 top Texas recruit: Myles Garrett, DE – Texas A&M
Top 10: Four players committed to in-state schools: Garrett, #3 KD Cannon (Baylor/WR), #9 Nick Harvey (Texas A&M/DB) and #10 Jerrod Heard (Texas/QB)
2013 top Texas recruit: Mike Mitchell, LB – Ohio State
Top 10: Six players committed to in-state schools: #3 Ricky Seals-Jones (Texas A&M/ATH), #4 Kent Perkins (Texas/OL), #7 Darius James (Texas/OL), #8 Robbie Rhodes (Baylor/WR), #9 Deoundrei Davis (Texas/LB) and #10 Justin Manning (Texas A&M/DT)
2012 top Texas recruit: Mario Edwards, DT – Florida State
Top 10: Nine players went to in-state schools: #2 Johnathan Gray (Texas/RB), #3 Trey Williams (Texas A&B/RB), #4 Malcom Brown (Texas/DT), #5 Thomas Johnson (Texas A&M/WR), #6 Kendall Sanders (Texas/ATH), #7 Cayleb Jones (Texas/WR), #8 Javonte Magee (Baylor/DE), #9 Kennedy Estelle (Texas/OL) and #10 DeVante Harris (Texas A&M/DB)
2011 top Texas recruit: Malcolm Brown, RB – Texas
Top 10: Six players went to in-state schools: Brown, #4 Steve Edmond (Texas/LB), #5 Quandre Diggs (Texas/DB), #6 Jace Amaro (Texas Tech/TE), #7 LaDarius Brown (TCU/ATH) and #9 Jaxon Shipley (Texas/WR)
2010 top Texas recruit: Jackson Jeffcoat, DE – Texas
Top 10: Seven players went to in-state schools: Jeffcoat, #3 Reggie Wilson (Texas/DE), #4 Mike Davis (Texas/WR), #5 Tevin Jackson (Texas/LB), #6 Luke Joeckel (Texas A&M/OL), #7 Darius White (Texas/WR), #8 Jake Matthews (Texas A&M/OL), #9 Trey Hopkins (Texas/OL)
2009 top Texas recruit: Russell Shepard, QB – LSU
Top 10: Six players went to in-state schools: #2 Alex Okafor (Texas/DE), #3 Garrett Gilbert (Texas/QB), #5 Christine Michael (Texas A&M/RB), #6 Mason Walters (Texas/OL), #8 Calvin Howell (Texas/DT) and #10 Garrett Porter (Texas/OL)
2008 top Texas recruit: R.J. Washington, DE – Oklahoma
Top 10: Five players went to in-state schools: #4 Aaron Williams (Texas/DB), #6 D.J. Monroe (Texas/DB), #7 Jarvis Humphrey (Texas/DT), #8 DeSean Hales (Texas/RB) and #10 Jeff Fuller (Texas A&M/WR).
2007 top Texas recruit: Ryan Mallett, QB – Michigan
Top 10: Five players went to in-state schools: Tray Allen (Texas/OL), #4 Curtis Brown (Texas/DB), #5 John Chiles (Texas/ATH), #6 Michael Huey (Texas/OL) and #10 Andre Jones (Texas/DT)
2006 – I was unable to obtain those numbers because of a glitch. The basketball rankings from that year appears on the link instead of football.
https://n.rivals.com/state_rankings/2006/texas
2005 top Texas recruit: Martellus Bennett, TE – Texas A&M
Top 10: Five players went to in-state schools: Bennett, #4 Jamaal Charles (Texas/RB), #6 Henry Melton (Texas/ATH), #9 Roy Miller (Texas/DT) and Michael Shumard (Texas A&M/OL)
2004 top Texas recruit: Adrian Peterson, RB – Oklahoma
Top 10: Five players went to in-state schools: #3 Frank Okam (Texas/DT), #4 William Morrisey (Texas A&M/DT), #5 Andrew Kelson (Texas/DB), #7 Chris Smith (Texas A&M/DE) and #8 George Walker (Texas/WR)
2003 top Texas recruit: Tony Hills Jr., TE— Texas
Top 10: Seven players went to in-state schools: Hills, #2 Jorrie Adams (Texas A&M/OL), #3 Ofa Mohetau (BYU/OL), #5 Justin Warren (Texas A&M/LB), #6 Tarell Brown (Texas/DB), #8 Tim Crowder (Texas/DE) and #10 Michael Griffin (Texas/DB)
The struggle to keep the highest-ranked players in this state can be attributed to their desire to compete for a championship. Ohio State has commitments from three of the state’s top 10 players right now (#2 LB Barron Browning, #3 DB Jeffrey Okudah and #7 RB J.K. Dobbins). Oklahoma, last year’s Big 12 champion, has commitments from two in-state players ranked in the top 10 (#8 QB Chris Robison #10 OL Tyrese Robinson).
Right now, Alabama, Ohio State, LSU, and Oklahoma can sell the opportunity to win consistently. Obviously, Alabama and Ohio State can sell competing for a national title, playing in nationally televised games, and having the opportunity to play in the NFL. There is not a program in Texas that can legitimately offer a recruit all of those components. Texas A&M can offer big games in the SEC, but not the chance to win a conference title, or a national championship.
Obviously, Texas needs to win games first. Texas has been selling elite players on blind faith the past few years, like linebacker Malik Jefferson, but the Longhorns must win consistently. The upcoming renovations will be a nice improvement to the football facility. Winning on the football field will matter more than new flat screen televisions in the long run.
Herman assembled a staff with connections to high school coaches in this state. We know he plans to capitalize on those relationships in the future. Currently, there is only one in-state player from the 2018 class verbally committed (#4 DB Caden Sterns/LSU). Lamar High School (Houston) defensive back Anthony Cook is the top rated player from Texas in 2018, and he is uncommitted.
There are a lot of talented football players in Texas.
The challenge Herman and his staff face is convincing them to stay.
Best Of Austin
I am still learning a lot about Austin, and definitely can use your help during the offseason. From pizza to BBQ, everyone has passionate opinions about their favorite establishments. Each week I am going to ask you for recommendations and see if there is a consensus.
Best sandwich shop in Austin?
Podcast
If you missed the OB podcast, make sure you check it out. Our numbers continue to grow, so give it a listen before the NFL playoff games on Sunday.
https://texas.forums.rivals.com/thr...es-the-horny-hire-recruiting-and-more.289088/
Funniest Thing You Will See This Week
Sports On A Dime
1. Speaking of recruiting, it appears Herman’s early enrollees are ready to go:
2. D’Onta Foreman was a hidden gem in Strong’s first class. I am beginning to wonder who might be the player in the 2017 class we say, “I never saw that coming” three years from now?
3. Classes begin this week, which means Texas strength and conditioning coach Yancy McKnight is closer to getting his hands on Longhorn players. Herman said his two most important hires were defensive coordinator (Todd Orlando) and McKnight. I definitely want to see what kind of impact McKnight can have during the offseason.
4. I like the Texans, but Brock Osweiler is just another quarterback who cannot lead his team to the next level. Houston’s defense played well against New England’s Tom Brady, but Osweiler threw three interceptions, did not complete a pass for more than 20 yards and averaged five yards per completion (he completed only 23-of-40 passes for 198 yards). Houston needs to see if Jerry Jones would make a reasonable deal for Tony Romo.
5. On the flip side, Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan had one hell of a game. Is Ryan really the MVP?
6. I will take Dallas over Green Bay and Pittsburgh over Kansas City. Green Bay has Aaron Rodgers and nobody else capable of intimidating Dallas’ defense. Meanwhile, there is no way I will take a team led by Alex Smith over Big Ben in the playoffs.
7. My former Yahoo coworker Eric Edholm said it best: If Jon Gruden can turn down working with Andrew Luck in his prime, he will never coach again
8. This quote by football legend Bo Jackson in USA Today says a lot: “If I knew back then what I know now, I would have never played football. Never. I wish I had known about all of those head injuries, but no one knew that. And the people that did know that, they wouldn’t tell anybody. The game has gotten so violent, so rough. We’re so much more educated on this CTE stuff (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), there’s no way I would ever allow my kids to play football today. Even though I love the sport, I’d smack them in the mouth if they said they wanted to play football. I’d tell them, 'Play baseball, basketball, soccer, golf, just anything but football.'”
9. If you remember Mahmoud Abdul Rauf as a basketball player, check out his shooting accuracy in this video:
10. It is very rare that I agree with Floyd Mayweather, but Dana White’s “offer” for him to receive $25 million to box Connor McGregor, who would earn the same amount, was pretty ridiculous. Mayweather earned at least $220 million to fight Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather reportedly took home at least $40 million each in his two fights against Marcos Maidana and more than $100 million for his fight against Canelo Alvarez. White may screw over UFC fighters, but he will never have that opportunity in boxing.
