Photo via AP
Texas football coach Tom Herman was officially hired on November 26, 2016. Not only did Herman inherit a program in disarray, he was working against the clock. Signing Day was on February 1, 2017. The dead period was from December 12 to January 11. It was going to be hard to assemble a decent class in a short period of time.
Herman’s biggest task was to make sure Sam Ehlinger remained committed to Texas. Obviously, Ehlinger was a lifetime Longhorn fan, and the odds of him decommitting were very slim. Regardless, Herman still had to sit in Ehlinger’s living room, share his vision, and avoid a huge catastrophe.
There were 18 players Herman’s initial class. However, 12 of those players verbally committed after Herman was hired, according to our database. Many Longhorn observers believed the transition class was underwhelming. Just a group of guys thrown together at the last minute to comprise one of the worst classes in Texas history, ranked 31st by Rivals. Better luck next year, Herman. Technically, the 2018 and 2019 recruiting classes were ranked fourth by Rivals. From a recruiting perspective, things did improve.
As the Longhorns prepare for the upcoming season, the transition class has exceeded expectations.
Clearly, no coach has ever been fired for not having a great transition class. Players often decommit when a new coach is hired. The new coach typically inherits a struggling team, which means there are a lot of questions about how long a turnaround will take. Most transition classes end up being a footnote.
When Charlie Strong was hired, the majority of his class was already committed. Six of 23 players committed after he was hired. Those players were tight end Blake Whiteley, defensive back Edwin Freeman, offensive lineman Alex Anderson, offensive lineman Elijah Rodriguez, defensive tackle Poona Ford and defensive tackle Chris Nelson. Ford and Nelson were the best players, while Rodriguez became a full-time starter in 2018.
Herman’s transition class has produced a four-year starter at quarterback, at least two NFL prospects, and multiple guys who contribute this season.
Here is another look at that list:
2017 Texas Signing Class
Marqez Bimage DL Brenham, Texas (Brenham)
Comment: He has played in 29 games and is a guy to watch during spring practice. Bimage has the potential for a breakout season.
Kobe Boyce DB Corinth, Texas (Lake Dallas)
Comment: Started in the first three games of last season. Struggles at times, but was solid toward the end of last season. Should be in the mix for playing time again.
Cade Brewer TE Austin, Texas (Lake Travis)
Comment: Started in eight games last season before sustaining an injury. Should start again this season.
Toneil Carter RB Houston, Texas (Langham Creek)
Comment: Played in nine games (two starts) as a freshman. Averaged 4.8 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns that season, but transferred after falling down the depth chart.
Jamari Chisholm DL Valdosta, Ga. (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M/Valdosta)
Comment: Appeared in 22 games in three years. Played in eight games last year.
Samuel Cosmi OL Humble, Texas (Atascocita)
Comment: Started every game last season. Cosmi is a future NFL draft pick, and potentially a high one with a standout season.
Rob Cummins DE Fort Worth, Texas (All-Saints Episcopal)
Comment: Medically retired from football last year after multiple knee injuries.
Sam Ehlinger QB Austin, Texas (Westlake)
Comment: One of the best quarterbacks in school history. Ehlinger looks like a future NFL pick.
Montrell Estell DB Hooks, Texas (Hooks)
Comment: Played in eight games last season and started against Oklahoma State and TCU.
Ta'Quon Graham DE Temple, Texas (Temple)
Comment: Emerged into a starter last season and is expected to move inside and start at defensive tackle this season. Solid contributor.
Gary Johnson LB Douglas, Ala. (Dodge City CC/Douglas)
Comment: Played in 26 games with 20 starts. Spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington in the offseason last year.
Derek Kerstetter OL San Antonio, Texas (Reagan)
Comment: He has played just about every offensive line position in 35 games (26 starts). He has been a huge asset on the offensive line, and will start at center this season.
Reese Leitao TE Jenks, Okla. (Jenks)
Comment: Recently switched from tight end to defensive end in an effort to see playing time this season. He has a chance to have an impact.
Damion Miller WR Tyler, Texas (John Tyler)
Comment: Was unable to qualify academically and went to a JuCo.
Jordan Pouncey WR Winter Park, Fla. (Winter Park)
Comment: Caught two passes for 19 yards in nine games last season. Transferred to Florida
Joshua Rowland K Madison, Miss. (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC/Madison Central)
Comment: Made 11-of-18 field goals in his first season before being replaced by Cameron Dicker.
Josh Thompson DB Nacogdoches, Texas (Nacogdoches)
Comment: Played in four games last season before breaking his foot. Has a chance to contribute on special teams and be in the defensive back rotation this season.
Daniel Young RB Houston, Texas (Westfield)
Comment: Started in five consecutive games as a freshman before falling behind Tre Watson and Keaontay Ingram in 2018. Solid player off the bench.
Eleven of the 18 players in Herman’s transition class have started at one point during the past three seasons. Bimage will be in the mix to start this year, Thompson will contribute, and Leitao is a wildcard with upside. There were not many busts in that class.
"There is validity (in rankings),” Herman said on signing day in 2017. “Again, every analytic you look at, you want to look at the correlation and causation of top-ten recruiting classes and 10-, 11-, 12-win championship seasons. It exists. It's real. Usually a five-star kid has five-star talent. Those guys usually aren't overranked in terms of athletic ability. What the rankings don't do, though, is they don't crack their chest open and look at their heart. They don't look at their work ethic. They don't look at what their coaches say about them. They don't look at any of those things. So, for us, that was finding that there are a lot of three- and four-star guys that are undervalued, in my opinion, because of all of those intangibles. So, it was our job to go find some of those guys, and some of those guys we had relationships already.
"So, I don't frown upon the rankings. I think they're real. But to have a realistic expectation of a transition class that only signs 19, 20 guys to be in the Top 10. I mean, that's silly. Are we going to be there next year? Absolutely. Absolutely, we will. But, man, am I proud of how the staff went about their business of finding these guys that can win a national championship at the University of Texas that may have that extra something that rankings can't and don't ever or will ever see."
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Speaking of 2017, I decided to research the success of college football hired prior to that season to see where Herman ranked. When it comes to Power Five programs, only Lincoln Riley and Ed Orgeron have a better record than Herman.
Here are the records of those coaches:
1. Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma
12-2 in 2017, 12-2 in 2018, 12-2 in 2019
Overall record: 36-6
2. Ed Orgeron, LSU
9-4 in 2017, 10-3 in 2018, 15-0 in 2019
Overall record: 34-7
3. Lane Kiffin, FAU
11-3 in 2017, 5-7 in 2018; 11-3 in 2019
Overall record: 27-13
4. Luke Fickell, Cincinnati
4-8 in 2017, 11-2 in 2018, 11-3 in 2019
Overall record: 26-13
5. Jeff Tedford, Fresno State
10-4 in 2017, 12-2 in 2018, 4-8 in 2019
Overall record: 26-14
6. Tom Herman, Texas
7-6 in 2017, 10-4 in 2018, 8-5 in 2019
Overall record: 25-15
7. P.J. Fleck, Minnesota
5-7 in 2017, 7-6 in 2018, 11-2 in 2019
Overall record: 23-15
8. Butch Davis, Florida International
8-5 in 2017, 9-4 in 2018; 6-7 in 2019
Overall record: 23-16
9. Charlie Strong, USF
10-2 in 2017, 7-6 in 2018, 4-8 in 2019
Overall record: 21-16
10. Tim Lester, Western Michigan
6-6 in 2017, 7-6 in 2018, 7-6 in 2019
Overall record: 20-18
11. Justin Wilcox, Cal
5-7 in 2017, 7-6 in 2018, 8-5 in 2019
Overall record: 20-18
12. Matt Rhule, Baylor
1-11 in 2017, 7-6 in 2018, 11-3 in 2019
Overall record: 19-20
13. Geoff Collins, Temple/Georgia Tech
7-6 in 2017, 8-4 in 2018; 3-9 at (GT)
Overall record: 18-19
14. Tom Allen, Indiana
5-7 in 2017, 5-7 in 2018, 8-5 in 2019
Overall record: 18-19
15. Jay Norvell, Nevada
3-9 in 2017, 8-5 in 2018, 7-6 in 2019
Overall record: 18-20
16. Jeff Brohm, Purdue
7-6 in 2017, 6-7 in 2018, 4-8 in 2019
Overall record: 17-21
17. Shawn Elliott, Georgia State
7-5 in 2017, 2-10 in 2018, 7-6 in 2019
Overall record: 16-21
18. Major Applewhite, Houston
7-5 in 2017, 8-5 in 2018
Overall record: 15-10
19. Mike Sanford, Western Kentucky
6-7 in 2017, 3-9 in 2018
Overall record: 9-16
20. Willie Taggart, FSU
7-5 in 2017 (Oregon), 5-7 in 2018 (FSU), 4-5 in 2019
Overall record: 9-12
21. Brett Brennan, San Jose State
2-11 in 2017, 1-11 in 2018, 5-7 in 2019
Overall record: 8-29
22. Randy Edsall, UConn
3-9 in 2017, 1-11 in 2018, 2-10 in 2019
Overall record: 6-30
Photo via USA Today
Funniest Things You Will See This Week
This might be the funniest thing you see this year
The kid is traumatized, but props to his parents for having that bedroom stamina
The crazy thing is she never blinked
This is the best example of irony
Sports On A Dime
1. A few weeks ago, Shaka Smart’s departure from Texas appeared to be a done deal. That embarrassing loss against Iowa State appeared to be the nail in the coffin. However, that win against Texas Tech has continued the most unexpected rise from the ashes in college basketball this season. Courtney Ramey’s three-pointer near the end of that game was huge. Andrew Jones, Matt Coleman, Brock Cunningham and Royce Hamm Jr. have been tremendous. This has been one heck of a run.
2. I cannot say enough great things about Greg Brown III. If Smart gets his team to the tournament, that might be enough for Brown to sign with Texas. I cannot wait for the next update from @DustinMcComas
3. Collin Johnson benched pressed 225-pounds 17 times at the combine, tied for eighth-best at the combine (Wisconsin’s Quintez Cephus led the wideouts with 23 reps). Malcolm Roach did it 20 times (Ohio State’s DaVon Hamilton led all defensive linemen with 33 reps). I am definitely impressed with Johnson.
4. Former Texas receiver Devin Duvernay has a shot to hear his name called on day two.
5. LSU has lost quarterback Joe Burrow, receiver Justin Jefferson, passing coordinator Joe Brady, and now running backs coach Tommie Robinson, a former assistant at Texas. Texas vs. LSU is several months away. However, the Tigers are going to have an uphill battle to duplicate last year’s success.
6. Jalen Hurts was 38-4 as a starter at Alabama, where he won a national championship in 2016. At Oklahoma, Hurts threw for 3,851 yards and 32 touchdowns while rushing for 1,298 yards and 20 more scores last fall, and was a Heisman Trophy finalist. Yet, a reporter asked Hurts if he would switch positions if asked by an NFL team? Yeah, sometimes reporters ask dumb questions.
7. Say this one louder for those in the back of the room
8. It looks like we are going to avoid an NFL lockout next year since the players and owners are singing Kumbaya. According to ESPN, “The new CBA calls for a 17-game regular season, which is expected to begin in 2021; more roster spots; a shortened preseason; a higher percentage of revenue for players; and upgraded pensions for former players. The owners also agreed to eliminate the $250,000 cap on earnings for players when they get the extra game check for the 17-game season.” This went a lot smoother than previous negotiations, thank goodness.
9. That is one way to spin it.
10. Boxers always blame everyone else for their loss. If you follow the sport, boxers will blame promoters, managers, trainers, training location, nutritionist, referees, judges, and anything else possible after a loss. However, this is a new one. Deontay Wilder blamed his loss against Tyson Fury on the ridiculous costume he wanted to wear before the fight. Unless Wilder learns how to box and not rely on his punching power, Fury will pound his opponent again in the rematch.
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