We're almost exactly a week out from National Signing Day. This week, the Texas coaches are out on the road visiting everyone who is left on UT's radar (as well as several 2017 prospects). At this point, we're all waiting for some earth-shattering news to drop in the way of some commitments.
While we wait for those big developments, a few recruiting notes I've picked up over the last 24 hours or so ...
--- A week ago, Texas was the clear leader for tight end Irvin Smith. I heard about Smith's intentions to decommit from A&M a couple weeks ago, and at that time I was told things looked really, really good for the Longhorns. Everything I had heard since then was the same.
That being said, he had an Alabama visit on the books and I always felt that one could be big. I'm not going to say it was a game-changer, but I'm told the Tide have definitely made this one more interesting than it was before his visit.
"Right now, he's dead split between the two," one source said. "He's in a lot of stress right now trying to pick. He only has a week and a couple days to pick where he's going to spend the next four or five years so he's really stressed about it."
Texas head coach Charlie Strong was supposed to do an in-home with Smith on Sunday night but Smith was delayed in getting back from his Bama visit, so that meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday night. That may be a good thing, with Nick Saban expected to his own in-home either Wednesday or Thursday.
The in-homes will likely determine things, but if I'm guessing tonight, before those visits, I give the slightest edge to Texas. Smith was leaning strongly to UT before his Alabama visit and his teammate (Peyton Aucoin) is committed to Texas. My gut tells me he comes back to his original leaning and the Horns win out, but this one is truly undecided and probably too close to call right now.
--- In case you missed it, Charlie Strong did a visit with DT Michael Williams this morning. Not to be outdone, Stanford head coach David Shaw did his in-home tonight.
Williams has maintained following his UT visit that he's still committed to Stanford, but he has said he won't have a final decision until National Signing Day.
--- When he decommitted from Oklahoma, most people thought DT Chris Daniels would chose from either Texas or Texas A&M. In talking to some people this week, the Sooners are still very much involved.
Daniels is scheduled to visit Texas A&M this weekend so this thing could still change course, but form what I hear, Texas feels really good about its chances. I agree.
--- You all have heard me say that I don't think Texas gets Dontavious Jackson unless he visits campus before NSD. That visit is expected to take place this weekend.
Looks good for Texas, right? I think so, but in talking to a source from the Florida State side of things, the water is a little more murky.
FSU feels Alabama is actually its biggest threat (Jackson visited Bama last weekend) but the person I spoke with admitted that you cannot count out Texas if Jackson makes it to Austin.
Bottom line ... Jackson doesn't say much so it's hard to get a good feel on what he'll do. A month ago, when he was talking about taking an unofficial visit to FSU right before signing day, I felt the Seminoles were the strong leader. It's harder to predict now, but I still think Texas regains the edge if/when he visits. That's me projecting some that it will be a good visit, but that's generally a pretty safe bet.
--- As tough as Dontavious Jackson is to read, Kyle Porter may be even harder to figure out.
There continues to be a lot of talk that TCU is the team to beat, but others feel the Longhorns are still in the mix, mostly because Porter has a good relationship with Charlie Strong.
Truthfully though, I haven't talked to one person who really has a good feel on what Porter is going to do. He'll visit Arkansas this week and with Porter's unpredictability, it's not out of the question that the Razorbacks could figure into the mix.
--- The focus is on 2016, but there are some 2017 notes worth mentioning as well ...
Charlie Strong this week stopped by Cedar Hill, which is always loaded (including UT 2017 offer Camron Buckley). Last Friday, he stopped by Houston Episcopal to check on OT Walker Little and DT Marvin Wilson.
Of note, I've had a couple 2017 recruits tell me they believe Texas will host a junior day on February 27, so file that date away. But several others have told me they have not heard of a date so I wouldn't consider that one locked in just yet.
While we wait for those big developments, a few recruiting notes I've picked up over the last 24 hours or so ...
--- A week ago, Texas was the clear leader for tight end Irvin Smith. I heard about Smith's intentions to decommit from A&M a couple weeks ago, and at that time I was told things looked really, really good for the Longhorns. Everything I had heard since then was the same.
That being said, he had an Alabama visit on the books and I always felt that one could be big. I'm not going to say it was a game-changer, but I'm told the Tide have definitely made this one more interesting than it was before his visit.
"Right now, he's dead split between the two," one source said. "He's in a lot of stress right now trying to pick. He only has a week and a couple days to pick where he's going to spend the next four or five years so he's really stressed about it."
Texas head coach Charlie Strong was supposed to do an in-home with Smith on Sunday night but Smith was delayed in getting back from his Bama visit, so that meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday night. That may be a good thing, with Nick Saban expected to his own in-home either Wednesday or Thursday.
The in-homes will likely determine things, but if I'm guessing tonight, before those visits, I give the slightest edge to Texas. Smith was leaning strongly to UT before his Alabama visit and his teammate (Peyton Aucoin) is committed to Texas. My gut tells me he comes back to his original leaning and the Horns win out, but this one is truly undecided and probably too close to call right now.
--- In case you missed it, Charlie Strong did a visit with DT Michael Williams this morning. Not to be outdone, Stanford head coach David Shaw did his in-home tonight.
Williams has maintained following his UT visit that he's still committed to Stanford, but he has said he won't have a final decision until National Signing Day.
--- When he decommitted from Oklahoma, most people thought DT Chris Daniels would chose from either Texas or Texas A&M. In talking to some people this week, the Sooners are still very much involved.
Daniels is scheduled to visit Texas A&M this weekend so this thing could still change course, but form what I hear, Texas feels really good about its chances. I agree.
--- You all have heard me say that I don't think Texas gets Dontavious Jackson unless he visits campus before NSD. That visit is expected to take place this weekend.
Looks good for Texas, right? I think so, but in talking to a source from the Florida State side of things, the water is a little more murky.
FSU feels Alabama is actually its biggest threat (Jackson visited Bama last weekend) but the person I spoke with admitted that you cannot count out Texas if Jackson makes it to Austin.
Bottom line ... Jackson doesn't say much so it's hard to get a good feel on what he'll do. A month ago, when he was talking about taking an unofficial visit to FSU right before signing day, I felt the Seminoles were the strong leader. It's harder to predict now, but I still think Texas regains the edge if/when he visits. That's me projecting some that it will be a good visit, but that's generally a pretty safe bet.
--- As tough as Dontavious Jackson is to read, Kyle Porter may be even harder to figure out.
There continues to be a lot of talk that TCU is the team to beat, but others feel the Longhorns are still in the mix, mostly because Porter has a good relationship with Charlie Strong.
Truthfully though, I haven't talked to one person who really has a good feel on what Porter is going to do. He'll visit Arkansas this week and with Porter's unpredictability, it's not out of the question that the Razorbacks could figure into the mix.
--- The focus is on 2016, but there are some 2017 notes worth mentioning as well ...
Charlie Strong this week stopped by Cedar Hill, which is always loaded (including UT 2017 offer Camron Buckley). Last Friday, he stopped by Houston Episcopal to check on OT Walker Little and DT Marvin Wilson.
Of note, I've had a couple 2017 recruits tell me they believe Texas will host a junior day on February 27, so file that date away. But several others have told me they have not heard of a date so I wouldn't consider that one locked in just yet.
