And... we're not quite done with 2015 just yet. Charlie and crew still putting in work. Preferred walk-on offer to: Jose Blankenship QB Klein Oak HS
Report: Texas wants to add QB Jose Blankenship as preferred walk-on
If everything goes right with the admissions process, the
preferred walk-on in the 2015 class.
According to Horns Digest, the 6'1, 190-pound passer was in contact with assistant head coach for the offense/quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson recently to learn of the potential roster spot in Austin.
A one-year starter at Klein Oak, Blankenship helped the team to a 10-4 record after a 5-5 season and threw for 1,978 yards and 14 touchdowns to go along with 810 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.
With listed 4.59 speed in the 40-yard dash, Blankenship is an effective runner in the read option game and can scramble to gain yardage or to make plays down the field in the passing game.
In fact, he seems to be most comfortable throwing on the run moving in either direction, exhibiting decent arm strength and touch when doing so.
Blankenship describes himself as similar to former Texas quarterback Major Applewhite and the comparison fits because of a general sense that Blankenship can make the plays necessary to win, though he's a better athlete than Applewhite, but not as strong of a natural passer.
The concern is that he has a little bit of a gunslinger mentality, throwing balls back across his body on the run and trying to hit some small windows that won't be available in college.
If Blankenship does receive his admission into the school and enrolls as a member of the team, the odds of him seeing the field aren't especially high, but there are instances of preferred walk-ons receiving playing time in the Big 12 recently, as former Lake Travis quarterback
Baker Mayfield started at Texas Tech as a true freshman before landing a scholarship at Oklahoma. And Vincent Testaverde also played last season for the Red Raiders due to injuries.
Ultimately, Blankenship would merely be insurance against a rash of injuries and some competition in the quarterback room, but right now, Texas could use both of those things.