Hornsfan91

IT’s Inside Scoop JORDON THOMASThe Port Arthur Memorial defensive end and newest Texas commit has flown a bit under the radar during his recruitment, but he’s been a priority for Texas for a long-time. UT was very early to offer when most, including yours truly, had never heard of him.His lighter profile is mostly due to missing his junior year, a year I believe he was going to become a household name.I base that on three things. First is talks with TexAgs’ Ryan Brauninger who saw Thomas at practice just before his injury. Brauninger was effusive in his praise of Thomas, even using the word “freak.” Brauny made it sound like Thomas was a surefire top-10 player in the state.Secondly, I’ve heard similar from coaching circles. Here’s an old exchange: “He ran the 100m and 200m as a sophomore. My buddy who’s at Texas Southern was there the same day as Oscar Giles during Thomas’ sophomore year and he called to tell me this dude is going to be the top player in the country.”Thirdly, here’s a coach at Port Arthur Memorial: “He was 6-3, 245 as a sophomore in high school. He was pushing 255 before COVID and could be 260-plus by the time he gets to UT.”We don’t know what his senior year will look like, but the similarities to Ta’Quon Graham are pretty noticeable. Graham exited high school at 260 pounds and also was a little under-appreciated, mainly due to an injury that considerably hampered him throughout his senior year. Graham was forced to play 4i early in his career, but would have been a better fit for defensive end initially. As a physically mature senior with plenty of experience Graham can play down to 3-tech with ease. I expect a similar developmental curve to Thomas, though he’s more athletic and will have the benefit of playing a true defensive end early in his career.MICHAEL JACKSON“The H receiver position is really the one that if you built it in a lab, the two that we have right now in Jake Smith and Jordan Whittington would be that. Guys that have played tailback in high school and guys that can get open in space and are durable enough to take the hits that slot receivers take quite frequently.”That quote is from Tom Herman’s chat with PJC and Inside Texas.I’m coining the position ‘slot machine’ because I like the fitting double entendre. We’ll see if fetch is going to happen.An aside: Herman excluded Lil’Jordan Humphrey, but he played running back at a high level in high school despite being 6-foot-4. Remember how I said there’s no real point in evaluating for the express purpose of finding a LJH clone? That’s because it’s a mostly futile task. It’s easier to find the Duvernays, Whittingtons, and Smiths. And those guys aren’t all that easy to find.Michael Jackson III from Desert Pines in Las Vegas fits the profile. He plays with noticeable power after the catch along with quickness. He certainly has running back traits with a thick, durable build.He’s a composite 3-star, but 247 has him the highest as an 88. That number fits inside the 3-star/4-star margin of error. He’s a good player and if UT filled the JoJo Earle void with Jackson and Theo Knox, I’d be pleased.Jackson seems to be a culture fit. Here’s our exchange:You’re a new name to me, can you catch me up on your recruiting?:“Yes, no problem. I started taking trips about this time last year, my sophomore year. I've visited Miami, UNLV, Cal-Berkeley, Utah, UCLA, Oregon, West Virginia, Arizona, USC, Arizona State, Tennessee, Nevada, Oregon State, and Georgia. I've attended camps at West Virginia, Georgia, UNLV, Cal, USC, UCLA, and Miami. Before the pandemic caused schools to close their campuses, my coach and parents had scheduled trips to Washington, Texas, Michigan, Texas A&M, Baylor, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Florida, and back to Miami and Georgia. All of these trips were supposed to happen in the months of March through June.”You’re on the move. How long have you been talking to Texas?“I've been talking to Texas’ coaches for a couple of months now. My older brother Jamil was in the Army and lives near Houston now and has been really on me for about a year now to take a close look at Texas.”Just finished watching your Hudl. Does Jamil want you to look at Texas because it’s close to him or another reason?“Yeah, mostly because of him. But he's also stressed to me how much football is beloved by Texas residents. The history, the tradition... it’s all very appealing!”I see some Devin Duvernay to your game.“Love Duvernay's game! I watched him a lot. Like his game and I definitely see the similarities between us. I've also seen how Texas' offense has been under Coach Herman. Really explosive, fast, and uses the slot receivers a lot which is really interesting, very intriguing.”I know we’re in a holding pattern but do you have a broad idea of when you’ll decide what OVs to take and ultimately make a decision?“Yeah the COVID-19 pandemic has altered things a little bit but I had planned to make a decision towards the start of the fall football season, but now that could possibly change to an earlier date. I haven't really solidified any official visit dates yet. I've talked possible OV dates with a few schools but it's just really hard to schedule officials and make those dates stick right now. I do still plan on taking all five visits but we'll see.”Do you know what you want to study?“I plan on studying engineering or business (with an emphasis on marketing).”ANDREW MUKUBAThe 2021 Austin LBJ safety has emerged as a top target at the position for Texas. He’s high on Texas, Clemson, Alabama, LSU, and OU. The sentiment I’ve picked up on is he feels all of his offers are committable. I’ve heard Clemson is pushing hard, including Dabo Swinney himself. Nick Saban has also been involved for Alabama, though he tends to be involved in a lot of recruitments.With kids committing earlier due to so much uncertainty, Texas needs to keep the pressure on.TEAMI’m hoping for a quick hitter on team for today. I’m waiting to hear back from some people.From: @Justin Wells MORE JORDON THOMAS It happened a little sooner than expected and that's the only surprise.It seemed for the longest time that Texas had a great shot at Thomas’ services. He instantly bonded with DL coach Oscar Giles and loved the family atmosphere. Give the Horns' staff credit for getting in on him early.LSU, OU, Texas A&M, and others were among his many scholarship offers, but at the end of the day this kid was never going far from home. A&M's Terry Price made a credible push, but over the last four months it seemed the burnt orange was his silent leader. His main reason for committing to Texas?"One of the reasons was the state on my chest, family on my back," Thomas told Inside Texas. "Always family."After missing his junior year to injury, Thomas is healthy and ready to finish his high school career strong."I'm working to get better on my football technique and better awareness with my eyes," said Thomas. "I just want to get better."A big factor was his grandfather, who Thomas lives with. I'm told he was a big fan of Texas once he visited campus last February, and is very fond of Giles and the UT staff. What type of player will the Longhorns be getting in Thomas?"Humble and hungry, with ruthless aggression," Thomas said.His high school coach, Brian Morgan, just gushes over his 2021 talent. Great kid, high character, and hard worker are attributes you hear the most. Texas just got a junkyard dog that won't complain, will be versatile enough to play a few spots on the defensive line, and is only hungry for success. Giles, keep Gilin'.ANDREW JONES If there was a checklist for linebackers, 2021's Andrew Jones would check most of the boxes.The 6-foot-1, 210-pound inside linebacker out of John Ehret High School in Marrero, LA tracks and smacks. This dude can hit.If Jones is the guy you target after Jaydon Williams, who chose Arizona State on Friday, it might actually be an upgrade. He tallied 137 tackles (98 solo) with 42 tackles for loss in 2019 for the southern Louisiana program."Recruitment has been great," said Jones. "I have literally have nothing to complain about."With 20+ offers, Jones is getting the attention his film deserves."I'm talking to Georgia, FSU, Mississippi State, SMU, Houston, and Texas Tech a lot," said Jones. "I'm looking for team chemistry. I don't want to be too close but not too far from home, and playing time will be a factor."But what about the new Texas offer?"They are one of my top schools," said Jones. "I want to visit them as soon as I can. I hear great things."He's starting to build a relationship with the UT staff including new LB coach Coleman Hutzler. This is one of those talents that if LSU overlooks, somebody will receive a nice surprise when signing day arrives. Seeing Austin is the first priority.LANDON HULLABY When Jaden Hullaby committed to UT's Class of 2020 last spring, it was only a matter of time before his little brother, Landon, picked up a Texas offer.The siblings began at Dallas Bishop Dunne then transferred to Mansfield Timberview to begin the 2019 season. Landon, 6-foot-0, 185-pound junior-to-be is classified as an athlete, a lot like his older brother. The District 6-5A defensive newcomer of the year as a sophomore excels on both sides of the ball, but safety or linebacker might be his ticket at the next level.With 17 offers including Tennessee, Nebraska, USC, Georgia Tech, and TCU, Hullaby has a nice start to his recruitment."It’s been starting to get pretty interesting lately with new schools coming into the picture," said Landon. "I kind of already know what the local schools are offering. I want to get out and see the schools I haven’t seen before."Taking recruiting visits seems to be on every prospect's mind these days. They, like us, desire a return to normalcy. Either way, Landon already knows what he wants in a college."I'm looking for somewhere the coaches are developing their players and somewhere I can have a great life after football and just a great college atmosphere," said Landon.As for his Texas offer, I think he was a little surprised.“It felt great,” said Landon. "And yeah you know (Jaden) is going to do some recruiting. He still wants me to do my own thing though and what’s best for me."Like most big brothers. At the end of the day, Texas is recruiting the 2022 athlete just like Jaden; as an athletic fit and culture fit that will find their best spot once they hit campus.NOTE ON SHEMAR TURNER The Desoto four-star defensive tackle had a great Zoom call with the Texas staff the other day. I'm told he likes the new scheme, and is training some with current UT defensive lineman Jacoby Jones. He's been telling Turner the new defensive front will get him drafted, which is positive news to any highJordon Thomas and Denton Ryan's Ja'Tavion Sanders have the makings of another solid defensive line haul after the additions of Vernon Broughton, Alfred Collins, and Sawyer Goram-Welch in 2020.UT is squarely in the middle of this one, but it likely has a ways to go.

Fud,do you live in Louisiana?

IT Friday Humidor TEAMIf you read something redundant this week it’s because we heard that info again.- In February we noted junior-to-be DeMarvion Overshown was moved to linebacker. We’ve learned former Plano East standout Tyler Owens was also moved to linebacker before the team left campus seemingly six months ago. From the moment of his arrival, new defensive coordinator Chris Ash has made it clear he wants to have the fastest defense in the country. Having a linebacker who ran the 100m in the 10.3 range in high school is one way to accomplish that. Owens is able to make this move because of his size, but he’s also more of a downhill, straight-line player to begin with while Ash prioritizes hips and coverage in the back-end.- Redshirt junior Josh Thompson is going to start out at corner when football resumes, but he has the versatility to slide over to the Spur (nickel), or maybe even boundary safety. Thompson will be interesting to watch because the new staff is said to be high on his athleticism. When asking a source about player versus player competitions, he mentioned corner is really a three-way battle between Thompson, Jalen Green, and D’Shawn Jamison. He said it’s too hard to handicap the winners but feels Jamison might emerge as the best corner on the team. Ash has made mention that a lead boundary corner, along with an elite edge rusher, are the keys to a championship caliber defense. The battle for boundary corner will be the battle for best corner on the team.- Caden Sterns and Chris Brown would be your starting safeties if Texas played a game tomorrow. The staff loves Brown’s mentality. They’re trying to get the most dogs on the field, guys who run to the ball. If you watched Brown last year, that pretty much defines him. - What’s unknown at safety is what happens when BJ Foster returns from injury. Without practice, or even the team being on campus, no players are getting ahead of Foster. He’s still a safety and if that remains when he’s healthy and the team returns to campus, then he’ll likely battle with Brown. We still haven’t heard much about dime looks and wonder if that role could have Foster’s name on it, or if it will end up going to the runner-up at nickel. Or the third corner. So many defensive backs.- Chris Adimora's phenomenal Alamo Bowl performance versus Utah left an impression on the incoming staff. He'd be your starting Spur if fall camp began today. This decision will be about trade-offs. Adimora can cover very well for a safety, but he doesn’t cover as well as Cook. Cook is physical for a corner, but not as physical or powerful as Adimora. That’s another battle our sources say is too close to call, though Adimora holds a slight edge.- With Denzel Okafor electing to remain at Texas, the offensive line should be set, at least as far as the starting point goes. That o-line would be Sam Cosmi-Junior Angilau-Derek Kerstetter-Denzel Okafor-Christian Jones. We’re sure we’ll hear about other configurations as Hand tinkers but this is most likely.- Our source said the main battle on offense will be between Jake Smith and Jordan Whittington. Whittington has to prove he’s fully back and can remain healthy while returning to his native receiver position. It won’t take him long to re-acclimate but Smith will prove tough to unseat. It’s still unknown how much new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich will elect to be in 11 personnel. Our source concedes 10 personnel would be very dangerous.- Another battle to watch doesn’t matter all that much because both Keaontay Ingram and Roschon Johnson will play a lot, possibly even at the same time. But everyone wants to be called the starter and Ingram and Johnson will push each other. Our sources want to see the Ingram who shows flashes of brilliance consistently while they’re very excited to see Johnson with some more time at running back under his belt. The staff is selling two back sets on the recruiting trail, so hopefully we see it, especially with Bijan Robinson on the way.- We’re hearing redshirt freshman wide receiver Kennedy Lewis should return to the team when everyone else does. That said, he and another player may be facing a suspension to start the season. “So who’s the other player.” Welcome to Inside Texas, this must be your first day! We’ll let the school handle that.- The working assumption is still the players will return to campus on June 1st but obviously that isn’t set in stone. Either way, they need to stay focused and keep working hard. The players know workouts are going to be brutal when they eventually do return.STATE OF RECRUITINGWith plenty of time on their hands, the Texas staff has been vigilant in its evaluations over the last few weeks. Time is something college coaches don't have much of to begin with, so this new downtime has allowed for more Hudl watching and time to build new relationships. New names are popping up seemingly daily.We’ll take a look at a couple of those names and also check in on a pair of priority targets who dropped their list of top schools with the Longhorns firmly inscribed.Jaydon Williams, LB - South Oak Cliff (2021): The 6-foot-1, 195-pound outside linebacker was offered this week and looks to be a clear fit at Will in Chris Ash's defensive scheme. He holds 20 offers, including Colorado, Arizona State, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Texas Tech. But that Texas offer hit hard. Of all the recent verbal invitations, Williams might be the one that you can pencil in this cycle. Texas is his dream school, not a dream school. His 32 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and five sacks in seven games helped SOC to the second round of the 5A-DII playoffs in 2019. He’s raw but a natural football player and pure athlete. He was offered by Coach Hutzler but was also supposed to talk to Coach Herman on Thursday. We’re not sure if that conversation happened but we’ve heard Texas is big on Williams. If they press, like we think, this one should go according to plan.Jordon Thomas, OLB/DE - Port Arthur Memorial (2021): When the four-star from the Golden Triangle dropped his final Top 2, Texas and A&M were the last teams standing. The key here is his family may prefer Austin to College Station and that carries a lot of weight in Thomas' eyes. Thomas, who missed his junior season due to injury but has been on the mend, would feature as a swing defensive linemen, perhaps eventually growing into a defensive tackle. Think Lamarr Houston. He says he doesn't want to decide until August/September or the end of his senior year, but we'd pick Texas if he made his choice today. He’ll be a priority for us to see when he’s back in action.Deuce Harmon, DB - Denton Guyer (2021): It took long enough but the Texas staff extended an offer to the four-star defensive back one of the best pound for pound athletes in the state. After an impressive showing at the SMU/Texas satellite camp in Dallas last June where he recorded a laser timed 4.4 40, former cornerback coach Jason Washington became a big fan. Still, an offer didn’t happen for Harmon and the staff overhaul didn’t help much either as the new coaches surveyed the landscape. First viewed as a nickel, the UT staff now sees him as a cornerback. Harmon was always fond of the Horns, but the lack of attention pushed him in a different direction, like A&M. The Aggies are the current leader for the Guyer stud. It'll be an uphill battle for the staff. We’ll get a good idea of Jay Valai’s recovery speed.Ishmael Ibraheem, CB - Dallas Kimball (2021): While Jordon Thomas only listed two schools, the state's top corner dropped his Top 10 with Texas squarely in the mix. I don't believe there's a decision timeline here yet and he seems genuinely open. He's a must-get in the staff's eyes and they'll ride this thing until the end.JD Coffey, S - Kennedale (2021): You know the story here; the previous staff liked Coffey, but then turned sour towards the end of last season. Then when Ash and Valai joined the Texas staff, Coffey was viewed as being similar to previous cycle takes like Jerrin Thompson and Xavion Alford. This week, the four-star dropped his Top 6 with the Longhorns logo making the cut. The staff has kept in contact but also likes Andrew Mukuba (Austin LBJ) and Isaiah Nwokobia (Dallas Skyline). I believe the staff is starting to warm to the idea of Coffey being a legitimate take. We’ll see how it plays out, but for now, let’s hope @Ktown777 ‘s Lloyd Dobler impression doesn’t hurt the staff’s chances.Brenen Thompson, ATH - Spearman (2022): There's fast, then there's Brenen Thompson fast. The sophomore from west Texas ran a 10.44 100 meters early in the season. That's flat-out flying and the speed shows up on tape. Add to the mix his versatility and quickness, and it's easy to see why he's the hottest in-state recruit for the Class of 2022. Nebraska, TCU, and Baylor were among his early offers, but when Texas gave him the verbal invitation three days ago, his stock jumped through the roof. Alabama, OU, and Texas A&M followed with offers over the last 48 hours to the 5-foot-10, 165-pound four-star athlete. His coach Aaron Witten calls him, "the fastest player he's ever seen." Thompson is just enjoying the new found popularity and isn't in any hurry to make a decision. He's barely seen a college campus so unofficials are on the agenda when they become possible. Texas sees Thompson as an offensive threat at the next level but they’re recruiting him as an athlete.

IT’s Humidor 4/3/2020 STATE OF RECRUITINGThank God the month of March is in the rearview mirror. Thirty-one days never felt so long.No spring ball. No recruiting visits. The new normals are virtual dinners and Zoom meetings allowing for relationship building in these social distancing times.The beauty of technology is how Texas coaches can still recruit through myriad devices across myriad platforms. If there was one thing the newly-shuffled UT staff needed to do for the 2021 class, it was getting to know the priorities much more intimately over the next nine months. Timelines being extended is one possible silver lining for UT football. It allows for more relationship building. We said the new staff would have to hit the trail with enthusiasm to regain momentum lost from the 2020 season. Despite the current circumstances, we feel they’re doing just that.Texas is ticking up for some high-yield talent that should pay dividends. Some will pay quarterly, some won’t pay until NSD1 in Q4.The month of April should allow staff members to continue to grow these bonds, one virtual family dinner at a time.With the VIX reaching all time highs, let’s get you your recruiting fix.- The Brockermeyers have long been a solid brick and mortar buy. If they were stocks they’d be long-time fixtures in the DJIA. Today, we’d take Texas over the field with confidence slightly up recently. Morningstar would rate the Brockermeyers a buy, and we would as well. We think when it’s said and done, Tommy and James will join their brother Luke in Austin. They’re like Walmart or Microsoft. Buy when it’s up, buy when it’s down.- Texas High DE/OLB Clayton Smith continues to trend toward the Longhorns. The staff has accurately judged him to be a growth fund worth investing in. UT was on Smith earlier than most schools, and hosted him on multiple visits including in February of 2019 when Eric thought he was white based off his name. OU and LSU are the threats, but if Giles and the staff stay the course, I like Texas’ chances here. The staff views Smith near the top of its watch-list.- The same things said of Smith probably can probably be said for Pleasant Grove four-star Landon Jackson. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound future college defensive end was set to begin taking official visits this month, but that’s not going to happen. He’ll try to cram in as many officials as possible into the summer because he’s determined to commit before the start of his senior year. Texas A&M and LSU are the threats here, but the Horns still look strong for the two-time state champ from Texarkana. Like the Brockermeyers and Smith, Jackson is a FAANG stock. The class, like your portfolio, would be empty without him. Hopefully you bought this one early when @aggiecutter and Justin were advising you to.- When Lubbock Coronado’s Sawyer Robertson committed to Mississippi State this week, it definitively removed one of Mike Yurcich’s options. Flower Mound Marcus’ Garrett Nussmeier is now by his lonesome as a possibility, but we’re staying away from this bargain stock even at its attractive price. LSU is his most likely landing spot. We don’t think Texas will reach for a second take just to take one. As we’ve reported previously, adding a second QB to the class wasn’t the most popular decision to begin with. No need to chase alpha when you already have one.- Humble Atascocita tight end Landen King has seen his stock jump this week. Maybe he has the vaccine! The Texas fan picked up Georgia and Alabama offers, among others, so he might not exactly be the slam dunk we once thought. We still think the Horns are in the lead, but offers from programs like that always get kids’ attention. It’s important to note that King is big on relationships and UT got a jump on many schools. It was UT’s confidence buy, akin to the Oracle signing off on a stock, that jump-started his rise. Georgia and Bama offering could be a good thing. Certainly they won’t recruit King as hard as Texas and he’ll notice the difference.- We think there’s a good chance Texas gets one of LJ Johnson or Camar Wheaton in the 2021 class, with Hallettsville’s Jonathon Brooks likely taking the other spot. We think the number is two tailbacks this year, though that could change. Johnson’s stock has certainly dipped from his August/September highs but don’t realize those losses just yet. He’s going to take his time and Texas is still in the thick of it. He talked to Stan Drayton this week as well as Jalen Milroe. We’re not buying UT for Johnson as we once did, but we’re paying attention when his name scrolls on the ticker. We think there’s a chance Drayton asserts himself as a national recruiter in this calendar. Stanning for Stan might become a thing. Drayton’s already off to the races with 2022 running back Jaydon Blue who went on an offer tear this week. As for Wheaton, we’re a bit more bullish than we’ve been in a year and his stock is rebounding. We think Texas is in a decent position. Running back dominoes are always worth watching. If Johnson ended up at OU it could help Texas with Wheaton and vice versa.- It looks like Texas would be happy with a two-safety class, if that duo was Austin LBJ’s Andrew Mukuba and Dallas Skyline’s Isaiah Nwokobia. Our rating of Mukuba is two-fold: He currently likes OU, and his family didn’t travel halfway across the world so he could pass up a world-class education in the city they moved to so he could go to OU. His 30 ACT would automatically make him the smartest person in the state, akin to Buffet moving from Omaha to NYC. Texas has ground to make up and the staff is applying effort. Nwokobia is another smart one. We like UT’s position with him, but perhaps the ‘Rona pushes his decision back a little. Before this we’d have guessed him to join the class during the summer. He’s well built, which is the initial attention-getter, but it’s his fluidity that differentiates him. Chris Ash had virtual dinners with both this week. Essentially they FaceTime with the prospect and his family, and talk during dinner with Ash and his family. Again, the new normal in recruiting in 2020. As for 2022, it’s all-in on Aledo’s Bryan Allen Jr., who might be the state’s top safety prospect regardless of class. He’s basically a long awaited IPO with a five-star rating, and probably the third best prospect in the state for the 2022 class.- Allen’s teammate, JoJo Earle, has been trending back towards Austin following his unofficial on the 40 Acres before the shutdown. While he’s mentioned committing during or after his senior year, don’t be surprised if that’s pushed forward this summer if he finds the right fit. Watch OU and TCU here as they’re legit threats. A receiver class of him and Teddy Knox would be an ideal foundation to the pass-catching portion of 2021 as Yurcich looks to get more explosive. The staff wants both.- Dallas Kimball’s Ishmael Ibraheem made a very important spring visit before the virus acted as a circuit breaker. That visit enabled a face to face meeting with Jay Valai, who had some ground to make up after replacing Jason Washington. Ibraheem is viewed as the top corner in the state and a must-get. Texas replacing Washington, though necessary, did put Valai in a trail position. We think he has the recovery speed necessary to make up ground and make things interesting at the catch point. Ibraheem has a long way to go and we do have some concern he can be won over on a visit a la Jalen Kimber.- DeSoto’s Shemar Turner is going to be one of the big Q4 storylines. By then, Oscar Giles and Mark Hagen should have an excellent D-line class (it should be the overall strength of the class) with one big missing piece - an interior monster. In the past we’ve had some concerns about whether or not Turner would be open to being a tackle but like Alfred Collinsand Vernon Broughton we think he’s coming around to the idea. Like seeing green or red on the screen, the scale tends to smack you with reality. We like Turner as a long-term investment but he’s going to take visits during the season.If we didn’t mention a player it doesn’t indicate UT isn’t still in it for them. We’re just offering up what we’ve heard recently.You can’t time the bottom, but we feel strongly Texas is at the bottom currently. However, that bottom isn’t a bad place, it just represents things have nowhere to go but up from here. We think the staff is well positioned to keep improving its standing with a number of key players, we just need in-person contact to resume to solidify relationships and land some commitments.

Sawyer Robertson committed to the pirate

Here’s a link to an article saying he was returning to Lamar Consolidated. https://www.fbherald.com/free/lamar-consolidated-s-campbell-sets-choices/article_c7ad72ec-fdef-521a-897e-9a413f9a5e29.html

A few days ago it did. I’m not sure what happened though. Maybe he changed his mind? 🤷‍♂️

Seems like Christian Jones is ready.

IT Humidor Part II By: Justin Wells and Eric NahlinThe virus dominating your airwaves and decision making just didn’t affect the sporting schedule, but also recruiting.My initial takeaway on that is it’s a bigger problem for Texas than other schools, but not so much that it will change class outcomes. Texas has a whole lot of new faces, meaning many relationships are a bit behind the curve. This class of recruits have been recruited by other schools going back some time.Currently the NCAA has disallowed on or off campus visits until April 15th. If it ends there, Texas can swiftly overcome the lack of contact resume firming up relationships while recruits make it to campus. Because most of UT’s out-of-state targets have yet to visit, particularly at wide receiver and defensive back, those recruitments are yet to truly kick off anyway. Those recruitments will maintain the status quo with communication remaining heavy over social media and FaceTime. That’s how all the recruitments will go for the time being.Staffs that have maintained continuity will have a bit of an advantage, but those schools (OU, Ohio State, Clemson, Bama, Georgia) held the advantage anyway because of on-field success.Speaking of recruiting battles, let’s look at a handful of important ones as we enter the Holding Pattern. We’ll mention the biggest competition and remind the dear reader of where each recruitment currently sits.OL Tommy and James Brockermeyer (Fort Worth All Saints):Biggest competition: Alabama. Nick Saban offers a bunch in Texas every year, gets them to visit Tuscaloosa and take pictures in front of that wretched painting, and then selects the ones he actually wants. If Texas is going to land the Brothers Brockermeyer, they’ll have to beat Little Nicky. Good news, however, is the Brockermeyers have a bit of a mercenary attitude if the school isn’t going to be Texas. They won’t be as susceptible to Saban’s leverage games. The Brocks hold as much leverage as any other party involved and know it. If Texas comes out of the gates fast in September, this one could be “over” in October.RB Camar Wheaton (Lakeview Centennial)Biggest competition: Oklahoma with SMU trying to play spoiler. The state’s top rated tailback by most accounts is one of the quietest recruitments in the cycle. The growing sentiment is that he’ll stay close to home. He’s also a kid that has said he wants to wait. But every cycle has a few, out-of-nowhere, surprise commitments. We’ve heard multiple times he could drop out of nowhere, even dating back to when Texas led last spring. Wheaton does have a pretty unique and growing relationship with SMU quarterback commit Preston Stone, which is why we can’t entirely discount SMU. Not the most natural runner, he’s very explosive and would add a dynamic the offense hasn’t had in quite some time.DE Jordon Thomas (Port Arthur Memorial)Biggest competition: Texas A&M with LSU somewhat in the mix. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound four-star from the Golden Triangle has double-digit offers, but it’s basically a UT-A&M, Giles-Price, wings-steak matchup. Thomas values family tremendously, so staying close to home gives the in-state schools an advantage over everyone else. Texas loves his long-term projection and sees some possibility to grow into a spin-down d-tackle. As a prospect, we’re still not sure what his ceiling is. He missed his junior year, but we’ve heard some very encouraging things about his upside. If UT can land him, he’s one you celebrate. His timeline could be affected some by the recent developments but we still think a late spring or early summer decision is most likely.LB Terrence Cooks, Shadow Creek (Alvin, TX)Biggest competition: A&M and OU. UT is the greatest competition for each school to land Cooks, meaning I have UT in the lead. There’s a strong sentiment behind the scenes he likes Texas more than he’ll let on publicly. I agree with that sentiment. He has Texas kid written all over him.OLB/DE Clayton Smith, Texas High (Texarkana, TX)Biggest competition: LSU. Texas has always been near the top of the ETX four-star’s list, even before he received his offer. The contact has increased of late and he’s set to visit Austin for the spring game (if it’s played). Texas sees another versatile player that could be molded into a DE. He’s your twitchy edge bender and with the possibility Thomas grows into a defensive tackle there’s certainly room for him. It would be unfortunate if UT let’s him slip through the cracks to Baton Rouge, especially since Texas holds the relationship advantage here. A positive of Dave Aranda heading to Baylor is LSU has to start from scratch. Previously LSU had the best sell in the country for Smith.OLB/DE Landon Jackson, Pleasant Grove (Texarkana, TX)Biggest competition: Texas A&M. An old-fashioned Horns/Ags contest. Jackson, the A&M legacy, is set to take his first official visit in April to College Station, and his last to Austin in June. Playing opposite Texas pledge Ja’Tavion Sanders (Denton Ryan) might be one of Herman’s best selling points.CB Ishmael Ibraheem (Dallas Kimball)Biggest competition: The field. Top in-state corner on the big board, the four-star is said to be wide open in his recruitment today. It’s also known Texas is making up ground, inch by inch. This is where Jay Valai should thrive. Getting Ibraheem to campus earlier in the spring was big, especially given the precarious nature of visits going forward. Valai needs as much in-person exposure as possible. It’s going to be Texas or the field which is the type of top notch info you guys pay for! The field includes Georgia, LSU, Auburn, Michigan, with Mississippi State hanging around the hoop too thanks to Jason Washington.OL Bryce Foster (Katy Taylor)Biggest competition: A&M, but also OU and Oregon. We’ve gone over this one a lot recently. If throwing is truly important to Foster then Texas will be difficult to overcome. It’s not ideal the Texas track and field season was cut short, nor is it ideal the Texas Relays were canceled. Those aren’t major issues, but they don’t help. Foster won’t be able to see UT’s throwers excel, and he wont’ be able to participate himself in Austin. A&M does have advantages other’s can’t compete with, namely his mother and brother being Aggie legacies, but I don’t think that’s a game changer. Oregon is a real darkhorse and might be the perfect school for him, but distance doesn’t help them. Foster will take his official visit to Texas in June with his good friends Hayden Conner and Jalen Milroe.Overall Texas looks good in these key battles but there’s plenty of work left to be done.Like everyone else, the coaches are going to get a lot of family time in the coming days, but they’ll be staying in touch with recruits and players.

He has OU on his list

IT Friday’s Humidor Uncertainty plagues America and brings her to a screeching halt. The precariousness of our shared situation doesn't look like it will change in the immediate. The effects are felt everywhere, even at the school and within the programs you love and that we cover.We'll get through it of course. Hopefully we'll all gain renewed respect for what matters most, our health and livelihoods, while our appreciation for the entertainment value sports provides us comes into painful resolution. March with real-life madness is not nearly as enjoyable as the other kind.Sporting events and seasons are being cancelled across the country. The NCAA canceled both the college basketball and baseball tournaments. Spring football is currently up in the air. The hope remains it will still take place. If it does, that's great news for the bigger, more important picture.Chris Del Conte met with the team earlier this morning and explained the school was shutting down effective immediately. That gave the players a reprieve from maxing out on squats and sent them on their prolonged spring break a few hours early. Originally the team was to return on the 22nd and then start practice on the 24th. Now the earliest practice could start is the 29th but I have my doubts that will take place. The players have been told to stay close to their phones as the situation is still evolving.Spring ball was always going to start late as Tom Herman thought it wise to give his players as long of a runway as possible to learn the new schemes and coaches before practice began. I thought it was a brilliant move, but best-laid plans and all.Despite the current dynamic, we were able to glean some useful information. I used Scipio's recent piece as a bit of a template. Some of this read's like kool-aid, but hell, everyone pretty much needs that right now. It's the honest assessment from sources within the program so we'll share. From Scipio: When this coaching staff talks this spring and summer, I'll be interested to see how much they talk about teaching and fundamentals beyond the platitudes. Because if it's all just attitude and toughness redux, I'm not sure the guy who just had to fire 70% of his last staff did the necessary introspection. Also from Scip in the comments: Unfortunately, we all made the mistake of focusing on S&C and culture, simply assuming that basic football teaching was happening. It wasn't. We found out some of the position coaches were frauds, others were either ill-suited or constrained by a DC who would rather script than teach improv. Addressing the second comment first: Yes, we did. We made necessary critiques throughout the season but we didn't foresee the issues, beyond Orlando's scheme, being a potential defining problem before the season. We even put more blame on the players in some cases, e.g., corners tracking the ball than maybe we should have.We won't make that mistake again, though sometimes we're beholden to sources who might not know exactly where to place blame.I asked about teaching quality and heard back, "The new coaches are really energetic and have done a good job of earning the player's trust early on. The coaches are detail oriented and want perfection. They're good at telling the players not only that they did something wrong, but also right, and why it was right or wrong. They're not treating the guys like robots. It helps that the offense isn't changing too much and that the defense is simple, but the player's understanding of the game seems to be improving." Scipio: If the coaches can create a conceptual understanding of the larger system now, there's that much more time to devote in the spring practices to teaching players football and developing their skill level. Everyone will be writing and talking about the system install. That's fine. I'll be tuned in to teaching at the position level. A system is only as good as the player's ability to understand and execute it with the tools God and his position coach gave him. Based on talking to our sources, I think this has happened and we'll likely hear about it more after spring practice, assuming it takes place.Typical of Scipio, he'll try to direct any conversation towards young men working out. Don't believe me, try the history major. Mention the Austro-Hungarian empire to him. Within minutes you'll be talking about Pumping Iron. Scipio: Winter and summer conditioning are when players get bigger, stronger, faster, quicker. Texas played its last game on December 31st. That's 116 days until the start of Spring practice. From the end of Spring practice until early August Fall Camp reporting is, conveniently, another 116 days. Beyond the lovely symmetry, once you factor in rests, you have about 100 days of pure developmental workouts on either end of the Spring game. Exactly the time period you'd love to periodize lifting and running, have an active rest interlude (i.e. practicing football) and then start the process all over before Fall camp. S&C coaches have to manufacture those natural de-loading breaks with an early Spring game. The symmetry on either end of the late April game makes for easy planning and goal setting. As posted above, squat max testing was canceled, but they already did power cleans and bench. I asked a source about improved strength and he replied, "To put it in perspective, Kobe Boyce power cleaned 300 pounds. We know he weighs, what, 175 pounds? It'd be easier to mention who didn't clean in the 300's. I heard Ossai got 380 and Cosmi 405! On bench, most impressive I heard was Ta'Quon Graham at 435, Cosmi at 415, and Roschon Johnson at 370. That's a big number for Roschon. I'm pretty sure Junior Angilau was in the 400s as well. Everybody's numbers are going up."What about speed? "As far as I know they didn't test for it beyond 10-yard splits earlier in the spring. I know guys are dropping bad weight and getting stronger so I imagine they're moving better. A lot of the recent conditioning has been football related; individual drill work, pursuit drills, that sort of stuff. I've told you they want the fastest team in America. They might have the guys for it."Latest takeaways on personnel. I asked our guy to offer current thoughts and anything else he's hearing.-- Thinks Brennan Eagles will be the breakout player on offense. He says he's not seeing much stiffness and he's still explosive at 235 pounds. That may seem like a lot of weight but Eagles came in with a build that was going to get big. Same with freshman Troy Omeire. There's no stopping these guys once they're in a regimented lifting and eating program.-- The source thinks Kenyatta Watson may have the most upside of all the corners. I don't want that to sound like 'the best quarterback is always the backup' but there's a lot of excitement around the redshirt freshman. It is a tad bit surprising given how big he is (around 205 pounds already) and the new staff's emphasis on coverage ability. The previous staff emphasized ability in run support more than this one.-- To that end, if Chris Adimora holds off Anthony Cook at nickel (assuming practice is held) it's possible Cook sees time at safety. They're looking to get their best group on the field.-- Tom Herman loves D'Shawn Jamison and so do the new coaches. He seems a lock to start at corner. They just have to get him more consistent. He's going to remain at KR/PR too.-- Jalen Green's shoulder still hasn't healed 100%. That's going to be something to monitor. They're going to try Josh Thompson at corner early on but safety might be his best fit. They love his athleticism. Same old story, tons of defensive backs.-- There's some hype over the the duo of Juwan Mitchell and DeMarvion Overshown. Obviously Overshown needs to prove durable and needs refinement but they think he can be an amazing blitzer while also offering range. I'm urging caution here.-- T'Vondre Sweat is coming on to the point our guy is predicting he'll start next to Coburn, which would keep Graham at defensive end. "Graham isn't the most explosive edge guy but this group up front would really help the young linebackers."-- Still no clue what happens between H and Z at wide receiver. "I just don't see how you can't have both Smith and Whittington on the field together. Whittington might be the best player on the team, not kidding. Moore might be as fast as Smith, but isn't the playmaker and I don't think he'll be as reliable." Sounds like a soft prediction of Smith to Z.Part II tomorrow will cover recruiting and probably a little bit more.

IT from Wells 21 Lakeview Centennial RB Camar Wheaton is on campus, source says.This is a positive towards his pursuit.UPDATE: 5:40pmWheaton enjoyed the one-day trip.It looks like a Texas-OU battle right now. There’s a sense he stays close to home.SMU is throwing its hat in the ring.No timetable on commitment, no idea when he’ll take OVs.

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I know for sure Robinson wasn’t well received by his own RB room. Edwards-Helaire even cussed him out during film sessions. Emery freshman season is due to Robinson and Emery himself. Emery would fall asleep during film hence why he wasn’t much active all year. But The development of those running backs came from Faulk, who I believe will be much better than Robinson.

I’m on the coaching staff that has Jack Bech. Not being biased but he is a game changer. He’s easily a 4 star.

IT Scoop After posting how closely the staff monitors body fat percentage I was curious how involved nutritionists were with the players. It sounds like they're very involved with meal planning, even up-to-the-minute, as the players are picking their meals in real-time. They'll walk players through, detailing what they need when it comes to protein, carbs, and fats based on the player's individual goals. Basically, nutritionists are the good angel sitting atop the player's shoulder.I asked about a few players we haven't talked about much. Inevitably, if we discuss 25 players we'll be asked about a 26th. We were asked about redshirt freshman wide receiver Kennedy Lewis on Friday.I was told he did a good job on scout team last season. Whoever the best receiver was on the offense the defense was preparing for, that would be Lewis. Whether it was Ja'Marr Chase or Denzel Mims, Kennedy Lewis would give the defense the best look he could. The source said Lewis got better looks than any receiver in practice last year because he got to compete versus the ones the most. He made his share of plays as well. He showed hands, speed, and competitiveness. He's starting to fill out and getting stronger. He'll work at Z in the spring but behind who remains in question. This year he'll be able to compete for snaps.I also asked about redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Daniel Carson and redshirt freshman defensive end Myron Warren. I heard essentially the same thing on each. They're both working hard and do everything that's asked of them. They're both dropping excess weight. Carson is about 290 and Warren is about 270. Their biggest issues are the amount of bodies ahead of them. At this point it just comes down to performance.I asked about redshirt freshman Peter Mpagi. I don't know the full details of his issue, but he is still not cleared to participate.You may have noticed Spring football was pushed back a little later in the calendar than normal. It won't begin until March 24th and will conclude with the spring game on April 25th. Typically spring ball is over around the 15th. This was done so the players can absorb as much of the new schemes as possible. The coaches want the players to hit the field with as much understanding as possible. Smart.Tom Herman and his staff will hold yet another coaching clinic. In years past Herman's keynote speaker has been Bill Belichick and Sean McVay. This year's headliner won't be a huge surprise. Edit: Mike VrabelJAYLIN SMITHEarly ratings and rankings are bad. If you're the sort to watch film it's important to watch a player before looking up his profile page. When defensive back Jaylin Smith was offered last week it didn't stir conversation like a national elite being offered would have, but it should have.The athlete from Alemany high school in Mission Hills, California, is currently rated an .86 but he's in for a significant bump as the network corrects to the market input that matters most -- offers.In addition to picking up a Texas offer on the 11th, he also picked up a Clemson offer on the 10th.Inside Texas: It's early, but what schools are standing out?Jaylin Smith: USC, Washington, Penn State, Clemson, and Texas all stand out the most. They have winning tradition and a championship mentality to push their players to a higher level.IT: Where have you visited so far and where do you plan on going?JS: I've been to USC and Cal. On my spring break I plan on visiting Washington, Clemson, and Texas.IT: What are you looking for in a school?JS: A good home with great people around me. Guys who want to work, that want to push guys to do good things and just be a good citizen. Academics have to be a good fit for me.IT: How did the relationship with Texas get started?JS: Coach Ash came to one of our 6:00 a.m. workouts. We met at the school and have been talking and texting for about three weeks now.IT: Texas fans are still getting to know Coach Ash. How does he come across?JS: He's a great guy, a great coach, great mindset. He knows a lot about the game. He sends me film of the Texas guys. We talk about scheme but we don't just talk about football, we talk about being a good man.IT: What position does he see you at? You already play nickel, but you seem like you can play anything in the secondary. What's your current size?JS: Hybrid safety, all of them. I'm up to 6-foot and 185 pounds.IT: Does Ash's time at Ohio State resonate with you?JS: Growing up watching those games is something in the back of my mind.IT: Do you have any family members playing football in college? (He was putting off a football vibe like a Texas recruit)JS: My whole background is football. My brother played, my cousins play, my little brothers play, and my dad has coached for 20 years.Smith comes across as well over the phone as he does on his highlight tape. He's going to be successful no matter where he goes.Beyond Smith, I think it's telling how Ash goes about recruiting. Pretty impressive for a defensive coordinator.TWO QUICK DB NOTESTexas looking out-of-state for safeties shouldn't come as too big of a surprise. The in-state crop has a lot of solid options but it's hard to know which player, if any, might emerge as a sure-fire take over the course of their senior year. Rather than wait until it's too late to find that out, the staff is being proactive.Skyline's Isaiah Nwokobia and Cy Ranch's Romario Noelpicked up offers just before the dead period.Nwokobia: Been hearing from Texas, SMU, and Minnesota the most. He's going to visit those schools this spring and see what other offers come in before setting official visits later in the spring/early summer ahead of a summer announcement.Noel: He committed to the previous Baylor staff but has remained committed to Dave Aranda. I think he could be a linebacker long-term. He's hearing the most from UT, Baylor, and Kansas. He's waiting for his dad to return stateside before figuring out a visit schedule.Expect Texas to continue to mine out-of-state players while recruiting domestically.From: @Justin Wells It might be the dead period for college coaches, but we still get contact with some of the state's and nation's best athletes.I caught up with three Texas targets for 2021 to better understand where they are with the Horns heading into the spring. Plus some Pylon 7-on-7 notes from Sunday's event in Fort Worth.Jonah Miller, 6'8, 300, Salpointe (Tucson, AZ) ---After a big season in 2019, Miller is looking to slim down and get his body reshaped for his final year at Salpointe Catholic."My plan over the offseason is to kind of shred some baby fat off and get just overall faster, more lean," said Miller. "I want to work more on my footwork and master those fundamental skills to push my game further than it already is.“Miller holds offers from the top west coast programs - Oregon, Washington, USC - as well as Florida and Tennessee. While the Ducks are the school to watch out west, he's still has eyes for Texas.“Texas is one of my top schools," said Miller. "The program speaks for itself. It would be great to maybe be a part of the rebuilding they are doing."Playing with former five-star teammate and current Texas signee Bijan Robinson isn't too shabby either.“Austin is one of my officials," Miller said. "I've been twice and can't wait to get back."This dude is all Texas. In 2021, the OL numbers will be interesting. I could see at least five, maybe six takes in this cycle. Miller might be a bird in the hand.Garrett Nussmeier, 6'2, 182, Flower Mound Marcus ---Texas, LSU, and North Carolina; those are the three schools that will get unofficial visits very soon. He's set a commitment date for April 12, 2020. Now, he won't go public for at least a week following, but he'd like to do it around Easter, when he'll be with his family and friends.The four-star signal-caller from Flower Mound Marcus picked up his Texas offer right after UT hired OC Mike Yurcich. He had a previous relationship with Yurcich from Okie State and Ohio State, and when Yurcich got the gig, he almost predicted an offer.He knows Texas wants two quarterbacks in 2021. He also knows Jalen Milroe is one of them. Right now, with LSU hiring Scott Linehan to replace Joe Brady, who worked with his father with the Dallas Cowboys, they might have the quiet lead. But Nussmeier spoke highly of Yurcich and Tom Herman, along with Mack Brown and Ed Orgeron.I'd expect to see Nussmeier in Austin over the next couple months. Along with Lubbock Coronado's Sawyer Roberston, Yurcich has identified who he wants to join the 2021 class.For LSU, five-star QB Caleb Williams might be the decider. If he doesn't choose Clemson, and picks the Tigers, then UT might lead with Nussmeier. Williams is a domino to watch.Deuce Harmon, 5'9, 182, Denton Guyer ---The 2021 defensive back was impressive Sunday. He can plant and go with great quickness. He also brings a dog mentality. He opened up on recruiting and 2020. Texas A&M and Notre Dame will be factors here, but a Texas offer would change things.On Pylon 7-on-7 and bonding with teammates:"I'm trying to get this good connection going and have a fun weekend with them. I'm ready for this 7-on-7 to start back up. I've been waiting since last year since it ended because we didn't really have good stuff going on. I've been hungry for this."On expectations for senior year:"I'm expecting to build on it. We're a little bit low, but I think we're going to find a way with our quarterback being out. We're going to hold it down until he gets back. Hopefully, he comes back stronger and that's what I'm praying for, but I think we'll be good." On improvements as a technician:"I always can improve on everything, even the stuff I'm good at - I still have more room for improvement. I want to be a student of the game and tell what they're running or have a good idea of the plays they're running before they hike the ball. That is always good and it's a matter of studying." On recruiting:"Texas A&M is pushing for me hard. Oklahoma State, SMU, TCU are all pushing for me hard. I just got Virginia Tech and they're going for me hard. Notre Dame is getting after me hard. I have big-time colleges trying to push for me."On Notre Dame:"They're telling me they really want me and I'd be a good fit for them not only on the football side, but the classroom side too."On the ND brand:"I feel good about them. I can't wait to go over there and take a visit. I'm going on April 4th."On Texas:"We have a good connection. I've worked out with him when I was young. What I've heard, they're waiting to see my press and if I can press and run. I know I can do that.You feel good about Texas?"I think they'll be offering me soon."A trio of 2022s will also be visiting Texas this spring. Four-star's Armani Winfield (Lewisville), Jadarian Price (Denison), and unranked Jay Rockwell (Spring Hill) are three that jump off the page.For Winfield, it's not the 26 offers from schools like Alabama, LSU, and Florida, it's the attention he gets from UT, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M. For the Horns, they stopped by Lewisville twice last month checking on the 6-foot-2, 190-pound pass-catcher. Winfield has been talking to coach Yurcich and coach Coleman. He's looking forward to getting back to Austin in March.For Price, I see one of the state's top tailbacks in the 2022 class. He joins Jaydon Blue (Klein Cain) and Emeka Megwa(FW Nolan Catholic) as my top junior ball-carriers in-state. Price will take visits this spring, with UT, Ohio State, and USC as potential spots. he hopes to build a better relationship with Stan Drayton and Mike Yurcich. This kid loves Texas, y'all.For Rockwell, it's a matter of time. At 6-foot-3, 188 pounds, he's the one most under the radar. With early offers from UTSA and Florida International, he's starting to here from bigger schools like UT, TCU, and Baylor. His older brother, Vincent, recently inked with Lamar. He's one to watch.BOLD PREDICTION: If Dallas Skyline WR Quay Davis' odds were Texas or the field, I'd say orange house.

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IT Inside Scoop WEEKEND VISITORS Trent McGaughey, Alvin Shadow Creek... One of the state's top prospects for 2022 has been a popular guy of late. Oregon, Nebraska, Tennessee, and North Carolina are just a few of the tight end's most recent offers. Texas definitely made an impression.“The visit was great actually," said McGaughey. “The environment and the way the coaches treated me. I loved my visit there.”It's still early, but another good sign of the staff's early relationship building.Phaizon Wilson, Lancaster... The first thing you need to know is he calls himself New York. He's a transfer from South Oak Cliff and only had 8 catches last year but at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, the 2022 receiver holds 10 offers including Florida, Arkansas, Illinios, and Kansas.“It was great,” said Wilson. “I would commit there if I get that offer. I connected with the receiver coach (Coleman) really well.“What stood out the most about this trip? “The coaching really stands out,” Wilson said. “They’re all cool. They know when to be serious and when to be real. And the new facilities are really nice.” Wilson is a stud at a position Texas needs studs at for the foreseeable future. Look at UT working Lancaster early. .Landen King, Humble Atascocita... the 6-foot-5 WR/TE wasn't expecting an offer when he arrived on campus. He got a pleasant surprise.“Unreal," said King about his new offer. "I can't believe it." King is a part of a highly-talented crew from Atascocita. Teammate Kam Dewberry (2022 OL) joined King and both look to come back soon, possibly for the spring game.

Inside Scoop 2021 TEXAS' BEST 2021 COMMIT While Jalen Milroe is the bell cow of 2021's class, he might not be the most talented. When Denton Ryan ATH (DE/TE) Ja’Tavion Sanders visited UT a few weeks back, he looked like a different dude than the kid who committed last summer. At 6-foot-5, 235, the four-star has morphed into the monster foretold in his sophomore tape. His junior year was special. He helped lead the Ryan Raiders to the 5A State championship game, only to lose in the final minutes. But the foundation for future success was cemented with Sanders' play and the number of talented underclassmen at Ryan - Billy Bowman Jr (2021, Texas pledge), Austin Jordan (2022), and Anthony Hill (2023) to name a few. Inside Texas: What were your expectations today? Ja'Tavion Sanders: "To see coach Herman and the new staff. (Herman) is a good guy and definitely will get me right for my future." IT: What did you think of the new staff? JS: "Coach Ash is definitely a great coach and I can't wait to build a relationship with him. He said he likes how I'll fit in the new defensive scheme. And how I get to rush the passer. I haven't made my decision on which position I'll play, coach Herman told me I can decide. I'm still an athlete. I've played both positions my entire life." IT: Being a Texas pledge already, what was your main takeaway?JS: "That this is definitely the place where I want to be, a place like this. I can't wait to be a Longhorn." IT: You get to see any renderings of what the renovated DKR will look like? JS: "Definitely, it's going to be really nice. I can't wait to play here." While Sanders has the ability to play offense, he has a lucrative future playing defensive end.

IT Inside Scoop 2020 CLOSING OUT 2020With the dead period beginning today and running through the end of the month and Junior Days normally set for February, the staff hosted a number of prospects in the month of January. They also offered an abnormal amount, indicative of a more proactive approach towards recruiting in 2021 and beyond. But first thing's first. Texas needs to close out 2020 and towards that end hosted Ennis Rakestraw, a much needed cornerback hailing from Duncanville. “It felt like home," Rakestraw said about Austin. It's no secret his parents would like to keep him close to home, but Alabama and Missouri are both in the mix. The Crimson Tide might take him if they have room, and the Tigers have been in pursuing to varying degrees for nearly a year. Texas needed a strong official and I believe they got it. “The defensive scheme really stands out," said Rakestraw. "The way they use corners, and I really like coach Valai and coach Ash.” This decision will happen over the next 48 hours. It appears to be a Texas-Mizzou battle, with Alabama on the sidelines waiting to see if there's room. He's set to announce on Wednesday, 8am. It's a toss-up this morning. There is as much confidence as there is concern on the Texas side; confidence they did a good job hosting, concern that it might be too little too late. Texas would also like to add Manor defensive lineman Princely Umanmielen to the roster. The one thing that could have injected uncertainty in this recruitment occurred, because of course it did. The one-time Texas commit took his second official visit to Baylor. This was allowed because of the head coaching change. We know Umanmielen wants to play in a four-man front which will happen more frequently in Austin than in Waco, but the Baylor depth chart is more conducive to early playing time. Like Rakestraw, this one is too close to call and nothing would surprise us with Princely. Clearly he likes Baylor and at one point earlier in the process had interest in LSU despite the Tigers not employing a four-man front. We'll defer to @northhorn on intel on Princely coming out of Waco. While there is uncertainty around Rakestraw and Umanmielen we still feel confident Kelvontay Dixon will sign with Texas. The Carthage athlete will likely start his career at wide receiver. Our friends at Tracking Football have his athleticism rated in the 92nd percentile for FBS WRs and he'd be the fifth most athletic wide receiver Texas has signed of 22 rated since 2010. Obviously wide receiver is a big need in the class.