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Elmer_Fudd

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Posts posted by Elmer_Fudd

  1. 1 hour ago, Machinator said:

    Inside Texas: Tuesday Scoop: Resetting the Table

     

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    Last May we prepped the board for what would we expected to be a big June. Then Keaontay Ingram and DeMarvion Overshown dropped right before the beginning of June. In a little less than a week they would be joined by Ayodele Adeoye and BJ Foster.

    We're not exactly saying the same is going to happen, at least not in that short of a window, but May has the look of a successful month, and certainly much more palatable than April.

    OUT OF STATE VS IN-STATE

    To win big at Texas you have to recruit within its borders at a high level. The staff did that last year, and then complemented the domestic born with players from far off lands like California, Oklahoma, Utah, Missouri, Louisiana, Florida, and Australia.

    With the sharp shift in dynamics, in-state recruiting has become much more competitive. That level of competition combined with the staff's preference for a more methodical, measured approach has UT sitting on four commitments while A&M and OU have 12 and 11 respectively.

    When Herman took this job he said he was going to shut down the state's borders, but he also said he would recruit nationally to find championship caliber players. Right now the staff is still shooting for national elites, rather than feeling the need to press for in-state players who may be lower on the board.

    Something else might be in play, though, as well; the amount of negative recruiting Texas is experiencing throughout the region can't be helpful. This will be much more easier to combat if the team wins in the fall, but also when the class of 2018 is fully on campus.

    To the staff's credit it has tried to combat negative recruiting. They've had recruits from 2018 visit well after signing to mingle with targets. They've put the parents of those recruits in touch with the parents of the current targets as well.

    Right now Texas can use a shot in the arm and we think May has the potential to be just what the doctor ordered.

    RESETTING THE TABLE

    Quarterback - 1
    Commits - Roschon Johnson, Port Neches-Groves
    Targets - N/A

    Commentary: At one point this had the chance to be a two quarterback class but early returns are very positive on freshmen Casey Thompson and Cam Rising. Texas is already looking to 2020 and has a chance for the best prospect at the position its taken in some time in California's Bryce Young. Texas should be in position to take one quarterback per year save when transfers or injury hit.

    Running back - 2
    Commits - N/A
    Targets - Noah Cain, IMG; Deondrick Glass, Katy; King Doerue, Amarillo Tascosa; Marcus Major, Millwood (OK)

    Commentary: Running back and defensive line are intertwined in that best player available could rob a spot from the other. For now we'll go with two running backs but it could be one just as the defensive line number could be five. Cain is the highest priority of the guys the staff has a legit chance to land. The staff stopped by to see Doerue recently; great build and burst. Major visited this spring with friend and teammate Demariyon Houston. If those two play together Texas makes sense. Herman and this personnel department did well to unearth some quality running backs late in the process while at U of H. Doing so again affords the luxury of waiting out Cain. If they get Cain they shouldn't feel stressed to take a second running back.

    Wide receiver - 4
    Commits - Jordan Whittington, Cuero
    Targets - Dylan Wright, West Mesquite; Elijah Higgins, Austin Bowie; Jaylen Ellis, Cedar Ridge; Garrett Wilson, Lake Travis; Makiya Tongue, University Lab (Baton Rouge); Jake Smith, Notre Dame Prep (Scottsdale); Marcus Washington, Trinity Catholic (St. Louis); Demariyon Houston, Millwood (OK)

    Commentary: Of this group UT's best shot is with Wright and Tongue. Jake Smith is definitely on the radar but he's a coin flip with USC. Higgins and maybe even Ellis have been infected with Wilson's UT offensive pessimism. Not feeling really good there. Washington is one to watch. That recruitment could heat up over the summer and well into the season. The staff will keep looking out of state at receiver.

    Tight end - 2
    Commits - N/A
    Targets - Brayden Liebrock, Chandler (AZ); Jared Wiley, Temple

    Commentary: These are the two clear cut targets as of now. Liebrock is as unquestionably underrated as Kenyatta Watson was just a short time ago. Wiley is good, with the potential for a breakout season. Liebrock will take an official visit to Austin this weekend. That will be his second visit this spring. Wiley will re-schedule his official visit he was going to take this weekend, likely for later in the month. He's made the short trip numerous times. Where as there are no discernible challengers for Wiley, Liebrock has his pick from a number of fine schools. If Texas were to miss on him perhaps the staff would pick up the pace on IMG's Logan Compton. Huge weekend for Texas and Liebrock. You would have to assume this is his last visit before he announces.

    Offensive line - 5
    Commits - N/A
    Targets - Kenyon Green, Atascocita; Javonne Shepherd, North Forest; Branson Bragg, Crandall; Tyler Johnson, Conroe Oak Ridge; Stacey Wilkins, Camden Fairview (AR)

    Commentary: Texas has made some tactical revisions when recruiting Bragg and they've worked quite well. We're back to feeling good there after some Stanford turbulence. Still feel great on Tyler Johnson, and he'll take his official visit this weekend. Green will be a fistfight between A&M, which makes Shepherd one as well. I actually ran into someone close to him in Dallas and that person said it could come down to wherever he visits last. Wilkins is barely worth a mention at this point and he will not take an official visit to Texas this weekend. There's some interesting off-line scuttle on that one. If you look at the Prospect Board, some of those with offers may become more relevant over time. Texas won't land its perfect class, the question is by how much. More names will emerge.

    Defensive line - 4
    Commits - T'Vondre Sweat, Huntsville
    Targets - NaNa Osafo-Mensah, Fort Worth Nolan Catholic; Marcus Hicks, Northwest (KS); Marcus Stripling, Mayde Creek; DeMarvin Leal, Converse Judson; Faatui Tuitele, St. Louis (HI)

    Commentary: I talked to Osafo-Mensah's coach, David Beaudin, this morning. He says Notre Dame and Texas are currently a coin flip. Here's the discussion:

    What are UT's chances:
    "50/50 for him, that's legitimate. He's legitimately torn between Texas and Notre Dame. Coach Giles has done a great job building the relationship.'

    What will it come down to?
    "Academically Texas can compete with Notre Dame with the McCombs Business School. Coach Herman has done an awesome job showing the family atmosphere. That's the reason he's torn between the two right now. Can't really say, it's close. The things he likes about the two schools, I'm not sure what will put one over the top."

    Beaudin's thoughts on Texas:
    "They're doing a heckuva job. They're hitting all the right notes. The staff pours themselves into their kids. They're building relationships not just in recruiting, but with their players. It won't be long before they're back to where they need to be."

    After missing on DeMarvin Leal, at least for now, Texas can ill afford to miss here. The staff needs a big weekend. NaNa will have his parents with him. Mom and proximity could tilt this in UT's favor. The takeaway? This one is too close for me to call at this point.

    Oklahoma is the smart pick for Marcus Hicks at this point. Stripling is more likely to one of A&M or OU, but he's kind of all over the place behind the scenes. Nobody can get a good read on him that I talk to. Tuitele visited but we hear he's more of a long-shot. With Jake Langi working the angles I think he's at least worth a mention.

    Linebacker - 3
    Commits - De'Gabriel Floyd, Westlake (CA)
    Targets - David Gbenda, Cinco Ranch; Lakia Henry, Dodge City CC; Spencer Lytle, St. John Bosco (CA); Bru McCoy, Mater Dei (CA)

    Commentary: Floyd is on campus more than Chet Moss was. I talked to Gbenda yesterday. He has no visits planned upcoming. Currently this is between UT and A&M with UT holding a slight lead, I believe. The Juco Henry will visit sometime this month or early summer. Gary Johnson has the potential to be an ace recruiter here. Johnson is universally loved and should be a great template for Henry to follow. Lytle visited. Really good looking Mac. I don't know how hard they're pressing for him. McCoy visited this past weekend. Justin has had that one covered. McCoy raved publicly and privately about the visit. USC will be tough, but not impossible to beat.

    Defensive back - 4
    Commits - N/A
    Targets - Kenyatta Watson II Grayson (GA); Jalen Catalon, Mansfield Legacy; Marcus Banks, Spring Dekaney; Lewis Cine, Trinity Christian; Demani Richardson, Waxahachie; Chris Adimora, Mayfair (CA)

    Commentary: It's plausible that UT's entire class stems from the names listed above. Texas feels good about Watson. Catalon and Arkansas merit some concern for some 'it's undefeated' reasons, but Naivar's done an excellent job here. Baseball matters. Banks took his official visit to A&M and you'll never guess but he loved it! Shocking, I know. Texas will offer a rebuttal this weekend. The staff loves, loves, loves Adimora, but USC or Bama will be tough to beat. Add him to Liebrock and Watson as WTF rankings. Cine has visited twice this spring, and was offered by Alabama yesterday. He'd be good for class rankings. Richardson is a battle worth waging.

     

    Surprised no mention of Rian Davis.

  2. 8 hours ago, UT Lawnghorn said:

    LSU 247 article on Watson from Shea Dixon

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    LSU hosted key RB target, Tre Watson this weekend.  The 5’10, 190-pounder from Corona opted to transfer in January after he suffered a season-ending injury in the second game last fall. The grad transfer from Cal told me last week he couldn't wait to make it out to Baton Rouge and take in all that campus has to offer, especially Death Valley and the local talent.   He also said he expects to leave with pockets that are much heavier than when he arrived. 

    Watson said the highlight of his trip was getting to sit down with Coach O in his office before he headed back to California.  While he couldn't make out every word Coach O said, he was able to parse out the words, "tin debt," "dun bungled da rooster," and "dun diddle un diddle un diddle uh da."  Watson told me over text he thinks this meant there's a lot of opportunity for him to come in and start immediately because Coach O couldn't find his depth chart for the last two recruiting periods, which resulted in terrible mismanagement of what should be a consistently loaded roster.  Watson said he loved the opportunity to play early and he couldn't believe Coach O was able to create a such huge opportunity for a RB at LSU in just two short years. I followed up later on the "dun diddle un diddle un diddle uh da" part and Watson informed me that he believes Coach O was singing the song "I would walk 500 miles" to show how hard they're recruiting Watson.

    That late Sunday visit, combined with former UT standout RB coach and current LSU RB coach, Tommie Robinson's assurance that Coach O has no input on scheme or play calling and that he merely sits in his office playing Connect Four against himself without ever winning during game prep sessions really sealed the deal for Watson.

    I would expect a commitment any day now after the visit.  Since Watson is such a  sure thing at this point, I decided to plug Watson into the ©  247 Sports Class Calculator. While Watson doesn't have an actual ranking, I would put him in the low to mid 5 star range. If you go back and add the nation's #19 player, one-time LSU commit Caden Sterns, to LSU's class, it goes from a seemingly-impossible-to-attain-at-LSU 15th in the nation all the way up to 264.44, which would jump LSU 3 spots all the way up to a still unbelievably disappointing 12th place.

     

     

    You forgot the part about Ed O telling him he's guaranteed to rush for 200+ plus against aggy.

  3. 33 minutes ago, UT Lawnghorn said:

    That looks like a very, very good 290. I can’t wait for this guy. I think he’ll be or best OL years from now. Thank God we’ll finally be able to redshirt a guy like this.

    I agree.  I think him and Angilau will be multi year starters for us.  Angilau at Guard though.

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