Texas Recruiting Notes 2022 - Idiotic Slapfights Unrelated To 2022 Recruiting

[Fud 9724]

GH

"KJ Miles will not be picking Texas as of late last night. Texas was very impressed with his workout last weekend, but the staff is going to chill at defensive tackle and hang around the rim on a few recruitments."

[texifornia 59007]

6 minutes ago, Fud said:

GH

"KJ Miles will not be picking Texas as of late last night. Texas was very impressed with his workout last weekend, but the staff is going to chill at defensive tackle and hang around the rim on a few recruitments."

Guess they figure they're going to hit on one of Bledsoe/Bryant. Finkley's edge-ier right?

[Fud 9724]

1 minute ago, texifornia said:

Guess they figure they're going to hit on one of Bledsoe/Bryant. Finkley's edge-ier right?

I think one of the two edge positions is supposed to be bigger than the other, which I'd guess is his fit

[BurntOrange&White 41842]

Quote

 

Gerry Hamilton

Senior National Recruiting Analyst On3.com

 

IT Recruiting Matters: The Texas 2022 best class scenario

The Texas staff has concluded one of the busiest months in recruiting history. Now, every college staff in the country will be pushing hard for July commitments while hitting the favorite vacation spots. And the prospects will be flying off the board prior to the start of senior season practices in early August. There is little doubt that July will be the most active month for commitments on record in quite a while, and Inside Texas includes the Longhorns as a program that will enjoy a very good month.

Even with the addition of Xavier Worthy, the program needs more speed and playmaking at wide receiver, as well as needing more big bodies with long arms on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

With 12 commitments on the board, the class is on track to challenge as one of the top 10 in the country with the possibility remaining of a top 5 finish if the staff shoots the moon at wide receiver and defensive back.

Today, it’s time to once again look at the best class scenario without a hard class number taken into account as the staff will not sign all 32 prospects listed, obviously. But signing 26 or 27 from this list with the juggling the staff has to do would make for a very impressive first full class, and one that would be a near lock to sit inside the top 10 of the class rankings.

QB Maalik Murphy, Junipero Serra
6-5, 225
Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes
Murphy showed this spring the arm talent that makes him an intriguing developmental prospect.

RB Jaydon Blue, Klein Cain
5-10.5, 205
Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes
Blue's Clues runs 10.8 FAT at over 200 pounds, and possesses elite hands out of the backfield. The May “Opt out” is now considering coming out of high school football retirement to play his senior season. With Blue and Jamarion Miller now on the commit list, Texas has some serious speed and playmaking in the running back class.

RB Jamarion Miller, Tyler Legacy
5-10, 195
Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes
From first to near worst, and back to first followed by a quick commitment. Miller followed his heart, and the work of Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson didn’t hurt either.

WR Evan Stewart, Frisco Liberty
6-0, 175
The skinny: Texas vs. SEC
Freak athlete that is a “must get” for Texas in the 2022 cycle. Florida, Texas A&M, Texas and Alabama all hosted the walking NIL prospect in June.

WR Jordan Hudson, Garland High
6-1, 185
Where it stands: After finally turning down the dry brisket, Hudson looks like he’s headed to the wide receiver room of the Pony Express. Tip of the hat to Coach Samples for one fantastic recruiting job, With that said, Texas will keep plugging away with hopes and dreams of flipping an elite receiver from SMU.

WR Brenen Thompson, Spearman
5-10, 165
The competition: Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Clemson, Alabama and Oregon
After posting a 10.4 100m after a slower start to the track season than expected, all the top programs are all in once again. Texas has never wavered, and Thompson is considered a near “must get” by the staff. Thompson, his mother and grandmother had an excellent unofficial visit to Texas. June OV’s went to Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Oregon.

WR Armani Winfield, Lewisville
6-2, 180
Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes
Looked smoother and quicker than ever at March Under Armour Camp Dallas, where he ran a 4.59 laser forty. Was at LSU last weekend.

TE Jaleel Skinner, Greer High (SC)
6-5, 210
The elite athlete from the Palmetto State made a surprise visit to Texas last week after some tremendous recruiting work by Jeff Banks. The competition is usual recruiting powers of the SEC and ACC, but the Longhorns are fighting hard here.

OT Kelvin Banks, Summer Creek
6-5, 300
Inside skinny: Texas still leads Texas A&M following June official visits. A decision is slated for late July, prior to the start of senior season practices the first week of August. Plays for Lifetime Longhorn Kenny Harrison at Summer Creek.

OT Cameron Williams, Duncanville
6-5.5, 375
The competition: Oregon, Oklahoma, Miami
Texas absolutely knocked it out of the park with the agile big man and his mom on last weekends official visit to Texas. Oregon was considered the favorite prior. Texas told Jacob Sexton they don’t have a spot left, which is interesting. Williams is schedule to announce his decisions July 1.

OG Devon Campbell, Arlington Bowie
6-3.5, 317
The inside skinny without Steve McKinney: Texas had Campbell on campus for an unofficial visit last weekend following a great OV to Oklahoma June 18-20. This recruitment is likely to play out a while, barring a major change in plans. And Campbell remains expected to stay close to home at the end of the day.

OG Connor Robertson, Austin Westlake
6-4, 295
The competition: Northwestern June 11-13 OV and Stanford June 25-27 OV
Texas has been trending for Robertson for three weeks. IT expects that to continue.

C/G Cole Hutson, Frisco High
6-5, 305
The competition: Oklahoma and Texas A&M
Hutson was part of the very successful official visit weekend at Texas June 11-13. Trips to Oklahoma, Alabama and Texas A&M have been made, but this one is still Texas’ to lose.

DT Jaray Bledsoe, Marlin
6-4, 275
The real contenders: Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Texas, Alabama
Bo Davis blew the unofficial visit out of the water with Bledsoe and his mother. This one will likely take a while to play out.

DT Aaron Bryant, Southhaven (MS)
6-4, 300
Bryant began June with Georgia the team to beat. Now at the end of June, this recruitment is trending Texas A&M or Texas. Bryant had a terrific visit with Bo Davis and the Longhorns over the weekend.

DT Kristopher Ross, North Shore
6-3, 279
Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes
Getting Ross on campus two weekends in a row is huge for Texas with TCU and Oklahoma trying to make pushes in June.

DE/T Zac Swanson, Brophy College prep (AZ)
6-3, 255
Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes

DE/EDGE Justice Finkley, Hewitt-Trussville (AL)
6-2, 260
The competition: Michigan, Stanford, Colorado, Alabama
A Texas vs. Stanford and Michigan battle, unless Alabama goes all in. The Longhorns delivered a tremendous official visit to the entire family last weekend.

DE/EDGE Keahnist Thompson, Lakeland High (FL)
6-3, 255
The competition: Miami, UCF
Texas has gone from sleeper on this recruitment prior to last weekend to the possible winner with a decision likely June 30.

OLB/EDGE Derrick Brown, Texas High
6-4, 205
The competition: Baylor
Texas has been trending since an early June official visit. Baylor impressed this month also with a decision scheduled for July 20.

OLB/EDGE Anthony Jones, Liberty (NV)
6-4.5, 240
Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes
Impressive quickness and initial movement skills for his size.

LB Trevell Johnson, Arlington Martin
6-1, 195
Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes
A hidden gem in terms of being a guy that is an active recruiter for the Longhorns in the class.

LB/hybrid Harold Perkins, Cy Park
6-2.5, 205
The competition: Texas A&M, Alabama, LSU
Both Texas and Texas A&M have had the athletic freak on campus in June. Perkins loved the Austin college life. Mom prefers close to home and IT was told that's Texas A&M (she lives in Cypress), while dad likes idea of Alabama (he lives in New Orleans). This recruitment will very likely go the distance into December or January barring a major change.

LB Sebastian Cheeks, Evanston Township (IL)
6-2.5, 210
The competition: North Carolina and Michigan
A Texas vs. Mack Brown recruitment? Make no mistake, Mack Brown wants to win this one.

LB Jeremy Patton, Tenaha High
6-2, 220
The competition: Baylor, Arkansas, Michigan
Patton could be a recruitment that goers into his senior season due to preference to commit on a special day. That means Texas will still have to have a spot for the upside inside backer prospect.

S Bryan Allen Jr., Aledo
6-0, 185
Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes
Favorite IT poster is @keganr

N/CB/S Bryce Anderson, Beaumont West Brook
5-11.5, 190
The competition: Texas A&M
James Brown vs. Chip Ambres recruitment … James has never wavered on his prediction. Jimbo Fisher has done a tremendous job relationship building with Bryce.

N/S Jaylon Guilbeau, Port Arthur Memorial
6-0, 180
Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes
TCU remains a threat to flip the Golden Triangle defensive back. If Bryce Anderson picks Texas, that helps Texas cause quite a bit.

CB/N Terrance Brooks, Little Elm
5-11.5, 185
The competition: Alabama, Ohio State, Florida, Oregon
Brooks has concluded the official visit process, and will now take a couple of weeks to sit back and close in on a decision with that decision still expected to be Alabama or Texas.

CB Denver Harris, North Shore
6-1, 180
The competition: Alabama, Texas A&M and LSU
Texas or Alabama is where this decision is expected to come from, and has been trending that way for a while. Texas knocked it out the park with runners on base June 18-20.

K Will Stone, Austin Regents School
6-0, 175
Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes

LS Lance St. Louis, Williams Field (AZ)
6-1, 215
Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes

 

Gerry going with the sort it out later approach with this scenario.

[Fud 9724]

17 minutes ago, BurntOrange&White said:

Gerry going with the sort it out later approach with this scenario.

Left out Boardingham. Not sure if oversight or purposefully left out 

edit: I'm blind

Edited June 29, 2021 by Fud

[Thiefery 5108]

swanson is listed on there

[texifornia 59007]

So with Thompson picking tomorrow, have at it: https://www.hudl.com/profile/10743099/Keahnist-Thompson

[texifornia 59007]

10 minutes ago, Fud said:

Left out Swanson and Boardingham. Not sure if those were oversights or purposefully left out 

Only left off Boardingham. Replacing him with Skinner would be about as like-for-like as they come.

[Fud 9724]

1 minute ago, texifornia said:

Only left off Boardingham. Replacing him with Skinner would be about as like-for-like as they come.

Yeah you're correct, oops

[NoName 17146]

Athletic: Texas Longhorns football recruiting: Analysis on Jamarion Miller, Anthony Jones and Steve Sarkisian’s entire 2022 class

 

 

Spoiler

 

Texas Longhorns football recruiting: Analysis on Jamarion Miller, Anthony Jones and Steve Sarkisian’s entire 2022 class

By Sam Khan Jr. Jun 28, 2021 1

Since taking over the Texas job in January, Steve Sarkisian has leaned in on the motto, “All Gas No Brakes.”

That is also a fitting description of the Longhorns’ June, as Sarkisian and his staff took full advantage of the return of in-person recruiting, hosting 10 camps and dozens of visitors all the way through Sunday, the last day recruits could visit campus before another dead period began.

The final visit weekend has already produced results, as four-star running back Jamarion Miller announced Monday that he is joining the class. The addition of Miller brings Texas to 12 commitments, including four in June.

Here’s an analysis of the Longhorns’ 2022 class, which ranks second in the Big 12 and 12th in the nation.

From now until signing day, this list will be updated as new commitments come in and more data is gathered on the prospects.

All rankings are from the 247Sports Composite. Most recent commitments are listed first.

Jamarion Miller, RB

Hometown: Tyler, Texas
High School: Legacy
Ranking: Four-star, No. 172 overall, No. 14 RB
Date of commitment: June 28, 2021

Miller is a well-rounded prospect, with good blocking and receiving ability to go with his production as a rusher. As a junior, Miller ran for 1,631 yards and 20 touchdowns and caught 28 passes for 464 yards and eight scores. He’s fast (he ran a 10.71-second 100-meter dash at his district track meet), sheds tackles and is elusive in the open field. That the Longhorns are taking two running backs speaks to what Sarkisian thinks of the current and future depth at the position, as well as how important it is to his offense.

Will Stone, K

Hometown: Austin
High school: Regents School
Ranking: Unranked
Date of commitment: June 15, 2021

This one came together quickly. Stone got his first two scholarship offers within a week of each other — from Michigan State on June 8, then from the Longhorns on June 14. A day after Sarkisian offered, Stone committed. Ranked as the No. 15 kicker in the 2022 class by Kohl’s Kicking, Stone won’t have to go far for college ball: Regents is just 10 miles away from Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

Anthony Jones, ATH

Hometown: Las Vegas
High school: Liberty
Ranking: Three-star, No. 567 overall, No. 48 athlete
Date of commitment: June 12, 2021

This commitment signifies the influence of new defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski. Jones, who announced his commitment while on his official visit, originally committed to Washington in December when Kwiatkowski was with the Huskies. Jones reopened his recruitment in February before his latest decision to rejoin forces with “PK.” The 6-foot-5, 242-pound Jones is versatile (some schools recruited him at tight end) and could fit into myriad roles in Texas’ defense, but he makes the most sense as an edge rusher.

Lance St. Louis, LS

Hometown: Gilbert, Ariz.
High school: Williams Field
Ranking: Unranked
Date of commitment: June 7, 2021

St. Louis visited Texas on June 1, the first day of in-person recruiting for the 2022 cycle. St. Louis was offered by the Longhorns on his visit and didn’t take long to commit. He is the No. 2-ranked long snapper in the nation according to Kohl’s Kicking, a renowned organization that trains specialists.

Zac Swanson, DL

Hometown: Phoenix, Ariz.
High school: Brophy College Preparatory
Ranking: Four-star, No. 362 overall, No. 51 DL
Date of commitment: April 26, 2021

Swanson is a big-bodied lineman (6-4, 255 pounds) with good strength. He shows the ability to overpower offensive linemen and has myriad pass rush moves to get around them. He has good awareness at the line of scrimmage and is versatile enough to play inside and on the edge (he also plays tight end for Brophy).

Kristopher Ross, DL

Hometown: Houston, Texas
High school: North Shore
Ranking: Four-star, No. 271 overall, No. 37 DL
Date of commitment: March 23, 2021

As a defensive tackle in North Shore’s four-man front, Ross displays good quickness for his frame (6-3, 280 pounds). He sheds blockers quickly in the run game and has the strength to effectively bull rush them. He shows good pursuit speed when pressuring quarterbacks but also can chase ball carriers downfield. Ross is a dual-sport star; he finished fourth in the shot put at the Texas Class 6A state track championships with a throw of 60 feet, 3 1/2 inches (his personal best is 60 feet, nine inches). Given his athleticism and body type, he could play multiple positions in Texas’ defensive front.

Bryan Allen Jr., S

Hometown: Aledo, Texas
High school: Aledo
Ranking: Four-star, No. 92 overall, No. 6 safety
Date of commitment: Feb. 28, 2021

Named the defensive player of the year in Texas’ second-highest classification last season, Allen led Aledo to a state championship. The 6-foot safety is instinctive and closes on the ball and on ball carriers quickly. He has impressive range as a pass defender but also doesn’t hesitate to stick his nose in the box in run defense. A former LSU commit before reopening his recruitment and pledging to Texas, Allen received a late-May offer from Alabama.

Maalik Murphy, QB

Hometown: Gardena, Calif.
High school: Junipero Serra
Ranking: Four-star, No. 75 overall, No. 8 QB
Date of commitment: Feb. 13, 2021

Murphy is big, strong and plays that way. At 6-4, 225 pounds, he has tremendous arm strength that makes so many of his throws look effortless. He recently won the long ball challenge at Steve Clarkson’s “QB Retreat.” When a softer touch is needed, Murphy provides that. He excels throwing from the pocket but can make throws on the run and off-balance throws, too. When running, his size makes him tough to tackle.

Trevell Johnson, LB

Hometown: Arlington, Texas
High school: Martin
Ranking: Three-star, No. 507 overall, No. 49 LB
Date of commitment: Feb. 13, 2021

Johnson’s ability jumps off the screen. He possesses impressive closing speed and packs a punch when meeting ball carriers. He’s versatile enough to play on the edge and in the middle of the field, and he is also a special teams ace for Martin (he was the district special teams MVP in 2020). He compiled a combined 208 tackles and 26 tackles for loss over the last two seasons.

Jaydon Blue, RB

Hometown: Klein, Texas
High school: Klein Cain
Ranking: Four-star, No. 107 overall, No. 8 RB
Date of commitment: Feb. 2, 2021

In May, Blue raised eyebrows when he announced that he’s skipping his senior football season to preserve and prepare himself for his Longhorns career. How or if it will impact his college career is unknown, but there’s no questioning Blue’s ability. He’s productive, running for a combined 3,767 yards and 46 touchdowns in the last two seasons. A stout 5-11 1/2, 205 pounds, Blue has the speed to run away from defenders and the power to shed tackles or, if necessary, run over them. He’s a patient runner with good vision and can catch passes, too. It’s easy to see why he’s the highest-ranked player in Texas’ class.

Armani Winfield, WR

Hometown: Lewisville, Texas
High school: Lewisville
Ranking: Four-star, No. 123 overall, No. 17 WR
Date of commitment: Jan. 12, 2021

Winfield was the first commitment of the Sarkisian era, pledging to the Longhorns during Sarkisian’s first official day on the job, which followed Sarkisian helping Alabama secure a national championship. In three varsity seasons, Winfield caught 128 passes for 1,730 yards and 16 touchdowns. Winfield is tall (6-2) and lean (180 pounds), runs smoothly and vertically stretches defenses with his long stride and acceleration. He’ll also win jump balls.

Jaylon Guilbeau, CB

Hometown: Port Arthur, Texas
High school: Memorial
Ranking: Four-star, No. 140 overall, No. 17 CB
Date of commitment: Sept. 19, 2020

Guilbeau was originally the third commitment in the class following Phaizon Wilson and Quinn Ewers, but both decommitted in October, making Guilbeau the longest-standing 2022 commit. As a junior, he played both boundary and field corners, and during 7-on-7 this spring he has also played the slot. His length helps him make consistent plays on the ball, and he is willing to mix it up with receivers at the line of scrimmage.

(Photo of Steve Sarkisian: Adam Davis / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Sam Khan Jr. is a senior writer for The Athletic, covering college football and recruiting primarily in Texas. Previously, he spent eight years covering college sports at ESPN.com and seven years as a sports reporter at the Houston Chronicle. A native Houstonian, Sam graduated from the University of Houston. Follow Sam on Twitter @skhanjr.

 

 

[NoName 17146]

Athletic/Wasserman: Texas or Texas A&M: Which program has a brighter future? Recruiting mailbag

He picks A&M because he keeps getting burned by "Texas is Back"

Quote

I am repeatedly fooled by Texas. I say “Texas is back” more than anyone because I see the roster and the program’s resources and say, “Why not Texas?” Then all too often the Longhorns fail to meet expectations. Now there is a new coach, and I’m back to having a ton of hope for what the program can do. But on the other hand, Sark and Herman seem to be very similar hires on the surface. Texas should be able to win the Big 12, but is that expectation smart at this point? I don’t know.

Text:

 

Spoiler

 

Texas or Texas A&M: Which program has a brighter future? Recruiting mailbag

By Ari Wasserman 2h ago 8

Recruiting never stops. Neither do your questions. Let’s get to it.

Note: Submitted questions have been edited for clarity and length.

If you could buy futures in only one of Texas or Texas A&M, whose are you buying? — Jungman M.

This question is really hard because both are at critical junctures and both have really solid cases. Let’s start with a sales pitch for both programs.

Texas: When it comes to recruiting, it’s not a stretch to say that Texas should expect to be the king of the Lone Star State. Texas is the school that every top-tier prospect in the state should at least explore. The Longhorns also just hired Steve Sarkisian coming off a national title at Alabama, so the program is pairing an ultratalented roster with a coach who really knows how to draw up an offense. Texas has never had a hard time with talent accumulation. The issues have been developing that talent and getting the most out of everyone on the roster. Sarkisian hasn’t coached a game in Austin yet, but I believe he can do what Tom Herman could not: develop his players. The Longhorns are also in a much more winnable conference than Texas A&M, which plays in the SEC.

Texas A&M: No team in college football had a better finish in the 2021 recruiting cycle than Texas A&M. The Aggies’ class ranked No. 8 overall and featured four top-75 national prospects from Texas. (Texas finished No. 15 in the national recruiting rankings.) Meanwhile, Jimbo Fisher, who won a national title at Florida State, has the Aggies coming off one of the most successful campaigns in program history. Texas A&M has also been crushing it in recruiting in Houston, which includes a commitment from 2022 five-star quarterback Conner Weigman of Cypress Bridgeland. Everything in Aggieland seems to be trending up.

Which one would you choose? It feels as though there isn’t a wrong answer.

I’ve gone back and forth multiple times. But this is a mailbag and not answering is boring, so I am going to go with Texas A&M right now.

I am repeatedly fooled by Texas. I say “Texas is back” more than anyone because I see the roster and the program’s resources and say, “Why not Texas?” Then all too often the Longhorns fail to meet expectations. Now there is a new coach, and I’m back to having a ton of hope for what the program can do. But on the other hand, Sark and Herman seem to be very similar hires on the surface. Texas should be able to win the Big 12, but is that expectation smart at this point? I don’t know.

There are some drawbacks to picking Texas A&M. The Aggies play in the same division as Alabama and LSU, so they face inherent roadblocks that Texas (outside of Oklahoma) frankly doesn’t have to face.

I just like a little more what Texas A&M has been doing on the recruiting front. Maybe this answer won’t age well and Texas will win 10 games in the fall and sign a top-five class in 2022. But right now, Texas A&M has a youthful and talented roster and the quarterback of the future who makes it easy to believe that Fisher will be able to win at the highest level.

LSU owns Louisiana. Miami and Florida own Florida. Alabama owns, well, Alabama. But there are other extremely good teams in those states. Louisiana, UCF and UAB are all excellent Group of 5 programs in those states. How long will it take for elite Group of 5 schools to begin challenging their state’s Power 5 overlords? I assume schools like Coastal Carolina will have an easier time supplanting the South Carolinas, teams that are Power 5 but not at all elite. — Jesse K.

First off, let me push back on something you said: Florida and Miami don’t own Florida. Alabama does.

In the 2021 recruiting cycle, Alabama signed the top two and seven of the top 14 players in the Sunshine State. I don’t make this point to be annoying — I just wanted to make it clear that in the modern landscape, it takes a heck of a lot more than conquering your own state to win a national title.

As things currently stand, LSU isn’t competing with Louisiana for prospects. Florida, Florida State and Miami aren’t competing with UCF (for the most part). And Alabama certainly isn’t competing with UAB. Those Group of 5 teams are very good and have gotten that good because they have mastered the art of evaluating players who would never be on the radar of the “Power 5 overlords.”

These programs use their state to their advantage, no doubt, but they do so without really spending much time evaluating or recruiting top-100 players. That would be a waste of time. The really good Group of 5 schools live in the middle by attacking prospects who rank between 600 and 1,200 to find the hidden gems. Don’t get me wrong: Every now and then a top-300 player will choose a Group of 5 school over a Power 5 program, but, for the most part, assembling a roster for a Group of 5 program is far more challenging. There are thousands of prospects who are much more difficult to evaluate than the ones going to the Elite 11 and The Opening, so the Group of 5 schools that are good are usually the best at evaluating those middle-tier players.

Will Louisiana ever overtake LSU? No.

Will UAB ever overtake Alabama? No.

Will UCF ever overtake the Big Three in Florida? No.

I do think these teams have a chance to make the Playoff under the new format and maybe even win a game. But in order to compete at the very highest level, you have to have a roster loaded with NFL talent. Not just a few NFL players here and there, but loaded. Though roster assembly is certainly going to change under the new transfer rule, the only way to build a championship team is by recruiting around 10 top-100 players in every single class. Those players are most attracted to the powerhouses with a long record of developing draft picks.

Recruiting well enough to even begin to develop those players takes athletic departments with deep pockets. Even then, breaking through is borderline impossible for the low-to-middle tier of the Power 5. For the Group of 5 — even in the new Playoff structure — the best bet is to continue top-notch evaluation in hopes of assembling a special team that can win a Playoff game. I hate to say it, but overtaking the current powerhouses is probably impossible.

How does the rating of kickers and other specialists work? I’ve heard the recent Gator signee Trey Smack referred to as both a 2-star by a normal recruiting outlet and a 5-star by one that specializes in ranking kickers. How do those in the industry think about this? — Warren W. 

Florida earned a commitment last week from kicker Trey Smack of Severna Park (Md.) High. He is unranked in the 247Sports Composite. Why? Because recruiting services don’t really evaluate kickers.

There are independent services such as Kohl’s Professional Kicking Camps that put out kicker rankings. Those are far more reliable if you’re concerned about the ranking of your team’s kicker. They are done by kicking experts who know how to evaluate that position.

The kicking position has always been something that blows my mind, to be honest. It is absolutely insane to me that there isn’t a kicking coach on college staffs, particularly when making a field goal can be the difference between winning a national title and not making the College Football Playoff at all.

Coaches aren’t kicking experts. They don’t know the fundamentals the same way a personal kicking coach would. It’s crazy that offers are often extended to kickers based on who is most clutch or consistent during a camp. And, in some cases, the kicker is a walk-on.

If you have ever been to a college practice, you may see a kicker off to the side working on his own because the kicker knows more about his craft than his coach. Considering the importance of the position, it is funny to me that it is kind of cast off to the side, both in the rankings and once the players are on a team.

What are some programs that have under-recruited in recent years and you’d expect to take a leap forward soon (due to a coach, facility upgrade, whatever)? — Tyler A. 

There are a few programs that immediately jumped out to me when I read this question. I am going to base this on coaching changes because I don’t believe that something like a facilities upgrade is enough alone to change the course of a program’s recruiting trajectory. Those types of things are nice and certainly help, but they aren’t the catalysts for change that people think they are.

• Rutgers: Anyone who has been paying attention to what Greg Schiano has been doing in New Jersey probably saw this answer coming. Rutgers was at the bottom of the barrel in the Power 5, but since Schiano’s return, it has been assembling classes that should make for competitive teams in the Big Ten East.

• Missouri: I can’t say enough about how well Eli Drinkwitz has been doing in his short time at Mizzou. The Tigers finished with No. 27 overall in the 2021 cycle and landed one of the steals in the class in three-star quarterback Tyler Macon. In 2022, Mizzou’s current rank is No. 24 and includes a commitment from a top-100 quarterback in Sam Horn of Suwanee (Ga.) Collins Hill. One key to Drinkwitz’s success: The program has been far more effective in the St. Louis area.

• Vanderbilt: Who isn’t intrigued with what Clark Lea is going to be able to do at Vanderbilt? I love the hire of Barton Simmons, a former 247Sports analyst who knows the recruiting game better than anyone. I expect Vanderbilt to excel in Northwestern’s plan, which is to find the hidden gems, lean on its academic prowess and develop rough athletes into really good football players.

(Photo: Michael Reaves /  Getty Images)

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Ari Wasserman is a senior writer for The Athletic, covering college football and recruiting nationally. He previously spent 10 years covering Ohio State for The Athletic and Cleveland.com, starting on the Buckeyes beat in 2009. Follow Ari on Twitter @AriWasserman.

 

 

[BurntOrange&White 41842]

2 minutes ago, NoName said:

Athletic/Wasserman: Texas or Texas A&M: Which program has a brighter future? Recruiting mailbag

He picks A&M because he keeps getting burned by "Texas is Back"

Text:

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Texas or Texas A&M: Which program has a brighter future? Recruiting mailbag

By Ari Wasserman 2h ago 8

Recruiting never stops. Neither do your questions. Let’s get to it.

Note: Submitted questions have been edited for clarity and length.

If you could buy futures in only one of Texas or Texas A&M, whose are you buying? — Jungman M.

This question is really hard because both are at critical junctures and both have really solid cases. Let’s start with a sales pitch for both programs.

Texas: When it comes to recruiting, it’s not a stretch to say that Texas should expect to be the king of the Lone Star State. Texas is the school that every top-tier prospect in the state should at least explore. The Longhorns also just hired Steve Sarkisian coming off a national title at Alabama, so the program is pairing an ultratalented roster with a coach who really knows how to draw up an offense. Texas has never had a hard time with talent accumulation. The issues have been developing that talent and getting the most out of everyone on the roster. Sarkisian hasn’t coached a game in Austin yet, but I believe he can do what Tom Herman could not: develop his players. The Longhorns are also in a much more winnable conference than Texas A&M, which plays in the SEC.

Texas A&M: No team in college football had a better finish in the 2021 recruiting cycle than Texas A&M. The Aggies’ class ranked No. 8 overall and featured four top-75 national prospects from Texas. (Texas finished No. 15 in the national recruiting rankings.) Meanwhile, Jimbo Fisher, who won a national title at Florida State, has the Aggies coming off one of the most successful campaigns in program history. Texas A&M has also been crushing it in recruiting in Houston, which includes a commitment from 2022 five-star quarterback Conner Weigman of Cypress Bridgeland. Everything in Aggieland seems to be trending up.

Which one would you choose? It feels as though there isn’t a wrong answer.

I’ve gone back and forth multiple times. But this is a mailbag and not answering is boring, so I am going to go with Texas A&M right now.

I am repeatedly fooled by Texas. I say “Texas is back” more than anyone because I see the roster and the program’s resources and say, “Why not Texas?” Then all too often the Longhorns fail to meet expectations. Now there is a new coach, and I’m back to having a ton of hope for what the program can do. But on the other hand, Sark and Herman seem to be very similar hires on the surface. Texas should be able to win the Big 12, but is that expectation smart at this point? I don’t know.

There are some drawbacks to picking Texas A&M. The Aggies play in the same division as Alabama and LSU, so they face inherent roadblocks that Texas (outside of Oklahoma) frankly doesn’t have to face.

I just like a little more what Texas A&M has been doing on the recruiting front. Maybe this answer won’t age well and Texas will win 10 games in the fall and sign a top-five class in 2022. But right now, Texas A&M has a youthful and talented roster and the quarterback of the future who makes it easy to believe that Fisher will be able to win at the highest level.

LSU owns Louisiana. Miami and Florida own Florida. Alabama owns, well, Alabama. But there are other extremely good teams in those states. Louisiana, UCF and UAB are all excellent Group of 5 programs in those states. How long will it take for elite Group of 5 schools to begin challenging their state’s Power 5 overlords? I assume schools like Coastal Carolina will have an easier time supplanting the South Carolinas, teams that are Power 5 but not at all elite. — Jesse K.

First off, let me push back on something you said: Florida and Miami don’t own Florida. Alabama does.

In the 2021 recruiting cycle, Alabama signed the top two and seven of the top 14 players in the Sunshine State. I don’t make this point to be annoying — I just wanted to make it clear that in the modern landscape, it takes a heck of a lot more than conquering your own state to win a national title.

As things currently stand, LSU isn’t competing with Louisiana for prospects. Florida, Florida State and Miami aren’t competing with UCF (for the most part). And Alabama certainly isn’t competing with UAB. Those Group of 5 teams are very good and have gotten that good because they have mastered the art of evaluating players who would never be on the radar of the “Power 5 overlords.”

These programs use their state to their advantage, no doubt, but they do so without really spending much time evaluating or recruiting top-100 players. That would be a waste of time. The really good Group of 5 schools live in the middle by attacking prospects who rank between 600 and 1,200 to find the hidden gems. Don’t get me wrong: Every now and then a top-300 player will choose a Group of 5 school over a Power 5 program, but, for the most part, assembling a roster for a Group of 5 program is far more challenging. There are thousands of prospects who are much more difficult to evaluate than the ones going to the Elite 11 and The Opening, so the Group of 5 schools that are good are usually the best at evaluating those middle-tier players.

Will Louisiana ever overtake LSU? No.

Will UAB ever overtake Alabama? No.

Will UCF ever overtake the Big Three in Florida? No.

I do think these teams have a chance to make the Playoff under the new format and maybe even win a game. But in order to compete at the very highest level, you have to have a roster loaded with NFL talent. Not just a few NFL players here and there, but loaded. Though roster assembly is certainly going to change under the new transfer rule, the only way to build a championship team is by recruiting around 10 top-100 players in every single class. Those players are most attracted to the powerhouses with a long record of developing draft picks.

Recruiting well enough to even begin to develop those players takes athletic departments with deep pockets. Even then, breaking through is borderline impossible for the low-to-middle tier of the Power 5. For the Group of 5 — even in the new Playoff structure — the best bet is to continue top-notch evaluation in hopes of assembling a special team that can win a Playoff game. I hate to say it, but overtaking the current powerhouses is probably impossible.

How does the rating of kickers and other specialists work? I’ve heard the recent Gator signee Trey Smack referred to as both a 2-star by a normal recruiting outlet and a 5-star by one that specializes in ranking kickers. How do those in the industry think about this? — Warren W. 

Florida earned a commitment last week from kicker Trey Smack of Severna Park (Md.) High. He is unranked in the 247Sports Composite. Why? Because recruiting services don’t really evaluate kickers.

There are independent services such as Kohl’s Professional Kicking Camps that put out kicker rankings. Those are far more reliable if you’re concerned about the ranking of your team’s kicker. They are done by kicking experts who know how to evaluate that position.

The kicking position has always been something that blows my mind, to be honest. It is absolutely insane to me that there isn’t a kicking coach on college staffs, particularly when making a field goal can be the difference between winning a national title and not making the College Football Playoff at all.

Coaches aren’t kicking experts. They don’t know the fundamentals the same way a personal kicking coach would. It’s crazy that offers are often extended to kickers based on who is most clutch or consistent during a camp. And, in some cases, the kicker is a walk-on.

If you have ever been to a college practice, you may see a kicker off to the side working on his own because the kicker knows more about his craft than his coach. Considering the importance of the position, it is funny to me that it is kind of cast off to the side, both in the rankings and once the players are on a team.

What are some programs that have under-recruited in recent years and you’d expect to take a leap forward soon (due to a coach, facility upgrade, whatever)? — Tyler A. 

There are a few programs that immediately jumped out to me when I read this question. I am going to base this on coaching changes because I don’t believe that something like a facilities upgrade is enough alone to change the course of a program’s recruiting trajectory. Those types of things are nice and certainly help, but they aren’t the catalysts for change that people think they are.

• Rutgers: Anyone who has been paying attention to what Greg Schiano has been doing in New Jersey probably saw this answer coming. Rutgers was at the bottom of the barrel in the Power 5, but since Schiano’s return, it has been assembling classes that should make for competitive teams in the Big Ten East.

• Missouri: I can’t say enough about how well Eli Drinkwitz has been doing in his short time at Mizzou. The Tigers finished with No. 27 overall in the 2021 cycle and landed one of the steals in the class in three-star quarterback Tyler Macon. In 2022, Mizzou’s current rank is No. 24 and includes a commitment from a top-100 quarterback in Sam Horn of Suwanee (Ga.) Collins Hill. One key to Drinkwitz’s success: The program has been far more effective in the St. Louis area.

• Vanderbilt: Who isn’t intrigued with what Clark Lea is going to be able to do at Vanderbilt? I love the hire of Barton Simmons, a former 247Sports analyst who knows the recruiting game better than anyone. I expect Vanderbilt to excel in Northwestern’s plan, which is to find the hidden gems, lean on its academic prowess and develop rough athletes into really good football players.

(Photo: Michael Reaves /  Getty Images)

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Ari Wasserman is a senior writer for The Athletic, covering college football and recruiting nationally. He previously spent 10 years covering Ohio State for The Athletic and Cleveland.com, starting on the Buckeyes beat in 2009. Follow Ari on Twitter @AriWasserman.

 

 

Getting fooled by Texas is back meanwhile the Aggies haven't played for a conference title since 1998 and have not been in contention for a national title since 1939.

[NoName 17146]

3 minutes ago, BurntOrange&White said:

Getting fooled by Texas is back meanwhile the Aggies haven't played for a conference title since 1998 and have not been in contention for a national title since 1939.

yeah i am not a huge Wasserman fan but he is significantly better than Sam Khan Jr (their "Texpert" that covers State of Texas CFB)

[Dbeasy 15561]

Most interesting fact so far about 2022 recruiting? It appears the staff is particularly strong in DL recruiting. 

[BurntOrange&White 41842]

3 minutes ago, Dbeasy said:

Most interesting fact so far about 2022 recruiting? It appears the staff is particularly strong in DL recruiting. 

Well our DL coach is particularly well known for his recruiting.

[Machinator 32103]

Swanson is on Gerry's list but of all the recruits he listed he's the only one where he didn't write anything.

[HtownHorn 15243]

11 minutes ago, Machinator said:

Swanson is on Gerry's list but of all the recruits he listed he's the only one where he didn't write anything.

He made a strong inference yesterday that there will be culling done before the class is finished.

[Ricky's one-hitter 9622]

Gerry is projecting 8 DL (including edge), but passing on KJ Miles tells me they're comfortable with 6-7.

DT: Bryant and Bledsoe aren't fungible, but passing on Miles indicates they'd take 1/2 and wrap it up.

DE: In an ideal world, we take two SDE types like Finkley and Thompson. Don't feel great about both - where do we go if Finkley picks Michigan? Should probably be a portal spot.

EDGE: I thought this is where we were light on the roster? It seems odd to me that we have one current target who is seriously considering Baylor without any apparent backup plans other than long shot guys like Wiggins and Tapp. 

[crash_davis 23468]

10 hours ago, Michael Knight said:

Ewers confirmed

fuck ewers. he seems fully convicted to spend 4 years in that shithole state.

[IDIOTsavant 8685]

Just now, crash_davis said:

fuck ewers. he seems fully convicted to spend 4 years in that shithole state.

Just superb phrasing when talking about Ohio, sir.

[Burt Macklin 19230]

 

1 hour ago, Fud said:

I think one of the two edge positions is supposed to be bigger than the other, which I'd guess is his fit

Yeah, PK usually wants the weakside guy to be 245-250 and the strongside guy to be around 265-270.  I think he calls weakside X and strongside Jack, but I might be mixing those up. Hard to keep track since every single coach uses different names for their positions and we're on our 4th DC in 5 years.  This year should be instructive on how he uses them and what he's looking for. Thornton/Ovie/Dorbah will be the weakside guy with Jones and Davis most likely at strongside.  

For recruiting, it's clear Brown is our weakside with Jones at strongside. I think they view Finkley and Thompson as strongside OLB, but all 3 of our strongside guys could possibly add enough weight to also play some IDL in our 3 man fronts. It'll be itneresting to see how many total edges and IDLs PK takes.

 

10 hours ago, Machinator said:

The other OU 247 mod on Derrick Brown. Take it FWIW, grain of salt, etc.

Collin's Corner: Quick thoughts on Derrick Brown

  Reveal hidden contents

Tonight, three-star edge prospect Derrick Brown released a final-two list. It included Texas and Baylor, two programs with plenty of influence in this recruitment. However, one notable program was left off.

Oklahoma was unable to make the cut for Brown. While it's noteworthy to a degree, it shouldn't be too shocking. Oklahoma does have connections that provide leverage in Clayton Smith and Jamar Cain, but the respective staffs for Baylor and Texas have built strong bonds rapidly. In addition to this, I've noted in the past how sources have indicated that playing inside the state of Texas has always been meaningful to Brown. In the end, this will likely begin a simple parting of ways for each party.

As for where things stand now, I've held back on a crystal ball for good reason. I'd say that continues to be true as this recruitment takes its next step. Not too long ago, I favored Texas. The Longhorns' staff did a great job of selling the program/a vision and the visit blew Brown away. However, he still had some trips to take. This included Baylor, a school that is suddenly starting to surge.

In speaking with a source, I now give Baylor the slight edge for now. Brown recently visited and the Bears' coaches provided quite the experience. It also helps that Baylor has quickly gained plenty of momentum on the recruiting trail, adding to its 2022 recruiting class rapidly. With relationships and added traction present, the Bears have become more and more of a viable landing spot.

However, I say 'slight' with plenty of meaning. Brown is very much someone who will enjoy the various turns this recruitment takes. Each program had/has every right to feel confident heading into the month of July, a lot of that having to do with the experiences created during the respective visits. However, I think that as Brown approaches his July 18 decision date, it will come down to who is able to maintain a strong impression the longest. It's one thing to surge in the moment, but consistency and sustainability will be the key. It's something to follow as these two in-state schools battle it out.

 

What is it with 9.95ers all trying so hard to use respective in every single post?  Did they all attend the "I'm told this is how you write" seminar taught by Bobby Burton or something?

51 minutes ago, Dbeasy said:

Most interesting fact so far about 2022 recruiting? It appears the staff is particularly strong in DL recruiting. 

Davis has always been a strong recruiter. He's also doing major work for us with Harris and it appears he's building a pipeline directly from Austin to North Shore for years to come.

Edited June 29, 2021 by Burt Macklin

[BurntOrange&White 41842]

[Burt Macklin 19230]

6 minutes ago, Ricky's one-hitter said:

Gerry is projecting 8 DL (including edge), but passing on KJ Miles tells me they're comfortable with 6-7.

DT: Bryant and Bledsoe aren't fungible, but passing on Miles indicates they'd take 1/2 and wrap it up.

DE: In an ideal world, we take two SDE types like Finkley and Thompson. Don't feel great about both - where do we go if Finkley picks Michigan? Should probably be a portal spot.

EDGE: I thought this is where we were light on the roster? It seems odd to me that we have one current target who is seriously considering Baylor without any apparent backup plans other than long shot guys like Wiggins and Tapp. 

I think you're mixing things up a bit here. The DEs you have listed are edge players, and you also forgot to include Jones.  So between Brown, Jones, and at least one of Thompson or Finkley, we'll likely be taking 3 and maybe 4 edge players this year. Specifically at weakside edge, we're ok with future depth because Ovie and Dorbah will probably be here at least two more years.

It's hard to say for numbers at IDL this year with all the guys floating around currently. 

[Machinator 32103]

 

[Burt Macklin 19230]

11 hours ago, Machinator said:

The other OU 247 mod on Derrick Brown. Take it FWIW, grain of salt, etc.

Collin's Corner: Quick thoughts on Derrick Brown

  Reveal hidden contents

Tonight, three-star edge prospect Derrick Brown released a final-two list. It included Texas and Baylor, two programs with plenty of influence in this recruitment. However, one notable program was left off.

Oklahoma was unable to make the cut for Brown. While it's noteworthy to a degree, it shouldn't be too shocking. Oklahoma does have connections that provide leverage in Clayton Smith and Jamar Cain, but the respective staffs for Baylor and Texas have built strong bonds rapidly. In addition to this, I've noted in the past how sources have indicated that playing inside the state of Texas has always been meaningful to Brown. In the end, this will likely begin a simple parting of ways for each party.

As for where things stand now, I've held back on a crystal ball for good reason. I'd say that continues to be true as this recruitment takes its next step. Not too long ago, I favored Texas. The Longhorns' staff did a great job of selling the program/a vision and the visit blew Brown away. However, he still had some trips to take. This included Baylor, a school that is suddenly starting to surge.

In speaking with a source, I now give Baylor the slight edge for now. Brown recently visited and the Bears' coaches provided quite the experience. It also helps that Baylor has quickly gained plenty of momentum on the recruiting trail, adding to its 2022 recruiting class rapidly. With relationships and added traction present, the Bears have become more and more of a viable landing spot.

However, I say 'slight' with plenty of meaning. Brown is very much someone who will enjoy the various turns this recruitment takes. Each program had/has every right to feel confident heading into the month of July, a lot of that having to do with the experiences created during the respective visits. However, I think that as Brown approaches his July 18 decision date, it will come down to who is able to maintain a strong impression the longest. It's one thing to surge in the moment, but consistency and sustainability will be the key. It's something to follow as these two in-state schools battle it out.

 

That would be pretty crazy if we got Skinner.  I couldn't find any track times for him, but there's a couple Clemson articles that claim he ran a 4.53 40 with a 36" vert. That would be pretty damn good if it's anywhere near accurate.  And anyone who compares an athlete like Skinner to a guy who couldn't break 5 seconds in the 40 yard dash belongs in the spidery2kbanana rank of amateur scouts. 

[BurntOrange&White 41842]

1 minute ago, Machinator said:

 

This will be interesting...we will get to see what our 9.95ers know.

[Ricky's one-hitter 9622]

5 minutes ago, Burt Macklin said:

I think you're mixing things up a bit here. The DEs you have listed are edge players, and you also forgot to include Jones.  So between Brown, Jones, and at least one of Thompson or Finkley, we'll likely be taking 3 and maybe 4 edge players this year. Specifically at weakside edge, we're ok with future depth because Ovie and Dorbah will probably be here at least two more years.

It's hard to say for numbers at IDL this year with all the guys floating around currently. 

Idk how to talk about End v. Edge in this defense yet. 

[Danimal 396]

Just now, BurntOrange&White said:

This will be interesting...we will get to see what our 9.95ers know.

We should know about Williams on the 1st and that should tell us everything about Sexton and Texas.

[Burt Macklin 19230]

1 minute ago, Ricky's one-hitter said:

Idk how to talk about End v. Edge in this defense yet. 

Both of PK's edges play off ball in his base 2-4-5, so for simplicity's sake, I think the easiest way to talk about it is IDL and edge with a strongside and a weakside. In function, the strongside guy is a bit of a hybrid as he will be lining up with his hand in the dirt sometimes.

[HtownHorn 15243]

2 minutes ago, Danimal said:

We should know about Williams on the 1st and that should tell us everything about Sexton and Texas.

I agree. I think the staff decided on Williams.

[crash_davis 23468]

Is Sark going the Bama route and going after the "best" guys irrespective of location which is leading to many out of state offers? Or is Sark going out of state because of the lack of interest from Texas guys? Or does it depend on position and what's available in Texas vs out of state?

[BurntOrange&White 41842]

Just now, Burt Macklin said:

Both of PK's edges play off ball in his base 2-4-5, so for simplicity's sake, I think the easiest way to talk about it is IDL and edge with a strongside and a weakside. In function, the strongside guy is a bit of a hybrid as he will be lining up with his hand in the dirt sometimes.

I tend to just look at it as a modern 3-4 with more flexibility.

[BurntOrange&White 41842]

1 minute ago, crash_davis said:

Is Sark going the Bama route and going after the "best" guys irrespective of location which is leading to many out of state offers? Or is Sark going out of state because of the lack of interest from Texas guys? Or does it depend on position and what's available in Texas vs out of state?

We going after dawgs!

[Machinator 32103]

4 minutes ago, crash_davis said:

Is Sark going the Bama route and going after the "best" guys irrespective of location which is leading to many out of state offers? Or is Sark going out of state because of the lack of interest from Texas guys? Or does it depend on position and what's available in Texas vs out of state?

Mixture of both. With regard to edge rushers, we have been boxed out on three of the four highest-rated players in Sylla, Abor, and Cooper.

[Burt Macklin 19230]

4 minutes ago, BurntOrange&White said:

I tend to just look at it as a modern 3-4 with more flexibility.

I guess you can look at it like that if you want, but he pretty much never plays 3 DL and 4 LBs, unless they're facing Stanford. He almost always has at least 5 DBs on the field and uses a 2-4 or a 3-3. If you want to simplify it, his base 2-4 functions a lot more like the 4-2 front we ran last year than a 3-4.

[Mitch Cumsteen 18962]

I would like to officially nominate, "hanging around the rim," as the most overused recruiting cliche of 2021. RIP "suddenness."  

[Pato del Muerto 53441]

Just now, Mitch Cumsteen said:

I would like to officially nominate, "hanging around the rim," as the most overused recruiting cliche of 2021. RIP "suddenness."  

Put it over by flashing and fast twitch 

[Ricky's one-hitter 9622]

14 minutes ago, Burt Macklin said:

Both of PK's edges play off ball in his base 2-4-5, so for simplicity's sake, I think the easiest way to talk about it is IDL and edge with a strongside and a weakside. In function, the strongside guy is a bit of a hybrid as he will be lining up with his hand in the dirt sometimes.

Interesting. I was under the impression that the strong side would be majority hand in the dirt and I referred to that group as DE, then the EDGE guys as backside rushers. Makes sense, though and I agree that's an easier way to talk about them. 

[Burt Macklin 19230]

2 minutes ago, Ricky's one-hitter said:

Interesting. I was under the impression that the strong side would be majority hand in the dirt and I referred to that group as DE, then the EDGE guys as backside rushers. Makes sense, though and I agree that's an easier way to talk about them. 

Tryon definitely had his hand in the dirt on some snaps. I guess we could all Jack and X and refer specifically to weakside edge and strongside edge guys, but I doubt that will happen.

On a slightly OT, the fact that it's so hard to classify PK's defense is what I like so much about him. He doesn't just run one system and his defensive rules and assignment vary a lot. He's basically the polar opposite from Ash last year, who ran the same scheme every single game and could get burnt repeatedly when he faced a competent OC.  PK did struggle some with Stanford's heavy packages and power run game so I'm curious how that will translate against OU, but overall I'm really looking forward to seeing how his defense operates against different opponents throughout the course of the season.

[Ricky's one-hitter 9622]

9 minutes ago, Burt Macklin said:

Tryon definitely had his hand in the dirt on some snaps. I guess we could all Jack and X and refer specifically to weakside edge and strongside edge guys, but I doubt that will happen.

On a slightly OT, the fact that it's so hard to classify PK's defense is what I like so much about him. He doesn't just run one system and his defensive rules and assignment vary a lot. He's basically the polar opposite from Ash last year, who ran the same scheme every single game and could get burnt repeatedly when he faced a competent OC.  PK did struggle some with Stanford's heavy packages and power run game so I'm curious how that will translate against OU, but overall I'm really looking forward to seeing how his defense operates against different opponents throughout the course of the season.

Absolutely tailor made for Baylor's shift to a WZ heavy scheme. 

[Machinator 32103]

He shocked the world!

 

[closetojumping 65379]

 

14 hours ago, HtownHorn said:

Blue's reaction to Miller committing.

Anyone who thinks Blue’s commitment ends with a signed LOI for UT hasn’t been paying attention. 

 

12 hours ago, Elmer_Fudd said:

Haven't seen any buzz about Brooks and his Bama' OV.

The buzz is tilted in Bama’s favor. 

1 hour ago, Machinator said:

Swanson is on Gerry's list but of all the recruits he listed he's the only one where he didn't write anything.

You’re reading it correctly. I’m skeptical of Swanson sticking in this class. If momentum continues, he’s going to get processed out and recruited over. 

48 minutes ago, BurntOrange&White said:

This will be interesting...we will get to see what our 9.95ers know.

Is it your contention that Sexton may still commit to Texas? 

43 minutes ago, Burt Macklin said:

Both of PK's edges play off ball in his base 2-4-5, so for simplicity's sake, I think the easiest way to talk about it is IDL and edge with a strongside and a weakside. In function, the strongside guy is a bit of a hybrid as he will be lining up with his hand in the dirt sometimes.

You guys spend a lot of time fixating on irrelevant details when it comes to front 7’s. This has been going since Herman showed up. Texas will have a 4 man front with PK as the DC. The only thing worth noting is that the ends, your basic strong side and weak side ends, will not have their hands on the ground in order provide better optionality and the ability to pick up ball better in today’s world of RPO. Is there more to it than that? No doubt. That’s where creating a chat room for a few of you, rpongett, and Ian Boyd comes in. 

[BurntOrange&White 41842]

1 minute ago, closetojumping said:

 

 

Is it your contention that Sexton may still commit to Texas? 

 

No, just stating that it will be interesting to see what the 995ers do if he does commit to Texas given their recent statements on class predictions.

[Bevo 13870]

4 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

That’s where creating a chat room for a few of you, rpongett, and Ian Boyd comes in. 

Is rpongett still around?

[Vito Andolini 9440]

He’s hanging around the rim.

[Tex-19 3013]

17 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

The buzz is tilted in Bama’s favor. 

 

We still looking good on Harris post-visit? Haven't seen much on him either

[closetojumping 65379]

15 minutes ago, Bevo said:

Is rpongett still around?

My understanding is that he posts here as fatkid45.

Edited June 29, 2021 by closetojumping

[Machinator 32103]

39 minutes ago, Machinator said:

He shocked the world!

 

Wouldn't want texifornia to miss this sweet edit.

 

[BurntOrange&White 41842]

Hayes Fawcett is who Texifornia wishes he was. That is why there is so much angst. Jealousy isn't a good look brother!

[Dbeasy 15561]

This may just be my recency bias, but it seems like for the first time in awhile that Texas is passing on pretty strong talent in order to wait on even stronger talent to officially commit. KJ Miles is a four star talent that appears to also be a good student.