Texas Recruiting Notes 2022 - Idiotic Slapfights Unrelated To 2022 Recruiting

[Scholz 12309]

*fewer

[Getafix 29459]

 

Breakfast Bites: Recruiting heating up, weekend visitor notes

Mike Roach

 

Spoiler

Breakfast Bites: Recruiting heating up, weekend visitor notes

Mike Roach
 

— Recruiting is heating up as Texas heads into the season with the addition of J'Mond Tapp and Jaray Bledsoe yesterday. The Longhorns now have seven defensive line and edge prospects in the class, and I believe they would take more if the right player presented itself. Could that player be Justice Finkley? After last night, I believe anything is a bit more possible, but I still think it will be tough pulling him away from Alabama and Nick Saban. I'm not Crystal Ball confident yet, but I don't believe he ends up a Longhorn if he decides in the next few weeks.

— Outside of Finkley, I believe Texas would take elite EDGE options like Omari Abor or Quency Wiggins if those players wanted in. A source I talked to last night said the staff is focused on adding power in the trenches and building this roster from the inside out. That certainly isn't a bad strategy, especially when a move to the SEC lies ahead. As for numbers, that's something I'm trying to dive a little deeper into to see what this class can realistically take. I don't get the sense this staff is slowing down at the moment with 20 commits in the bag. In fact, there might be some more news within the next few weeks.

— When this staff was put together, it was clear that Texas wanted to be a more serious player across the eastern border in Louisiana. Adding coaches like Bo Davis, Terry Joseph and Cordae Hankton to go along with Brandon Harris gave the Longhorns a few deeper ties in the Pelican State. The Longhorns currently hold two commitments from Louisiana in Ronald Lewis and Tapp, and they have others in their sights. One of those prospects is four-star wide receiver Shazz Preston. Texas has been working him hard, and I'm told that they are still considered a player for him along with Georgia. Preston does have some significant ties to LSU while Alabama has always been a strong contender as well. This would be another race I'd have to see to believe, but I'm told that Texas is pushing hard right now and Preston is at least listening.

— This also lays the groundwork for 2023 where Texas would love to strike into The Boot and land five-star quarterback Arch Manning, his teammate Will Randle, five-star linebacker Jaiden Ausberry and four-star cornerback Jordan Matthews. While it's unlikely that Texas shoots 100% with those targets, establishing more footholds in Louisiana will help them in the future.

— I mentioned a few weeks ago that Texas could get Jaylon Guilbeau back in the class depending on how hard they pushed. As of late, it sounds like they are getting aggressive with him, and one source near Guilbeau told me he thought that the Port Arthur Memorial cornerback would ultimately end up back in the class. We will see if TCU also puts on a strong push, but I feel better about Guilbeau potentially signing with Texas at the end of the day.  Guilbeau did inform me that he would be at Texas this weekend for the game.  

— I checked into what the visitor list might look like for the weekend, and right now it seems like it will mostly be committed prospects and a few off-the-radar guys the staff is monitoring this year. We will continue to reach out to prospects and coaches this week to see what we can find out, but the list doesn't have many fireworks yet.

 

 

[Sgt Hulk 14462]

with a touch of recruiting momentum, we need to come out and skull Fuck opponents this season to back up it up and keep the hype train going. 

[Burt Macklin 19230]

9 minutes ago, Scholz said:

Was just reading the LSU tears over Tapp. Another benefit of joining that league:

- Force aggys to play us again while hurting their recruiting and also outing them to the world as the scared little bitches they are

- Renew historic rivalry with arkie 

- Open up recruiting channels in the south for guys like Bledsoe and Tapp - also seem to be making a run at LA. kids Wiggins and Preston 

- Profit

It’s hard to say if the SEC move or Bo Davis is why we’re invading SEC country more this cycle, but the SEC move certainly won’t hurt. 
 

 

5 minutes ago, Getafix said:

 

Breakfast Bites: Recruiting heating up, weekend visitor notes

Mike Roach

 

  Hide contents

Breakfast Bites: Recruiting heating up, weekend visitor notes

Mike Roach
 

— Recruiting is heating up as Texas heads into the season with the addition of J'Mond Tapp and Jaray Bledsoe yesterday. The Longhorns now have seven defensive line and edge prospects in the class, and I believe they would take more if the right player presented itself. Could that player be Justice Finkley? After last night, I believe anything is a bit more possible, but I still think it will be tough pulling him away from Alabama and Nick Saban. I'm not Crystal Ball confident yet, but I don't believe he ends up a Longhorn if he decides in the next few weeks.

— Outside of Finkley, I believe Texas would take elite EDGE options like Omari Abor or Quency Wiggins if those players wanted in. A source I talked to last night said the staff is focused on adding power in the trenches and building this roster from the inside out. That certainly isn't a bad strategy, especially when a move to the SEC lies ahead. As for numbers, that's something I'm trying to dive a little deeper into to see what this class can realistically take. I don't get the sense this staff is slowing down at the moment with 20 commits in the bag. In fact, there might be some more news within the next few weeks.

— When this staff was put together, it was clear that Texas wanted to be a more serious player across the eastern border in Louisiana. Adding coaches like Bo Davis, Terry Joseph and Cordae Hankton to go along with Brandon Harris gave the Longhorns a few deeper ties in the Pelican State. The Longhorns currently hold two commitments from Louisiana in Ronald Lewis and Tapp, and they have others in their sights. One of those prospects is four-star wide receiver Shazz Preston. Texas has been working him hard, and I'm told that they are still considered a player for him along with Georgia. Preston does have some significant ties to LSU while Alabama has always been a strong contender as well. This would be another race I'd have to see to believe, but I'm told that Texas is pushing hard right now and Preston is at least listening.

— This also lays the groundwork for 2023 where Texas would love to strike into The Boot and land five-star quarterback Arch Manning, his teammate Will Randle, five-star linebacker Jaiden Ausberry and four-star cornerback Jordan Matthews. While it's unlikely that Texas shoots 100% with those targets, establishing more footholds in Louisiana will help them in the future.

— I mentioned a few weeks ago that Texas could get Jaylon Guilbeau back in the class depending on how hard they pushed. As of late, it sounds like they are getting aggressive with him, and one source near Guilbeau told me he thought that the Port Arthur Memorial cornerback would ultimately end up back in the class. We will see if TCU also puts on a strong push, but I feel better about Guilbeau potentially signing with Texas at the end of the day.  Guilbeau did inform me that he would be at Texas this weekend for the game.  

— I checked into what the visitor list might look like for the weekend, and right now it seems like it will mostly be committed prospects and a few off-the-radar guys the staff is monitoring this year. We will continue to reach out to prospects and coaches this week to see what we can find out, but the list doesn't have many fireworks yet.

 

 

People keep saying we’re at 20 commits, which is technically true, but I’d bet a couple of the guys currently in our class won’t actually end up as counters. 

Edited August 31, 2021 by Burt Macklin

[Burt Macklin 19230]

16 minutes ago, longhornmatt said:

The long snapper needs to be a walk-on.   Does anyone else give scholarships to long snappers?  Does anyone even have problems with bad snaps more than once in a blue moon?  Scholarship long snappers are a solution in search of a problem.  

Swanson, Johnson, Winfield and I suppose Blue seem like they might not be the firmest of commits for various reasons.

Id hope the kicker who goes to Regents could also work around being a counter. He’s a prime guy who you could use NIL funds to basically buy another signing spot for the team until he’s ready to start. 

[tokamak 6687]

How's this for a run down of the current situation?

• QB: done
• RB: done (assuming Blue sticks in the class)
• WR: need 2 more. Stewart, Preston, Thompson only names on the radar right now. Winfield also not 100% solid.
• TE: Skinner or bust
• OL: need Campbell + at least 1 guy that can play T. Dewberry, Greene, Neto seem like the only somewhat realistic names on the board right now.
• DL: 1 more blue chip EDGE or bust. Abor, Wiggins, Finkley are the names
• LB: need 1 to replace Johnson if/when he bails. The guy out of Utah is the only name I've heard. Sure we'd take Perkins but that seems very unlikely.
• DB: 2 more CB and 1 more S. Harris, Guilbeau, and LTJ are the targets.

That's a net gain of 8 players assuming we don't land Skinner, do land an EDGE, and replace Johnson one-for-one with someone else.

[Elmer_Fudd 23006]

How does a potential DB haul of Allen, Jordan, Hyphen, Guilbeau, and Lewis sound?  Missing on Anderson stinks no doubt.  Just don't see Harris happening right now.

[Hiphopopotamos 21191]

18 minutes ago, longhornmatt said:

The long snapper needs to be a walk-on.   Does anyone else give scholarships to long snappers?  Does anyone even have problems with bad snaps more than once in a blue moon?  Scholarship long snappers are a solution in search of a problem.  

Swanson, Johnson, Winfield and I suppose Blue seem like they might not be the firmest of commits for various reasons.

I haven't found anything current - but in 2019 there is a thread on SECRant about this - LSU, Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, and Tennessee all had a scholarship long snapper.

 

[Bamboozled73 342]

19 minutes ago, longhornmatt said:

The long snapper needs to be a walk-on.   Does anyone else give scholarships to long snappers?  Does anyone even have problems with bad snaps more than once in a blue moon?  Scholarship long snappers are a solution in search of a problem.  

Swanson, Johnson, Winfield and I suppose Blue seem like they might not be the firmest of commits for various reasons.

Charlie Strong would beg to differ even though I agree we need to find a walk-on to do that job. 

[Scholz 12309]

2 minutes ago, tokamak said:

• WR: need 2 more. Stewart, Preston, Thompson only names on the radar right now. Winfield also not 100% solid.

Aren't we still in the ear of SMU commit Jordan Hudson?  

[Elmer_Fudd 23006]

1 minute ago, tokamak said:

 

• DB: 2 more CB and 1 more S. Harris, Guilbeau, and LTJ are the targets.

Trying figure how they view the DB guys.  Allen is clearly a Safety.  Jordan is listed as one, but has pretty much played CB, and he was matched up on 2023 5* Jalen Hale last weekend.  Is Lewis a CB?  I think LTG is a Safty/NB.  Guilbeau CB/NB.  

[Elmer_Fudd 23006]

6 minutes ago, Burt Macklin said:

Id hope the kicker who goes to Regents could also work around being a counter. He’s a prime guy who you could use NIL funds to basically buy another signing spot for the team until he’s ready to start. 

Take out the two specialists we are sitting in at a 91-92 team composite average right now.  Banks and Anderson are two biggest missed for this class.  

[texifornia 59017]

25 minutes ago, longhornmatt said:

The long snapper needs to be a walk-on.   Does anyone else give scholarships to long snappers?  Does anyone even have problems with bad snaps more than once in a blue moon?  Scholarship long snappers are a solution in search of a problem.  

Swanson, Johnson, Winfield and I suppose Blue seem like they might not be the firmest of commits for various reasons.

He'll probably be a walk-on to start with the deal that he picks up a schollie later so he doesn't take a counter. That's how most schools do it (Mader, our current snapper, has had a scholarship for example).

[Burt Macklin 19230]

3 minutes ago, tokamak said:

How's this for a run down of the current situation?

• QB: done
• RB: done (assuming Blue sticks in the class)
• WR: need 2 more. Stewart, Preston, Thompson only names on the radar right now. Winfield also not 100% solid.
• TE: Skinner or bust. Jones could get moved here. It’s also a position with a lot of late risers. But we took 3 TEs last year, so we don’t have to take one. Probably should though. 
• OL: need Campbell + at least 1 guy that can play T. Dewberry, Greene, Neto seem like the only somewhat realistic names on the board right now. Have to think we’ll be looking for senior film here and could take one of the above plus a late riser if it’s the right guy. 
• DL: 1 more blue chip EDGE or bust. Abor, Wiggins, Finkley are the names. We’ve taken a lot of guys here. I’m sure we’d take any of the above, but we don’t need another take here. Someone may get processed if we add here. 
• LB: need 1 to replace Johnson if/when he bails. The guy out of Utah is the only name I've heard. Sure we'd take Perkins but that seems very unlikely.
• DB: 2 more CB and 1 more S. Harris, Guilbeau, and LTJ are the targets. We already have 3 DBs. Probably only need 1-2 more, unless we can get someone elite. 

That's a net gain of 8 players assuming we don't land Skinner, do land an EDGE, and replace Johnson one-for-one with someone else.

There’s a chance of processing/a guy hopping out at a couple spots and I think you overestimated at a spot to two. I’ll be surprised if we net 8 more players from this point. I’d guess we end around 25 recruits, maybe 26 with 2-3 not being counters. 

[HtownHorn 15235]

41 minutes ago, longhornmatt said:

The long snapper needs to be a walk-on.   Does anyone else give scholarships to long snappers?  Does anyone even have problems with bad snaps more than once in a blue moon?  Scholarship long snappers are a solution in search of a problem.  

Swanson, Johnson, Winfield and I suppose Blue seem like they might not be the firmest of commits for various reasons.

Our current LS is on scholarship.

[Hookem2147 22039]

18 minutes ago, Elmer_Fudd said:

Trying figure how they view the DB guys.  Allen is clearly a Safety.  Jordan is listed as one, but has pretty much played CB, and he was matched up on 2023 5* Jalen Hale last weekend.  Is Lewis a CB?  I think LTG is a Safty/NB.  Guilbeau CB/NB.  

I think there's an outside shot Lewis is a CB. High likelihood he is a safety. Not sure this class needs another safety unless it's someone like LTG. 

[SquishMitten 10497]

9 minutes ago, Elmer_Fudd said:

Take out the two specialists we are sitting in at a 91-92 team composite average right now.  Banks and Anderson are two biggest missed for this class.  

Most of the teams in the top 12 have a kicker/punter bringing their average down so I keep Stone in the calculator. But it's definitely fair to take out the porn (2) star which puts our average at 90.58 and 11th overall. This is just a public service announcement for any lurking aggys since I know y'all struggle with math but need something to crow about.

[tokamak 6687]

3 minutes ago, Burt Macklin said:

There’s a chance of processing/a guy hopping out at a couple spots and I think you overestimated at a spot to two. I’ll be surprised if we net 8 more players from this point. I’d guess we end around 25 recruits, maybe 26 with 2-3 not being counters. 

Yeah 8 more felt like a lot to me but there's some conflict between what I think and what our staff seems to be doing. DB, for example. Agree with you that 5 is more reasonable than 6, but per the $9.95ers we're still pushing for Guilbeau. Same deal with DL - I'd assume we're done after Tapp but they're still pursuing guys.

On the other hand, there's OL. We have two commits plus a supposed lean in Campbell, and not much else going on. At the beginning of this cycle, I would have said we could take as many as 6 if they can all play. We have a serious numbers deficit at OL on the roster, and there's no sense of urgency at all. Taking 5 high school OL over two cycles, at least one of whom was very lightly regarded as a recruit, would be a disaster IMO.

[Hookem2147 22039]

Also don't forget about the proposal that will expand classes and allow schools to sign more than 25 to count against outgoing portal transfers. I believe that rule will go into effect this class if it passes with a cap of 30 man classes.

[elguapo 4620]

3 minutes ago, tokamak said:

Yeah 8 more felt like a lot to me but there's some conflict between what I think and what our staff seems to be doing. DB, for example. Agree with you that 5 is more reasonable than 6, but per the $9.95ers we're still pushing for Guilbeau. Same deal with DL - I'd assume we're done after Tapp but they're still pursuing guys.

On the other hand, there's OL. We have two commits plus a supposed lean in Campbell, and not much else going on. At the beginning of this cycle, I would have said we could take as many as 6 if they can all play. We have a serious numbers deficit at OL on the roster, and there's no sense of urgency at all. Taking 5 high school OL over two cycles, at least one of whom was very lightly regarded as a recruit, would be a disaster IMO.

Yes I'm sure the staff is sitting around with their thumbs up their ass waiting for some blue chip OL to fall in their laps.

Just because we aren't aware of any movement doesn't mean nothing is happening, see J'Mond Tapp for example.

[RomaVicta 30604]

I think the long snapper we have committed is also fast. He could be a plus in coverage in addition to sure delivery of the ball to the punter.

Edited August 31, 2021 by RomaVicta

[Hookem2147 22039]

8 minutes ago, tokamak said:

We have a serious numbers deficit at OL on the roster, and there's no sense of urgency at all. Taking 5 high school OL over two cycles, at least one of whom was very lightly regarded as a recruit, would be a disaster IMO.

We actually don't have a deficit at OL on the roster, so not sure where you are getting that from. They have 14 scholarship OL which is right about where you want to be. Only losing Kerstetter, Imade and Okafor after this year. So assuming they sign a 4 man class (Huston, Robertson, Campbell and hopefully a tackle), they are doing just fine from a numbers standpoint. There's very little deadweight at the position either, which is obvious because we actually have 8-9 guys who can give us quality snaps this year for the first time in a decade.

[Big Woodrows 4217]

4 hours ago, Elmer_Fudd said:

"IF" we were to somehow get Wiggins or someone else, I don't think Jones would have a problem moving to TE.  Pretty sure that's what he originally wanted to play anyways.  Still think he has upside on D', but I don't think he'd mind and you could say he'd be the only TE in this class.

Take it as you will, but Nahlin directly said yesterday that there was no chance Jones moves to TE

[Burt Macklin 19230]

6 minutes ago, Hookem2147 said:

We actually don't have a deficit at OL on the roster, so not sure where you are getting that from. They have 14 scholarship OL which is right about where you want to be. Only losing Kerstetter, Imade and Okafor after this year. So assuming they sign a 4 man class (Huston, Robertson, Campbell and hopefully a tackle), they are doing just fine from a numbers standpoint. There's very little deadweight at the position either, which is obvious because we actually have 8-9 guys who can give us quality snaps this year for the first time in a decade.

14 total scholarship OL is absolutely low, especially considering we only took 2 last year so we have a gap in classes. 
 

A lot of the best run teams have about 20 because you generally can’t expect true freshman to contribute. And we have Merril and Ghirmai, plus a guy like Garth who’s had very serious injury issues and may not ever be the same, so I’m not sure how you can say we don’t have any dead weight of the 14. 

Edited August 31, 2021 by Burt Macklin

[Thiefery 5108]

46 minutes ago, tokamak said:

How's this for a run down of the current situation?

• WR: need 2 more. Stewart, Preston, Thompson only names on the radar right now. Winfield also not 100% solid.

If he was going to decommit, it would have happened by now.. He's locked in

[Satoshi 129]

14 hours ago, texifornia said:

 

 

Fuck Wescott

[futureman 22704]

25 minutes ago, Burt Macklin said:

I’m not sure how you can say we don’t have any dead weight of the 14. 

not what he said. if you need help with reading comprehension I’d be happy to sit down with you. 

[Satoshi 129]

5 hours ago, Burt Macklin said:

I guess you could say it would be a certain DL commit’s Swan song. 

Ross would never get processed. He’s saying Ross might jump if that happened. 

Isn’t a big part of processing a player ceasing communication and they get the hint and look around?

[BurntOrange&White 41913]

WR targets:

Winfield - committed 

Stewart

Thompson

shazz

hudson

[Burt Macklin 19230]

4 minutes ago, futureman said:

not what he said. if you need help with reading comprehension I’d be happy to sit down with you. 

Futureman’s favorite seat:

 

 

[futureman 22704]

just don’t be a moron and we won’t have to do this. 

[Thiefery 5108]

Just now, Burt Macklin said:

Futureman’s favorite seat:

 

 

[IDIOTsavant 8688]

3 minutes ago, Burt Macklin said:

Futureman’s favorite seat:

 

 

If only you'd photoshopped a fist onto this..

[JesusSweatDuck 18124]

1 minute ago, Thiefery said:

I think that's a little more @NowThis's style

[Hookem2147 22039]

37 minutes ago, Burt Macklin said:

14 total scholarship OL is absolutely low, especially considering we only took 2 last year so we have a gap in classes. 
 

A lot of the best run teams have about 20 because you generally can’t expect true freshman to contribute. And we have Merril and Ghirmai, plus a guy like Garth who’s had very serious injury issues and may not ever be the same, so I’m not sure how you can say we don’t have any dead weight of the 14. 

Ghirmai is the only guy I would classify as deadweight. Garth is a redshirt freshman and Merril has been on campus for about 15 minutes (although the 9.95 sites have said the coaches feel like he can be a contributor down the road).

I misspoke when I said 14 was a good number I was looking at the wrong scholarship breakdown. We should be more in the 17-20 range and we will be close assuming we sign a 5 man OL this year and lose the 3 seniors.

Edited August 31, 2021 by Hookem2147

[Ricky Butler 2809]

16 minutes ago, BurntOrange&White said:

WR targets:

Winfield - committed 

Stewart

Thompson

shazz

hudson

Is Vanderbilt in on any of these guys? Or have we avoided that fate?

[Mitch Cumsteen 18963]

Shouldn't they be taking a TE this cycle, or really every cycle? It seems like Sark wants to run a bunch of 2 TE sets and Brewer is gone after this year. That leaves Wiley (senior next year), Liebrock (who can't stay healthy and probably shouldn't be counted on) and the three current freshmen who will be sophomores: Helm, Davis, and Sanders. Am I missing someone? You would be looking at only three scholarship guys in 2023 plus whatever true freshmen they recruit next cycle. I suppose they are recruiting enough LB/TE body types that could move over to offense but this seems like too important of a position in this offense to take a year off.

 

[texifornia 59017]

1 minute ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

Shouldn't they be taking a TE this cycle, or really every cycle? It seems like Sark wants to run a bunch of 2 TE sets and Brewer is gone after this year. That leaves Wiley (senior next year), Liebrock (who can't stay healthy and probably shouldn't be counted on) and the three current freshmen who will be sophomores: Helm, Davis, and Sanders. Am I missing someone? You would be looking at only three scholarship guys in 2023 plus whatever true freshmen they recruit next cycle. I suppose they are recruiting enough LB/TE body types that could move over to offense but this seems like too important of a position in this offense to take a year off.

 

Well they definitely want Skinner. We'll see what happens if he commits elsewhere.

[RomaVicta 30604]

1 hour ago, tokamak said:

We have a serious numbers deficit at OL on the roster, and there's no sense of urgency at all.

How do you determine "sense of urgency" or lack of same?

Did anybody have a notion that we were going to sign two excellent DL yesterday? What was your read on urgency about DL prior to yesterday?

Really curious. How do you know?

[Bevo 13900]

1 hour ago, Burt Macklin said:

14 total scholarship OL is absolutely low, especially considering we only took 2 last year so we have a gap in classes. 
 

A lot of the best run teams have about 20 because you generally can’t expect true freshman to contribute. And we have Merril and Ghirmai, plus a guy like Garth who’s had very serious injury issues and may not ever be the same, so I’m not sure how you can say we don’t have any dead weight of the 14. 

I think he is assuming the 2 Brockermeyers transfer in after the fall.

[Ricky Butler 2809]

Just now, RomaVicta said:

How do you determine "sense of urgency" or lack of same?

Did anybody have a notion that we were going to sign two excellent DL yesterday? What was your read on urgency about DL prior to yesterday?

Really curious. How do you know?

Haha. None of the coaches have called him to keep him in the loop.

[Enchubben 5600]

14 minutes ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

Shouldn't they be taking a TE this cycle, or really every cycle? It seems like Sark wants to run a bunch of 2 TE sets and Brewer is gone after this year. That leaves Wiley (senior next year), Liebrock (who can't stay healthy and probably shouldn't be counted on) and the three current freshmen who will be sophomores: Helm, Davis, and Sanders. Am I missing someone? You would be looking at only three scholarship guys in 2023 plus whatever true freshmen they recruit next cycle. I suppose they are recruiting enough LB/TE body types that could move over to offense but this seems like too important of a position in this offense to take a year off.

 

ignore Nathan "Mad" Hatter at your peril good sir.

[elguapo 4620]

15 minutes ago, RomaVicta said:

How do you determine "sense of urgency" or lack of same?

Did anybody have a notion that we were going to sign two excellent DL yesterday? What was your read on urgency about DL prior to yesterday?

Really curious. How do you know?

Why not done?

[victory88 5769]

1 hour ago, Burt Macklin said:

14 total scholarship OL is absolutely low, especially considering we only took 2 last year so we have a gap in classes. 
 

A lot of the best run teams have about 20 because you generally can’t expect true freshman to contribute. And we have Merril and Ghirmai, plus a guy like Garth who’s had very serious injury issues and may not ever be the same, so I’m not sure how you can say we don’t have any dead weight of the 14. 

Random thought, but remember when we had 6 scholarship OL for the spring roster back in 2014 under Charlie Strong after we fired Mack?  We've come a long way...  

[Sal 1108]

5 hours ago, Hornlover said:

It means he's decided on the McCombs School of Business, instead of Plan II.

Por que no los dos?

[tokamak 6687]

12 minutes ago, RomaVicta said:

How do you determine "sense of urgency" or lack of same?

Did anybody have a notion that we were going to sign two excellent DL yesterday? What was your read on urgency about DL prior to yesterday?

Really curious. How do you know?

Fair enough. I think the biggest thing for me was that I expected to see some offers go out at tackle after Banks and Williams committed to Oregon. Sorta like what went down immediately surrounding the Anderson commitment to aggy, where we saw a flurry of activity at DB as they immediately pivoted to plan B. Could just be that they're content to see how senior seasons play out, or (less likely IMO) stuff is being kept on the down low a la Tapp.

My memory is bad but I don't recall OL names at the pool parties other than the usual suspects. Same for early season OVs (other than I think Neto?).

[victory88 5769]

47 minutes ago, Hookem2147 said:

Ghirmai is the only guy I would classify as deadweight. Garth is a redshirt freshman and Merril has been on campus for about 15 minutes (although the 9.95 sites have said the coaches feel like he can be a contributor down the road).

I misspoke when I said 14 was a good number I was looking at the wrong scholarship breakdown. We should be more in the 17-20 range and we will be close assuming we sign a 5 man OL this year and lose the 3 seniors.

If Flood can get even decent play out of Christian Jones, he's going to get looks from scouts with his size and athleticism.  There's a chance we're replacing 3 starters on the line this year.  Good news is that Hayden Conner looks like he can start for us later this year at tackle if his progression continues.

[Hookem2147 22039]

6 minutes ago, victory88 said:

If Flood can get even decent play out of Christian Jones, he's going to get looks from scouts with his size and athleticism.  There's a chance we're replacing 3 starters on the line this year.  Good news is that Hayden Conner looks like he can start for us later this year at tackle if his progression continues.

Correct. From a numbers standpoint, taking 4 in 2020 and 2 in 2021 is not ideal, but it appears they have already hit on Majors, Karic and Conner. If they can get Garth, Merril or Parr to become a contributor, that's a pretty good hit rate.

[Ricky's one-hitter 9622]

44 minutes ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

Shouldn't they be taking a TE this cycle, or really every cycle? It seems like Sark wants to run a bunch of 2 TE sets and Brewer is gone after this year. That leaves Wiley (senior next year), Liebrock (who can't stay healthy and probably shouldn't be counted on) and the three current freshmen who will be sophomores: Helm, Davis, and Sanders. Am I missing someone? You would be looking at only three scholarship guys in 2023 plus whatever true freshmen they recruit next cycle. I suppose they are recruiting enough LB/TE body types that could move over to offense but this seems like too important of a position in this offense to take a year off.

 

I don't think he really wants to, but when you inherit a transcendent back, WRs with the dropsies, and a middling o-line...you adjust.

It's pretty well documented that Sark would prefer to exploit all available mismatches, not just TEs on LBs, but you need WRs that are a mismatch to do that. 

Edited August 31, 2021 by Ricky's one-hitter

[UTEE97 3937]

3 hours ago, Getafix said:

 

Breakfast Bites: Recruiting heating up, weekend visitor notes

Mike Roach

 

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Breakfast Bites: Recruiting heating up, weekend visitor notes

Mike Roach
 

— Recruiting is heating up as Texas heads into the season with the addition of J'Mond Tapp and Jaray Bledsoe yesterday. The Longhorns now have seven defensive line and edge prospects in the class, and I believe they would take more if the right player presented itself. Could that player be Justice Finkley? After last night, I believe anything is a bit more possible, but I still think it will be tough pulling him away from Alabama and Nick Saban. I'm not Crystal Ball confident yet, but I don't believe he ends up a Longhorn if he decides in the next few weeks.

— Outside of Finkley, I believe Texas would take elite EDGE options like Omari Abor or Quency Wiggins if those players wanted in. A source I talked to last night said the staff is focused on adding power in the trenches and building this roster from the inside out. That certainly isn't a bad strategy, especially when a move to the SEC lies ahead. As for numbers, that's something I'm trying to dive a little deeper into to see what this class can realistically take. I don't get the sense this staff is slowing down at the moment with 20 commits in the bag. In fact, there might be some more news within the next few weeks.

— When this staff was put together, it was clear that Texas wanted to be a more serious player across the eastern border in Louisiana. Adding coaches like Bo Davis, Terry Joseph and Cordae Hankton to go along with Brandon Harris gave the Longhorns a few deeper ties in the Pelican State. The Longhorns currently hold two commitments from Louisiana in Ronald Lewis and Tapp, and they have others in their sights. One of those prospects is four-star wide receiver Shazz Preston. Texas has been working him hard, and I'm told that they are still considered a player for him along with Georgia. Preston does have some significant ties to LSU while Alabama has always been a strong contender as well. This would be another race I'd have to see to believe, but I'm told that Texas is pushing hard right now and Preston is at least listening.

— This also lays the groundwork for 2023 where Texas would love to strike into The Boot and land five-star quarterback Arch Manning, his teammate Will Randle, five-star linebacker Jaiden Ausberry and four-star cornerback Jordan Matthews. While it's unlikely that Texas shoots 100% with those targets, establishing more footholds in Louisiana will help them in the future.

— I mentioned a few weeks ago that Texas could get Jaylon Guilbeau back in the class depending on how hard they pushed. As of late, it sounds like they are getting aggressive with him, and one source near Guilbeau told me he thought that the Port Arthur Memorial cornerback would ultimately end up back in the class. We will see if TCU also puts on a strong push, but I feel better about Guilbeau potentially signing with Texas at the end of the day.  Guilbeau did inform me that he would be at Texas this weekend for the game.  

— I checked into what the visitor list might look like for the weekend, and right now it seems like it will mostly be committed prospects and a few off-the-radar guys the staff is monitoring this year. We will continue to reach out to prospects and coaches this week to see what we can find out, but the list doesn't have many fireworks yet.

 

 

Has Roach ever broken any recruiting news? His updates are just bunch of words with no substance whatsoever and his every take is hedged.