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Texas Recruiting Notes 2021

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1 in coaches were made aware late last night 

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Newy25

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57 minutes ago, texifornia said:

 

I prefer the Charlie Strong philosophy of getting more than one or two QB’s on the roster by the 3rd or 4th year in his tenure. No reason to rush having the QB position nailed down. 

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ShowMeALoss

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2 hours ago, Newy25 said:

I prefer the Charlie Strong philosophy of getting more than one or two QB’s on the roster by the 3rd or 4th year in his tenure. No reason to rush having the QB position nailed down. 

Well, since only 1 QB can play at a time, I see why he wouldn't want more than 1 or 2 in the roster.  Better to use the scholarships in more important positions like punting and kicking.

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Luka Skywalker

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On 5/27/2020 at 7:17 PM, 2300 Nueces said:

Negative cracker jack, there are many people like myself.  The cowboys are not "increasing" their fan base.  They are pulling in more fiat banker bucks from zombie corporate interests but they are not increasing their market share when in comes to fans.  Jones is hated far and wide.  There will be a point in the near future when many of these zombie corporations are allowed to default and much of Jerry's gravy train will be gone.

Cracker Jack? Is that you Joe Biden?

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Hiphopopotamos

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Just went to Pearson's timeline and saw that he retweeted more than a dozen other Pro-Kick kickers who had accepted full-scholarship offers to play football.  What an incredible concept and execution of idea.

 

ESPN did a story on them a few years ago:  https://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=17622941

 

They advertise on their site that they've had 75 athletes awarded scholarships/contracts and had 5 Ray Guy Award winners.

https://www.prokickaustralia.com/

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LTtxfan

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18 hours ago, LTtxfan said:

Just saw this in Athletic article on Bijan...

"The Big 12 recently announced that football teams could host voluntary activities on campus as early as June 15. The Longhorns are targeting a July 1 report date for incoming freshmen, which could mark Robinson’s highly anticipated arrival to Texas. Those who have watched his career unfold shared what the Longhorns could see from the dynamic back."

 

 

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satyanash

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Mike Roach: Texas adds punter Isaac Pearson to 2021 class

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The Longhorns have added another member to the 2021 class. ProKick has been kind to the program over the last few years. The Australian-based program provided Texas with talented legs in Michael Dickson and Ryan Bujcevski, and now Isaac Pearson will be the next in that line. Pearson announced his decision via twitter this morning. He’s set to enroll in January of 2021 as Bujcevski enters his senior spring.

Special teams coordinator Jay Boulware is experienced in dealing with organizations like Prokick, and he’s been responsible for finding gifted specialists over the life of his career. Pearson hails from Newcastle, Australia. Pearson spoke with Horns247 following his commitment and told us he grew up dreaming of this. "I consider myself very lucky to be a Longhorn," Pearson said.  "I have followed them as a fan for years and fell in love with the team.  And then I trained and was lucky to be recruited.  There was never a second thought."

Dickson and Bujcevski opened the pipeline for Texas to the talented punters in Australia.  Pearson said that following in their legacy is a true honor.   "I haven't personally met Michael, but I have trained with Ryan in brief periods," he said.  "Their work has created the legacy that I am now benefitting from.  I can't wait to get to work, do them proud and carry on the tradition."

Following the tradition was a big pitch Boulware used in his recruitment of Pearson.  That value is instilled in Prokick athletes from the very beginning. "That is a big theme within Prokick Australia," he said.  "The work we put in once we are on campus is not just about ourselves, but the next generation." Pearson hasn't been able to visit Austin yet, but he's excited about his opportunity.  He's talked with several friends who have visited and he's excited about the next phase of his career in the state capital. "I haven't visited yet," he said.  "I have heard from my mates of the electric culture in the city and the love of country music.  I can't think of a better place to study and play football."

Pearson joins a 2021 class that includes five-star Denton Ryan ATH Ja'Tavion Sanders, four-star Denton Ryan ATH Billy Bowman, four-star Katy Tompkins quarterback Jalen Milroe, four-star Port Arthur Memorial defensive end Jordon Thomas, four-star New Caney edge rusher Derrick Harris Jr., four-star Katy Taylor offensive lineman Hayden Conner, four-star Arlington Martin linebacker Morice Blackwell, three-star Everman athlete Juan Davis, three-star Hallettsville RB Jonathon Brooks and three-star New Orleans (LA) Warren Easton wide receiver Casey Cain.

At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Pearson is not currently ranked. 

 

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tokamak

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Yeah the ProKick thing is really interesting. If you check their Twitter accounts, they're putting quite a few guys into D1 these days. I assume the pitch is pretty straightforward - you can keep struggling along as a marginal Aussie rules football player, or spend a few months learning to kick an American football and get a full scholarship to go to college in the United States.

I'm not sure I buy that Aussie rules football as a sport has figured out some way to put a foot to a ball that US punters haven't. That being said, 5 of the last 6 Ray Guy winners have been Australian, which kinda speaks for itself. A little strange.

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Mdhorn

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5 minutes ago, tokamak said:

Yeah the ProKick thing is really interesting. If you check their Twitter accounts, they're putting quite a few guys into D1 these days. I assume the pitch is pretty straightforward - you can keep struggling along as a marginal Aussie rules football player, or spend a few months learning to kick an American football and get a full scholarship to go to college in the United States.

I'm not sure I buy that Aussie rules football as a sport has figured out some way to put a foot to a ball that US punters haven't. That being said, 5 of the last 6 Ray Guy winners have been Australian, which kinda speaks for itself. A little strange.

So if I ever have a kid, I need to send them to Australia to learn to kick for American football?  Is there a particular city or region in Australia where we're outsourcing our kickers?  I'll hang up and listen.  

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Hiphopopotamos

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11 minutes ago, tokamak said:

Yeah the ProKick thing is really interesting. If you check their Twitter accounts, they're putting quite a few guys into D1 these days. I assume the pitch is pretty straightforward - you can keep struggling along as a marginal Aussie rules football player, or spend a few months learning to kick an American football and get a full scholarship to go to college in the United States.

I'm not sure I buy that Aussie rules football as a sport has figured out some way to put a foot to a ball that US punters haven't. That being said, 5 of the last 6 Ray Guy winners have been Australian, which kinda speaks for itself. A little strange.

How many american kids grow up and want to be punters?  Australian rules kids are kicking the ball from the time they can walk.

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tokamak

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1 minute ago, Hiphopopotamos said:

How many american kids grow up and want to be punters?  Australian rules kids are kicking the ball from the time they can walk.

Yeah that's the explanation given in the ESPN story. That, and versatility - being able to kick on the run, etc. Fair point. There's a lot of US kicking camps and stuff out there these days, but probably not a ton of kids seriously training as punters when they're like, 10 years old.

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The Dog

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2 minutes ago, tokamak said:

Yeah that's the explanation given in the ESPN story. That, and versatility - being able to kick on the run, etc. Fair point. There's a lot of US kicking camps and stuff out there these days, but probably not a ton of kids seriously training as punters when they're like, 10 years old.

Not only that, but they have to learn to kick accurately on the run as kicking is a way to pass and obtain a free kick from the spot of the catch (called a "mark" for those who don't know, pronounced "maahk in aussie of course). Explains why Dicko was able to do what he was able to do once he got the hang of it. 

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Hiphopopotamos

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7 minutes ago, tokamak said:

Yeah that's the explanation given in the ESPN story. That, and versatility - being able to kick on the run, etc. Fair point. There's a lot of US kicking camps and stuff out there these days, but probably not a ton of kids seriously training as punters when they're like, 10 years old.

Its my understanding that most of those kicking camps are much more focused on field goal kickers than punter.  Poor punters are the red-headed step-children of the specialists.

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satyanash

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Eric Nahlin: Herman didn’t sacrifice recruiting for development

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In the Newbery Medal winning short story, Recruiting for Dummies, I mentioned the myth of the rainmaker recruiter. These supposed rainmakers are in much shorter supply than Dummies realize. Most recruiters are beholden to circumstances that are largely out of their control, namely program perception. This excludes head coaches, of course. A position coach killing it on the trail for Ohio State isn’t going to be the same recruiter at other schools, even if he was selling a good and somewhat similar product like Michigan. Or even Notre Dame.

If program perception matters for even the most reputable recruiters (a funny term to apply here given the reputation of some), then imagine the difficulty to gain ground on the trail if you’re not only new to the region but also joining a Texas program that woefully missed its targeted win total just one season go. It was said in real time, and it’s gaining more steam now, that Tom Herman outfitted his staff with developers rather than recruiters. I think that’s a blanket statement that might apply in some places but certainly not others. I’ll show you my math.

Coordinators

The most important job when it comes to coordinators recruiting is to articulate an attractive philosophy, design a proven scheme, and to explain how a prospect fits within it. These guys don’t have to be ace recruiters, but if they aren’t they do need to be ace coordinators. I have been encouraged by what I’ve heard about Mike Yurcich. When he first arrived at UT, I think he was a little too focused on adding a 2021 quarterback to the class rather than focusing on the real need of adding Southlake Carroll’s Quinn Ewers to the 2022 class.

There seems to have been a quick correction and Texas is right in the thick of it for Ewers, in large part thanks to Yurcich. Unfortunately Texas hasn’t yet been able to capitalize on Yurcich’s preference for getting vertical. Every wide receiver recruit likes to hear that term, but so far Yurcich’s preference to take shots deep hasn’t resonated. Not being able to host prospects for spring ball sure didn’t help. Overall I like what I’m hearing about Yurcich. There’s a lot to like for every skill player.

Chris Ash’s best selling point is philosophy and scheme yielding enticing fits. Defensive linemen want to play in a four-man front, linebackers want to play behind four defensive linemen so they can see-ball-hit-ball, corners like to press on an island, and safeties like to range and ball-hawk. Upon arrival, Ash hit the airport with vigor and was initially putting Texas within striking distance of national recruits. Maybe he can regain that, or maybe that’s for another cycle.

As a defensive back coach he has a chance to make a haul equal to last year’s if he can add Kennedale’s JD Coffey and Austin LBJ‘s Andrew Mukuba. I’m still getting a handle on some other things about Ash but he should recruit well enough. Both coordinators have attractive philosophies to sell, and that should be enough to capitalize if the position coaches hold up their end.

Position Coaches

I think Ton Herman hired two future stars in cornerbacks coach Jay Valai and linebackers coach Coleman Hutzler. I’m not talking about rainmakers, but the much more attainable status of volume recruiter. It’s still a little too early to tell, but I also like what I’ve heard from program sources regarding each coach’s likability. Typically when I hear a coach is likable, that coach is at least a serviceable recruiter.

Some unlikeable coaches are good recruiters too, but they have the ability to be whatever person they need to be given the situation. You can evaluate coaches like prospects and Valai and Hutzler have qualities you’re looking for: they’re young, energetic, and relatable to people from differing backgrounds. In this line of work, they’re going to come across recruits from every background imaginable.

Oh yeah, per multiple accounts we’ve chronicled, they know what they’re talking about, too. Valai has Texas poised to land the state’s best corner prospect in Dallas Kimball’s Ishmael Ibraheem. Hutzler has a chance to sign perhaps the two best linebacker prospects in the state in Morice Blackwell, a current commit from Arlington Martin, and Terrence Cooks from Shadow Creek.

These young coaches with short resumes might struggle to overcome bad processes, like waiting to offer Denton Guyer’s Deuce Harmon or South Oak Cliff’s Jaydon Williams, but things don’t have to line up perfectly for them to land very good prospects. Each coach has displayed recovery speed. If these two can get underperforming units playing at a high level this upcoming season, their profile will increase and recruiting will become easier. The talent is in place at both cornerback and linebacker for them to do so. I want more data but these are two exciting hires with big recruiting upside.

Tight end coaches are like running back coaches in that you’re looking for someone who recruits well outside the position he is assigned to. Jay Boulware seems to offer some of that, as he was the impetus for a few national prospects who sat high atop OU’s big board receiving UT offers upon his arrival. I haven’t heard much about him as a recruiter otherwise. Perhaps that’s because Texas has had two tight ends committed for much of his short time as a Texas coach. I have heard very good things about him as a special teams coach, however. That surely won’t sell on the recruiting trail — son, I see you as one helluva contain guy on kickoff. Just don’t forget to bring the tee back to the sidelines — but it could very well help the bottom line that does sell on the recruiting trail.

We’ll find out more on Boulware in the coming months as Texas looks to add another tight end to join Everman’s Juan Davis in the class. There are a lot of tight end prospects in-state to evaluate, but it might be best to look nationally. Tight ends can be found under rocks. Let’s see what they come up with.

Andre Coleman was certainly hired on the strength of his ability to develop rather than recruit. It’s been well-documented that departed seniors Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay served as influential references for him. Perhaps no other coach was hurt more by not being able to host recruits during spring practice. Texas needs the word to get out that Coleman is developing his young talent. Absent visits for practices, the young, inexperienced group of receivers is going to have to make the pitch on his behalf on Saturdays. Coleman must turn his current players into recruiting assets when recruits are visiting campus.

Texas doesn’t recruit many traditional defensive tackles so all eyes will be on Mark Hagen as he helps recruit prized interior prospect Shemar Turner from DeSoto. As the cycle wears on, that recruitment will see its profile rise with recruitniks. If Hagen lands Turner, he’ll be considered a witch! If he misses on Turner, then Herman brought in developers rather than recruiters! I don’t yet know what to make of Hagen, but I think he can help Texas win that recruitment. UT should definitely field very active interior players this season and that won’t hurt.

Just as the staff has been robbed of precious time to evaluate prospects, we’ve been robbed of a lot of insights regarding the new hires. But I think it’s too early to say Herman sacrificed recruiting for developing. Maybe that proves to be the case but between the philosophies of Yurcich and Ash, and the energy of Valai and Hutzler, I think we’ll see recruiting upside that hasn’t yet reared its head.

 

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texifornia

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1 hour ago, Mdhorn said:

So if I ever have a kid, I need to send them to Australia to learn to kick for American football?  Is there a particular city or region in Australia where we're outsourcing our kickers?  I'll hang up and listen.  

ProKick recruits kids from all over. Dicko was from Sydney, Buj is from Melbourne, and Pearson is from Newcastle. We just call up Prokick, tell them we want a badass, and they deliver.

(That said, I'm sure there some sorting method so that their best guys don't end up at like Southern Miss).

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Ricky's one-hitter

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20 minutes ago, texifornia said:

(That said, I'm sure there some sorting method so that their best guys don't end up at like Southern Miss).

This is the most interesting component of the prokick model. They must have some sort of rankings internally of their own guys. They must also have a tiered ranking of football schools and try to match their guys to a tier. But where are the kids interests? Really fascinating, imo. 

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Hiphopopotamos

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26 minutes ago, texifornia said:

ProKick recruits kids from all over. Dicko was from Sydney, Buj is from Melbourne, and Pearson is from Newcastle. We just call up Prokick, tell them we want a badass, and they deliver.

(That said, I'm sure there some sorting method so that their best guys don't end up at like Southern Miss).

Herman/Carrington also recruited Dane Roy while at Houston ( 4 year starter and had a 46.9 yard average in 2019 - is the American Conferences all time leader in yards)

 

 

 

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