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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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Bevo

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1 hour ago, HtownHorn said:

Bowman, Ibraheem, Coffey.

 

Then a bunch of offers.

I guess Ibraheem is considered a better prospect, but Coffey looks like a better football player on tape. He isn't suppose to be as fast as Ibraheem, but he seems to react much faster to what is happening on the field. Of course, this is just based on the highlights.

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rvm96

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9 minutes ago, Bevo said:

I guess Ibraheem is considered a better prospect, but Coffey looks like a better football player on tape. He isn't suppose to be as fast as Ibraheem, but he seems to react much faster to what is happening on the field. Of course, this is just based on the highlights.

Why are you comparing a safety and cornerback? 

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Bevo

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4 hours ago, rvm96 said:

Why are you comparing a safety and cornerback? 

Because they are about the same size as juniors in high school and I am looking at athletic and football ability rather than position skills. And who really cares what position coaches at Dallas Kimball have a guy playing? Have you watched their games and their competition?

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Ricky's one-hitter

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3 hours ago, Bevo said:

Because they are about the same size as juniors in high school and I am looking at athletic and football ability rather than position skills. And who really cares what position coaches at Dallas Kimball have a guy playing? Have you watched their games and their competition?

Ish is a better prospect with better measurables and really fluid hips. Coffey is a good football player, but his measurables aren't uncommon. There's nothing rare about Coffey, Ish has length and hips, both of which are desirable and uncommon for corner prospects.  

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rvm96

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3 hours ago, Bevo said:

Because they are about the same size as juniors in high school and I am looking at athletic and football ability rather than position skills. And who really cares what position coaches at Dallas Kimball have a guy playing? Have you watched their games and their competition?

You hit me with the Looch "watch the tape"? Also, I would assume athletic ability has to do with what position a recruit currently and/or is projected to play. I just don't get the comparison of the two personally.

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4 hours ago, Bevo said:

Because they are about the same size as juniors in high school and I am looking at athletic and football ability rather than position skills. And who really cares what position coaches at Dallas Kimball have a guy playing? Have you watched their games and their competition?

Why stop there? Let’s compare him to WR recruits next. 

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satyanash

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(Mike Roach) The Stampede: Resetting the 2021 offensive board

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As we enter the summer and college football attempts to return to normalcy in the coming months, recruiting will begin to trend toward its normal state with visits likely being reinstated during the fall if everything goes according to plan. The Texas class currently sits at 11 commits as the recruiting cycle enters the summer period. The Longhorns usually have several big recruiting events throughout the summer with staples like the Heat Wave pool party and Stars at Night camp serving as tentpole events that will not take place this year.

As the staff continues to rev up their efforts, they will have to adjust to a board that is constantly moving and changing. Some positions are filling nicely while others have some question marks surrounding them. In this week’s edition of The Stampede, Horns247’s weekly gathering of recruiting intel, Horns247 recruiting editor Mike Roach resets the board and looks at where offensive targets stand for the Longhorns.

Quarterbacks

Texas made a move on a couple of moves on targets despite holding a commitment from Jalen Milroe, but they lost out to SEC west programs as Garrett Nussmeier chose LSU and Sawyer Robertson picked Mississippi State. Milroe appears to be the primary in this class, and it doesn’t appear Mike Yurcich will make a move for another quarterback at this time. They are also engaged in a battle on multiple fronts to hold on to Milroe. Alabama is staying in contact with the Texas commit while Miami is pushing as well.

Sources tell us that Milroe is still firmly committed to Texas, but the Crimson Tide doesn’t appear to be letting up anytime soon.  Obviously, Milroe is a player Texas can’t afford to lose so this situation will be one to watch.

Running Backs

Texas holds a commitment from Jonathon Brooks of Hallettsville, and the Longhorns are looking to add a second back to the group.  Texas is chasing a pair of elite in-state backs in Cy-Fair’s LJ Johnson and Garland Lakeview Centennial’s Camar Wheaton. Texas is in the running for both of the top in-state guys, but they will have tough competition for Wheaton and Johnson.  Texas A&M is surging on the 247Sports Crystal Ball for Johnson, but Texas is among the schools Johnson wants to visit before making his decision.   The Longhorns will have to overcome the Aggies’ lead, and Stan Drayton will lead that charge with help from Jay Boulware who recruited him at Oklahoma.

Wheaton’s situation is far hazier. The best intel we’ve heard has Texas near the top of Wheaton’s list doing battle with Oklahoma. Recently I’ve heard more buzz about LSU getting into the picture as well, and it will be tough to count the Tigers out with anyone. Even those closest to Wheaton don’t have a real feel for where he’s leaning at this point. I’ve said it before, but Wheaton is a true wildcard in this class.

Wide Receiver

Texas got the first member of this group when they landed New Orleans (LA) Warren Easton wide receiver Casey Cain a few weeks ago, and now they look to fill out the rest of the class.  Their top target in Aledo’s JoJo Earle, but Texas is still working to see if they can flip him from LSU.  It looks unlikely right now, but I don’t expect the Texas staff to give up on the top in-state wide receiver.

Royse City’s Ketron Jackson is another target Texas is engaged with, but they appear to be a wildcard in his recruitment. In talking with folks near Jackson, TCU and Arkansas are the schools I’ve heard the most for him, but I expect Texas to hang around. Jackson has been open in saying that Texas is a school he grew up dreaming about and will likely stick around because of that. If this plays out over time, I think Texas can close some ground especially if they can host Jackson for a visit.

The Woodlands wide receiver Theodore Knox is the fastest prospect in Texas and the Longhorns are right at the top of his list with a June decision looming, Mississippi State appears to have the momentum at this time. It’s been a back and forth race, but Texas is going to have to make one last push to overcome the Bulldogs.  Texas recently offered McKinney North’s JJ Henry. While it’s still too early to get a true read on Henry’s recruitment, it sounds like Texas will be a player. Texas A&M is also in the picture, but henry sounds pretty wide open in talking with him.

Malcolm Johnson Jr. recently included Texas in his top eight. While that's encouraging for Texas, they are still on the outside looking in. If the Texas staff can sell Johnson on the football and track combination and land him, they would be adding a dynamic speed threat to the offense.
Pompano Beach (Fla.) Monarch WR Jaden Alexis (Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)

Perhaps the next piece to the receiver puzzle could be Jaden Alexis. The four-star wide receiver from Pompano Beach (Fla.) Monarch wide receiver has Texas high on his list and there’s cautious optimism in Austin about landing the speedster from Florida. Alexis has the ability to play wide in the “z” position or in the slot where he can use his athleticism to be a deep threat. If Texas can close on Alexis, that’s a strong piece added to the wide receiver corps.

Tight End

Texas is headed back to the drawing board at tight end. After losing Atascocita tight end Landen King. King is still considering Texas, but Auburn sounds like the team to beat as of now. Juan Davis will factor in as a tight end prospect once he reaches campus, but Texas might have to identify some secondary options down the line. One of those targets could be Dekaney tight end Var’Keyes Gumms. The three-star prospect once held a Texas offer, and the Longhorns have re-initiated contact lately. This position group is still murky at best, but there is time to evaluate and sort out their options at the position.

Offensive Line

Hayden Conner is already in the class, but the staff will need to work some magic to have a strong finish. Matthew Wykoff, Bram Walden, Jonah Miller and Donovan Jackson are all off the board, and Texas is fighting for position in the races for Bryce Foster, Reuben Fatheree and Savion Byrd.  Texas Is still working on Jackson, but he will be tough to flip from Ohio State. With Foster, Byrd and Fatheree all trending elsewhere, Herb Hand is going to have to flip some guys or find some new targets.  

The biggest factor the offensive line class hinges on is the race for All Saints Episcopal offensive linemen Tommy Brockermeyer and James Brockermeyer. A heavyweight fight looms against Alabama with Auburn and LSU factoring in as well. Texas has some advantages on its side, but they will have to produce this year to finish off strong with the pair of legacies. The path is simple enough even if the fight will be tough. Land the brothers and this offensive line class is made.

 

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satyanash

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Bobby Burton: Monday

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When the pledge of punter Isaac Pearson was announced late last week, several thoughts crossed my mind. Who is he? How good is he? And how did Texas find him? And how do all of these colleges find the Australian punters that have permeated the college football ranks. While Mike Roach has done a good job telling you all as much about Pearson as a reporter can, I decided to ask a friend, a current college personnel department head, exactly the process for finding these punters. Here’s the text exchange:

Me: “So how do u guys decide which australian punter to sign? Do they send u video or what? Or does some swami in Australia give u a list of guys ranked?“

College: “They give you one or two choices based on what your Punt scheme/philosophy is. Are you pro style or rugby? Do you want distance or just limit returns etc. Then also if your high academic school they make sure the kid is academically inclined.“

Me: “So they basically control the process. How do u know if u got the best one?”

College: “You can say you don’t like the kids they send you and want to look at other guys. Specialists are all risky anyway bc you don’t know until the kick in front of 100,000 people. That’s why I like these guys bc most have played professional Rugby/Gaelic Football/Aussie rules.”

**

I’m not saying everything is the same for Texas and how they recruited Pearson. But it wouldn’t surprise me if that’s how about 90-percent or more of the process occurred. It’s interesting because almost the exact same methodology used to be done for college place kickers. College coaches would call Chris Sailor or another person who ran a kicking academy and ask for their best ones.

Those academies still have a place in the recruiting process but with the advent of larger player personnel departments, colleges are diving deeper into place kicker recruiting than ever before. I know it sounds odd, but recruiting is evolving I just wonder what the next steps will be for punters. Because college coaches will ultimately be trying to figure out how they can get the best punter, not just one that fits their style.

**

As it relates to the current state of race relations in this country, I want to say this. I support equal treatment of all races, creeds, colors and religions. Anything less than that is not what I stand for nor is it what I believe the vast, vast majority of Americans stand for, too. Unfortunately, police brutality against minorities has a long, mostly sordid history in this country. Whether it’s from the days of firehose usage in the Jim Crow South to the racial profiling that takes place on police stops to this day, it’s something that must stop.

Yet it only stops if all of us unite together to make any and all of it wrong, to call out the misdeeds and not allow racism, whether overt or covert, to breathe any further. And it’s not just police brutality that is at issue. It bleeds over into politics where entire sections of certain states gerrymander to keep certain minorities receiving perhaps less representation than they would otherwise receive at the local, state and national level.

For any and all of this, it all goes back to the Golden Rule. Treat others how you’d like and expect to be treated. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

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Newy25

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1 hour ago, Fud said:

Riveting stuff from Bobby

Apparently, when you recruit a player from halfway across the world its important to see a video of the recruit and also to see if their style of play matches yours. And, it's also important for the recruit to feel comfortable with your University. I had no idea. 

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satyanash

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Inside Scoop: Percentages, DFW targets, new ATX offer

2021 percentages and notes, quotes from some of UT’s top targets in Monday’s Scoop.

From: @Eric Nahlin

PERCENTAGES

RB LJ Johnson, Cy-Fair (Cypress, TX): It’s taken a while to become as clear as I thought it was last year, but this is shaping up to be a UT/A&M battle. I give the Aggies the edge at the moment because we know he’s looking for playing time and A&M provides that. At Texas he knows he’d be sharing carries, and he’s fine with that, but it needs to be proven that a platoon would be productive. If each Texas back is playing well — producing efficient numbers in their carries — the staff will have a chance. LJ says he doesn’t plan on committing before the season, and I take him at his word, but A&M has been good at pushing pressure points in the past. Even if he committed this summer he’d still take his official visits. I’d be even more worried if he was from Connecticut. 45%

RB Camar Wheaton, Lakeview Centennial (Garland, TX): While Johnson is the best back in the state, Wheaton is the most athletic. Initially the staff prized him over everyone else, but now I think they’re indifferent on which one they land. Like with Johnson, they have a battle on their hands here. We actually had Wheaton on commit watch this time last year but obviously that never materialized. UT is still in it, but so are other schools. We think OU is the biggest threat but he’s a hard recruit to get a good read on. 40%. I’m thinking OU 40% and ‘other’ totaling 20%.

WR Jaden Alexis, Monarch (Coconut Creek, FL): Texas is in the mix along with Miami and Notre Dame. We think UT leads but distance from home as well as him not having visited yet has us playing things a little more conservatively. 60%.

WR JJ Henry, McKinney North (McKinney, TX): The late offer doesn’t help but how much did it hurt? Time will tell. We can see him at TCU. There’s word he likes A&M some but the Aggies don’t feel especially confident. We’ll go 33%but we think a move can be made.

WR Ketron Jackson, Royse City (Royse City, TX): We think the staff had Hal Presley rated over Jackson and then they took Casey Cain after missing on Presley, meaning they might not feel the need to push for a commitment from Jackson. He may be a name we hear the rest of the way if he has a big breakout year like Loic Fouonji. 25%

WR Theodore Knox, The Woodlands (The Woodlands, TX): He’s liking Mississippi State the best we can tell. Texas has never been as high on him as some here on IT are, including myself. They picked up the pace after losing JoJo Earle to LSU but they’d be perfectly happy with JJ Henry. 30%

WR JoJo Earle, Aledo (Aledo, TX) - LSU: They’ll recruit Earle through the whistle and if you expect big things from Jake Smith and Jordan Whittington you may feel some hope of the staff earning a flip. I can’t rule it out entirely. Maybe Sam E can drop 400 yards on the Tigers in Baton Rouge? 20%

WR Hal Presley, Summit (Mansfield, TX) - BAYLOR: I expect Texas to stay on Presley and I think he’ll visit in the fall. We feel strongly we’re headed for a frenzied fall with flips and Presley might be a good candidate down the road. 40%

OL James Brockermeyer, All Saints (Fort Worth, TX): The stud center prospect and three-time school legacy released a top four that we feel is a top two between Texas and Alabama. A summer decision has been a possibility for a long time but I’m not sure that will happen. The Brockermeyers want to give Texas the benefit and Texas will get that no matter what. 60%

OT Tommy Brockermeyer, All Saints (Fort Worth, TX) *change ‘center’ to ‘left tackle’.

OT Savion Byrd, Duncanville (Duncanville, TX): I’ve never felt Byrd and Texas. He’s currently an SMU lean but I expect this one to get a bit wild in the fall. 15%

OL Bryce Foster, Taylor (Katy, TX): Oklahoma is looking like a compromise school between A&M and Texas. Foster has said he wants to throw in college and that should have given Texas a big boost. However, football is important too, and Herb Hand didn’t help himself with the on-field product in 2019. Complicating matters is Foster’s mother having gone to A&M and his brother playing as a walk-on in College Station. Also, the Dixie Chicken’s roof burnt down. 30%

DL Marcus Burris, Pleasant Grove (Texarkana, TX): It’s not going to be Texas. I could see him at OU, which is a recent development, A&M, or LSU. Texas always had the big town feel to overcome and were going to need the help of Landon Jackson to combat it. 10%

DL Ike Iwunnah, Lakeview Centennial (Garland, TX): Texas is pretty high on Iwunnah as a pure interior player but his recruitment is likely tied to Shemar Turner’s. We’re not sure the necessary push will come. 30%

DL Shemar Turner, DeSoto (DeSoto, TX): Previously, we’ve been much higher on Turner to Texas. We’re trying to get a good idea of where a reset percentage should land. Texas hasn’t done a great job in this recruitment but there’s a lot of time to make up for it. 50%

DE David Abiara, Legacy (Mansfield, TX) - NOTRE DAME: He’s on flip watch...to OU. He’s a great fit for the Texas defense and I think he’ll at least listen to UT a little, but I haven’t heard reason for optimism. He was happy to receive the offer but clearly it was pretty late. If Texas landed Landon Jackson nobody would be concerned about the late offer to Abiara, but here we are. 30%

DE Landon Jackson, Pleasant Grove (Texarkana, TX) - LSU: I think he’ll still take an official visit to Texas and if the team and D-line have a good showing this season a flip wouldn’t surprise me. Recruits who get caught in momentum, emotion, or who are leveraged have a better chance to flip than those who stick to a process. 40%

DE Jonathan Jones, McKinney High (McKinney, TX): Jones’ process is just really getting started and his head is swimming. We’ll re-evaluate when he gets out of the pool to catch his breath. 40%

LB Clayton Smith, Texas High (Texarkana, TX) - OKLAHOMA: Along with Earle and Jackson, Smith is one of the big three losses sustained in the last month and change. He seems to have been crimson pilled and we’re not sure Texas has the antidote. Go beat Oklahoma. Twice if need be. Like we said, we’re not sure Texas has the antidote. 25%

LB Terrell Tilmon, Timberview (Mansfield, TX) - OREGON: His name hasn’t been mentioned much but I think UT will re-engage and maybe even push. Staying close to home may become a theme for in-state players so we’re watching Tilmon. He would be a Jack. 30%

LB Terrence Cooks, Shadow Creek (Pearland, TX): This recruitment naturally sets up very well for Texas and Coleman Hutzler has done well to hammer those positives home. Cooks is also close with Derrick Harris and we feel if he wasn’t bent on sticking to his process he’d be a commit soon. However, he’ll wait until the fall. Still, we are bullish. 90%. Morice Blackwell and Cooks would make an excellent pairing of Big 12 linebackers. Don’t let the rankings fool you.

CB Deuce Harmon, Guyer (Denton, TX) - TEXAS A&M: Flipping A&M commits hasn’t proven easy for Texas over the years but if there’s one where there’s a chance, this is it. We expect Harmon to take an official visit, maybe even when JD Coffey and Ishmael Ibraheem do. 40%

CB Ishmael Ibraheem, Kimball (Dallas, TX): One of the few must-gets currently on the board, Texas has done a good job of making up ground since the coaching change. This is the rare recruitment where the virus has actually helped, as Ibraheem hasn’t been afforded the opportunity to take many visits. We feel real good here, though Jay Valai will have to continue building the relationship the whole way through. Beware of poachers. 85%

DB JD Coffey III, Kennedale (Kennedale, TX): Perhaps one of the best developments of the process so far was Texas going back in on Coffey. He‘s a great fit for the defense and program. As a player, he’s very similar to Xavion Alford in the previous class. I was talking with a national guy who wasn’t quite as high on Coffey due to lack of elite speed. My feeling is Coffey plays fast and that has to be part of the speed evaluation as well. 85%.

DB Devin Lemear, Manor (Manor, TX): The recent TCU de-commit just picked up a Texas offer. That certainly feels like the staff setting up a backup plan for fellow Austin area recruit Andrew Mukuba. That’s a wise move, but that isn’t to say they’ll need it. 30%

DB Andrew Mukuba, LBJ (Austin, TX): Clemson has all the leverage here and is recruiting him hard but they’re also recruiting many others as well. Numbers at safety are very tight meaning they could give Mukuba an ultimatum. I’m unsure how that would go but it isn’t a stretch to think he’d jump on it. But what about the long game? Will he leave his family and go that far from home? I personally have trouble seeing it. This recruitment could also have implications for his little brother down the road. Like with Terrence Cooks, Andrew may not be the most talented athlete in the family. 55%. My percentage accounts for a potential commitment to Clemson followed by a late change of heart. Either way, I give UT the very slight edge.

ISHMAEL IBRAHEEM 

Another recruitment that's trended Texas of late is Dallas Kimball’s Ishmael Ibraheem.

One of the state’s top defenders at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, the man with 25+ offers is highly sought after for a reason. He’s damn good.

“First of all, man, I’m surprised,” said Ibraheem about all the attention over the last year plus. “I’m new to this CB position. I never really thought I’d come this far but a lot of passionate hard work has been going on behind the scenes, consistently trying to get where I’m at, plus me understanding the game more. I’m still learning so being developed correctly is a big thing to me and getting me to the NFL.”

When visits are real again, Ibraheem wants to see schools. Even if he commits before those can happen. “I’d like to take my officials,” Ibraheem said. “Texas, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, and Auburn if everything clears.” Cornerback coach Jay Valai has made Ibraheem a priority and it’s beginning to show.

“Texas has been with me since the beginning,” Ibraheem explains. “I think with their 2021 recruiting class they have, they could really get somewhere. With the coaching staff changing, it really hasn’t affected me because I like the new coaches a little better. The relationship with (Texas) is amazing, especially Coach Herman. I think he’s a real cool guy.”

Timeline? “I’d like to be committed before my senior year,” said Ibraheem. Texas looks terrific today. The key here might be his relationship with Kennedale safety and UT target JD Coffey, and continued persistence from Valai.

JJ HENRY 

We’ve written about the explosive 2021 slot from McKinney North for months. He told us a few weeks ago: “The importance about picking a school is having a good relationship with the staff.”  Days later, Texas offered. Why it took so long for Texas to join this party is beside the point, the fact UT is pushing is the key and most important factor moving forward. “I like how the Texas program is ran,” said Henry. “I really like the coaching staff, especially Coach (Andre) Coleman.”

TCU and Baylor might be UT’s top competition. It remains to be seen where he’s leaning, but Coleman is focusing more attention here. “I just want this (pandemic) to be over so I can visit some colleges and get a feel for them before I make my decision,” Henry said. Texas will continue to pursue here, and will stay after JoJo Earle and Teddy Knox. Only time will tell which slot winds up in the 2021 class.

DEVIN LEMEAR

Another local safety prospect grabbed the Horns' attention. With Andrew Mukuba and Clemson getting closer, UT decided to offer Manor's Devin Lemear At 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, the three-star defensive back and former TCU pledge has always had a soft spot for the Longhorns. “It means a lot,” said Lemear. “I’m appreciative that my hometown college team recognizes my ability to play the game.”

Lemear insists he’s pretty wide open, but this offer definitely registered on his recruiting radar. His de-commitment from the Horned Frogs earlier this year was from making a rash decision. He wants to take his time and find the right fit. “I feel like just the fact that Texas has always been the school people around this area focus on,” said Lemear. “Not only that, it’s a prestigious university that’s only 20 minutes away from where I stay.”

This might be Mukuba insurance. He’ll visit Texas as soon as he can, and I think this recruitment will go smoother than the previous Manor prospects

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not sure if it is actually 2020 or 2021?

 

The Athletic: ‘The stars aligned’: Meet Isaac Pearson, Texas’ next punter from Australia

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It wasn’t initially clear he’d ever have the chance to play for the Longhorns himself, though. He started out training with Prokick once every three or four months, flying south for a weekend from Newcastle to Melbourne. But last year, he moved to Melbourne to begin training full time.

In a typical week, Pearson participated in eight training sessions, including four conditioning periods that would start at 5:30 a.m. and four punting periods that lasted two or three hours. Dave Tuinauvai, founder and head of performance of Conquest Athletic Performance, served as Pearson’s strength and conditioning coach.

 

Quote

 

Entering 2020, though, Pearson had yet to hear from any colleges. At Prokick, communication between colleges and players is strictly filtered through Prokick coaches. Pearson believed in Prokick’s track record and that he’d land with a school eventually.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Australia, Pearson rejoined his family in Newcastle. While home, between February and March, Pearson said, the Longhorns made initial contact.

“My coaches sent film to wherever. I don’t really know,” Pearson said. “It just happened that the first team that contacted me was the Longhorns. … It was sort of kept on the downlow, I’m not really sure how the whole recruiting process works over in the States. But here it’s all kept pretty quiet.”

Special teams coordinator Jay Boulware and special teams quality control staffer Casey Horny directed the recruiting charge. After conversations with them, Pearson received an offer. He will join Bujcevski, who missed four games because of a broken clavicle last year, as the second scholarship punter on roster.

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

‘The stars aligned’: Meet Isaac Pearson, Texas’ next punter from Australia

prokick-2-1024x682.jpg
By Kaelen Jones May 31, 2020comment-icon@2x.png 5 save-icon@2x.png

Isaac Pearson woke up beaming.

Pearson, 22, had once been headed on a different path. But since a change of plans, he’d been dreaming of this. Now, it had actually happened.

The Australian punter, out of the heralded Prokick Australia program, pulled on a burnt orange long-sleeved shirt and a three-year-old black ball cap with a Horns logo.

The night before, he’d announced his commitment to Texas, becoming the 11th member of the 2021 class.

“Never did I think I’d actually land at Texas,” Pearson said last week during a Zoom call from his family’s home in Newcastle, New South Wales. “But the stars aligned and here we are.”

 

I am incredibly excited and honoured to announce that I have accepted a full scholarship to study and play football at The University of Texas. #HookEm #trUTh21 @CoachTomHerman @CoachJ_Boulware @Coach_Horny @BCarringtonUT @ProkickAus @JohnnyPKA @ConquestCQ

View image on TwitterView image on TwitterView image on TwitterView image on Twitter
 
 
 
 

 

Pearson grew up in the harbor city on Australia’s southeastern coast playing Australian rules football. So he knew how to punt, but it wasn’t until he was 19 and completing an apprenticeship as a mechanic for a Newcastle coal mine, when he was approached by Prokick. The invite-only academy has served as a punting pipeline for several Division I programs, with Ohio State and Michigan State among the most recent clients, in addition to Texas.

“I had to finish my apprenticeship before we could start full time,” Pearson said. “I was putting in a bit of work (by) myself and kicking in open fields … before I started training full time.”

When Pearson, who’s 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, first learned about college football, and about his prospects of playing in the United States by training with Prokick, he was most intrigued by the Longhorns, with whom he felt an immediate connection.

UT has an established pipeline with Prokick. Its past two punters, including starting junior punter Ryan Bujcevski, a Sydney native, are Prokick alums. From 2015-2017, Michael Dickson, also a Sydney native, kicked for the Longhorns. The current Seattle Seahawks punter declared for the NFL Draft as a junior, after winning the 2017 Ray Guy Award, presented to the nation’s best punter, and earning consecutive All-American honors. Dickson finished his career as UT’s all-time leader in punting average (45.32), among several other categories.

“I found out that there was an Aussie playing for them,” Pearson said. “So that piqued my interest.

“When I first realized what the whole college football atmosphere was like, I figured that I needed to support a team and find someone that I could watch and get a bit more invested in, rather than just watching everything and not really understanding it. There wasn’t anything that jumped out as more American than playing football for the Texas Longhorns.”

It wasn’t initially clear he’d ever have the chance to play for the Longhorns himself, though. He started out training with Prokick once every three or four months, flying south for a weekend from Newcastle to Melbourne. But last year, he moved to Melbourne to begin training full time.

In a typical week, Pearson participated in eight training sessions, including four conditioning periods that would start at 5:30 a.m. and four punting periods that lasted two or three hours. Dave Tuinauvai, founder and head of performance of Conquest Athletic Performance, served as Pearson’s strength and conditioning coach.

Tuinauvai’s clients include rugby players and professional boxers. Since 2011, he’s also worked with several Prokick students, including alums such as 2016 Ray Guy Award winner and San Francisco 49ers punter Mitch Wishnowsky and former Utah Utes punter Tom Hackett, a two-time Ray Guy Award winner.

Tuinauvai recalled “Pearso” arriving in January 2019. Like most Aussie rules players, he had a leaner body type that Tuinauvai was tasked with reshaping.

“They’ve gotta have a big engine because they run a lot kilometers,” Tuinauvai said. “So I had to change that more into a football player and get more into lifting. What I do with the Prokick boys is I get them in with the rugby players, so they can see the type of body they’re trying to get.”

The intense training sessions help prepare players for the rigors of college football. Tuinauvai has his Prokick clients tackle rugby players and spar with boxers, ingraining individual physical toughness.

“Mentally, when they go out there, when they go to this next level, I’ve already thrown them through everything,” Tuinauvai said. “So when they land — and we know how tough Division I football is — the coaches know it’s the Aussie kid trying to prove a point. We teach them, mentality-wise, that they’ve gotta be coached so that the coach can’t break you.”

Physically, Pearson began to fill out around the same time he also found his stride punting. Last year, he traveled with Prokick as a part of a circuit in California. He was competing with peers, who he’d thought were “leaps and bounds” ahead of him. But he realized that he wasn’t far away, fueling his determination.

Soon after, Pearson said that between August and September 2019, he found his rhythm, launching booming punts with regularity.

 

 

“It’s all about finding that balance,” he said. “It’s really only been in the last year that I’ve been able to really hone in on my craft. It’s taken a bit of some maturity. Like, moving to a new city was tough. But eventually I sort of gathered myself.”

“It’s a testament to Isaac, man,” Tuinauvai said. “He’s had that elite mindset since he made the switch that he wanted to do this.”

Entering 2020, though, Pearson had yet to hear from any colleges. At Prokick, communication between colleges and players is strictly filtered through Prokick coaches. Pearson believed in Prokick’s track record and that he’d land with a school eventually.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Australia, Pearson rejoined his family in Newcastle. While home, between February and March, Pearson said, the Longhorns made initial contact.

“My coaches sent film to wherever. I don’t really know,” Pearson said. “It just happened that the first team that contacted me was the Longhorns. … It was sort of kept on the downlow, I’m not really sure how the whole recruiting process works over in the States. But here it’s all kept pretty quiet.”

Special teams coordinator Jay Boulware and special teams quality control staffer Casey Horny directed the recruiting charge. After conversations with them, Pearson received an offer. He will join Bujcevski, who missed four games because of a broken clavicle last year, as the second scholarship punter on roster.

“I wanted something that’s going to hold me in good stead for a career when I’m finished with football,” he said. “Texas is one of the top public universities in the country and in the world. I can’t ask for anything more than that.”

Pearson plans on majoring in psychology. “Being in the coal mines is something no one wanted to be doing,” he said.

He hasn’t visited Austin yet, but he’s heard great things about the city’s atmosphere and plans on making his official visit in January 2021. He already knows Bujcevski from briefly training together just before Bujcevski joined the Longhorns. Pearson said he can’t wait to not only reunite with him, but to walk the Forty Acres for the first time. His family, despite seeing him leave the country, is excited for him.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Pearson said. “That’s for sure.”

 

 

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