Texas Recruiting Notes 2025: Duck Around and Find Out

[Katfid54 9005]

1 hour ago, texifornia said:

Not at this time

It's going to be a real bitch to get this thread to 1,000 pages.

[Reese Bennett 3663]

1 hour ago, Katfid54 said:

It's going to be a real bitch to get this thread to 1,000 pages.

Two things: the portal/transfer stuff was spun off and for the most part, we are no longer desperate and trying to constantly ignore mediocrity with pages upon pages devoted to chicken fried steak.

[Katfid54 9005]

3 minutes ago, Reese Bennett said:

Two things: the portal/transfer stuff was spun off and for the most part, we are no longer desperate and trying to constantly ignore mediocrity with pages upon pages devoted to chicken fried steak.

Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion.

[satyanash 15463]

On 12/8/2024 at 12:33 PM, satyanash said:

Georgia has weaknesses, maybe more than us. But we're not built to exploit them. 

The best way to negate a vaunted DL is with a mobile QB. We don't have that with Ewers. UGA's gameplan is to shut down the run game coming downhill (and the screen game, which is an extension of our run game). They are fine with conceding the intermediate throws (slants, comeback routes, lofted throws to open space) that are part of Quinn's limited skillset outside the 20s. Once we get into the redzone and those throws go away, we have nothing.

And that isn't an exaggeration. There is nothing in our offense’s toolbox now that works against Georgia in the redzone. We used to roll Quinn out in the redzone to hit corner routes. Quinn can no longer do that with his ankle injury. We can't run inside or outside the tackles. Scoring in the redzone requires Quinn to zip much tougher throws that he currently cannot make.

Further notes on this. Georgia's nose tackle absolutely abused Majors all game, and Campbell did so badly he was benched.

Ian Boyd: Does Texas have an offensive identity for the playoffs?

Quote

The loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship was troubling for the Texas Longhorns. For the second time this season, they squared off against the perennial SEC contender and were unable to generate points. Once again, the Longhorns found themselves missing the level of power in the trenches necessary to overcome Kirby Smart’s “big human” built Bulldogs.

The recruiting win during the week leading up to the SEC Championship for defensive tackle Justus Terry stands out all the more now after Georgia once again proved they are still the toughest team in the SEC up front with the hardware to back it up.

This loss puts Texas in an interesting position heading into the playoffs for what it revealed about the offense’s ceiling against top defenses. The bracket would protect the Longhorns from a rematch with Georgia until the National Championship, but what sorts of offensive concepts and specific players can this team hang their hats on against playoff-level competition between now and this hypothetical round three? Is Georgia uniquely suited to stop Texas or did they reveal flaws other top teams can exploit?

The problems against Georgia

Smart and the Dawgs changed up their plan from the first matchup for stopping the Texas offense. In the first matchup Georgia played Jalon Walker at Mike linebacker and put the D-line into odd fronts before walking him down to serve as an Edge with another true Edge opposite. This time Georgia was mostly in quarters coverage and more traditional 4-2-5 type fronts and personnel, unless the Longhorns played with two tight ends in which case Georgia used more of the base 3-4 defense. The run game simply wasn’t there against the Bulldogs, largely because of personnel mismatches up front.

You can see multiple things going wrong on this snap for the Longhorns. They miss a combination which allows nose tackle Nazir Stackhouse (#78) to enter the backfield untouched, which is never helpful, but even if they had blocked him the defensive end has set a very tight edge on the left guard Hayden Conner, killing the horizontal stretch potential for the play. There were positive snaps of inside zone and long trap but the more direct power game ran into similar issues.

Any given run play tended to result in at least one Georgia D-tackle creating a mess on the interior which more or less doomed the play. These issues weren’t restricted to the run game either.

In the first clip, Quinn Ewers‘ movement in the pocket won’t remind anyone of Ben Roethlisberger or Tom Brady, but he has virtually no options on a two-man route with the running back still yet to work free for a check down. Even if he’d kept his eyes down the field after stepping up, Mykel Williams (#13) probably hits him during the throw and potentially turns Texas over.

On the second clip, this is a very bad decision but Cam Williams has also been put on skates and pushed into Ewers' face. Against two-high quarters coverage the Longhorns routinely defaulted into trying comebacks or fade routes against 1-on-1 coverage outside. Ewers threw some good balls, some of which were dropped, and a couple of bad ones that were picked. Over and over again you saw Georgia decisively winning 1-on-1 matchups and blowing up plays.

Sarkisian’s solutions?

Obviously Texas may not face another team as talented up front as Georgia. The Bulldogs are well known for making the hoarding of weapons up front the foundation of the program and haven’t always left many freaks left for everyone else.

That said, the playoffs will feature more teams with good fronts who aren’t easy to run the ball against. The playoffs are generally a “who’s who” of teams that have either unique size and power at D-tackle to bedevil college rushing attacks or else lucky schedule draws. Even beyond that, Georgia’s ability to play press-quarters didn’t make life easy either, particularly without a healthy Isaiah Bond on the perimeter.

We got to see some of Sark’s new spread solutions for creating open targets for his quarterback within closer proximity. Texas ran a number of different crossing patterns built around motion, legal picks, and occasionally nifty route running in order to try and beat Georgia’s coverage.

These clips are useful for explaining how it was Ewers was able to throw for 358 yards without ever troubling denting the Georgia defense. A lot of factors went into that outcome, including penalties, negative plays from stuffed runs and sacks, and even Georgia’s punter. But ultimately Texas had to work hard to get guys open under the safeties and struggled to find windows to punch the ball in once the Horns approached the end zone. Georgia’s coverage blanketed a lot of the 1-on-1 shots Texas was able to create and 50-50 balls went more like 70-30 in the Dawgs’ favor.

Without the ability to consistently control the line of scrimmage, Texas’ lack of off-schedule playmaking really burned them. When Ewers can escape the pocket he’s capable of doing some magic on the move, but he tends to put his eyes down when he’s caught in congestion and thus loses his greatest weapon, that amazing ability to flick the ball off platform down the field.

The other possible solution, the true progression passing game from spread sets, was also questionable. Here’s a few mesh plays where Texas tried to use 1-2-3 progressions rather than using motion and rubs to create a one-read play:

The shallow cross to the post-wheel side of the field has been open for Texas at least twice a game yet they rarely get to it. On clip one Ewers’ eyes are all over the place before he throws the wheel route without seeing the cornerback sitting on it. Meanwhile the shallow cross is running open underneath. In the second clip he had the shallow in his sights but an unseen corner blitz ruined the play.

So how does Texas answer for a team that can stop the run and create pressure while denying the initial reads in the passing game? The best answer is to block better so the runs and designed shot passes can land. Whether Texas looks more like the team which ran over Texas A&M or was trampled by Georgia against other playoff teams will tell the story of the Longhorns’ run.

 

[Radical Larry 28817]

Ian Boyd; dr

[SydneyCarton 49473]

1 minute ago, satyanash said:

Further notes on this. Georgia's nose tackle absolutely abused Majors all game, and Campbell did so badly he was benched.

Ian Boyd: Does Texas have an offensive identity for the playoffs?

 

Is like quoting your own posts and then using Ian fucking Boyd as supportive evidence like your version of a hat trick of masturbatory masochism? Does it get any better for you? Because I can't imagine how. 

[westexhorn 2162]

23 minutes ago, satyanash said:

Further notes on this. Georgia's nose tackle absolutely abused Majors all game, and Campbell did so badly he was benched.

Ian Boyd: Does Texas have an offensive identity for the playoffs?

 

TLDR: Georgia defense once again destroyed Texas at the line of scrimmage

[Butch Had Not 3056]

39 minutes ago, satyanash said:

Further notes on this. Georgia's nose tackle absolutely abused Majors all game, and Campbell did so badly he was benched.

Ian Boyd: Does Texas have an offensive identity for the playoffs?

 

You should post this on the main board. You might have the response you want there. 

[Hookem10 869]

21 minutes ago, westexhorn said:

TLDR: Georgia defense once again destroyed Texas at the line of scrimmage

And if we make a field goal we win. Our team is really good 

[satyanash 15463]

Eric Nahlin: Kenny Baker off to much better recruiting start than Bo Davis

Quote

When Bo Davis arrived with Steve Sarkisian in January of 2021, no position group on the team was as well stocked as defensive tackle. Frankly, no position group was even close. Davis inherited Keondre Coburn, Moro Ojomo, T’Vondre Sweat, Byron Murphy, Alfred Collins, and Vernon Broughton. That will amount to six NFL Draft picks after Collins and Broughton are drafted this spring.

In Davis’ defense, he did well to develop his players. Coburn and Ojomo weren’t as bad as fans said in 2021 — that defense had issues all over — but they were much improved the following year. Coburn was drafted in the sixth round while Ojomo went in the seventh. The next duo, Sweat and Murphy, provided good depth before having a much larger impact in 2023. Sweat won the Outland Trophy and was drafted in the second round. Murphy was the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year and got drafted in the first round.

While he’s not coaching Collins and Broughton this year, Davis’ fingerprints are still on their development. Like the four before them, their final year has been by far their best. These thoughts aren’t about Davis the developer, or the motivational bus speaker, but rather as a recruiter. When you leave a job you want to leave the situation better than you found it. In that regard, Davis’ tenure at Texas looks a lot less successful.

2022 Signees

To defend Davis a little bit, the Texas staff was way behind on evaluating the 2022 class. When that happens you’re more likely to miss on the mental evaluation than the athletic one. All four of those guys are already out of the program. Something should stand out, for all the talk about ‘large humans’ only one of them was sort of large and Bryant didn’t have the length or athleticism you’d ideally recruit.

Davis missed the physical evaluations, too. Ross has never weighed 280 pounds in his life. Swanson was always undersized and was going to take a long time to physically develop. Solid player, but how long can you afford a guy to sit on the bench at a position of such value? Bledsoe was the last to leave the program from this class. Great athlete but way too inconsistent. The lack of overall player size was surprising in real time. Compare it to the offensive line class they took in 2022.

2023 signees

Issues really began to compound in the 2023 cycle. For some reason, Davis didn’t alter course from the previous cycle until midway through this one. Landing Mitchell was an institutional win over Georgia. That’s another one where it’s fair to question the mental evaluation. Mitchell’s Texas career was practically over after the UTSA game but he has since regrouped nicely. Trill Carter was a depth take the staff was forced to make after so many misses. He was closer to 6-foot and didn’t play much before transferring out.

2024 signees

For some reason Jermayne Lole isn’t tagged as a ‘DL’ but that doesn’t matter, both he and Norton transferred in after Davis’ departure. Tia Savea transferring to Texas was 100% Johnny Nansen‘s doing. January was a great get. He and Mitchell are incredibly important to the overall health of the room. Hills was a bit of a reach but he brings some nice things to the table.

He’s at least comfortably over 300 pounds already and has decent athleticism for an interior player. Davis also had D’Antre Robinson committed. He was never fully bought in as a recruit and got out of his letter of intent when Davis left. If you’re counting at home, Bo Davis’ remaining signees are Sydir Mitchell, Alex January, and Melvin Hills. Let’s compare that to Kenny Baker‘s first class.

2025 Signees

This class is actually underrated. Sharma’s a top 100 talent, in my opinion, and Charles is top 50. Charles isn’t really 6-foot-4, but unlike Bryan, he has rare athleticism. All three pass the physical and athletic evaluation. While Baker was behind the eight ball by coming into this cycle ‘late’, he benefitted from Texas having such a great need. Indeed, these were institutional wins, especially Terry. However, Baker did well to get career years out of Collins and Broughton.

This is what a Texas defensive tackle class is supposed to look like. Why did it take so long? Did Davis have a flawed process? Did he not have the institutional support he needed? Maybe for one year, but for three? Not likely.

High-Wire Act

You’ll note all three signees are from out-of-state. That’s a bit curious when Texas would have taken Zion Williams, DJ Sanders, and Chace Sims. Williams, ironically, committed to Davis and LSU on the strength of Davis’ time at Texas. Sanders and Sims committed to A&M. It would have been nice to have gotten a fourth but I’m glad Texas didn’t reach beyond those three.

Though there were more instate defensive tackle prospects than normal, none of them approached the three Texas signed. Had Texas not signed Terry, this class would have been malnourished like the previous ones. That was a little too close for comfort but Texas got it done. Now, let’s hope Baker can have similar success in the portal and more immediately right the wrongs of previous cycles.

 

[closetojumping 65362]

My view is that Zion Williams and Sanders won’t amount to much in college. Sims looks like a player. 

[Funk Doctor Spock 13196]

Zion Williams is a JAG. More of a JAG than Parker Jaggy McJaggerson

[Hornmatic 291]

Zion seems like a great kid. Affable, funny, into drama club. I asked Gerry once point blank if he had the requisite toughness and aggression. He said that was the big unknown. 

[Cairn Horn88 8502]

7 hours ago, Hookem10 said:

And if we make a field goal we win. Our team is really good 

…and we’d be even better if we dot some I’s and cross all the T’s.

[Getafix 29444]

KJ Lacey is a DUDE GAMER!

 

 

 

Edited December 14 by Getafix

[Fondren & Main 6892]

Damn, nachos were acquired there.

[cochamps 1885]

On 12/10/2024 at 2:07 PM, satyanash said:

Eric Nahlin: Kenny Baker off to much better recruiting start than Bo Davis

 

First it's Ian Boyd.  If that is not enough, go with Nahlin.  Good Lord.

[jdhorn92 1594]

On 12/14/2024 at 1:28 PM, Getafix said:

KJ Lacey is a DUDE GAMER!

 

 

 

Bryce Young vibes here for sure...about the same size....mix in some Kyler Murry and we may have ourselves something here.

 

[speed817 19882]

4 minutes ago, jdhorn92 said:

Bryce Young vibes here for sure...about the same size....mix in some Kyler Murry and we may have ourselves something here.

 

[Scholz 12304]

5 hours ago, jdhorn92 said:

…mix in some Kyler Murry and we may have ourselves something here.

You want him to be a little bitty beech?

[satyanash 15463]

Justin Wells: Texas signees and prospects in Under Armour Next, Navy All American games

Quote

The Longhorns Class of 2025 will be well represented for the two major recruiting all-star games soon. The Under Armour Next All American Game and Navy All American Bowl will host a number of signees and targets over the next few weeks. Beginning this year, rising seniors from the Class of 2026 will participate. Here’s who to watch.

Under Armour Next All American Game in Orlando, Thursday, January 2nd at 3pm (CT) on ESPN

• KJ Lacey, QB, Saraland (Ala.) – Texas signee
• Justus Terry, DL, Manchester (Ga.) – Texas signee
• Lance Jackson, EDGE, Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove – Texas signee
• Jonah Williams, S, Galveston (Texas) Ball – Texas signee
• Zelus Hicks, S, Carrollton (Ga.) – Texas signee
• Javian Osborne, RB, Forney (Texas) – 2026 Texas target
• Naheem Burroughs, WR, Jacksonville (Fla.) The Bolles School – 2026 Texas target
• Kevin Ford, EDGE, Duncanville (Texas) – 2026 Texas target
• Anthony Davis, LB, Loganville (Ga.) Grayson – 2026 Texas target
• Blaine Bradford, S, Baton Rouge (La.) Catholic – 2026 Texas target

Navy All American Bowl in San Antonio, Saturday, January 11th at 12pm (CT) on NBC

• Jaime Ffrench, WR, Mandarin (Fla.) Jacksonville – Texas signee
• Kaliq Lockett, WR, Sachse (Texas) – Texas signee
• Kade Phillips, CB, Missouri City (Texas) FB Hightower – Texas signee
• Michael Terry III, ATH, San Antonio (Texas) Alamo Heights – Texas signee
• Devin Carter, WR, Douglassville (Ga.) Cedar Grove – 2026 Texas target
• Jordan Clay, WR, San Antonio (Texas) Madison – 2026 Texas target
• Jamarion Carlton, EDGE, Temple (Texas) – 2026 Texas target
• Bryce Perry-Wright, DL, Buford (Ga) – 2026 Texas target
• Tyler Atkinson, LB, Loganville (Ga.) Grayson – 2026 Texas target

 

[BornAndRaised 12868]

Didn't see an other school thread for 2025, so apologies. Looks like Dallas Wilson is trying to get a release from his NLI and Oregon isn't being quick to let him go.

[Napoleon 8822]

1 hour ago, BornAndRaised said:

Didn't see an other school thread for 2025, so apologies. Looks like Dallas Wilson is trying to get a release from his NLI and Oregon isn't being quick to let him go.

He could always just go for a semester and transfer in April, but whatever. 

[Hermanator 7597]

There's no more NLI. All he signed was scholarship papers. Can't he just enter the portal? Or does that not start until school starts? So if Oregon makes the semifinals he could enter the portal?

[JBJ 3788]

NLIs don't bind the player to the school.  He can just enroll somewhere else.

[texifornia 59004]

5 hours ago, BornAndRaised said:

Didn't see an other school thread for 2025, so apologies. Looks like Dallas Wilson is trying to get a release from his NLI and Oregon isn't being quick to let him go.

 

[Dondrysdale1 379]

Is Texas completely done in the 2025 class or is there a possibility of a February signee?

[futureman 22690]

yes. 

[BurntOrange&White 41836]

1 hour ago, JBJ said:

NLIs don't bind the player to the school.  He can just enroll somewhere else.

I don't think NLI's exist anymore....might be some other form of contract or maybe that doesn't exist yet? I'm sure whatever replaced the NLI will be more ironclad and binding.

[tokamak 6687]

54 minutes ago, Dondrysdale1 said:

Is Texas completely done in the 2025 class or is there a possibility of a February signee?

We’re done. It’s all portal now. At this time last year we were still in Terry Bussey’s ear but there’s not a comparable situation this year. 

[utee94 16078]

2 hours ago, BurntOrange&White said:

I don't think NLI's exist anymore....might be some other form of contract or maybe that doesn't exist yet? I'm sure whatever replaced the NLI will be more ironclad and binding.

Edit-- sorry I was talking about NIL not NLI.  

Edited Thursday at 03:52 PM by utee94

[BurntOrange&White 41836]

Just now, utee94 said:

Nothing is replacing NIL.  There will always be NIL.  Direct payments from the schools to the players are entirely different and are not NIL.

Why are you talking about NIL? lol

[Pato del Muerto 53419]

Just now, utee94 said:

Nothing is replacing NIL.  There will always be NIL.  Direct payments from the schools to the players are entirely different and are not NIL.

NLI is not NIL, jethro. 

[utee94 16078]

Y'all are quick-draw McGraws up in here.

 

[IDIOTsavant 8683]

1 minute ago, utee94 said:

Nothing is replacing NIL.  There will always be NIL.  Direct payments from the schools to the players are entirely different and are not NIL.

 

[Vertigo 20492]

It is some bullshit that Florida kept negotiating with the agent after papers were signed. That is a precedent we don't want out there in the world. 

[kevwun 16436]

Florida has been very shady with NIL stuff, so it's not surprising.  Sunbelt Billy is a desperate man.

[SydneyCarton 49473]

6 minutes ago, Vertigo said:

It is some bullshit that Florida kept negotiating with the agent after papers were signed. That is a precedent we don't want out there in the world. 

It was inevitable. 

[SimkinsMan 4554]

17 hours ago, satyanash said:

Justin Wells: Texas signees and prospects in Under Armour Next, Navy All American games

 

This is incredible, and a reflection that a) Sark can recruit and b) money talks. I remember during the Chuckles years being excited to have one or two players to watch in these games. 

[Pato del Muerto 53419]

Next move is actual contracts with terms of release, to attend a university?

[Revolution512 1514]

Just now, Pato del Muerto said:

Next move is actual contracts with terms of release, to attend a university?

That sounds like legal hell for all involved.

[BlackCat 494]

My feeling is the more complex and expensive the NIL/Portal/Recruiting landscape gets the better. Texas can handle complexity as demonstrated by this opening round of the new NIL landscape. Not in small part due to members of this site. The future is very bright for this program. Meanwhile, there are traditional powers in our new conference that are at an obvious disadvantage. The only thing better than their bitching and moaning is our on the field success.

[BurntOrange&White 41836]

3 hours ago, Revolution512 said:

That sounds like legal hell for all involved.

Schools investing 15 million from revenue is definitely going to push for more ironclad contract.

[Funk Doctor Spock 13196]

10 hours ago, JBJ said:

NLIs don't bind the player to the school.  He can just enroll somewhere else.

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[BigHornedLurker 2158]

21 minutes ago, Funk Doctor Spock said:

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[Funk Doctor Spock 13196]

7 minutes ago, BigHornedLurker said:

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