Texas Recruiting Notes 2025: Duck Around and Find Out

[Elmer_Fudd 22022]

10 minutes ago, victory88 said:

Embody is a pretty big moron.  Dude thinks LSU will get everyone.  They may get him but Texas has been on Anding for a while and I believe he’s from northern Louisiana where LSU doesn’t have the same pull.  If he commits to them next week, well then not much Texas could have done differently.  

LSU may have improved the coaching on the defensive side of the ball, but that unit isn't going to magically be night and day difference in two months.  Here's to hoping Riley drops 50+.  And that offense isn't going to be anywhere near like last season.

[FloridaHorn 4726]

1 hour ago, Bevo14 said:

Wild. I'd want an All American DT from the portal for that kind of money. 

Cool, let me know when an All American DT becomes available via the portal.

[closetojumping 62010]

34 minutes ago, FunkSoulBrother said:

Your new nickname for him?

I hope not. There has to be something more interesting than that one. 

[Bevo14 8196]

1 minute ago, FloridaHorn said:

Cool, let me know when an All American DT becomes available via the portal.

Dunno, but there's enough decent high school DTs that don't cost 7 figures that will get there eventually. 

[Reynolds Woodcock 4631]

2 hours ago, Wulaw Horn said:

The lack of perspective on here, especially as it relates to DT is fucking hilarious. Of all the positions around- jag types at DT are just fine. Would it be awesome to have a fucking all pro at every position?  Sure. But if you are going to JAG go JAG at this route where literally any huge fat body can anchor down and gum things up enough to sort of quasi throw their shit in the muck. It’s not like we are planning on not fielding a DT  
 

Incredible that this got 10 upvotes. 

[Dbeasy 14791]

Anyone who thinks DT isn’t that important as compared to various other positions, just ask yourself one question. Of all the good teams over the years, how many, including Texas last year, had strong DT’s. The answer is “a lot of them”.  

The reason is that without strong DT’s you are vulnerable to the run up the middle and on the edges. And you are vulnerable in the defensive secondary because you don’t get a good enough pass rush. 

Our two DT’s last year were crucial to Texas getting to the playoff.  Off the top of my head, I can remember more than a dozen specific plays where the DT’s made huge plays at crucial moments. And considering our CB’s and safeties were shaky last year at times, it was the DT’s who papered over that deficiency. DT’s are crucial. 

[kwood4408 755]

So I get that the DTs are all coming off the board and going elsewhere but are we expecting any commits at other positions soon?

[RomaVicta 29591]

There were about 15 years in there transitioning from Macovic to Mack Brown that our defense would regularly crack open right up the middle for long touchdown plays. I don't want to live those days again.

Three questions:

1. We're missing out on star players, but are our players and prospective players at DT worse than average?

2. We're recruiting well at Edge and LB. Why wouldn't the talent imbalance moving to those positions not offset the diminished talent at the DT spots?

3. It seems that great speed and power at Edge and LB offers advantages against the increasing reliance on the pass.  Is there no effective defensive scheme that maximizes LB and Edge and relies less on DTs?

[Red Five 40455]

11 minutes ago, RomaVicta said:

are our players and prospective players at DT worse than average?

Alright, we're in a weird spot as fans now. No, they are not. We'll probably have a few DTs drafted next spring.

[cafe society 2831]

This isn't rocket science or organic chemistry or what have you.  Football is won in the trenches.

[closetojumping 62010]

5 minutes ago, cafe society said:

This isn't rocket science or organic chemistry or what have you.  Football is won in the trenches.

I agree. The bizarre thing to me is that this is clearly believed by the staff when it comes to the OL. I’m sure it’s intellectually understood regarding DL too, but I will argue it ends there until we see recruiting and portal results otherwise. 

[BornOrange 1441]

1 hour ago, cdain3 said:

2 hours ago, BurntOrange&White said:

Anding with a CB to LSU from Embody

Seems like offering late only hurts when UT does it to Texas kids smh

Didn't hurt with Filsaime

[Helobious 9426]

17 minutes ago, cafe society said:

This isn't rocket science or organic chemistry or what have you.  Football is won in the trenches.

Watching that unbeaten Patriots squad get done in by the Giants elite DL comes to mind. Then same thing almost happened to us the next year vs Nebraska in the Big 12 title game. It can truly negate any other mismatch on the field. 

[Funk Doctor Spock 11709]

15 minutes ago, BornOrange said:

Didn't hurt with Filsaime

Different circumstances. Napier's team was falling apart. We should have honed in on some DT'S to see if they wanted to jump ship. 

[Funk Doctor Spock 11709]

4 minutes ago, Helobious said:

Watching that unbeaten Patriots squad get done in by the Giants elite DL comes to mind. Then same thing almost happened to us the next year vs Nebraska in the Big 12 title game. It can truly negate any other mismatch on the field. 

Only one freak was doing that to us, and his name was Ndamukong Suh. He, and he alone abused every lineman we had. 

[Mother mopar 3275]

Didn't hurt with Filsaime

Or Mack

[Helobious 9426]

34 minutes ago, Spider2YBanana said:

Only one freak was doing that to us, and his name was Ndamukong Suh. He, and he alone abused every lineman we had. 

He bullied us but really their entire defense was great that year. Only gave up over 20 points once in 14 games. I don’t feel so bad about our performance anymore.

[6th Street 6299]

Kyle Shanahan always builds his teams around elite DL play. Unfortunately it has also led to some colossal busts like Solomon Thomas and Javon Kinlaw.  

[Pato del Muerto 52118]

I stay away from NIL talk but I do wonder if all the unused DT allocation will be used to make a better final offer for fewer targets, will be moved to other areas, or will be held in reserve. 
 

I guess what I’m having trouble with from reading @closetojumping’s posts on the matter is that if Steve won’t allow the guys to recruit lower stars, and we aren’t hitting on the high stars because there is always one other team with the over the top offer, what does that leave?

it appears, so far, that we aren’t willing to be the team with the over the top offer on a DT. Might be better for team dynamics- I have no clue how that has been playing out- but we do need to sign players at the position. 

[cb866 140]

Y'all, all I was fucking saying was that I think fan expectations around our "death star" recruiting need to be tempered. Holy smokes just relax. I was blaming the $9.99ers for sunshine pumping, not the staff or admin. Some of our critics _can_ be right some of the time... we can tend to be arrogant with regard to comparison to other programs, and it is mostly due to a perceived endowment advantage. A little self-reflection is never bad.

For instance, just look at the (albeit funny/ironic) title of this thread "now we have a machine gun." While I happen to think it's an awesome idea, we're not Georgia or tOSU yet in recruiting. Believing we're going to become that over night is just silly.

Alright, now let's get back to whining about DTs. #hookem /nosatyanash

[Helobious 9426]

Maybe that Lake Travis DL that tried to murder his teammate just needs another chance..

[DigDug 1643]

56 minutes ago, Helobious said:

Maybe that Lake Travis DL that tried to murder his teammate just needs another chance..

Another chance at murder?

[RomaVicta 29591]

16 minutes ago, DigDug said:

Another chance at murder?

If at first you don't succeed....

[Funk Doctor Spock 11709]

Shit, at this point I'll take convicted criminals if they can line up correctly. Worked for Stoops 

[derp 731]

[HateYouAndMyself 828]

1 hour ago, Helobious said:

Maybe that Lake Travis DL that tried to murder his teammate just needs another chance..

Only if Brandon Harris has a peanut allergy. 

[HenryJames 65568]

1 hour ago, DigDug said:

Another chance at murder?

[Funk Doctor Spock 11709]

[Wulaw Horn 18919]

6 hours ago, closetojumping said:

I realize a lot of you guys seek analogs for comfort and that’s human nature and all, but monetary priorities in CFB don’t totally square with those of the NFL and they never will. 

TBs aren’t prioritized in the NFL due to lifetime value and the bullets TBs take in college. CFB powers have hoarded and coveted elite TBs because are a core power source for high octane offenses and can also lock games up at the end. CFB coaches need not worry about overuse and burn out at TB. Worth it. 

That said, do you guys not understand that the DT market in aggregate commands way more spend than any spots besides QB, OT, and CB in the NIL arena? Outside of the top 5 WRs and top DEs, DT through the top 25-30 nationally outstrips those positions and, frankly all the rest besides QB. 

That last part is what the UT staff, from intel gatherers and budget owners like Harris and crew up to Sarkisian aren’t getting. 

Two things happened yesterday - 

1) Oregon decided to offer seven figures to a DT. That’s unprecedented and whiners on here are fucking clueless about how this works if they’re still bitching knowing that. 

2) Sarkisian and company received some really bush league assurances from their staff about where things stood with Charles’ camp. That’s on All Offense, No DT Steve for how he’s handled his roster-building staff with the departure of some folks who weren’t always yes men. Maybe that’s less “impressive” to Brandon Harris fanbois and Steve DTlessian, but oh well. 

Look- you are obviously more plugged in than me, and just smarter about football. I don’t disagree with anything you say here… but I stand by my point that being awesome on offense and being awesome at edge, really good at LB and decent in the secondary means you can still win big with JAG’s at DT. We will see. 

[Wulaw Horn 18919]

4 hours ago, Reynolds Woodcock said:

Incredible that this got 10 upvotes. 

15 now. You got an upvote from jfkfc. Only thing more embarrassing would be helobious. 

[Goodman 3272]

12 minutes ago, Wulaw Horn said:

Look- you are obviously more plugged in than me, and just smarter about football. I don’t disagree with anything you say here… but I stand by my point that being awesome on offense and being awesome at edge, really good at LB and decent in the secondary means you can still win big with JAG’s at DT. We will see. 

Define awesome, really good, decent and JAG? What bucket are you throwing the grown ass men we have playing DT this year in?

[texifornia 56031]

Man, Oregon just fucked us up

 

[TexasMan 10724]

That Phil Knight money is no joke 

[CoachTex 2612]

1 hour ago, RomaVicta said:

If at first you don't succeed....

It's only attempted murder. 

[nycHorn 2936]

Man, Oregon just fucked us up
 

[CashMcCoy 3199]

Right after the NCAA announces they will stop testing for THC…

[Post Oak 20114]

6 minutes ago, texifornia said:

Man, Oregon just fucked us up

 

Conroe kids and UT

[CoachTex 2612]

@Wulaw Horn The easiest way to explain this is, if you have dominant DTs then the offense has to commit 3 or 4 to block 2. In turn eDgE players get one on ones. That leaves 1 back to block 2 LBs.  Demanding double teams in the middle is the surest way to build a great defense. 

[westexhorn 1996]

Can we money whip Zion?  (Although would have preferred either Charles or Sharma)

Edited June 29 by westexhorn

[cafe society 2831]

3 minutes ago, westexhorn said:

Can we money whip Zion?  (Although would have preferred either Charles or Sharma)

I'm sure we can, but I'm equally sure we won't.

[texifornia 56031]

3 minutes ago, westexhorn said:

Can we money whip Zion?  (Although would have preferred either Charles or Sharma)

If you read the previous posts, we'd also need to find a way to get his girlfriend into UT.

Since LSU is a community college, that's a lot easier for them.

[DixonHur 10862]

5 minutes ago, westexhorn said:

Can we money whip Zion?  (Although would have preferred either Charles or Sharma)

I'd rather wait for the transfer portal to money whip a couple of DTs that have shown the ability to play at the college level as opposed to taking a gamble on a HS kid.

[texifornia 56031]

1 minute ago, DixonHur said:

I'd rather wait for the transfer portal to money whip a couple of DTs that have shown the ability to play at the college level as opposed to taking a gamble on a HS kid.

Good DTs are like good OTs. They don't fall from trees and are brutally expensive in the portal.

[kwood4408 755]

Man, Oregon just fucked us up
 

[MuellerHorn 4053]

Texas is getting absolutely worked on the defensive side of the ball this week.

[Wulaw Horn 18919]

14 minutes ago, CoachTex said:

@Wulaw Horn The easiest way to explain this is, if you have dominant DTs then the offense has to commit 3 or 4 to block 2. In turn eDgE players get one on ones. That leaves 1 back to block 2 LBs.  Demanding double teams in the middle is the surest way to build a great defense. 

Sure. Thats one way to build a team. Another is to build a team that scores 45 or 50 a game, terrorizes people on the edge and locks down on the secondary because the other team has to throw the ball to catch up. I’m agnostic as long as we win. We had the best DT’s in the nation lat year and crapped out in the final 4. I think we will be a better team this year. Resources are scarce. News at 11!  

[Atticus 3893]

Develop the ones you get, then eventually you’ll be able to get the ones you want to develop. 

 

[hook me 2039]

7 minutes ago, Wulaw Horn said:

Sure. Thats one way to build a team. Another is to build a team that scores 45 or 50 a game, terrorizes people on the edge and locks down on the secondary because the other team has to throw the ball to catch up. I’m agnostic as long as we win. We had the best DT’s in the nation lat year and crapped out in the final 4. I think we will be a better team this year. Resources are scarce. News at 11!  

You can’t smoke brisket for shit Lincoln!

[DZX158 45]

20 minutes ago, MuellerHorn said:

Texas is getting absolutely worked on the defensive side of the ball this week.

Yeah it hasn’t been good but I’d rather have a bad week in June vs Dec. Now given what Oregon is doing I wouldn’t be surprised if they go way over market for DK Moore. Going to be interesting to see what happens there.

[BurntOrange&White 38890]

23 minutes ago, Wulaw Horn said:

Sure. Thats one way to build a team. Another is to build a team that scores 45 or 50 a game, terrorizes people on the edge and locks down on the secondary because the other team has to throw the ball to catch up. I’m agnostic as long as we win. We had the best DT’s in the nation lat year and crapped out in the final 4. I think we will be a better team this year. Resources are scarce. News at 11!  

Counterpoint: Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan