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Texas recruiting notes 2019


bigup2dahorns

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1 hour ago, Bodacious Bevo said:

Listened to the OB podcast recently. He rated WRs as the worst position group on the offense. He spent 15 minutes arguing with everybody else as to why they were worse than the OL. 

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i listen because im a junkie and need a fix. but if it wasnt for Anwar, Dustin and Suchomel giving stuff away, i really couldnt listen. 

the only reason I dont unfollow ketch on Twitter is cus  i keep hoping ill get some useful content from him. But i get is SJW BS and lame ass soccer tweets.

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EJ after dark: Intel on Sanders visit; new CB picks for UT

 

— Texas obviously hosted a big-time visitor this weekend in five-star running back Trey Sanders. I am told that Sanders was blown away with his time on campus and enjoyed getting his first in-depth look at the program. Sanders loves what running backs coach Stan Drayton brings to the table as a developer of NFL talent, which is arguably the most important factor in his recruitment. Drayton's resume was a big selling point for UT today. Sanders also has a person that he is close to in the Dallas-area and is open to leaving Florida. We fully expect him to be back in Austin for an official visit this fall. By the way, he also got to spend some time out in the city and had an 'unbelievable' time. 

— Texas athlete commit Jordan Whittington made his way to Austin to spend some time with Sanders. The two actually bonded during this year’s U.S. Army All-American Bowl and have developed a friendship. Whittington is extremely solid to Texas and has been a big vocal recruiter for the Longhorns. Getting him on campus to help with Sanders was huge for Texas as he helped the staff make a lasting impression on the elite ball carrier.

— I put in a new Crystal Ball pick this weekend for Texas to land rising 2020 offensive lineman Jaylen Garth. The Longhorns offered him at their Houston satellite camp but have been recruiting him for most of the offseason. Garth is very close to Roschon Johnson and looks up to him as a mentor. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him follow Johnson to Austin, especially if the Longhorns made a big impression on him on his visit to UT this coming weekend.

— I also put in a new Crystal Ball pick in for four-star 2020 Cibolo Steele cornerback Jaylon Jones to land at Texas. Jones picked up an offer from the Longhorns after impressing at UT's final minicamp on Sunday and is extremely high on the Longhorns early on. Jones' father actually messaged me right after they got the offer and expressed his excitement. Jones knows Texas defensive back Caden Sterns, which should help the Longhorns in this recruitment as well. I've been told that Jones will be a top priority for next cycle.

Edited by satyanash
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11 minutes ago, RomaVicta said:

Maybe these professional writers should learn new ways of description besides "blown away" and "knocked it out of the park" since they use those for just about every visit.

 

What about "surging"

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2 minutes ago, RomaVicta said:

We're told that has already happened, so keep an eye on developments here. It's definitely not over. 

I've had a crew working to write new bits over in China for 6 months now, but fake $9.95 only goes so far I am told. I'll probably just fake retire if someone writes an app.

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1 minute ago, rickyspub said:

I've had a crew working to write new bits over in China for 6 months now, but fake $9.95 only goes so far I am told. I'll probably just fake retire if someone writes an app.

rickyspub could shut it down soon according to my sources. 

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18 minutes ago, rickyspub said:

During Mack's tenure, 'Offer made to OOS recruit' would have brought the house down. You'd barely get a 'Like' for it these days.

I think this may be a year similar to 2010 where the washout rate on top in state recruits is going to be extremely high and Herman has the right mindset for these types of years. My hope is that the foundation class for Jimbo looks like Sumlin's foundation class when all is said and done and he goes 13-32 on kids making it to their senior years. 

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TFB (watch out - they keep mixing up this and next weekend): http://texas.thefootballbrainiacs.com/2018/06/open-post-monday-june-11th/

Quote

– Cinco Ranch (TX) Linebacker David Gbenda is one of the top LB’s in the state of Texas in 2019. He holds 24 offers, but most feel like it will be a Texas-Texas A&M battle for Gbenda. I spoke with him this morning, and he has set unofficial visits to both of those in state schools.

Gbenda will be at Texas A&M this weekend, and will be at Texas for their big summer recruiting event next weekend. He also told me that he’s still in the process of scheduling some out of state visits to LSU and Ole Miss. This one is pretty close to 50/50 between the Longhorns and the Aggies. Gbenda told me a while back that he would like to make a decision before the start of his senior season. So we will see if either the Texas or Texas A&M staff push for a commitment over the next two weeks.

Texas currently holds one Linebacker commitment from Westlake (CA) OLB De’Gabriel Floyd. – (Andrew)

– I can confirm that as Javonne Shepherd told me Tuesday, he will not make it into College Station this weekend, and as many have seen on Twitter, is pretty upset with Texas A&M reporters. He’s expected to be back at Texas this next weekend.

– I can also confirm that Zach Evans did not make it in. With the battle for the best RB being mainly between Texas and Texas A&M, this is a nice win for Texas. Family issues.

– Others are reporting that Malik Hornsby has not made it in to College Station as well. We feel very good with where Texas stands with Hornsby… Family issues. – (Will)

A couple months back, it seemed Banks would end up, eventually, at Texas. But recently, it looked more and more like LSU and Texas A&M were the teams to beat. This doesn’t come as a surprise to Texas and while Banks is a great player, defense and defensive recruiting isn’t exactly on the list of concerns for Texas. With Texas only wanting one more corner back, the Caldwell offer was telling as it relates to Banks. – (Super K)

– Texas is going to get a visit from a big time JUCO DE in Jermaine Johnson (Independence CC) that they’ve been recruiting. Johnson told me he plans to be in town for next weekend’s big recruiting event. – (Super K)

– As you all know, Texas hosted 5-star 2019 running back, Trey Sanders, this weekend. Sanders is the kind of elite offensive weapon that Texas needs more of in order to get back into championship contention.

Sanders is a big powerful back who can drag defenders. His power is complemented by his feet and ability to make a man miss. Sanders is a problem because he’s such a physical presence that he doesn’t need to make you whiff. Anything less than a clean shot probably isn’t going to do the job.

The Big 12 isn’t exactly known for having the biggest guys in the secondary – plenty of speed but lackluster size. So, someone like Trey Sanders could be an absolute nightmare in the Big 12.

We have yet to get Trey on the phone but we have heard the following:

*I am told that Sanders will absolutely return for an official visit to Texas, this fall. Obviously, big news there.

*Texas made such an impression that it sounds like they have moved into a small group of top schools.

*Teams to watch out for are Alabama and Georgia. However, Texas can obviously sell Trey on a number of things including immediate playing time. I don’t think there is any question that Trey would come in and getting serious PT right away. On the OU side we saw Georgia native and bruiser back, Tre Sermon come in and have a lot of success as a true freshman for the Sooners. Sanders is a powerful guy like Sermon but with more wiggle and speed. I think you’d see him have at least that kind of impact for Texas.

*I do not expect a decision to come until after Sanders takes his officials this fall but I’m working to confirm that.

More on this as we get it… – (Super K)

 

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23 minutes ago, texifornia said:

TFB (watch out - they keep mixing up this and next weekend): http://texas.thefootballbrainiacs.com/2018/06/open-post-monday-june-11th/

 

i *think* the part w/ this weekend vs next week re: aggie weekend and ours coming up is due to that information in the free open post was originally in a donor post last week and just rehashed here - so its old information 

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IT

 

From: Eric Nahlin

DYLAN WRIGHT

The West Mesquite receiver was oft-mentioned in the PROSPECTS thread this weekend. He visited A&M, and, as is custom, became an Aggie lean once his parking was validated.

It is true that A&M has improved its standing with Wright. It is also true that Texas did the same earlier this spring. This will be a long, drawn out recruitment that will have more than its share of plot twists, perhaps through no fault of the player.

I asked someone close to Wright, "what's your read on the direction of Dylan's recruitment?" I heard back, "it's still up in the air. He's doing a good job of taking as many unofficial visits as he can."

I then asked about proximity. In reply, "He is a family oriented kid and his family will travel to see him but that can be tough at times. I'm not sure on that [instate or out-of-state], I would say that's up in the air too."

Still no mention of any particular schools so I asked about the A&M confidence and heard back, "I know A&M has a great 2019 class but Texas is making moves also."

He hasn't talked to Wright since he visited A&M but will this week and update us. There's a good chance Wright visits Austin this upcoming weekend.

Long way to go. I wouldn't get too high or low any time soon.

JAVONNE SHEPHERD

Another hotly contested recruitment is that of Shepherd, the North Forest offensive tackle. Texas has taken the lead in this recruitment and there's been some hinting behind the scenes he'll announce sooner than he originally planned.

Our network of contacts ranges from very optimistic Texas lands Shepherd to cautiously optimistic to 'doesn't matter, even if he commits there's a long way to go'. The consensus is that Texas leads at this point.

A&M just took two offensive tackles so they're telling us how they feel about Shepherd.

From Texas camp last Tuesday. I don't believe anything has changed since then, other than the Aggie internet trying to will him to College Station.

On his visit:
"What stood out was the talk with Coach Tom Herman today in his office with all the other coaches. It was just very, like, I think it might be home or something like that. That's what I'm thinking. It was good."

What Herman talked about:
"He just talked about, like, me, not just football. He talked more about me than just football."

Upcoming visits:
"What I have planned next is Georgia, LSU, and Alabama to visit [unofficial visits]." He mentioned he'll try to get to A&M this Summer at some point but had no immediate plans to visit.

Thoughts on Coach Hand: 
"Coach Herb Hand is always up front in how he does things. Really, he's just the same thing, talk about who I am and mainly football."

UT on solid footing: 
"Right now, they [Texas] stand #1 with me."

Shepherd and Kenyon Green: 
"That's his decision, my decision is just me. We're two different people. That's where he feels best at."

What he's looking for in a program: 
"Staff and team that makes me feel like family."

Aside Texas, who else makes him feel like family: 
"Georgia, probably Georgia or A&M."

He'll take official visits: 
"I'll probably start taking my officials when the season starts back."

There's a chance Shepherd returns to Austin this weekend along with many other high profile recruits. Justin will have more on that.

HOUSTON CAMP

Tom Herman, Todd Orlando, Tim Beck, Oscar Giles, and Herb Hand all participated in the U of H camp this past Saturday. Herman was just one of three head coaches in attendance, along with Texas State's Everett Withers and of course Major Applewhite. Other schools with representatives were Ohio State, Georgia, and Alabama.

Here's what's really interesting: Texas quarterback commit Roschon Johnson was there to throw and all-everything 2020 running back Zachary Evans also participated.

I asked a college coaching buddy in attendance how Johnson threw and heard back, "we're not getting him so I didn't watch." I like it!

In other news, Johnson's teammate, 2020 offensive tackle Jaylen Garth, chose to compete at the camp rather than picnic in College Station. The current three-star holds offers from A&M, Arkansas, Nebraska, Ohio State, and now Texas.

It speaks well of him that he competed for more offers rather than take an unofficial visit.

Texas obviously has a built in advantage in this recruitment, like it does with newly offered camp participant, Jaylon Jones. The 2020 Holton Hill starter kit hails from Cibolo Steele. Texas should be considered the favorite for both early on.

I'll have a post on Malik Hornsby tomorrow.

From: Justin Wells

TREY SANDERS

When the 6-foot-0, 216-pound five-star RB went to the Red River Shootout last year, he met a girl. That interaction blossomed into a long-distance relationship. So when he tripped to Dallas to see her last week, the UT staff called and invited him for a weekend UOV. He obliged.

It went better than expected. He enjoyed the photo shoot, which included three different areas, the facilities were top notch, but the best part was Stan Drayton. The Texas RB coach is a known commodity in the industry. IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) teammate Noah Cain has built up Drayton so much, Sanders is starting to buy the hype.

While most college coaches kiss the nation's top running back's ass, Drayton broke down his tape during a film session with harsh but constructive critiques. After an 80-yard TD run, Drayton showed him what he did wrong. A 15-yard run could've been a 45-yard score had Sanders taken this angle. Sanders isn’t used to brutal honesty. It was refreshing and he embraced it. It also doesn’t hurt that Sanders is a big Jake Smith fan.

There’s a very good chance he returns this fall for an official visit. It was a long shot before Friday as Alabama and Georgia are the frontrunners. But now Texas has entered the conversation.

[Alabama is close to flipping his 2018 brother, Umstead Sanders. Sanders is a walk-on Juco linebacker. This merits close attention. Umstead is currently slated for Florida - EN]

ELIJAH HIGGINS

It seems the 6-foot-3, 220-pound wideout from the 512 is coming back round to the thought of being a Longhorn.

The Austin Bowie 4-star took an unofficial visit to the 40 Acres last weekend. This trip was meaningful.

“It was a lot different," said Higgins. "I got to visit and meet with the President of UT. But the most impressive thing was when I went and I sat down with Tim Beck and Coach Mehringer. They showed me clips and videos comparing my game style to Lil Jordan's.”

They envision Higgins as an inside-outside pass-catcher. They want to use his size in the red zone. They want to focus on his hands on 3rd down possessions. Basically, they really want him in this class. And Higgins wasn't alone.

“My mom, brother, sister and dad all made it," Higgins said. "The depth they went into explaining how they could use me really stood out. I'll be back."

He took an OV to Stanford recently, and will visit Florida on Tuesday, and Ohio State on 6/22. Then he'll sit down with his parents and start the process of where he thinks he fits best. Texas made up some serious ground on Friday and Saturday. I'd even say they pulled even with the competition.

MOOKIE COOPER

Lightning in a bottle. Percy Harvin-lite. All descriptions when speaking to sources close to the Trinity Catholic (St. Louis, MO) all-purpose back.

So when the 5-foot-9, 185-pounder started getting offers, it was amazing and overwhelming at the same time.

“I love most of it, " said Cooper, about the recruiting process. "Just being able to talk to and meet coaches and be evaluated by high D1 colleges. I don’t like the rule of waiting to actually talk to a coach because I want to be able to build a relationship early.”

Sorry, Mookie. That's the NCAA and its outdated rules. But Cooper has had his fill on seeing some of the best programs in the country, and he's yet to take a junior snap.

“Illinois, Michigan, Mizzou, Notre Dame, Iowa State, Nebraska, and then I'll see Texas next weekend," Cooper said. "I’m excited to see Austin. I expect to have a great time.”

Lake Travis QB and UT verbal pledge Hudson Card has one job this weekend; take care of Mookie. He's up to the task. Cooper is too.

“I’m excited to be around the coaches and the environment," said Cooper. "From what I hear, its lit. Texas itself is a fun place to be and I just can’t wait to experience it firsthand.”

Texas sees the 4-star as a APB, slot, and kick/punt return specialist. Cooper sees this as well. It's early, but UT has some connections in Missouri, and are also recruiting his 2019 WR teammate Marcus Washington, who might see Austin later this summer. For now, it's focus is on Mookie.

WEEKEND VISITORS (first draft)

Rian Davis, Wekiva (Apopka, FL) - LB (2019) OFFICIAL VISIT
Lewis Cine, Trinity Chrisitian (Cedar Hill) - S (2019) OFFICIAL VISIT

Javonne Shepherd, Houston North Forest - OT (2019) (maybe)
Bryson Washington, Mater Dei (California) - S (2020)
Kenyatta Watson II, Grayson (GA) - CB (2019) TEXAS
Roschon Johnson, Port Neches-Groves - QB (2019) TEXAS
Jaylen Garth, Port Neches-Groves - OL (2020)
Jermaine Johnson, Independence CC (KS) - LB/DE (2019)
Mookie Cooper, Trinity Catholic (MO) - APB (2020)
Hudson Card, Lake Travis - QB (2020) TEXAS

We will go more in-depth on the visitor list this week. We expect more names to be added. I'll also have a post on Jaylen Garth this week who told me, "the Texas offer is like a dream."

TUESDAY TRIP

‘19 Alvin CB, Oregon commit Marques Caldwell will visit Texas tomorrow. We've long said how we good we feel about UT's chances of flipping the Ducks' pledge. Tuesday could be a good day.


From: Joe Cook

PRINCE DORBAH

There were a few hundred more players at Sunday’s Texas camp compared to Tuesdays. In addition, there were more players there with Texas offers.

2020 Highland Park DE Prince Dorbah was one of those there with a scholarship offer from Texas. He made the trek to Austin, his first time seeing the University of Texas and just his third college visit.

Obviously, recruiting is very new to Dorbah and as he explains he sounds open to everyone. Texas liked getting him on campus, and he got to spend time with Oscar Giles during the day.

On what he showed people at the camp:
“I just went out there and showed my quickness and my ability to get off the ball fast, and just get to the quarterback. I was just trying to work on my hips, rely on my technique, pursuit angles, and all that stuff.”

On why he camped with a Texas offer in hand:
“This is my first time up here. I just wanted to come up here and experience it for myself, and see what all the hype is about. I just like to come out here, learn some stuff, take it back to my school, and just have fun with it."

On what he was able to see in his first trip to Austin:
“I saw the campus. I went on a little tour. I saw the locker room. I saw that stuff. A lot of nice stuff, I like it.”

On where Texas stands in the big picture:
“I don’t know yet. They’re like all the other schools that have offered me. They’re all the same because I’ve only been to three schools so far. I’m talking to other schools until I make my decision.”

On his Oklahoma and Oklahoma State visits:
“Those are great schools. The coaches are awesome. Coach Gundy from OSU is a good coach and his brother is the offensive coordinator at OU. It’s kind of funny seeing that family.”

On what stands out about Texas:
“It’s a great school. It’s a very good education, and you’re going to graduate. I was talking to their director of academics and he said if you come here, we’re going to graduate you. I said that’s what I want to do. There’s life after football. You’re not going to be playing football forever. That’s the main thing.”

On his future position:
“Here, they run a 3-4 defense. They have a b-backer, like a strongside linebacker. They want me to play that b-backer position where I could be a rush end, and be a linebacker and drop back too.”

On upcoming visits:
“I’m going to Arkansas on Thursday, then I’ll be at Alabama on the 23rd. That should be it for my visits.”

Edited by Machinator
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When the 6-foot-0, 216-pound five-star RB went to the Red River Shootout last year, he met a girl. That interaction blossomed into a long-distance relationship. So when he tripped to Dallas to see her last week, the UT staff called and invited him for a weekend UOV. He obliged. 

Undefeated

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OB:

My favorite in-state 2019 prospect without an offer ...

This guy isn't my highest-ranked un-offered in-state player, but he's just a guy I'd offer out of principle.

So, who is the guy?

Newton athlete Tamuazia Brown.

The 6-2, 176-pound Brown is a Rivals four-star and has offers from the likes of Alabama, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas A&M. More than anything, this isn't a big year in recruiting inside of East Texas, so I'm all about offering as many high upside guys from East Texas as possible, especially the guy that might be the best pound for pound player in the state from that region.

As it stands, Crandall offensive lineman Branson Bragg is the only player in the 2019 class from East Texas with an offer.

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The Stampede: Arizona HS coaches talk UT; satellite camp insider

Texas has made the state of Arizona a top priority this cycle. The Longhorns anded two of the best from the Copper State in four-star wide receiver Jake Smith and big-time tight end Brayden Liebrock and are still on the prowl for elite safety Noa Pola-Gates. As Saguaro head coach Jason Mohns, who is one of the most successful coaches in the state, put it, more and more Arizona kids are looking for a new experience away from home, and Texas is definitely an appealing option. “Arizona kids will leave Arizona and go out-of-state,” Mohns said. “It’s a transient state. Most of the parents are from other places, so there isn’t loyalty. Texas is getting 50,000 plus fans at its spring game, while the local schools are getting 3,500. That is definitely appealing. Austin is a great city. It’s pretty similar to Phoenix and Scottsdale, so there is no culture shock. It’s big boy football, and kids from Arizona want to play in big environments and big games. I think you get that at UT.”

Shaun Aguano coaches Liebrock at powerhouse Chandler and added similar sentiments. “Our offensive line coach played for Coach (Tim) Beck,” Aguano said. “He’s familiar with the area. Coach (Derek) Warehime did a heck of a job recruiting Brayden. Texas is the big-time football world. That attracts kids that want to compete at that level, and Brayden is a big competitor.”

As Aguano mentioned, Texas offensive coordinator Tim Beck has been a valuable recruiting weapon for the Longhorns in their efforts to lure top talent out of Arizona. After all, Beck was the head coach at Saguaro for a couple of years in the 90s and still has plenty of ties to the state, specifically in the Phoenix metro, where most of the top end prospects call home. “(Beck) knows the valley,” Mohns said. “He knows how to get around and knows who is who. He has a lot of relationships. He can always come in and talk to me about my guys and ask me about guys at other schools. As a guy that has been in Arizona and knows Arizona, that carries some weight. That’s definitely helped him. When you show up in burnt orange, that also carries some weight. It gets kids excited.”

Beck and Texas are already after the best recruit in the state in 2020 in five-star Saguaro cornerback Kelee Ringo, so it appears Texas is going to continue recruiting the state of Arizona hard for future cycles. And that has Arizona high school coaches like Williams Field’s Steve Campbell very excited. “Hopefully, this is a trend,” Campbell said. “The Texas brand is still the Texas brand. There are certain schools that have that and that carries weight, and Texas is one of them. The coaches in Arizona are very excited about it, and we hope Texas keeps spending more time out here.”

***

Texas held a satellite camp in a key state this week as the Longhorns made their way to California. UT head coach Tom Herman, inside wide receivers coach Corby Meekins, offensive line coach Herb Hand, running backs coach Stan Drayton, defensive line coach Oscar Giles, cornerbacks coach Jason Washington and defensive coordinator Todd Orlando were all in attendance. Here are some recruiting tidbits from my time out West.

— Tom Herman is a really popular dude in California. He graduated from Cal Lutheran and has a lot of ties to high school coaches in the area. A lot of people might not know if but Cal Lutheran has produced a number of coaches, including Herman, Dave Aranda and Rod Marinelli. Some of Herman’s former teammates are high school coaches in California, and that’s a big reason for the Longhorns’ success in the state.

— Example No. 1 is Tim Kirksey, who is the head coach at Westlake (Calif.), which is home to four-star outside linebacker and Texas commit De’Gabriel Floyd. Kirksey told me that he loves what Herman brings to the table and trusts him from their time in college. He had nothing but positive things to say about Herman and Texas to Floyd during his recruitment, which gave the Longhorns an added boost.

— The California pipeline started last cycle when Texas flipped four-star Newbury Park (Calif.) quarterback Cameron Rising from Oklahoma. And guess what? Herman’s former teammate, Keith Smith, was his offensive coordinator. Again, Herman’s connection went a long way in that recruitment as the Longhorns were able to get him on campus and convince him to make the switch.

— While Herman is beloved by Texas high school coaches, the same can be said about California high school coaches. I spoke to a handful of them at the camp, and they all had great things to say about the program. The coaches said more and more kids are willing to leave the West Coast for a new experience, and Texas can offer comfort thanks to the city of Austin as well as traditional big-time football. The coaches have welcomed Herman and the Longhorns with open arms and want to see them continue to have success in Cali.

— The aforementioned Floyd is spending the entire month of July with family in Austin as he wants to get acclimated to his new home. Floyd is fully committed to Texas and has been a vocal recruiter for the Longhorns. There is absolutely no reason to worry about his recruitment as he is on track to graduate early and enroll in January.

— Floyd has been hard at work on the recruiting trail and has made five-star Mater Dei (Calif.) athlete Bru McCoy his top priority. Floyd and McCoy are actually really good friends and made their way to Texas together earlier this offseason for an unofficial visit. Landing McCoy is actually a strong possibility for Texas. He has a similar personality to Floyd and is open to being different and leaving home. USC still holds the edge in that recruitment but with a strong official visit in the fall and a big performance against USC, anything can happen in this recruitment. After all, we have reason to believe that UT is USC’s biggest threat here.

— The only offered target in attendance at UT’s satellite camp on Friday was Bryce Young, the nation’s top dual-threat quarterback. I spoke to Young’s father, who told me that the commitment of Hudson Card did not bother them and that offensive coordinator Tim Beckimmediately reached out following his pledge. Texas is still under consideration as Young plans to make his decision by the end of July or early August. However, I feel like Texas has some work to do and is currently on the outside looking in. Right now, four-star Houston Austin prospect Malik Hornsbyseems like the more likely second quarterback take.

***

Texas recently landed one of the top tight ends in the nation in Chandler (AZ) product Brayden Liebrock, who picked the Longhorns over several other major offers. Liebrock’s head coach, Scott Aguano, sat down to talk about Liebrock’s strengths, how he’ll fit in at Texas and more.

EJ: Let’s start off with Liebrock as a kid. What can you tell us about him from a character standpoint?

SA: That’s the biggest thing with him — his integrity and his character. He’s a 4.3 GPA kid. He’s incredibly mature. He does everything he needs to do.

EJ: It seemed like Liebrock came out of nowhere and really blew up on the recruiting trail earlier this offseason. How did that all shake out?

SA: Brayden was always a really good athlete. He was an all-star in baseball until he chose not to play it this past year. He’s always been a big kid, and he’s progressed through our program. He played JV as a sophomore because he needed to get in the weight room and was splitting time with baseball. Last year, he really broke out during the second half of the season. He’s just getting bigger and stronger, and schools really took notice.

EJ: What are your overall thoughts on him as a player?

SA: At 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, there isn’t anything he can’t do at that tight end spot. He can play the H, the sniffer spot or flex out. He’s a three for one. He has a big body, and he has an incredibly high football IQ. He’s a very physical kid. He doesn’t shy away from any contact. He’s a double threat as a receiver and a blocker.

EJ: What does he still need to work on for the next level?

SA: He’s still young. He needs to stay in the weight room. He’ll be a 235-240 type of kid. He’ll get bigger, stronger and faster. But I think he’ll be a dominant force at the next level.

EJ: Everyone knows how great of a receiver Liebrock is. Where does he stand as a blocker?

SA: He’s always our sniffer in blocking schemes. He attaches on inside and outside zones. We use him kind of all over the place. He’s going to be our go-to guy in crunch time as a receiver, and he’ll be just fine as a blocker.

EJ: How do you think he’ll fit into UT’s offense when he gets to Austin?

SA: I think he’ll fit in well. I know Coach Beck because he was an Arizona guy that coached in the high school ranks. I think they are going to try to move him around wherever he can help. I think him being able to play different positions will help the offense a little bit.

5COMMENTS

EJ: Is there any player at the college or pro level that you would compare him to?

SA: I would go with an Arizona kid — Mark Andrews, who went to Oklahoma. I think they were about the same size coming out of high school. Mark thought he was a receiver that moved to that flex. I think Brayden is going to be in the same size range and be a similar fit at Texas.

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A look at Caldwell's 247 page shows he was second team all district last year and currently a 3 star with only a few top offers. His highlights look very good, but I don't watch much film. He's athletic, likes to hit and reacts quickly.

What's the deal here? Why isn't he ranked higher if he is so good? What would make two CBs in his district better than him?

These are unprejudiced questions. I don't say he's a great or poor take, I just wonder about the discrepancy. Seems like Oregon's and Texas' attention would have drawn other attention as well.

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53 minutes ago, Scholz said:

OB:

My favorite in-state 2019 prospect without an offer ...

This guy isn't my highest-ranked un-offered in-state player, but he's just a guy I'd offer out of principle.

So, who is the guy?

Newton athlete Tamuazia Brown.

The 6-2, 176-pound Brown is a Rivals four-star and has offers from the likes of Alabama, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas A&M. More than anything, this isn't a big year in recruiting inside of East Texas, so I'm all about offering as many high upside guys from East Texas as possible, especially the guy that might be the best pound for pound player in the state from that region.

As it stands, Crandall offensive lineman Branson Bragg is the only player in the 2019 class from East Texas with an offer.

TQ Jackson > Tam Brown, imo

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3 minutes ago, UncleBuck said:

dangit my twitter's "translate tweet" button must not be detecting this, can anyone translate this for me?

247 apparently had a employee best shoes competition and he didn't win and he's saying that's ridiculous because he has shoes by all of these expensive streetwear brands. Nevermind that they're ugly as sin most of the time...

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1 minute ago, texifornia said:

247 apparently had a employee best shoes competition and he didn't win and he's saying that's ridiculous because he has shoes by all of these expensive streetwear brands. Nevermind that they're ugly as sin most of the time...

Oh thanks, I was thinking RAF was some type of STD or something.

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Just now, billfromlaketravis said:

@Fud let's say the following happens at RB: 

Emery to Mississippi State. 

LSU zeroes in on Cain as the second RB in their 2019 class. 

Sanders Bros to Bama. 

Would Texas move on to King Doerue at this point? 

 

Maybe he or Glass. Or Major if OU doesn't land him. They've been selling Cain as being part of a two RB class, so maybe they'd take him regardless? 

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