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Texas recruiting notes 2019

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closetojumping
closetojumping

There's more than just 2019 stuff in this update, but I'm not being paid to post, so I'm dumping it all here and you guys can do with it/disseminate it/ignore it as you like. Regarding the UA guy

Carl Winslow
Carl Winslow

word 😂 brooks not being a take clemson starting rb pistol whipped & robbed his own teammate he lead clemson to a national championship & 3 playoff appearances recruit to wi

RadiologyHorn
RadiologyHorn

Now Mpagi is better than Leal???!???    Guys tell me you’re trolling. Please tell me this isn’t real. I feel like I’m in a Seinfeld bizarro world episode. I can’t take this shit anymore. Whe

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Tree Fidy

Tree Fidy 1207

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5 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

Somebody translate this for me . . . I don't follow this shit closely, but just sort of keep a high level view of things . . .

24/7 has a composite ranking for 2019 where UT is #10, but at 15 recruits we have the smallest class in that top 10.

That makes me inclined to look at the quality of the individuals as opposed to the overall cumulative ranking (given of course the complete crap shoot involved in the first place).  

So if I look at average ranking, it appears that only tOSU below us is doing better, and we're both doing better than ~ 5 teams in that 3-9 group.

I get it, this isn't an exact science.  Still, there is a "total" number pushing 300 at the top that clearly is not in any way proportional to some kind of additive rating for a bunch of guys each coming in just under 100.  How do they arrive at this total #?  (For instance, UT has 15 recruits at a 91.7 average for a total of 243.7, which makes no sense whatsoever.)

Translation?  Did Ketch come up with this system?

You divide the score by the number of graduating seniors on the team + anticipate NFL drafted players - expected attrition numbers x the number of crystal balls you have for the last player committed.  

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golfclap

golfclap 6903

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Posted (edited)

Not sure exactly where to put this little bit of information but do you guys remember Maureese Wren? Had interest as a LB from almost everyone but had an "advisor" that pushed him toward playing WR and he ended up committing to LaTech. Well, shockingly that hasn't gone as planned. It appears that Texas is back in on him but his situation is a little wonky for sure... 

via Roach/247

Quote

 

Mesquite Horn athlete Maureese Wren showed off his skills on both sides of the ball as a physical wide receiver and explosive outside linebacker. Texas evaluated Wren throughout the fall, but they ultimately decided not to offer once they landed a commitment from Joseph Ossai.

Wren held offers from programs such as Washington, Colorado, Arkansas, Illinois, Utah, Ole Miss and Missouri, but he chose to enroll at Louisiana Tech to play wide receiver. Things didn’t work out like he hoped they would at Tech, and now Wren is back on the market. The former three-star prospect is currently evaluating options for junior colleges or straight transfers.

We spoke with a source close to Wren who confirmed that the Texas staff has been in contact to see where they would stand. The Longhorns are blocked from a straight transfer since Louisiana Tech is on the schedule for the 2019 season. If Wren were to go to JUCO, it would nullify the block placed on the Longhorns, and they could recruit him as if he were any other junior college athlete.

Wren was a full qualifier out of high school, but he might fall under the 4-2-4 transfer rule. If he was enrolled as a full-time student at Louisiana Tech during the summer, Wren would need to complete his Associate’s degree at a junior college before being eligible to transfer back into a four-year institution.

TCU and Baylor are also involved, but I was told that TCU is a far bigger threat than the Bears. The Horned Frogs also evaluated Wren during his recruitment and hosted him several times on campus. All programs involved are still very much in the exploratory phase of the process, and as I mentioned, the 4-2-4 transfer rules make the situation a bit murky. We’ll have more on the developments with Wren as they transpire.

 

 

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Bodacious Bevo

Bodacious Bevo 3691

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2 hours ago, jimmyjazz said:

Thanks for the link to Huckleberry's thread . . . holy crap, that's some serious model-fitting.  Thanks.  I'll pay it no more attention.  "Average score" should be good enough.

Their method makes sense. 

Average score alone would hurt teams that take larger classes (usually causes the average score to go down), specialists (always have lower scores), and late adds (like Jones, Ojomo, and Williams last year). 

Just adding total composite scores would hurt small classes no matter how highly ranked the individual recruits are. 

The formula basically just means that you get diminishing returns as you add more players to you class and that highly rated players impact your rating more than lesser ranked players. 

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jimmyjazz

jimmyjazz 47203

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The whole "bell curve" fit reminds me of a group VP I used to work for who asked each individual to rate all his/her peers.  The results were required to fit a bell curve.  Never mind the fact that this was a high-achieving startup employing incredible self-starting, out-of-the-box thinkers, there had to be as many "1" ratings as "5" ratings (on a scale from 1 to 5).  There was quantifiable verbiage associated with each number, too.  "Meets experience standards", "exceeds experience standards", etc.  It was idiotic.

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closetojumping

closetojumping 65427

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4 minutes ago, markstanco said:
36 minutes ago, satyanash said:
Spirit? Good luck...
 

Yea with a quick look they are 2nd worst. But hey in his 2 flights evar they were on time!

Who is worse than Spirit? I thought they'd won the worst US airlines award for like 15 straight years. Frankly, that's exactly the kind of airline I would expect that know-nothing plebe to be using.

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satyanash

satyanash 15608

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Horns247 Recruiting Nuggets: Intel on DB targets; UT in mix for transfer?

Mansfield Legacy safety Jalen Catalon is still trying to work out his visit schedule for the fall. The four-star prospect has been steadfast in his desire to make a January decision. Catalon would like to make his official visit during the season, but I’m told the Texas staff would like to host him closer to his decision date. Catalon is planning to attend the USC game, and if he does make his official visit during the season, it will most likely be the weekend of the Baylor game. The Longhorns are off the following week, which would allow more one-on-one time with the staff.

Plano East safety Tyler Owens is also working out his visit schedule. He previously told EJ Holland that UCLA was a school of high interest, but we’ve heard that the Longhorns are making a big push in his recruitment. We were told that Owens and his father were both impressed by their visit to Austin, and safety coach Craig Naivar has done an excellent job establishing relationships with his parents.

Owens would like to come down for the USC game, but there is also a chance he attends the home opener against Tulsa. His school has a game at 10 a.m. that morning, and the Longhorns will play at 7 p.m. Owens hasn’t defined a firm decision timetable, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him pull the trigger early if things go well on those visits.

The noise around Trinity Christian Cedar Hill safety Lewis Cine has quieted in the last month, but the Longhorns are still in the thick of the race. After Cine made his official visit to Georgia during the summer, the word on the street was that the Bulldogs felt strong. Cine decided to slow his process down, and it looks like that is paying off for Texas. With the four-star safety living in Cedar Hill, unofficial visits to Austin are going to be much easier than they would be to Georgia or Penn State. Cine is keeping strong contact with the Texas staff, and he loved his visit to Austin during the summer. This one will get interesting in the fall, but the word we are hearing says don’t count Texas out in this race.

**

The Longhorns have been looking for pass rushers in the 2019 class, but there’s a chance that 2018 isn’t done giving. Mesquite Horn athlete Maureese Wren showed off his skills on both sides of the ball as a physical wide receiver and explosive outside linebacker. Texas evaluated Wren throughout the fall, but they ultimately decided not to offer once they landed a commitment from Joseph Ossai.

Wren held offers from programs such as Washington, Colorado, Arkansas, Illinois, Utah, Ole Miss and Missouri, but he chose to enroll at Louisiana Tech to play wide receiver. Things didn’t work out like he hoped they would at Tech, and now Wren is back on the market. The former three-star prospect is currently evaluating options for junior colleges or straight transfers.

We spoke with a source close to Wren who confirmed that the Texas staff has been in contact to see where they would stand. The Longhorns are blocked from a straight transfer since Louisiana Tech is on the schedule for the 2019 season. If Wren were to go to JUCO, it would nullify the block placed on the Longhorns, and they could recruit him as if he were any other junior college athlete.

Wren was a full qualifier out of high school, but he might fall under the 4-2-4 transfer rule. If he was enrolled as a full-time student at Louisiana Tech during the summer, Wren would need to complete his Associate’s degree at a junior college before being eligible to transfer back into a four-year institution. TCU and Baylor are also involved, but I was told that TCU is a far bigger threat than the Bears. The Horned Frogs also evaluated Wren during his recruitment and hosted him several times on campus.

All programs involved are still very much in the exploratory phase of the process, and as I mentioned, the 4-2-4 transfer rules make the situation a bit murky. We’ll have more on the developments with Wren as they transpire.

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satyanash

satyanash 15608

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EJ after dark: Intel on key targets Tuitele, Washington

— Yesterday, our Steve Wiltfong reported that Texas was the biggest threat to Washington for elite Hawaii defensive lineman Faatui Tuitele. This aligns with what we have been able to gather from our sources. Alabama doesn’t appear to be pushing as hard, and Ohio State has lost stock. Like we reported a couple of weeks ago, the door appeared to be opening for Texas to make a move. Unfortunately for the Longhorns, Washington also took advantage of the situation and has emerged as the team to beat here. Texas will need a big season, a strong official visit and Jake Langi to use his Polynesian ties to press and close.

— It is looking more and more like four-star Trinity Catholic (MO) wide receiver Marcus Washington will make an official visit for the Longhorns’ game against USC on Sept. 15. Washington delayed his summer decision plans, and Texas has found a way to remain a dark horse in this recruitment. Director of Recruiting Bryan Carrington has done a terrific job of building a strong bond with both Washington and his family. The situation at Ohio State is only helping Texas here. But fending off Missouri will be tough.

— I put in USC Crystal Ball picks in for five-star 2020 California recruits Kendall Milton and Elias Ricks over the last couple of days. Milton grew up loving USC, and I’m told the Trojans are definitely the team to beat for Ricks. Texas is a top school for both prospects, and the Longhorns have had plenty of success out West under Tom Herman, but there is a lot of work to do with both.

— Four-star 2021 Katy Taylor offensive lineman Hayden Conner will make an unofficial visit to Texas on Sept. 15 when the Longhorns take on USC. Conner does not hold a Texas offer at this time, but he has been on campus on multiple occasions and is firmly on the radar. Conner has scholarships in hand from Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and others.

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satyanash

satyanash 15608

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Eric Nahlin: Assessing Remaining 2019 Class Needs

With recruiting ready to wake from its August coma, let's take a look at what traits are missing from the class, and in some cases even the program, as we embark on the season-long push to the first National Signing Day. For this exercise I'm not so much concerned with names as I am traits. We already know the primary targets, and we also know many more targets will emerge. For anybody new to the site, or in case you missed it the first time, this explains the factors and scenarios that will impact the class finish. Shorter version: recruiting can be really unpredictable.



To understand what a class needs, you must understand what a class already has and what the allocation is at each position. From there, once you understand the traits that are needed you can get a better idea of who fits the profile of what the staff is looking for. Often when I click on a Hudl I'll say, "nice player, but they already have him" and move on to somebody else with the understanding that fit has already been taken. This class will be large. Knowing what I know currently within the program, the staff could already take 26 players in this cycle without batting an eye. That tells you they could take 30 and still feel comfortable being within the 85 man framework in August.

However, it's a new day and age and scholarships must be kept available for graduate transfers as @Scipio Tex recently pointed out. The most important needs are the ones that must be addressed immediately. The staff will be especially active for a few different types of players. Our working number will be 28. It's elastic. Texas currently sits at 15 commits and as the season begins I deem each solid, though the Javonne Shepherd 'recruit through the whistle' caveat applies.

Quarterback (1)

In the program (4): Texas is sitting on the perfect number and is in prime position to red-shirt all quarterbacks upon arrival. The staff has even protected itself in the event of an unforeseen transfer following the season. The roster shows a good mix of differing traits within the Herman spectrum of quarterback play. I consider Ehlinger and Thompson dual-threats, while Buechele and Rising are pass-first quarterbacks who can run better than they're given credit for. This offense doesn't have to have an athlete at the position to make it go, provided it does have a run-game.

In the class (1): Follow the link to read the longer version of: Roschon Johnson is a dynamic dual-threat who also receives high marks for his mental evaluation.

Traits needed: Texas is done here and in theory Johnson will represent the most complete composite of a 'Herman quarterback' on the roster.

Running Back (2)

In the program (6): Texas loses Tre Watson and might lose at least one other to early attrition. Texas has an inside power guy with enough nimbleness to turn a 10-yarder into a 40-yarder, and an exciting freshman who has the natural traits you can't teach. Everyone else who might return has significant question marks.

In the class (0): Texas is currently targeting two realistic options in Noah Cain and Derrian Brown. Those two are complementary in the cliched thunder and lightning vein. Some are down on Cain, and I might join in on that if I didn't see him as a fantastic fit to churn out yards on inside zone. He's not the back he profiled to be as a freshman at Denton Guyer, but as someone who regularly has to watch Alfred Blue, I'm confident he'll be a pro. Brown gives me some concern because of one of the golden rules: the smaller a player is the more explosive he needs to be. He'll play at around 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, and ideally he'd show more burst. This is one of the few times I wish I had some speed numbers on. He is fluid, decently nuanced, shows some toughness, and is a skilled receiver. Similarly to how I ding Katy running backs for being the sum of the Katy machine, Brown runs behind a very good line. I like him fine as a RB2.

Traits needed: Texas desperately needs an explosive back. Ingram is the only back I would deem a consistent value-add, meaning he'll often get more than a play is blocked for. Average running backs are as good as the offensive line. Perhaps that twitchy back is Brown, but I don't see that based on his tape. Texas might have to wait a cycle before adding a true home run threat - or two. Obviously Cain will be a tough pull. We could see some more offers go out.

Wide Receiver (4-5)

In the program (11): Texas has an NFL target receiver at X, an NFL talent in the slot, and a legitimate speedster at Z. That's exactly how you would draw up the wants for this offense, Beyond them, it's a mixed bag of average but talented veterans and unproven youngsters. Dynamism is looking to come from two freshman slot receivers which was a major need coming into the season.

In the class (3): Well before Tom Herman knew what he had in D'shawn Jamison and Josh Moore he targeted Jake Smith for the slot. You'd have trouble drawing up a better looking prospect for the position. Smith could even play Z if needed. Jordan Whittington is also committed at slot. He's not as dynamic as Smith, but has good hands, accelerates in and out of his routes, and should make the tough catch. Random: he kind of reminds me of Wayne Chrebet a bit. Texas also has a prototypical Z in Demariyon Houston. Houston has legitimate speed to punish over the top. Numbers at receiver are fluid. Whittington could end up at his ideal position of safety, and Texas could maybe rekindle some recruiting romances with a few prospects late in the cycle. There are some numbers busters who could push the number above four.

Traits needed: The staff is setting itself up for tremendous success at slot, which is a continuation of Herman's track record elsewhere. What needs to be found now are more skilled vertical threats on the outside. Texas has target options with size at X and speed threats at Z, but you would like to see X's with more burst and Z's with more skill. In fairness to Al'vonte Woodard, that could be him at Z but he's a year away. The players Texas has targeted and will continue to work throughout the cycle fit these bills. Dylan Wright would be the dream X, and Marcus Washington would serve well at Z. Elijah Higgins and Garrett Wilson would also fit at X and Z respectively, though Higgins is more in the mold of Lil'Jordan Humphrey than a true vertical threat like Wright. Texas will probably be intent to play the long-game to fill out the rest of the receiver class, but it's pretty clear what traits are needed.

Tight End (2)

In the program (5): I always harp on the importance of fit, and that's what Texas has in Andrew Beck, Cade Brewer, and Reese Leitao -- good fits. These are versatile pieces that line up attached, flexed out, and after motioning, in the backfield. They're tight ends, receivers, and full backs -- but primarily, they're the blocking versions of each of those positions. Texas doesn't have anything that approximates the unicorns we see in the NFL, but fortunately it doesn't have donkeys either. Beck and Brewer both battle in the trenches and are good enough athletes to be schemed open in the passing game.

In the class (2): Texas has a potential unicorn receiving threat in Brayden Liebrock and a very intriguing athlete in Jared Wiley. Each will have to embrace S&C to develop strength and the finer coaching points of blocking to develop technique. That's where the mental evaluation comes in. I don't have unique insight into Liebrock, but the book on Wiley is favorable: hard worker, all-around athlete, competitive. I like that he's both a good baseball player (coordination) and also his team's quarterback. The ability to read defenses is an unsung plus to playing tight end. Somewhere Jason Witten just rutted in a soft zone. Liebrock profiles to be the best receiving threat Texas has signed at the position since Blaine Irby. If he's just an okay blocker he'll be a very good player, but he has the potential to be special.

Traits needed: Not to rule either of these guys out, but I'd like to see a player in the class who could provide an immediate impact as a blocker. Perhaps the staff will man the waiver wire for that because depending on how Leitao develops, losing Beck could sting. That said, I really like this two-man haul.

Offensive Line (5): 

In the program (15): This already too low number includes Mikey Grandy who will only affect scholarship numbers this year. Ideally a program is carrying 18 bodies on the offensive line. Texas only loses three, but the trio of Calvin Anderson, Patrick Vahe, and Elijah Rodriguez could, but likely won't, account for 36 starts. Either way, Texas will lose a great deal of experience after this year. The good news? Texas will improve its baseline ability at both guard spots next season, if not sooner. Who replaces Calvin Anderson is a greater concern but it wasn't that long ago that Sam Cosmi was thought to be the heir to Connor Williams. He's coming on strong at right tackle and if he shows well this year he'll likely be a better option at left tackle than what Texas can find in the grad transfer market. Currently the program is in better shape in the interior than at tackle, but the staff began to address that last cycle and is continuing the 'tackle-first' trend this cycle. Offensive line recruiting is different from other positions as you need to foresee needs two cycles out rather than one because of steeper developmental curves.

In the class (2): You'd be hard-pressed to find better raw pieces of clay to mold than Tyler Johnson and Javonne Shepherd at tackle. We know the staff are size queens when it comes to offensive linemen, and at 6-foot-5, 310 pounds Johnson is the 'little one' of the two. Both move well for their size -- perhaps not true dancing bears but they're light on their feet and bend well. These two represent a helluva start, but where the staff goes from here remains to be seen.

Traits needed: Branson Bragg to Stanford threw a stick into the spokes more so than Kenyon Green to A&M because of UT's need for a center. Texas has high standards for the position -- basically a borderline tackle athlete who is intelligent and aggressive. While you drink more Ovaltine I'll add that's not the easiest player to find; though centers are more often than not right under your nose and developed on campus. As far as guards and tackles go, expect the staff to offer more tackles with guard ability rather than the other way around. While many of us like EJ Ndoma-Ogar, he's not the profile they're looking for.

To Summarize: Quarterback is done. Running back needs more individual talent. Noah Cain would be an inside chain-mover if they can land him; a more talented Daniel Young. Derrian Brown would add a dimension to outside zone as well as a receiving threat to sneak into space. Wide receiver is loaded at slot with Jake Smith and Jordan Whittington, and has a deep threat at Z in Demariyon Houston. There is still the chance to become as dynamic on the outside as the class is inside, but the offense will have to experience genuine success this season before that's worth discussing further. Texas has a very good one-two punch at tight end, though a grad transfer who is an established blocker might become a need. The offensive line has two high quality prospects committed, but a player with center upside would be welcomed as well as more tackle/guard options. Numbers are too low within the program at this position.

Be happy you're a Longhorn fan. Not only should the team finally be poised to put together a respectable season, but there's still almost half of a recruiting class left to put together.

 

**********

When I write that Texas finally has talented seniors again, I primarily mean that on the defensive side of the ball where 8 are set to start versus Maryland. With those players set to exit after this campaign, on-field development within the season, as well as adding players capable of helping in 2019 is on Todd Orlando's to-do list in preparation for next year. In his Monday press conference, Tom Herman stated, "College football is a game of development and experience. Very few impact freshmen come in." That's true often enough, though Texas will start one true freshman who has the chance to be an impact player on defense and will likely play another two or three extensively this season. 

With a roster with big gaps in talent, Herman had to hit big on the class of 2018, and all signs point to he and his staff doing so. Within reason, he also needed to hit big in 2017, and even though the class underwhelmed many, it has a good chance of going from bust to boom. Players in the class of 2019 will step into a fortuitous balance of opportunity to play if they're ready, but not forced into play if they aren't. Despite the heavy senior losses after this season, only one position projects to needing an immediate impact player. As luck as well as good recruiting would have it, the staff just so happens to have the player capable of meeting that need already in the class.

Defensive Line (4-5)

In the program (12): For a defense that primarily plays three defensive linemen this is a good number and a nice representation of the long-term formulaHerman and Orlando share. Thanks to maximizing natural ability and growth potential they arrived with, this grouping is littered with All Conference candidates. For those wanting to thank Charlie Strong for what he left Tom Herman, the defensive line is probably the best place to start. Herman and Orlando deserve credit too. The next wave of talent looks just as promising, if not more so. Fits abound for Orlando's preferred attacking style. Marqez Bimage should approximate the wreckage Breckyn Hager creates and TQ Graham can do similar things to Charles Omenihu. Behind them are young, unproven players, but the full-grown man potential of the freshmen group is very high. With his quickness, agility, and power, Moro Ojomo projects to the ideal nose for this system. Keondre Coburn isn't the stereotypical fit, but he should be a rock against the run and he has surprising lateral ability. Mike Williams is a bigger Malcolm Roach.

In the class (2): Texas will look to reimburse its four losses across the defensive line with four additions, though the potential will be there for a numbers buster if the staff can wrangle one late. Currently Texas has commitments from T'vondre Sweat and Peter Mpagi, two defensive linemen who fit the formula. As a fit, Sweat is likely to start off at defensive end before playing inside. He isn't particularly explosive, but he moves and bends well. The bigger he gets while keeping his movement skills the higher his ceiling. Mpagi projects to being an athletic 4i or strong-side defensive end. He's still getting taller and still filling out his frame. He has a higher ceiling than his modest rating would suggest, part of that comes from a very high mental evaluation, and part of it comes from that frame and measure of quickness off the ball. 

Traits needed: A truly elite 4i candidate would be nice, but DeMarvin Leals don't grow on trees -- at least not in these parts. What makes him special is he moves like a weak-side defensive end but will be the size of a defensive tackle. In the absence of a Leal-level talent, the coaches should just stick to what they're doing and find prospects who not only have growth potential but are likely to stick in the program and work so they can maximize. As I've pointed out, they don't target too many pure defensive tackles. With their preferred approach, a handful of their signees will naturally grow into the position. 

Linebacker (4)

In the program (10): This number is deceptive as it also contains three or four B-backers as well as DeMarvion Overshown who is more of a defensive back/linebacker hybrid. There are also a couple of players who don't figure to contribute much. It's a mild curiosity that linebackers coach Todd Orlando didn't talk defensive coordinator Todd Orlando into taking more than one traditional linebacker in the last two classes. With projected starters Anthony Wheeler and Gary Johnson set to depart after this year, Orlando is running things a little thin. The innovative coordinator has ways of mitigating lack of depth this year, but you don't want to lean on the Dime too much. Johnson will be a giant loss. The scope of losing Wheeler is to be determined. Though Rover and Mac have significant overlap in duties, requisite traits still differ in many ways. The Rover position is best amplified by an athletic marvel who runs like a safety. For Mac, you still want your traditional run stuffer. Both need to be good blitzers. Jeffrey McCulloch could be the Mac in 2019 (or perhaps this season), or he could move back to B-backer. Freshman Ayodele Adeoye has shown some promise playing in the box, but he's still young and currently injured. Rover is even more bleak. Of the current players on the roster, DeMarvion Overshown is most likely to play the position next season. B-backer is loaded with Malcolm Roach, McCulloch, Joseph Ossai, and Byron Hobbs. Roach also moonlights at Mac. 

In the class (2): De'Gabriel Floyd is a five-star and future early round draft pick. He'll play 10 years in the NFL and I'm not talking about the journeyman type. The early enrollee could not come at a more opportune time for the program. When we look back on Herman's first few recruiting classes I believe we'll view Floyd as the most important signee, especially if his play on the field helps further unlock the fertile recruiting grounds of Southern California. You can probably glean I'm bullish on Floyd playing very, very early in his career at Texas. He's a unicorn Mac, but he's certainly a good enough athlete to play Rover. Having him ready to go day-1 will be Orlando's pet project. Texas went to the other coast for it's second linebacker commitment in Florida's Marcus Tillman. I don't have near the full-bodied opinion of Tillman as I do Floyd, but it's clear he's a Rover candidate, or maybe even a Joker in Dime. Recall we've mentioned Gary Johnson getting looks in this role too. That could be a very interesting wrinkle.

Traits needed: The staff is spot-on to target the JUCO ranks and Caleb Johnson certainly caught my eye on tape. He's not the athlete Gary Johnson is, but by no means is he deficient in that regard. He's intelligent, has striking power, and has good change of direction. He looks to be plug-and-play and that's exactly what's needed. Another player, whether a developmental project or one with a high floor is needed to round numbers out. Ideally this player would project to either or both positions, but a high upside Rover is harder to find so if the staff comes across one it should pounce. I like the fact David Gbenda could play Mac or Rover. To me that versatility increases his value. Needs at Mac and Rover could change as the season wears on but no B-backers are needed in this class. 

Defensive Back (4-5)

In the program (13): When combining what's left from the talented defensive back class of 2015 with the historic 2018 class, the composition of this grouping is about as good as it gets. Sprinkle in some talented players from the classes between those two and it gets even better. There's a great mix of corners who can cover off or in man, safeties with range, players who fit multiple positions, and perhaps most importantly for a unit that will run a lot of Dime, physicality. At corner you have prototypes in Kris Boyd and Jalen Green; extremely quick feet and fluidity in Anthony Cook and Kobe Boyce; length in all of them; and physicality in almost all of them. Safety has range in Caden Sterns, Brandon Jones, BJ Foster, and Montrell Estell; numerous ball-hawks; and either intelligence, instincts, or both in Sterns, Jones, and Foster. Nickel has good physical fits in PJ Locke and Josh Thompson, though the jury is still out in how assignment sound they are. Locke has had his struggles and Thompson is still young.

In the class (3): With quick feet, fluidity, and length, Kenyatta Watson has some of the best cover traits in the nation. He's your pure cover-man. Chris Adimora is a sensational fit for the Dime defense. His versatility could lend itself to either of the safety positions, as well as the pseudo-safety roles of Nickel and Joker. Marques (pronounced Marquise) Caldwell is the defensive back version of Peter Mpagi. His growth potential and mental eval are exactly what you're looking for. He's up to 6-foot-2, 185 pounds. My Duane Akina 'four corners' comparison seems apt. He's either a corner who can hit, or a safety who can cover. He might be a Nickel. All three of these players are underrated, especially Adimora.

Traits needed: From the above you can see three guys are covering a lot of ground, but with Dime being run so often the staff needs more bodies. Keep in mind that Overshown might as well be considered a linebacker, and D'shawn Jamison may remain at wide receiver. Losing DeMarvion to linebacker is good for the roster, but that means BJ Foster will likely play Joker. Jamison was set to provide depth and competition at nickel. So if Foster is at Joker rather than field safety, and Jamison is scoring touchdowns from the slot rather than preventing them from the same position, who does Orlando need? You could also see the staff pursue another corner, or maybe go best player available. Texas is a little thin at corner after this season.

To Summarize:

Herman and Orlando have a process for recruiting defensive line that isn't entirely dependent on stars. Don't misconstrue that for them not wanting highly rated talent -- they do -- they just have a lot of confidence in their evaluation and development. Currently the floor is set for the class but it remains to be seen what the ceiling is. Finding an elite linebacker was mandatory coming into the cycle and that box can be checked. Needs remain but the staff is off to a great start with Floyd and the versatile Tillman. A JUCO who could feasibly start in 2019 and a solid prospect who resets the program's floor at the position would make for a wildly successful haul. Linebacker recruiting is right on schedule. The 2018 defensive back class was always going to be an impossible act to follow but the 2019 version has been worth watching too. Texas is in great shape to land its biggest remaining need at the position, and then may even get greedy and take a fifth player.

The 2018 Texas defense should be fast and physical. If the results on the field mirror the talent level, Todd Orlando will field a good defense in a league where that's very difficult to do for the second year in a row. That will catch the attention of many recruits. He can not only sell his own track record, but also that of players at all three levels. Added bonus: with the defense so senior laden, he can also sell early playing time. If everything falls into place, expect a big surprise or two in defensive recruiting over the next several months.

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kevwun

kevwun 16438

Posted
Posted (edited)

When you want to keep your coach despite his egregious fuckups in handling a pos assistant coach, don't release the damning report about his handling of the affair.  Then when the media shitstorm that causes isn't quite hot enough anymore, don't release some more damning info just because.  The people in charge at Ohio St are fucking morons.

Tom Herman once went to a strip club, therefore we don't have to to fire Urban Meyer is just laughable.

Edited by kevwun
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Bevo

Bevo 13896

Posted
Posted
30 minutes ago, kevwun said:

Tom Herman once went to a strip club, therefore we don't have to to fire Urban Meyer is just laughable.

I'm surprised Urban allowed this on university time. Did he report the incident? He is their boss.

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Machinator

Machinator 32103

Posted
Posted

TFB Open Post: https://texas.thefootballbrainiacs.com/2018/08/open-post-wednesday-august-29th/

JUCO LB Lakia Henry | Quick-Hitter
– Super K

Texas is in the market for two or three more linebackers.

One of those targets is JUCO LB and Tennessee commit, Lakia Henry. Despite his commitment to Tennessee, Henry let me know recently that he will take an official visit to Texas. He says he’s looking to take that visit sometime in November.

Henry had hoped to take an unofficial visit to Texas at some point but to my knowledge that did not materialize. So, this official visit will be his first Texas visit.

TFB Trending | Cooper & Washington
– Super K

Please keep in mind that “trending” in these posts means there is some information available to us that makes us believe that to varying degrees Texas is moving the needle in (or back in) their direction.

2020 ATH Mookie Cooper: Cooper is expected to visit for the USC game. He loves Texas. He tells me he is eying a January commitment. This will be his second visit to Texas and he will be in town along with his friend and teammate, Marcus Washington.

This guy is absolutely electric. Texas hasn’t had a guy like this in the Burnt Orange, in a while.

Trending: Texas

Team to Watch: Illinois

2019 WR Marcus Washington: Washington was scheduled to announce a decision in early August but as we predicted the decision was pushed back. Since then he had set up an official visit to Texas for the USC game.

Washington was supposed to make his choice between Ohio State and Missouri. Many believe that Washington was going to choose Ohio State and the issues surrounding Urban Meyer caused the delay.

However, my sources in the St. Louis area indicated that he was actually going to choose Missouri and the delay was in no way connected to the Buckeye debacle.

Texas has a very strong relationship with Marcus and his family. It’s a much bigger program and stage than Missouri. I suspect the visit to Texas will be eye-opening.

Trending: Texas

Team to Watch: Missouri. Marcus’ head coach is a former Missouri wide receiver. However, he doesn’t strike as the kind of coach who pushes his players in any particular direction.

Derrian Brown Nearing a Decision | Quick Update

– Super K

As you know by now, Texas has been in hot pursuit of 2019 GA RB, Derrian Brown (Buford).

I type this while I’m sitting in the airport waiting on my flight to Georgia as I plan on seeing some kids in the area this week, including Brown, as I mentioned.

I spoke with Brown’s coach earlier today and asked him about Brown’s decision timeline. Coach said a decision is coming soon.

I asked if there is an exact date and he said, “Not yet. He’s trying to get up to Texas as soon as possible”.

tenor.gif

 

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closetojumping

closetojumping 65427

Posted
Posted (edited)

Tennessee is in such a sad state at this point. It's awesome. They're more embarrassing than virtually any non-aggie SEC program, and they view their rightful rank in the hierarchy of college football as near the top. They're completely oblivious to their own futility. When I get down about Texas over the last 8 years, I'm always cheered up by looking at Tennessee. Pruitt will try to buy his way into the higher talent pool in the southeast, but he's got roadblocks all over.

As to the TFB update, I love when these folks report exactly what a recruit or confidant of a recruit tells them without any critical analysis whatsoever, and then their base eats it up as gospel. So Washington had his mind made up, then, coincidentally in late July, he pushes his decision date back, but if he had chosen, oh, it would have been Missouri. Right. The premise is absurd. The guy was locked into OSU and they're looking to redirect their choice without shitting on OSU. I mean, they're handling it with class, but spare us the bullshit from the reporter. If Texas actually gets him on campus for USC, they're the favorite in the clubhouse. He's looking for a reason to choose someone besides Missouri, and because of his situation, he needs it to be a big national program far away, and if that is the case, he won't hear shit from his coach or locals about it. He and OU weren't a fit and they're full now anyway.

As to Mookie Cooper, what are the comps people are throwing out on him? I'm assuming Texas people are seeing Ramonce Taylor? Anyone tossed a David Palmer shout out somewhere? Your basic Eric Metcalf? What does guruland think?

 

Edited by closetojumping
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SydneyCarton

SydneyCarton 49504

Posted
Posted
18 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

As to Mookie Cooper, what are the comps people are throwing out on him? I'm assuming Texas people are seeing Ramonce Taylor? Anyone tossed a David Palmer shout out somewhere? Your basic Eric Metcalf? What does guruland think?

 

Your boyJarell Wilkerson. You're dying to make the comp anyway, just go ahead and do it.

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Bevo

Bevo 13896

Posted
Posted
23 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

As to Mookie Cooper, what are the comps people are throwing out on him? I'm assuming Texas people are seeing Ramonce Taylor? Anyone tossed a David Palmer shout out somewhere? Your basic Eric Metcalf? What does guruland think? 

 

A poor man's Jake Smith.

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IDIOTsavant

IDIOTsavant 8688

Posted
Posted
29 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

Tennessee is in such a sad state at this point. It's awesome. They're more embarrassing than virtually any non-aggie SEC program, and they view their rightful rank in the hierarchy of college football as near the top. They're completely oblivious to their own futility. When I get down about Texas over the last 8 years, I'm always cheered up by looking at Tennessee. Pruitt will try to buy his way into the higher talent pool in the southeast, but he's got roadblocks all over.

As to the TFB update, I love when these folks report exactly what a recruit or confidant of a recruit tells them without any critical analysis whatsoever, and then their base eats it up as gospel. So Washington had his mind made up, then, coincidentally in late July, he pushes his decision date back, but if he had chosen, oh, it would have been Missouri. Right. The premise is absurd. The guy was locked into OSU and they're looking to redirect their choice without shitting on OSU. I mean, they're handling it with class, but spare us the bullshit from the reporter. If Texas actually gets him on campus for USC, they're the favorite in the clubhouse. He's looking for a reason to choose someone besides Missouri, and because of his situation, he needs it to be a big national program far away, and if that is the case, he won't hear shit from his coach or locals about it. He and OU weren't a fit and they're full now anyway.

As to Mookie Cooper, what are the comps people are throwing out on him? I'm assuming Texas people are seeing Ramonce Taylor? Anyone tossed a David Palmer shout out somewhere? Your basic Eric Metcalf? What does guruland think?

 

I literally made the same comp on the 2020 thread before I saw this. I think it's just how smooth he is at top speed.

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closetojumping

closetojumping 65427

Posted
Posted
Just now, IDIOTsavant said:

I literally made the same comp on the 2020 thread before I saw this. I think it's just how smooth he is at top speed.

I beat you to it, sir. When he rewrites the record books at Texas and Eric Metcalf is erased from our memories, I am going to lord this bulletin board alpha trophy over you as though I were compensating for something. 

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