Another Prospect Bails On Longhorns

by Peter Bean on Jan 2, 2007 5:02 PM CST in Texas Longhorns Recruiting

Texas' top tight end prospect, Zack Pianalto, has decommitted from Texas and will follow Butch Davis to North Carolina. This marks the second out of state recruit in this year's class to decommit from Texas.

The Springdale, Arkansas tight end was considered an elite tight end prospect by the Texas coaches, and Mack Brown was reportedly very disappointed that Pianalto won't be coming to Texas.

Unlike the Brantley decommitment, which many folks saw coming days and weeks in advance, the Pianalto decision has caught everyone by surprise.

Not much else to this story, really. Kid's a big fan of Butch Davis, and changed his mind after Davis got the UNC gig.

It does make you wonder, though, whether Mack will rethink his "early commitment" strategy, as well as his desire to recruit out of state kids much, at all.

--PB--

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UNC instead of Texas?

Chapel Hill instead of Austin? Seriously?

by bamfor on Jan 2, 2007 5:06 PM CST reply actions

Don't we have...

two other tight end prospects still in the fold? Still, you are right in that Mack might want to adjust how he approaches the out of state players.

by Ryan @ Burnt Orange Nation on Jan 2, 2007 5:07 PM CST reply actions

"Horny U"

Hehehe, gets me every time. It's a classic.

by the other Andrew on Jan 2, 2007 5:41 PM CST reply actions

brazos

you win the award for being the most original and thought provoking every time you post. you never cease to amaze.

"Reality continues to ruin my life."

by jlhotze on Jan 2, 2007 5:52 PM CST reply actions

Careful guys

Ironic praise will only encourage him.

by aorist9 on Jan 2, 2007 6:14 PM CST up reply actions

"Top Tight End Prospect" PB?

That would be Blaine Irby from California, who insists he wants to play at TE in spite Horns fans wanting him to be added to our linebacker corps.

Of course, there are rumors that Irby is going to be the 3rd decommit, seeing that he's from OOS too and was good friends with Brantley.

Pianalto's decommit hurts a bit, but I must say I was very nervous about his health, given that he's broken his collarbone at least once. TE is also the least of our worries on offense in 2007.

Starting in January 2007, just another Limey Longhorn

by patienthornsfan on Jan 2, 2007 7:43 PM CST reply actions

Well

My understanding is they intend to move Irby to another position.

Guess we'll see, assuming he comes.

by Peter Bean on Jan 2, 2007 7:45 PM CST up reply actions

Just like Chiles

Mack has evidently promised Irby he will get to compete for playing time at TE, which is where he wants to play his college ball. That doesn't mean they won't give him some looks at LB, to get him on the field, cuz he's an amazing athlete with good speed and great height.

I'm actually writing his commitment off, though, and assuming Mack and GD will go after some of the TE's that wanted to come to Texas but didn't get offers when we lined up Irby, Pianalto and Howard to fill the second TE slot (I don't really think we need 3). LSU commit Alex Russian from our back yard (Round Rock) comes to mind, as does aTm commit Frank Avery from Galveston.

Starting in January 2007, just another Limey Longhorn

by patienthornsfan on Jan 2, 2007 10:44 PM CST up reply actions

Depends on how you look at it

Zach was Mack's #1 TE. Personally, I think Blaine Irby and Ahmad Howard are better, but I don't recruit either. I'm still on the fence on this one.

On one hand, the cubbard is certainly not bare at the TE position. We won't be hurt that bad and NC is not exactly a school that will come back and bite us in the but very soon.

On the other hand, this could give the impression that Mack is losing a little bit of his recruiting luster.

I'm not too keen on the whole OOS thing too much anyway, but this leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

If it weren't for physics and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable.

by GoHorns on Jan 3, 2007 7:39 AM CST up reply actions

Its almost to the point

Where I say to hell with the OOS recruits, especially ones who want to commit early. The only early OOS commit to stick with his commitment the past couple of years is Ben Alexander. We don't really need this BS year in & year out.

by orangeblood1 on Jan 2, 2007 8:00 PM CST reply actions

They wouldn't

be committing early if Mack wasn't telling them that there are 5 Texas kids looking to fill the spot he's offering them.

I really don't see why Mack has to have all slots filled up by Novemeber. Just keep 4-6 open through the bowls, and let the premier OOSers have fun on their trips. Sometimes the soft sell is the hardest one of all.

by Hornbud on Jan 2, 2007 8:26 PM CST up reply actions

you suck

Hey Boise State fans, no pictures of crying OU kids on your fanblog ok?

by SuperBentley on Jan 2, 2007 10:17 PM CST reply actions

program in decline?

Brazos,

The Ags didn't exactly look like a program on the upswing against Cal.

"Only angry people win football games." --DKR

by OBdoc on Jan 3, 2007 8:40 AM CST reply actions

Avoid OOS'ers?

I don't think you need to avoid OOSers, especially if there is one clearly interested in UT, as opposed to being "sold" on UT by a early and hard sell. Heck, haven't we lost in-state commitments in recent years? As far as Brantely goes, I suspect the "distance" issue was just an excuse. As someone said, Austin is no farther from Florida than it was 6 months ago.

"Only angry people win football games." --DKR

by OBdoc on Jan 3, 2007 8:51 AM CST reply actions

Is this abnormal?

Do we lose commitments every year? I really try not to pay attention until after they sign. That way I dont have to have my day upset by some kid in HS changing his mind.

by Wells on Jan 3, 2007 9:02 AM CST reply actions

Nope, it's par for the course

Every major school loses commits before signing day, that's why we need an early signing period.

Well, every school except USC.

Texas still has the #1 class so far this year, even with the defections of Brantley and Pianalto, although USC will probably end up at #1 when they're done.

And from the sound of things, Texas isn't done either. They've just added Kinne, and current recruits are working on a number of their teammates at the Army All-American game to join them on the 40 Acres. But as you say, Wells, we're all probably better off waiting until the kids show up on campus before we start getting involved emotionally.

Starting in January 2007, just another Limey Longhorn

by patienthornsfan on Jan 3, 2007 3:46 PM CST up reply actions

Agree

Considering how meaningless an early commitment is, and then further considering the insignificant percentage of 5-star recruits that honor their commitment AND turn out to be studs, the whole recruiting thing bores me about as much as the state lottery.

Keep an eye on it, sure. We want to know who is eventually going to wear burnt orange. But don't obsess over it.

by BrooklynHorn on Jan 3, 2007 4:53 PM CST up reply actions

the real irony is...

Brazos calling our program in 'decline' one year after a national championship and in the middle of a decade long complete and utter domination of his team...who btw finished behind us in the conf.

I've said it before, if this is an 'off' year for UT and we still finish ahead of the Ags, and win our bowl game, AND land more quality recruits than they do, despite a few drops from OOS'ers, then I'll take that every day and twice on Sunday.

The real sham is anyone that claims the Ags are on the rise with a Bucky Richardson clone or mini-Bucky, an unimaginative offense and a defense that needed a cast off UT coach to bring it from the trash heap back to middle of the road. If THAT is incline, and UT is decline then in Brazos-speak I will take a declining program.

btw Brazos, did you bother to see my poll I posted when you got back from San Diego? the one that countered your prediction for time clock/J-train domination and a BIG Aggie victory? Yeah, didn't happen did it lil'trooper. Don't worry fella, you have your equally overrated Basketball team to watch for a few months before your Baseball team finishes somewhere in the middle of the pack before Spring drills and new hope for another big 4th or 5th place finish in Big XII in football! Whoop on that pal...

by longhornJ on Jan 3, 2007 9:43 AM CST reply actions