Devon Kennard visits Texas
Devon Kennard the 6th rated prospect on Rivals.com and the number 1 overall DE prospect took this weekend to visit Texas. This was his third "Official Visit" along with visits to USC and Cal. It is thought to be a two team race between Texas and USC with the Trojans having a slight lead.
Kennard and his Brother also attended the UTEP game early in the season but were not able to talk to any of the coaches.
Devon was "chaperoned" by Brian Orakpo, Blain Irby, Chris Ogbonnaya, and Lamaar Houston. Evidently Kennard is pretty good friends with Irby and it is pretty obvious why Mack and Co. designated Orapko to the hanging out privileges.
"I talked to him a lot. We have some things in common," Kennard said. "We were just talking about things in general, where I want to take this. He's where I want to be in a few years. That alone, I look up to the guy. He's done what I hope to do at the next level."
Kennard said he will now sit back and look at the pros and cons of both USC and Texas.
"I'll be comparing things, positives and negatives, what I do and don't like about each environment," Kennard said. "I'll look at all the things that are important to me. I want to look at things as many ways as I can. It's a big decision for me. There's not really a wrong answer. USC and Texas are the same in so many ways. I need to see which way is going to be better for me, which will help me be the best player I can be and prepare me for my future."
Kennard may still take a visit to Arizona St. or UCLA before this is all said and done, but I fully expect him to make a choice between USC and Texas.
The Full article can be found here($)
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35 comments
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Can't get much better
than Rak to show a prospective DE recruit around!
by Longhorn in Canada on
Dec 21, 2008 11:24 PM CST
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He would look...
pretty damn good in burnt orange. Now, I realize I say this for a lot of high school players, but this kid could be Rak daddy on steroids… or on more steroids. There’s a ridiculously bright future for Kennard if he decides to garner the Longhorn. This is especially true if McFarland stays on this side of the Red River. No one would mess with Texas.
by DLiv715 on
Dec 22, 2008 10:40 AM CST
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humph
“… or on more steriods”
I resent your implication that Rak is on steriods.
by crocodile235 on
Dec 22, 2008 12:48 PM CST
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It think..
he meant it as a figure of speech…
by thebrat on
Dec 22, 2008 1:23 PM CST
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OK
I wondered if that’s what he meant. Sorry, just grouchy today over something unrelated.
by crocodile235 on
Dec 22, 2008 2:51 PM CST
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Sorry about that
It was meant as a figure of speech
by DLiv715 on
Dec 22, 2008 4:29 PM CST
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Mushcamp - Kennard - Defense - Future
With Muschamp at the helm, any defensive player who comes to Texas will be given a first rate education on how to play their position, regardless of position. He will teach Kennard the proper technique on rushing the quarterback. Attitude, intimidation, and having a motor that doesn’t quit is what Kennard is responsible for. So to me the answer seems very clear. Hook ’Em Horns and OU Sucks!
by HornsAPlenty on
Dec 22, 2008 3:39 PM CST
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I agree with you completly
But how hard is it to chose between USC and Texas, especially how great USC’s defense was this year.
I personally would pick Texas…but that’s just me
Adopt-a-recruit: Devon Kennard DE
Phoenix (AZ) Desert Vista 6'3" 257lbs
by blazzinken on
Dec 22, 2008 4:57 PM CST
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Isn’t USC’s defensive coordinator leaving for Washington? That could be plus for the Horns.
by EYESOFTEJAS on
Dec 23, 2008 1:56 PM CST
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I haven’t heard anything about this. Rivals/Yahoo reporting says that Sarkisian is looking at Brent Guy and Rocky Long.
by burntorangehorn on
Dec 23, 2008 2:05 PM CST
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Steve Sarkisian is the head coach of the Washington Huskies according to the USC website.
by EYESOFTEJAS on
Dec 23, 2008 8:50 PM CST
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Sarkisian..
..was the OFFENSIVE coordinator at USC. I don’t know if he is taking the defensive coordinator w/ him. I don’t see why the d-coord. would leave to go to UW.
by vy til i die on
Dec 24, 2008 12:20 AM CST
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I know Kennard is highly regarded and I recall reading how in the last USC rising stars camp, Kennard was a man among boys, but still, comparing him to Orakpo or even better is a little premature. Orakpo is absolute beast and just a athletic freak in the weight room as well. I’m a huge SC fan, but I’ll readily admit that Orakpo is just as good as anyone on the so called, “greatest of all-time SC defense.” (Don’t you just love all the USC hyperbole?).
Either way, it’s certainly a two horse race between SC and Texas for this young man’s services. Although I would love to see him in cardinal and gold, it would not shock me at all to see him pick Texas.
by RCollier27 on
Dec 22, 2008 6:01 PM CST
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Can you imagine having no less than three five-star defensive linemen in one recruiting class? DT McFarland, DEs Okafor and Kennard…that would be a big factor in establishing this program as THE team in the conference and a top-three program nationally. Things are not looking good as far as any of the four big remaining recruits (Kennard, McFarland, Jones, and Kirkpatrick), but it’d be great to get one or two of them.
Any other offers on the table?
by burntorangehorn on
Dec 23, 2008 12:02 AM CST
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Is Craig Loston still in the running? Or is he more or less set on another school?
I don’t guess there’s any chance we can get Christine Michael to come to UT since he’s high on A&M, huh? He’s the best undecided RB in Texas w/UT on his list. I was hoping we could steal him away. Who names their boy Christine?…
Any news on Kendall Kelly?
by UT_BKC on
Dec 23, 2008 11:13 AM CST
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his coach verballed him to LSU, and the depth at texas is quite threatening..
by Displaced Longhorn on
Dec 23, 2008 11:32 AM CST
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Loston hasn’t made an announcement at all, and he recently expanded his list from three (UT, LSU, Oregon) to something like six or seven teams, with none being declared the leader. That said, his cousin (Russell Shepard) has said in interviews that Loston will be at LSU.
Here’s hoping they’re wrong, but I have a feeling he’s just playing games like Fred Rouse did. Sometimes these little showboys have this need to have their egos stroked a little, so they try to do it at the expense of everyone. I can’t say I’m all that interested in guys like that, because, well, look at how they typically end up (see: Rouse, who was kicked off FSU, then UTEP, and is on ice at Florida A&M).
by burntorangehorn on
Dec 23, 2008 11:52 AM CST
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Under Armour All-American safety Craig Loston’s coach, Ray Evans, told ESPN affiliate Web site TigerGumbo.com Thursday, “He’s going to LSU, his mind is made up. I don’t think it is switching. That’s pretty much what he has told me.”
just to let you know where i was coming from. perhaps “verballed” is too strong a word, but ya.
by Displaced Longhorn on
Dec 23, 2008 8:29 PM CST
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The nation’s No. 1-rated safety, Craig Loston, told ESPN’s Billy Tucker that he will be choosing between LSU and Texas A&M January 2nd at the Burger King Skills Challenge during the Under Armour All-American week.
by Displaced Longhorn on
Dec 23, 2008 8:37 PM CST
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Didn’t Loston come out denouncing the rumors?
by EYESOFTEJAS on
Dec 23, 2008 8:58 PM CST
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only thing i read was that he came out and said “i’m still open, i’ll be choosing between LSU and A&M” but didn’t mention texas at any rate.
by Displaced Longhorn on
Dec 23, 2008 11:36 PM CST
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UT hasn’t offered Michael because they don’t want him. He has had UT on the top of his list coming into the 08’ season. It makes me wonder why they are looking the other way with this guy. Maybe he has character issues.
by EYESOFTEJAS on
Dec 23, 2008 2:01 PM CST
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Really?! That’s strange. Certainly don’t want him here if he’s going to be getting into trouble. We don’t need another summer like the one we had a year and a half ago. That’s not Texas.
by UT_BKC on
Dec 23, 2008 2:23 PM CST
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I thought it was mostly academic, but if it’s true that he’s an off-field problem, so much the better that UT didn’t offer.
by burntorangehorn on
Dec 23, 2008 5:42 PM CST
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Not the reason...
It’s true what EYES said; UT hasn’t offered because they don’t want him. it’s because they already have their man: Chris Whaley. They promised him they would be done recruiting for RB for the year if he committed, which he did. I for one agree with their choice and am excited to see him lining up behind Colt next year, which, by all accounts, he will be doing. Not only did Whaley choose his school based on his desire to be a Longhorn since 7th grade, but also on his ability to play early. And Mack personally told him to get ready because he would be seeing LOTS of action once he got there. With Colt passing, I can’t wait to see this 6’3" beast helping to make UT’s offense an ABSOLUTE terror for defenses. It makes me all giddy inside.
by smellgood on
Dec 25, 2008 6:47 PM CST
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Recruiting
Has anybody got an update on J. McFarland??
by TexasStateHorn on
Dec 23, 2008 12:28 PM CST
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JM
He is down to Texas and OU, evidently his parents want him at OU but JM wants to go to Texas. The longer it goes on the better shape Texas is in….here is an update a week ago or so
Adopt-a-recruit: Devon Kennard DE
Phoenix (AZ) Desert Vista 6'3" 257lbs
by blazzinken on
Dec 23, 2008 2:09 PM CST
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The 40 Acres has plenty of talent coming in, but more would be nice.
Kennard is in a win win situation. Both programs can w/o a doubt lead him to the NFL and help him win a National Title in the process. The thing that Texas may have in its favor is it prob has a little less depth on the DL than USC. The hope would be that Kennard, McFarland would look at the possiblities of talent and longevity of having Okafor, Kennard, McFarland and Calvin Howellon campus for 3 maybe 4 years will help them dominate in Will Muschamps high pressure defense. It is hard to a starting defenseive line put together in 1 recruiting class but it looks like it could be a possiblity only time will tell. I would like to see them hurry up and commit so it might create a waterfall effect for Jones and Kirkpatrick. Even if they do not come here the level of players they already have on the defensive front is still pretty strong. Muschamp has plenty to work with in his first class.
by LEMILES on
Dec 24, 2008 2:04 AM CST
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Also
I personally would have to question the character of any big time recruit that was born and raised in the State of Texas that would leave the state and go somewhere else to play football. With traditional powers of Texas and Texas A&M and the recent success of Tech and Texas Christian why would you want to leave the state. There are more things to take into consideration coaches, amount of TV time things like that but Texas has no problem getting on TV. TCU is on National TV 3 or 4 times a year because they play on Thurs night alot. Texas A&M has no problem getting on TV when its program is successful. I do understand why some recruits have to leave this state. Texas produces so much big time talent but why would any big time recruit want to leave Texas and go to Norman? Yes I know my dream job has always been to go work on the Mile of cars in Edmond and Norman as well. Hey it doesnt get any better than watching a oil pump go up and down while having sex on the hood of your Jeep. Someone needs to grab these goofs leaving the state and say son if you leave Texas go somewhere worth a damn. Florida, Miam , Florida State, Southern Cal or even Colorado for that matter. Dont forget you get sexual favors from the ski bunnies and dang the women on South Beach and Rodeo Drive are pretty fine! What does Oklahoma have to offer? Lawlessness!
by LEMILES on
Dec 24, 2008 2:33 AM CST
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I'm no OU fan...
but there might be a reason why a texas recruit would want to go to Norman: Big 12 championships….bowl games though are another story…
by thebrat on
Dec 24, 2008 10:56 AM CST
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I understand your point.
All the schools I mentioned arent exactly horrible places to play football. The worst team on that list was Colorado. They won before they will do it again. Go to Norman you will know what I am saying.
by LEMILES on
Dec 24, 2008 12:00 PM CST
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