Texas Longhorns Signing Day: Info Booth & Open Thread
by Peter Bean on Feb 4, 2009 7:30 AM CST
in Texas Longhorns Recruiting
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PrintBURNT ORANGE NATION CLASS OF 2009 RECRUITING SPOTLIGHTS
STORIES AROUND THE WEB
- Burnt Orange Beat's Gerry Hamilton is on-site in Columbus, GA for the 12:30 p.m. CT Jarvis Jones announcement. None of Jones' classmates are predicting Texas. Elsewhere on BOB, Bobby Bragg speculates about Texas' chances of finishing with the #1 ranked Scout.com class.
- The Associated Press reviews the recruiting services, while the Bevo Beat notes that Mack Brown has on the field outperformed his recruiting class ranking.
- Inside Texas has an interesting Ivan Maisel column on 'Ten Dos and Don'ts on the Recruiting Trail' piece. (H/T: whoopspat)
- Orangebloods' Geoff Ketchum discusses the merits of Texas fans' two hot Wednesday targets, Dre Kirkpatrick and Jarvis Jones.
- Mocking the mayhem: EDSBS profiles Jacobbi McDaniel.
- No link here, just a note that Kirkpatrick will announce at 1:00 p.m. CT.
We'll update any news as it unfolds, but expect everyone already committed to send in letters, the day's only real drama unfolding during the lunch hour when Jones and Kirkpatrick announce. While Kirkpatrick is by all accounts a true longshot, there are lots of good vibes about Jones as of late Tuesday night... Could be a fun surprise.
Update (12:41 pm CT) - The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer is reporting that Jarvis Jones is heading to USC, a bit of a surprise since USC was considered a long shot recently, but perhaps the best decision for him in the short term, as the Trojans are losing all three starting linebackers.
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USC
already lost a committment. 4star WR Alshon Jeffery switched form USC to South Carolina
by 7Swords of Salat on Feb 4, 2009 8:34 AM CST reply actions
and
USC loses another. #1 ranked LB Vontaze Burfict switches from USC to ASU
haha
by 7Swords of Salat on Feb 4, 2009 10:59 AM CST up reply actions
Everybody signed
According to Rivals all the commits have signed their letters of intent already.
Chizik is staging a coup for Auburn. They’re getting last-minute commitments left and right. What looked like a terrible class when Tuberville was still there and a mediocre class two weeks ago is now a very respectable one that could be top-20.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 4, 2009 10:14 AM CST reply actions
Emory Blake was a nice pick up. Was previously committed to Tech.
Garrett Gilbert: 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
Maybe you should read the post
No link here, just a note that Kirkpatrick will announce at 1:00 p.m. CT.
-rBr-
by run Bevo run on Feb 4, 2009 10:30 AM CST up reply actions
Always two sides...
the Bevo Beat notes that Mack Brown has on the field outperformed his recruiting class ranking.
Wasn’t there an article in the past couple of weeks that claimed the complete opposite of this?
Yeah I think it was Luginbill from ESPNU who said it.
I can’t find a link to the story though.
Garrett Gilbert: 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
For knowing a lot about recruiting...
He doesnt know much.
As good a job as Mack Brown and his staff have done over a decade now, they’ve really only won one outright national title and one outright Big 12 championship and have been ranked in the top 3-5 of everybody’s recruiting rankings for years and years and years.
From his very own site, Scouts Inc:
2008 rank 16
2007 rank 3
2006 rank 3
2005 rank 13
2004 rank 10
2003 rank 14
2002 rank 1
_____________
Average rank: 7.5
Top 5: 37.5%
Top 10: 50%
Heres OU for comparison:
2008 rank 5
2007 rank 13
2006 rank 30
2005 rank 7
2004 rank 5
2003 rank 7
2002 rank 2
______________
Average rank: 8.625 (the one outlier hurts, without it, they average 5.6)
Top 5: 37.5%
Top 10: 62.5%
So basically hes full of shit. If you went purely by the recruiting records, you would guess that UT would lose the conference to OU most of the time, with a surge coming this year and next (damn tie breaker rules).
by BoddickerIsClutch on Feb 4, 2009 11:22 AM CST up reply actions
The Weiss-factor
Is more of a gravy thing.
by Horndogger on Feb 4, 2009 11:32 AM CST up reply actions 3 recs
just like Daniels...
It’s Weis. Sorry.
Speaking of Mizzou, they apparently held on to Sheldon Richardson, who some thought might bolt for Miami.
Weiss
So not just like Daniels. Daniels is adding a sound that isn’t there. Weiss is just not knowing if a letter is doubled or not.
Why don't all recurits end up at Kansas?
What if James Henry decided bitches didn’t need to be kicked?
by billb on Feb 4, 2009 1:01 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Weis vs. Mangino
Weis is like a supermassive black hole, incredibly dense. Mangino is like Saturn, which would float in a galactic bathtub.
by Horn Brain on Feb 4, 2009 2:05 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Did anyone read the most recent Thayer Evans article?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/04/sports/ncaafootball/04recruit.html
Almost a good article, though he has no fluidity in his writing and should’ve cleaned up Huldon Tharp’s use of “like”.
Wonder if the Times is still considering him a “free-lancer”.
Also, how lucky are we to get an insight look into the lurid world of Kansas recruiting?! /sarcasm
Jarvis Jones to USC
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/292/story/605648.ht
USC makes up for loss of Teo with this pick up. I think this is a slight surprise. Last word spreading around was it would be down to Florida/Texas.
The link 404'd.
Can you try posting it again?
by HornPossessed on Feb 4, 2009 12:47 PM CST up reply actions
No surpise it wasn't us...
but there really wasn’t much else to follow today. Please don’t respond by saying kirkpatrick is still out there, because you know it ain’t happening.
Kirkpatrick is still out there.
/sarcasm.
Yea I had nothing better to do today at this time.
It was some decent drama to fill my day.
by HornPossessed on Feb 4, 2009 12:57 PM CST up reply actions
A bad song.
But I suppose it’s a song, I guess.
That genre is so ridiculously bad it might not fit into any kind of musical considering there is no music on display.
by HornPossessed on Feb 4, 2009 1:18 PM CST up reply actions
so you know then, he is quoting the chorus
Nowadays everybody wanna talk like they got something to say
But nothin comes out when they move they lips
Just a buncha gibberish
-rBr-
Getting Dre is harder than...
… me trying to park a dodge when I’m drunk as f&*k, right next to a humongous truck in a two-car garage.
Sorry…. that’s my favorite Eminem comparison metaphor ever….
Good news
Just saw on ESPN2 that Rueben Randle committed to LSU, keeping him away from the Land Thieves. Now just waiting for Kirkpatrick to announce in about a half hour…
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 4, 2009 1:26 PM CST reply actions
Where does OU stand in terms of recruiting?
I noticed that they come in at No. 13 on Rivals as of now. How does their class look? Who are their standouts, other than Jamarkus McFarland?
Kevin Brent, DB from Dallas is real solid.
Garrett Gilbert: 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
First he picked up Texas hat and said it didn't have enough swagger...
Then he brings out a duffel bag which contains a bag which contains a really nice looking red box which contains a nice velvet carrying case which had an Alabama hat in it.
by HornPossessed on Feb 4, 2009 2:09 PM CST up reply actions
I hate the word ‘swagger’ and how it has become a good thing in sports. It’s just another term for cocky and being full of yourself.
We want confident young men.
We don’t want people who think they are God’s gift to earth and above everything and everyone else.
Its ok we only like homegrown product.
You don't see animals lifting weights and they are fucking strong... isometrics baby!
Alabama sure showed that swagger against Utah.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 4, 2009 3:10 PM CST up reply actions
What a damn clown
I’d like to thank God. I’d like to thank all of my family. Now let me screw around for a few minutes instead of just getting to the point and thanking Texas for their interest but choosing Alabama.
He was just having fun
But I’m not sure he and his family are really a fit with the Texas family…too much “me” there. I can appreciate why Mack recruits the way he does.
he had fun by being a bit of a douche
No sour grapes here because I never expected him to go anywhere but Alabama, but his announcement was the antithesis of class.
I was hoping Muschamp and Brown could pull off some magic....
But of the four recruits I was hoping for in 2009…we got 0. (McFarland, Kirkpatrick, Jones and Kennard). I’m happy with the class, but we talked about these kids for a reason. Sure, only one was from Texas, but I guess we didn’t have enough for any of these kids. I don’t understand why.
"Football's so important in Texas. On the West Coast, it's a social. On the East Coast, it's a culture. Here, it's a religion."
-- Major Applewhite
the 4 recruits were talked about so much because for 6 months our class has been finished and those were considered the “icing” players, relax.
by Displaced Longhorn on Feb 4, 2009 2:21 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
While I agree...
It also means that our coaches had more time to focus on these kids. Almost all of the kids that committed were “certain” so the time was there to make things happen. It wasn’t like our staff was focused on like 15 kids and I only wanted the best ones….the staff was focused on a select group and failed. The four I mentioned are elite prospects and our coaches did decide to focus on them and came up empty. I’m excited about 2009 and will forget about these kids when the 2010 junior day starts but still, I was hoping for at least one.
"Football's so important in Texas. On the West Coast, it's a social. On the East Coast, it's a culture. Here, it's a religion."
-- Major Applewhite
Feb 8th will cure the signing day blues.
You don't see animals lifting weights and they are fucking strong... isometrics baby!
First Junior Day, when UT will officially extend the first round of scholarship offers. Lache Seastrunk will be there.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 4, 2009 3:11 PM CST up reply actions
dude. seriously.
its not like this is unexpected. unless you have a history of successful national recruiting, like a notre dame, florida, USC, etc. then its very difficult to pull the OOS kids. For so long we’ve been able to clean house and pull a top 5 recruiting class with kids from Texas, we havent had to focus too much effort on OOS kids. we dont live and die by them, as other schools might. As such, we have no history for recruits to look at and say “hey, it seems like theres always a lot of kids from California or New York or Florida or wherever that are leaving home and going to Texas. I wonder why”
Additionally, its not like we flood the market of top OOS kids with offers, like other schools. We offered a total of 4 OOS kids this year, and missed on all of them. Other schools may be sending out 20+ offers to OOS kids. We dont have to do that because we’re fortunate to have enough talent here in Texas to survive on. So, I dont feel as bad going 0-4 as if I might if we’d gone 1-20 and didnt have the Texas kids to fall back on.
Its all a matter of resources. Fault Mack if you like, but a long time ago, when he turned this program around from the disaster of the 80s/90s, he decided that Texas kids were going to be our bread and butter and thats where we would live and die. I dont think you can fault the premise. If nothing else, its brough consistency, which is more than a lot of top programs can say.
oh well
his lost not ours!! Everyone knows the best football and players come out of TEXAS!! Now with this being over, and the Superbowl being played..anybody else but me is sad because football season is over!! Good luck to you kirkpatrick..I hope we meet in the NC game and Malcom Williams treats you like his BIIIAAATCHH!!
Are you talking about....
…Jackson Jeffcoat, Jim Jeffcoat’s son, from West Plano?
yes, he is
and theres no chance of jeffcoat committing to us after junior days. he’ll be a OU/TX battle, and OU has the edge.
and im willing to eat my words if it happens any other way than that.
UT 2009 Signees
Tariq Allen
LINEBACKER
6-2 • 235 • Fr.-HS
Irving, Texas (MacArthur)
H.S. Coach: Brian Basil
Prep All-American, all-state and two-time first-team all-district performer at linebacker
… started in the 2009 U.S. Army All-America Bowl … a member of ESPN’s top
150 national prospects … rated as the fourth-best inside linebacker nationally by ESPN
…ranked as the state’s fourth-best linebacker by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football … a
versatile three-sport letterman who also lettered in basketball and track and field …
earned five letters as a prepster … posted 345 tackles, 16 sacks, 64 TFL, five forced
fumbles and six fumble recoveries in three seasons as a starting linebacker … a second-
team all-state selection by the Texas Sports Writers Association and a honorable
mention selection by The Associated Press as a senior … also earned first-team all-district
7-5A … notched 134 tackles, seven sacks, 34 TFL, two forced fumbles and three
fumble recoveries in nine games … tallied a career-high 25 tackles (seven solo), two
sacks and five TFL against North Mesquite … led team to a 9-2 record and was tabbed
first-team all-district 7-5A as a junior … recorded 123 tackles, six sacks, 19 TFL, two
forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries … garnered all-district 7-5A honorable
mention as a sophomore … totaled 88 tackles, three sacks, 11 TFL and recovered a
fumble.
Thomas Ashcraft
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
6-5 • 315 • Fr.-HS
Cedar Hill, Texas (Cedar Hill)
H.S. Coach: Joey McGuire
Prep All-America and two-time all-state selection on the offensive line … played in the
2009 Under Armour All-America Game … a member of Rivals top 250 and ESPN’s top
150 national prospects … rated as the fifth-best guard prospect in the nation by ESPN
… tabbed the state’s fourth-best offensive lineman by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football
… lettered in four sports as a prepster and earned a total of nine letters … started at
left tackle and guard for a Cedar Hill team that went 36-6 in his final three seasons …
earned first-team 5A all-state honors from The Associated Press and Texas Sports
Writers Association as a senior … also earned all-district 7-5A honors … helped Cedar
Hill reach the quarterfinals in the state playoffs … averaged eight pancake blocks per
game and paved the way for 307 yards rushing per game … named all-state honorable
mention by The Associated Press and the TSWA as a junior … garnered first-team alldistrict
8-5A honors … helped the offense average 314 yards per game on the ground
…named first team all-district 8-5A as a sophomore … helped Cedar Hill to a perfect
16-0 season and the 2006 5A Div. II state championship … started on an offense that
averaged 454 yards of total offense per game, including 335 yards rushing per game …
a three-time letterman in powerlifting and two-time letterman in track and field …
also lettered in basketball as a junior.
Eryon Barnett
DEFENSIVE BACK
6-2 • 180 • Fr.-HS
Euless, Texas (Trinity)
H.S. Coach: Steve Lineweaver
Two-year letterman and starter at defensive back who logged 67 tackles, seven INTs
and six PBU in his prep career … a member of Rivals top 250 national prospects …
rated as the nation’s second-most physical cornerback by Rivals … tabbed the state’s
fourth-best safety by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football … helped his team to a 28-2
record, a state championship and consecutive district championships in his final two
seasons … earned first-team all-district 5-5A honors as a senior … posted 19 tackles
and four INTs before a knee injury in the sixth game sidelined him for the remainder
of the season … helped Trinity start the season 6-0 en route to a 13-1 season, a district
5-5A title and a berth in the 5A Div. I regional semifinals … recorded 48 tackles, six
PBU and three INTs as a junior … helped Trinity post a 15-1 record and led them to
a district 5-5A title and a 2007 Class 5A Div. I state championship.
Marcus Davis
DEFENSIVE BACK
6-1 • 185 • Fr.-HS
League City, Texas (Clear Creek)
H.S. Coach: Darrell Warden
Prep All-America and three-time first-team all-district selection at defensive back …
played in the 2009 U.S. Army All-America Bowl … rated as the nation’s eighth-best
cornerback by ESPN and a member of ESPN’s top 150 national list … a member of
Rivals top 250 national prospects … tabbed the state’s best cornerback by Dave Campbell’s
Texas Football … three-year letterman who started at defensive back and wide
receiver … tallied 179 tackles, eight INTs, 18 PBU and five blocked kicks (two punts
and three FGs) during his final three seasons … also scored six TDs on punt and kickoff
returns during his career … earned first-team all-district 24-5A at defensive back
and kick returner as a senior … posted 72 tackles, five INTs and broke up nine passes
…returned 11 punts for 285 yards (26.0 ypr) and a TD … notched 17 tackles and two
PBU against Kingwood … named first-team all-district 24-5A as a junior … recorded
60 tackles, two INTs and five PBU … returned eight kickoffs for 366 yards (45.8 ypr)
and three TDs … earned first-team all-district 24-5A honors as a sophomore … registered
47 tackles two INTs and four PBU … returned eight kickoffs for 234 yards (29.3
ypr) and two TD … a three-year letterman in track and field who won district championships
in the 110-meter hurdles and long jump … holds prep personal bests of 14.1
in the hurdles and 24-5 in the long jump … set a Junior Olympcs age group national
record in the triathlon (shot put, long jump, 1,500m) with 996 points as a 10-year-old
… set another Junior Olympics age group national record in the pentathlon (100m
hurdles, shot put, high jump, long jump, 1,500 meters) with 3,326 points as a 14-yearold.
Garrett Gilbert
QUARTERBACK
6-4 • 207 • Fr.-HS
Austin, Texas (Lake Travis)
H.S. Coach: Chad Morris
Gatorade and Parade National Player of the Year … tabbed EA Sports Mr. Football USA
… also named USA Today’s Offensive Player of the Year … became the first Texan to
earn the Gatorade award … played in the 2009 Under Armour All-America Game …
three-year starter who finished his high school career as Texas’ all-time leader in passing
yards (12,540) and ranks second in state history in passing TDs (138), completions
(895) and attempts (1,368) … also holds state single-season records in completions
(360), attempts (556) and passing yards (4,851) and ranks third on the single-season
TD passes list (55) … rated as the second-best quarterback and 11th-best prospect on
ESPN’s top 150 national list … ranked as the 18th-best prospect nationally on Rivals
top 100 list … tabbed the state’s best quarterback by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football …
a first-team selection to Dave Cambpell’s All-Texas High School team … also was a second-
team 4A academic all-state selection by the Texas High School Coaches Association
and a four-time academic all-district performer … led Lake Travis to a 39-4 record
(20-0 in district play) and back-to-back 4A Div. I state titles as a starter … ended his
high school career on a 30-game winning streak … went 895-of-1,368 (65.4) for
12,540 yards and 138 TDs (27 INTs), while rushing for 1,424 yards and 32 TDs, during
his career … voted first-team 4A all-state and the state’s Offensive MVP by The Associated
Press and the Texas Sports Writers Association as a senior … tabbed Dave
Campbell’s Texas Football’s Mr. Texas Football and earned 4A, Region IV and District
25-4A MVP honors…led the Cavaliers to a perfect 16-0 record and a second consecutive
4A Div. II state championship … completed 301-of-435 passes (69.2) for 4,851
yards, 55 TDs and only six INTs … threw for at least 300 yards and at least four TDs
seven times … also rushed 113 times for 774 yards (6.8 ypc) and 23 TDs … went 26-
of-37 for 356 yards and five TDs, while rushing for 85 yards and two scores, in the state
championship game … tabbed first-team 4A all-state by the TSWA and second team
all-state by The Associated Press as a junior … an EA Sports Elite 11 selection as one
of the nation’s top junior quarterbacks … led Lake Travis to the first state title in school
history … connected on 360-of-556 (64.7) pass attempts for 4,827 yards and 52 TDs
(12 INTs) … the 4,827 yards rank second on the state of Texas’ single-season list …
threw for at least 300 yards nine times … posted at least four TD passes in seven
games, including a seven-TD performance against Beeville in the playoffs … averaged
320 yards passing per game and threw 23 TDs compared to just two INTs in the playoffs
… also notched 96 carries for 400 yards and six TD … tabbed 4A Newcomer of the
Year and District MVP as a sophomore … completed 234-of-377 (62.1) passes for
2,862 yards and 31 TDs (nine INTs) … also logged 65 carries for 250 yards and three
TDs.
Trey Graham
TIGHT END
6-5 • 235 • Fr.-HS
Waco, Texas (Midway)
H.S. Coach: Kent Bachtel
An all-state and two-time all-district performer at tight end … two-sport athlete who
also lettered in basketball … named the nation’s eighth-best tight end by ESPN and the
ninth-best tight end by Rivals … rated the state’s second-best tight end by Dave Campbell’s
Texas Football … posted 42 receptions for 626 yards (14.9 ypc) and five TDs over
his final two seasons … tabbed second-team 4A all-state by the Texas Sports Writers
Association as a senior … also earned first-team 16-4A all-district honors … helped
the team to a 12-2 record, a district title and a berth in the state quarterfinals, the deepest
playoff run in school history … posted 19 receptions for 244 yards (12.8 ypc) and
four TDs … scored two of his four TDs in a 35-10 playoff victory over Texas H.S. …
also tallied 23 knockdowns and 13 pancakes … tabbed third-team all-state by the
Texas Sports Writers Association and first-team all-district as a junior … recorded 23
catches for 382 yards (16.6 ypc) and a TD … also posted 20 knockdowns and 10 pancakes.
Calvin Howell
DEFENSIVE LINE
6-4 • 265 • Fr.-HS
San Antonio, Texas (Warren)
H.S. Coach: Bryan Dausin
Prep All-America and all-state performer at defensive tackle … started in the 2009 U.S.
Army All-America Bowl … rated as the seventh-best defensive tackle and is a member
of Rivals top 100 national prospects … ranked as the nation’s 13th-best defensive tackle
by ESPN … tabbed the state’s number two defensive tackle by Dave Campbell’s Texas
Football … tallied 114 tackles, 23 TFL, six sacks and six fumble recoveries as a prepster
… named third-team 5A all-state by the Texas Sports Writers Association and
first-team all-area by the San Antonio Express-News as a senior … registered 53 tackles,
five TFL, two sacks and two fumble recoveries … helped Warren win a district 28-
5A championship and earn a berth in the second round of the state playoffs … posted
61 tackles, 18 TFL, four sacks and four fumble recoveries for the Warriors as a junior.
Derek Johnson
DEFENSIVE LINE
6-3 • 310 • Fr.-HS
Hoxie, Ark. (Hoxie)
H.S. Coach: Tom Sears
Prep All-America and two-time all-state selection at defensive tackle … recorded 255
tackles and 13 sacks as a prepster … played in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl
…ranked as the top defensive tackle in Arkansas and the state’s third-best player overall
by Rivals … tabbed the fourth-best overall prospect in Arkansas by ESPN … tallied
252 tackles, 12 sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries over his final
three seasons … voted to the Arkansas Super Team by The Associated Press as a senior
… also a first-team all-state and first-team all-conference selection … notched 76
tackles, 12 pressures, 10 TFL, three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery …
also returned a fumble recovery 40 yards for a TD … led Hoxie to a 3A regional championship
… named all-state and all-conference as a junior… tallied 81 tackles, four
sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery … helped the Mustangs earn a thirdround
berth in the state playoffs … tabbed Northeast Arkansas Newcomer of the Year
and all-conference as a sophomore … recorded 95 tackles, five sacks, a forced fumble
and a fumble recovery … also lettered for three seasons in track and field.
Dominique Jones
DEFENSIVE LINE
6-3 • 240 • Fr.-HS
Kilgore, Texas (Kilgore)
H.S. Coach: Mike Vallery
A three-time all-district performer and two-way prep standout … started at tight end
and defensive end as a prepster … tabbed one of the state’s top 10 defensive ends by
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football … earned district 14-4A defensive MVP honors and
first-team all-district at defensive end and tight end as a senior … also named Texas
Prep first-team all-state and first-team all-East Texas … registered 68 tackles, nine
TFL, two sacks, 15 pressures, an INT, six PBU, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries
… led Kilgore to its second consecutive district title and a second-round berth in
the 4A state playoffs … tabbed district 12-4A’s defensive lineman of the year and
earned first-team all-East Texas honors as a junior … posted 75 tackles, nine TFL and
five sacks … helped the Bulldogs win the 12-4A district championship … had 11 tackles,
two TFL and two forced fumbles in that game … tabbed second team all-district
tight end as a sophomore … recorded 80 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles …
also participated in track and field for two years at the varsity level … threw shot put
and discus … advanced to regionals in discus and was district runner-up in shot put
as a junior … a prep honor roll student.
Paden Kelley
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
6-7 • 270 • Fr.-HS
Austin, Texas (Lake Travis)
H.S. Coach: Chad Morris
Prep All-America and two-time all-state performer on the offensive line … a threeyear
starter who helped Lake Travis claim back-to-back 4A state titles his last two years
and three straight district championships … led Lake Travis to a 31-1 record over his
final two seasons and helped the Cavaliers average 470 yards and 43 points per game
… ended his high school career on a 30-game winning streak … a second-team All-
USA selection by USA Today … started in the 2009 Under Armour All-America Game
… rated the nation’s second-best offensive tackle by ESPN and is a member of ESPN’s
top 150 national list … tabbed first-team 4A all-state by The Associated Press and the
Texas Sports Writers Association as a senior … also earned first-team all-district 25-
4A and all-CenTex honors … tabbed second-team 4A academic all-state by the Texas
High School Coaches Association … led Lake Travis to a 16-0 record and the 2008 4A
Div. I state title … graded out at 83 percent after posting 56 knockdowns, while not
allowing a sack … paved the way for a Cavalier offense that gained 7,999 yards
(4,994p/3,005r) and scored 48.9 points per game … voted first-team 4A all-state by the
TSWA as a junior … also tabbed first-team all-district 25-4A and second-team all-
CenTex … led Lake Travis to the 2007 4A Div. II state championship … paved the way
for the Cavalier offense to tally 7,061 yards (5,178p/1,883r), while averaging 38 points
per game.
Kyle Kriegel
DEFENSIVE LINE
6-5 • 262 • Fr.-HS
Elysian Fields, Texas (Elysian Fields)
H.S. Coach: Ted Patton
Three-year letterman and starter who worked at defensive end and defensive tackle …
a two-time all-state selection and 2A Defensive MVP at defensive end … ranked as the
third-best DE in Texas by ESPN … notched 280 tackles, 26 sacks, 70 TFL and six forced
fumbles over his final three seasons … recorded 33 tackles in limited playing time due
to injury as a senior … named 2A Defensive MVP and first-team all-state by The Associated
Press as a junior … also garnered all-Region III and all-district 19-2A honors …
helped Elysian Fields earn a berth in the 2A Div. II State Championship … posted 132
tackles, 15 sacks, 32 TFL and recovered a fumble for a TD … posted a career-high 18
tackles and four sacks versus Queen City … tabbed first-team 2A all-state by The Associated
Press as a sophomore … also earned all-Region III and all-district 19-2A honors
… voted the team’s Newcomer of the Year … recorded 116 tackles, 11 sacks, 38 TFL
and six forced fumbles … played running back and linebacker on the freshman team
… a three-year letterman on the powerlifting team … also lettered in track and field
as a sophomore … a prep honor roll student.
Barrett Matthews
TIGHT END
6-2 • 215 • Fr.-HS
Galena Park, Texas (North Shore)
H.S. Coach: David Aymond
Prep All-America and all-district performer at tight end … played in the 2009 Under
Armour All-America Game … rated as the nation’s third-best tight end by ESPN and a
member of ESPN’s top 150 national prospects … ranked as the nation’s seventh-best
tight end and the top tight end in Texas by Rivals … tabbed the state’s best tight end
by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football … led North Shore to a 23-2 record over his final
two seasons, including undefeated records during the regular season (18-0) and in district
play (12-0) … helped North Shore set a state record with a 78-game regular-season
winning streak (2000-08) … tallied 37 catches for 680 yards (18.4 ypc) and 12 TDs
in his final two seasons … voted district 21-5A Co-Offensive MVP and was a first-team
selection as a senior … also an All-Greater Houston selection by the Houston Touchdown
Club … led North Shore to a 9-1 record, a district 22-5A championship and a
berth in the second round of the state playoffs … hauled in 19 receptions for 364 yards
(19.2 ypc) and four TDs … named first-team all-district 21-5A as a junior … helped
the Mustangs to a 14-1 record, a district 22-5A title and a berth in the state semifinals
…recorded 18 receptions for 316 yards (17.6 ypc) and eight TDs.
Tevin Mims
DEFENSIVE LINE
6-4 • 245 • Fr.-HS
Round Rock, Texas (Stony Point)
H.S. Coach: Craig Chessher
An all-state and two-time all-district selection at defensive end … rated as one of the
nation’s top 20 weakside defensive ends by both ESPN and Rivals … ranked as the
state’s 16th-best prospect overall by Rivals … rated as the fifth-best DE in Texas by
ESPN…named the state’s fifth-best defensive end prospect by Dave Campbell’s Texas
Football … helped Stony Point to a 22-5 record over his last two seasons … recorded
122 tackles, 19 sacks, 49 TFL, 23 pressures, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles
and 13 PBD during that time … tabbed third-team 5A all-state by the Texas Sports
Writers Association and honorable mention by The Associated Press as a senior …
named district 16-5A Defensive MVP and first-team all-CenTex … served as captain
for a Stony Point Tigers team that finished a school-best 13-2 (7-0 in district play) and
made a 5A state semifinal appearance … registered 69 tackles, 15 sacks, 26 TFL, 13
pressures, two forced fumbles and nine PBD … named first-team all-district 14-5A as
a junior … led the Tigers to a 9-3 record, their first district title and first playoff
appearance in school history … notched 53 tackles, four sacks, 23 TFL, 10 pressures
and four PBD.
Patrick Nkwopara
(ni-COP-uh-rah)
LINEBACKER
5-11 • 202 • Fr.-HS
Grand Prairie, Texas (South Grand Prairie)
H.S. Coach: David Fisher
An all-area and all-district selection at linebacker … ranked as Texas’ third-best outside
linebacker and 26th nationally by ESPN … named one of the state’s top 10 linebackers
by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football … named the district 7-5A Defensive MVP
as a senior … also a second-team all-area selection by the Dallas Morning News …
tallied 100 tackles, four sacks, 28 TFL, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery
… led South Grand Prairie to a berth in the 5A state playoffs … posted 51 tackles as
a junior … moved to Texas from Nigeria when he was six years old.
Alex Okafor
DEFENSIVE LINE
6-4 • 240 • Fr.-HS
Pflugerville, Texas (Pflugerville)
H.S. Coach: George Herrmann
Prep All-American and two-time all-state performer at defensive end … tabbed a
2008 Parade All-American … a second-team All-USA selection by USA Today and a
second-team EA Sports All-American … started in the 2009 U.S. Army All-America
Bowl … particpated in the inaugural Hawaii Prep Football Classic … a three-year
starter and letterwinner at defensive end and a two-time letterman in basketball …
rated as the nation’s top strongside DE and the 14th-best prospect on Rivals’ top 100
national list … a member of ESPN’s top 150 national prospects … ranked as the top
DE in Texas by ESPN … totaled 131 tackles and 20 sacks in his final two seasons …
led Pflugerville to a 21-7 record … a first-team 5A all-state selection by The Associated
Press and the Texas Sports Writers Association as a senior … also a first-team alldistrict
25-5A and all-CenTex selection … registered 59 tackles, 12 sacks, 17 TFL, a
forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and a blocked punt … tabbed honorable mention
5A all-state by the TSWA as a junior … also a first-team all-district 14-5A and all-
CenTex selection … helped Pflugerville to a 13-4 record and a berth in the 5A Div. II
State Championship … notched 72 tackles and eight sacks … a two-time academic alldistrict
selection.
Garrett Porter
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
6-6 • 305 • Fr.-HS
Odessa, Texas (Permian)
H.S. Coach: Darren Allman
Prep All-America, two-time all-state and three-time all-district selection on the offensive
line … a three-year starter who also lettered in track and field … played in the
2009 U.S. Army All-America Bowl … rated the nation’s best pass blocker and the No.
8 offensive tackle by Rivals and is a member of Rivals’ top 100 national list … named
one of the state’s top 10 offensive lineman by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football … a firstteam
member of Dave Campbell’s all-Texas High School team … led Permian to a 24-
2 record (14-0 in district action) in his final two seasons, which both ended with losses
to eventual state champions … tabbed first-team 5A all-state by The Associated
Press and the Texas Sports Writers Association and first-team all-district 2-5A as a
senior … helped the Panthers average 42.6 points per game en route to a district 2-5A
title and a berth in the third round of the 5A state playoffs … posted 102 pancakes and
123 knockdowns … voted first-team 5A all-state by The Associated Press and secondteam
5A all-state by the TSWA as a junior … also tabbed first-team all-district 3-5A
… led Permian to a 3-5A district championship and a berth in the third round of the
5A state playoffs … tallied 63 pancakes and 70 knockdowns … paved the way for an
offense that gained 418 yards per game (205p/213r) … earned all-district 3-5A honors
as a sophomore … won a district championship in the shot put as a junior … an
academic all-state selection as a senior and a three-time academic all-district selection.
Greg Timmons
WIDE RECEIVER
6-3 • 196 • Fr.-HS
Aldine, Texas (Eisenhower)
H.S. Coach: Ray Evans
Prep All-America and three-time all-district performer at wide receiver … started in
the 2009 U.S. Army All-America Bowl … rated as one of the nation’s top 25 wide
receivers and the top receiver in the state of Texas by Rivals … also is a member of
Rivals’ top 250 national prospects … ranked the state’s best wide receiver by Dave
Campbell’s Texas Football … hauled in 85 receptions for 1,752 yards (20.6 ypc) and 14
TDs his final three seasons … helped Eisenhower win back-to-back district championships
in his final two seasons … named first-team all-district 19-5A as a senior …
led the Eagles to its second consecutive district title and a berth in the second round
of the 5A state playoffs … notched 28 receptions for 700 yards (25.0 ypc) and six TDs
… tabbed first-team all-district as a junior … led Eisenhower to a district title and a
secound-round appearance in the 5A state playoffs … logged 41 receptions for 704
yards (17.2 ypc) and seven TDs … voted first-team all-district as a sophomore …
caught 16 passes for 348 yards (21.8 ypc) and a TD.
Kenny Vaccaro
DEFENSIVE BACK
6-1 • 195 • Fr.-HS
Brownwood, Texas (Early)
H.S. Coach: Steve Freeman
All-state and all-district perfomer at defensive back … versatile three-year letterman
who saw playing time at S, LB, RB, WR, KR and PR … tallied 235 tackles and five INTs
in three seasons … transferred to Early before his senior season and played three
games before a knee injury ended his senior campaign … recorded 40 tackles, a PBU,
a sack and seven TFL … also rushed 16 times for 119 yards (7.4 ypc) and four TDs,
while adding a 47-yard TD reception … tabbed honorable mention 4A all-state and
first-team all-district 16-4A as a junior at Brownwood … registered 110 tackles, four
INTs and four fumble recoveries … also returned six kickoffs for 207 yards (34.5 ypr)
… notched 15 tackles, an INT and a blocked punt against Copperas Cove, which was
ranked number one in the state at the time … voted Brownwood’s defensive newcomer
of the year as a sophomore … posted 85 tackles and an INT … also played basketball
during all three years at Brownwood.
Mason Walters
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
6-6 • 295 • Fr.-HS
Wolfforth, Texas (Frenship)
H.S. Coach: Brad Davis
Prep All-America, two-time all-state and three-time all-district performer on the
offensive line … a three-sport letterman who earned eight total letters as a prepster …
also a three-time letterman in basketball and two-time letterman in track and field …
named a 2009 Parade All-American … also a first-team All-USA selection by USA
Today and a first-team EA Sports All-American … played in the 2009 Under Armour
All-America Game … ranked as the nation’s best center and the 28th-best prospect on
ESPN’s top 150 national prospects list … rated the second-best offensive tackle and
the 29th-best prospect on Rivals’ top 100 national list … a first-team all-Texas selection
by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football … helped Frenship to a 48-9 record (17-1 in
district play) as a three-year starter playing center, guard and tackle … a first-team 4A
all-state selection by The Associated Press and the Texas Sports Writers Association as
a senior…also tabbed first-team all-district 4-4A … led Frenship to a 13-1 record, a
district 4-4A championship and a berth in the state quarterfinals … helped the Tigers
post 4,995 yards of total offense (2,836r/2,159p) and average 35.1 ppg … graded out
at 94 percent and posted 46 knockdowns and 23 pancakes … tabbed honorable mention
4A all-state by the The Associated Press and the TSWA, first-team all-district 4-
4A and first team all-area as a junior … helped Frenship to a 10-3 reccord, a district
championship and a berth in the state quarterfinals … paved the way for an offense
that rushed for 202 yards per game and averaged 39 points per game … earned firstteam
all-district 4-4A honors as a sophomore … led Frenship to a 12-3 record and a
berth in the state semifinals.
Chris Whaley
RUNNING BACK
6-3 • 235 • Fr.-HS
Madisonville, Texas (Madisonville)
H.S. Coach: Greg Morgan
Prep All-America and three-time all-state selection … a three-sport standout who
earned all-district honors in football, basketball and track and field … played in the
2009 U.S. Army All-American Bowl and posted a 46-yard TD reception … ranked as
the eighth-best athlete by Rivals and is a member of Rivals’ top 100 national list …
rated as one of the nation’s top 10 running backs by ESPN and is a member of ESPN’s
top 150 prospects … ranked as the eighth-best prospect in the state of Texas by ESPN
…four-year letterwinner and starter … totaled 684 carries, 6,174 yards (9.0 ypc) and
79 TDs as a prepster … holds four of the top 30 single-game rushing yard performances
in Texas history … came up 75 yards short in his nine-game senior schedule of
posting a third-consecutive 2,000-yard season … named first-team 3A all-state by The
Associated Press and second-team 3A all-state by the Texas Sports Writers Association
… also claimed district 19-3A MVP honors … posted 188 carries for 1,925 yards
(10.2 ypc) and 24 TDs in nine games … also caught two passes for 56 yards … rushed
for a career-high 418 yards and six TDs on 29 carries in a 48-32 win over Taylor …
had TDE runs of 40, 58, 60 and 72 yards and was named ESPN Rise National Player of
the Week for his efforts in that game … also had a 41-yard reception and a two-point
conversion to score 38 of the team’s 48 points against Taylor … posted 410 yards and
seven TDs on 16 carries (25.6 ypc) in a 48-30 win over Rudder … tabbed first-team
3A all-state by The Associated Press and third-team 3A all-state by the TSWA as a junior
… also named district 19-3A MVP … helped Madisonville win the district 19-3A
championship … tallied 261 carries for 2,119 yards (8.1 ypc) and 28 TDs … also
recorded five receptions for 143 yards (28.6 ypc) and three TDs … posted 384 yards
and five TDs on 41 carries (9.4 ypc) in a 63-48 win over Westwood … added 291 yards
and seven TDs on 28 carries (10.4 ypc) in a 66-31 victory over Palestine … voted second-
team 3A all-state by The Associated Press and third-team 3A all-state by the
TSWA as a sophomore … also named the district’s Newcomer of the Year … tallied
235 carries for 2,130 yards (9.0 ypc) and 27 TDs … posted 384 yards and four TDs on
33 carries (11.6 ypc) in a 63-56 loss to Rusk in the playoffs … added a 291-yard game
against Fairfield and a 290-yard game versus Rockdale.
Still a Blaine Irby fan
I am going to put this in the, In case you didn't know, column.
You don't see animals lifting weights and they are fucking strong... isometrics baby!
There is nothing more overplayed and tiring then when a recruit announces his decision
Is there anything more tiring and overplayed when a recruit announces his decision on national tv or ESPN U. Its so predictable and lame. Here is how they will usually do it. They will dress up nicely wear their state championship ring and high school ring (who gets one of those) and some other rings. Then they will lay out usually three hats and either, try on the first two and take them off and then pick the last school, or try on all three and then take out a fourth hat form underneath the table, or the new strategy is to set everybody up and then announce that they can’t make up their mind.
Just put this tired horse down already, its predictable and its really lame and pathetic.
SHOW ME YOUR LIGHTNING BOLT!!!!!!!!!!
The theatrics are beyond lame. Has anyone who ended up attending UT ever done this? I sure hope not, because it’s the height of douchebaggery.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 4, 2009 5:21 PM CST up reply actions
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