Bevo's Daily Round Up 2.05.09

The story yesterday was national signing day. Rivals ranked UT's recruiting class at No. 5. Scout puts the Horns' at No. 6.

He has not even arrived on campus and the Heisman Pundit is already making plans for Garrett Gilbert.

Texas dominates the recruiting scene again this year, according to ESPN's Tim Griffin.

Back in the day, Mack Brown used to be called "Mr. February."

That nickname has fallen in public favor in recent years as the Longhorns have claimed five straight bowl victories and eight straight 10-win seasons.

But the key for Brown's recent dominance has been attracting top recruits. Wednesday's haul was no different.

The Longhorns attracted nine players on the ESPNU 150 list. The rest of the Big 12 attracted 10 top 150 recruits on the list combined.

Mack Brown talks about UT's new players.

Football

They start 'em early... Photo from Sooners IIlustrated.

Bob Stoops discusses his 2009 recruits.

Oklahoma didn't land a big-time receiver on signing day, but OU coach Bob Stoops said he was nonetheless happy with the class of 22 welcomed into the Sooner family.

"I really like the class," Stoops said Wednesday. "As usual, we have a very diverse class. We really filled some needs where we had some graduations, or some graduations coming up."

The Sooners had held out hope that wide receiver Rueben Randle, the Rivals.com No. 2-ranked overall high school player in the nation, would come to Norman. Instead, Randle signed with LSU. Three other coveted four-star receivers – Terry Hawthorne of East St. Louis, Ill., Joshua Evans of Irvington, N.J., and Tyrece Gaines of Butler County (Kansas) Community College – all went elsewhere. Hawthorne signed with Illinois, Evans with Florida and Gaines with Oregon.

"It would have been great to get another guy or two," Stoops said. "That's the case at any position. But our numbers there are OK."

Oklahoma's class was ranked No. 13 nationally by online recruiting site Rivals.com and No. 9 by Scout.com.

TulsaWorld breaks down OU's 2009 recruiting class.

Oklahoma's 2009 recruiting class has some nice names and even a handful of potential stars, but on the surface it doesn't look like one of Bob Stoops' best classes.

There were gaping holes to fill at receiver and offensive line, and it appears the Sooners did well at those positions – but could have made out a whole lot better. Numbers were skimpy at both – two receivers, four linemen – so OU fans need to hope the guys that signed pay off now and develop as good players.

The Aggies sign 28 for this year's class. Rivals lists A&M at No. 21 and Scout lists them at No.11.

One of Mike Sherman's first mandates for his staff when he became Texas A&M's coach in November 2007 was to start evaluating the nation's high school juniors.

Sherman unveiled the results of their labors on Wednesday, the first day of the national signing period, announcing a list of 28 recruits for the 2009 season. The class includes 16 defensive players, 11 offensive players and a punter. Sherman lured the entire class from two states -- 25 from Texas and three from Louisiana.

"We've been recruiting these kids for a long time, and it's nice to get to this point," Sherman said. "To measure it with a crystal ball, where we're going to be with this class, I don't know. But I think we'll be fun to watch and I think we'll have to accept the fact that some of these kids are going to be thrown into the fire."

Baylor's recruiting class is considered to be their best since 1996.

So, how does Nebraska sell living in Lincoln to 17 and 18-year-old kids?

Texas Tech beefed up their roster with defensive muscle.

After watching his team get bullied in late losses to Mississippi and Oklahoma, coach Mike Leach knew Texas Tech needed a defensive talent upgrade.

The Red Raiders have done just that with the most notable defensive recruiting additions during Leach's coaching tenure.

Dan Hawkins is pleased with Colorado's underrated class.

Colorado's recruiting haul might not wow many national analysts, but Dan Hawkins is attracting exactly the players he is aiming for.

Hawkins said the class he announced Wednesday is coming close to matching his recruiting model.

"Since I first arrived here, I've been trying to build a culture," Hawkins said. "We're trying to get guys who fit our profile. You're never going to be 100 percent at that. But in this class, it represents our philosophy of a quality balance of life. We've been in homes with strong values in how they view their kids. And I've been fired up about that."

Baylor's Joe Pawelek and Oklahoma's Travis Lewis are from the same area but miles away in recruiting experiences.

For Pawelek, signing day was a relief, the culmination of a dream he worried was slipping through his fingers only weeks before as college recruiters ignored him despite a standout career at Smithson Valley.

For Lewis, signing day was more a coronation, ending an unlikely odyssey in which, despite being injured and overshadowed for much of his stint at Lee, he'd been pursued by some of the nation's premier programs.

KStateFans.com calls Oklahoma the Class of College Football.

And Mike Leach still has not signed his contract.

Everyone's favorite New York Times contributor has written another piece on Brian Butler, a trainer and recruiting "Intermediary".

SI's Stewart Mandel wraps up national signing day.

CBSSports Dennis Dodd has his own thoughts about the day.

It's national signing day and you're expecting what, exactly?

Drama? News? Breaking News?

Those of us with lives know better. This day we've all been conditioned into anticipating is a fraud. Today only begins an almost two-month signing period for football. Top programs were actually finished recruiting weeks ago. They've already moved on to this year's juniors. It's called working ahead and it's been that way for years.

Former Miami coach Larry Coker wants the UTSA football head coaching job.

Dr. Saturday has found a more evolved idea for a college football playoff.