2011 Texas Big Board: The Defensive Tackles

by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 12, 2010 7:00 AM CST in Texas Longhorns Recruiting

Defensive tackles on the 2011 roster -- Kheeston Randall (2011), Calvin Howell (2013), Derek Johnson (2013), Tevin Mims (2013) (possible spin-down), Kyle Kriegel (2013) (possible spin-down), Taylor Bible (2013/14), De'Aires Cotton (2013/14), Ashton Dorsey (2013/14)

Needs -- Two

Targets --

Name (School)	JD invite?	Offer?	Commitment odds	Favorites	Quick take
Desmond Jackson (Spring Westfield)	Feb. 13	No-brainer	50%	Texas Alabama Oklahoma	An strong, explosive, gap-penetrating tackle in the mold of Dorsey and Bible who was unstoppable at the Army Junior combine. Uses his hands well for his age. His is a family divide -- his father an Alabama fan and his mother a Texas fan.
Marquis Anderson (Cibolo Steele)	Feb. 13	No-brainer	55%	Texas Texas A&M Oklahoma Baylor	Able to both hit and separate and explode through gaps, Anderson plays with remarkable violence. Lacks ideal thickness in his lower body. Not as talented as Jackson, but would be far more than just a consolation prize.
Quincy Russell (San Antonio Sam Houston)	Date unconfirmed	Possible	85%	Texas Missouri Baylor Alabama Nebraska Miami	Raw but talented -- similar to Cotton, but may have more athletic ability. Impressed at the Texas summer camp last year. Most likely zero or one tech in the class.
James Castleman (Amarillo)	Feb. 27	Possible	85%	Texas Texas Tech Oklahoma Oklahoma State Missouri	Undersized at 255, Castleman helped lead Amarillo to the playoffs. Solid regional prospect not quite on the level of the other three. Little information available.

Other names to know -- Jordan Wade (Round Rock Stony Point)

Overview -- After lacking depth at the position in 2008 and 2009, the Longhorns reeled in massive recruiting hauls in 2009 and 2010 that even have the potential to increase in size with players like Mims and Kriegel potentially spinning down situationally and/or playing some five tech. Since it's often more productive and insightful to think about defensive linemen in terms of the techniques on the line they can play rather than thinking of them as defensive ends or tackles, Jackson and Anderson are probably best seen as three techniques, with Anderson also potentially having the ability to play some zero or one tech. Russell is perhaps the best pure one tech in the class. Castleman would have to add a significant amount of bulk to play at nose tackle -- consider him a three or five tech.

Since depth isn't as much of a concern as it has been the last several seasons, the Longhorns can afford to wait for players like Jackson and Anderson without endangering the need for pure numbers. However, it's so difficult to find bodies at the position and attrition has been at such a high level inside that securing two commitments in the class is extremely important, no matter what the depth chart looks likes.

Wish list --

Desmond Jackson
Marquis Anderson

The ideal here, as it is at every position, is to lock down the top players and then call the position complete for the class. Take Russell if either Jackson or Anderson head elsewhere.

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Comments

Cibolo Steele, you say?

I’m re-thinking my position on package deals.

I have beat wholesale ass for a whole lot less.

by burntorangehorn on Feb 12, 2010 7:26 AM CST reply actions

Desmond Jackson a Texas lean?

I was under the impression that Jackson could committ this weekend and was a strong lean to Texas?

by billfromlaketravis on Feb 12, 2010 7:44 AM CST reply actions

I think he likes Texas a lot

but it might take some time to sort out because of his father’s influence for Alabama. He’s also a kid who I think is blowing up a bit as a national recruit because of his performance at the Army Junior combine. I don’t see a commitment from him this weekend, but I’m probably being a bit conservative with all these estimates.

by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 12, 2010 12:19 PM CST up reply actions

Kyle Kriegel

With the 2011 offensive line looking thin, he looks like a good candidate to switch to OL.

by Longhorn90 on Feb 12, 2010 9:31 AM CST reply actions

Didn't think about that

but good point. Guess we will find out in the spring…..

"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese

by SwimTexas on Feb 12, 2010 9:34 AM CST up reply actions

This is a favorite idea of mine

because the DL are often more athletic and meaner, errrr aggressive, than some of the OL in HS.

"If worms carried pistols, birds wouldn't eat 'em"- Darrell Royal

by SpiritOfTheFedora on Feb 12, 2010 11:55 AM CST up reply actions

Desomnd...always listen to momma!

"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

by Sunkist on Feb 12, 2010 9:56 AM CST reply actions

0 and 1 technicques

Do you see anyone on this team as a true 0 or 1 technique? I’m guessing the closest thing we have at the moment are D.Johnson or T.Bible. I really don’t recall us having a true 0 or 1 in the Mack Brown era just because our defense have had a penchant for spinning guys down. I’d like to see us have one or two on the roster for purposes of plugging the middle against running teams and being able to go multiple as far as 4-3, 3-4, etc.

by BMG on Feb 12, 2010 10:05 AM CST reply actions

Kheeston Randall

I really liked what I saw from him last year. I think he is very capable of replacing Houston on the field. However, I think LaMarr followed up Roy Miller by bringing a lot to the team as a leader. Any word on how Derek Johnson has been progressing?

by Jrusso72 on Feb 12, 2010 10:31 AM CST reply actions

Still in school, which is good

considering that he went back to Arkansas last summer after enrolling, but not a whole lot other than his conditioning is improving, which was highly necessary. He’s still pretty raw — I’m not sure that he can be expected to contribute this season.

by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 12, 2010 12:22 PM CST up reply actions

Love Randall

He doesn’t get mentioned a lot but I think he could be an absolute stud this year. He really progressed last year to the point that I thought he was as good as Houston. I really think our d-line will be better next year.

"big-time players make big-time plays in big games."

by SoonerSlayer on Feb 12, 2010 12:38 PM CST up reply actions

I think it's overkill to say he was as good as Houston

But he definitely played above his experience level. He makes it easier to be optimistic about the defensive line.

I have beat wholesale ass for a whole lot less.

by burntorangehorn on Feb 12, 2010 1:06 PM CST up reply actions

Maybe it is

I wouldn’t have made that statement in October. By the end of the year he was close. Houston was so much about heart. That makes up for some physical shortcomings. Randall seem’s to have the whole package. That along with the progress he made last year has me excited about his future. Hopefully he can be half the leader Houston was. He will be hard to replace for that reason more than his talent imho.

"big-time players make big-time plays in big games."

by SoonerSlayer on Feb 12, 2010 5:25 PM CST up reply actions