2011 Texas Big Board: The Tight Ends

by GhostofBigRoy on Feb 9, 2010 5:21 AM CST in Texas Longhorns Recruiting Comment 19 comments

Tight ends on the 2011 roster -- Ian Harris (2011), Ahmard Howard (2011), Barrett Matthews (2012), DJ Grant (2012), Trey Graham (2013), Darius Terrell (2013/14)

Needs -- One

Targets --

Name (School)	JD invite?	Offer?	Commitment Odds	Favorites	Quick Take
MJ McFarland (El Paso El Dorado)	Feb. 13	No-brainer	85%	Texas Texas Tech UTEP	Impressed at the Army Junior combine with his ability to create separation against defensive backs. Could eventually grow into an attached tight end role. Excellent basketball player.
Max Stevenson (Klein Oak)	Unknown	Unlikely	80%	Duke Texas A&M Texas Tech TCU	Has excellent speed for his size, but is a project, as he will need several years in a college weight program to play attached tight end. Plays some outside for Klein Oak and performed well at the Army Junior combine. Minimal experience blocking inside. Not hearing much from Texas.
Chris Barnett (Euless Trinity)	Unknown	Possible	33%	Texas Miami Oklahoma Oklahoma State	Brother of Eryon Barnett. Sounded like a Miami lean early in the process and then sounded like a Texas lock. Hard to tell where exactly he stands. Plays some defense and just transferred to Euless Trinity, but his film is unimpressive -- looks like just another guy. Hasn't heard much from Texas recently.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Gig Harbor, WA)	Unknown	Possible	10%	Oklahoma UCLA Florida Miami Notre Dame	A top national prospect who would have to make it to Austin to receive an offer. Has a unique size/speed combination and experience playing outside in high school -- an extremely versatile receiver and blocker. Often mentions that he is waiting on a Texas offer.

Overview -- It's not quite a need position based on the numbers, but it's a need position in terms of finding a difference maker and someone who can make an impact in the running game. McFarland seems like the best fit because of his size and frame -- he's also more developed and quite possibly more athletic than Stevenson. The good news for the Longhorns is that there is more talent in-state in 2011 than there was in 2010 -- the Longhorns should be able to find a tight end that the coaching staff not only likes but is willing to commit.

Other names to know -- Cooper Washington (Muleshoe)

Wish list -- McFarland. Seferian-Jenkins would be ideal, but there's no overwhelming indication that he would ever make it back to campus or even that he is that interested in the Longhorns and McFarland seems to fit the Texas offense better with his ability to play the flex position and grow into an attached role.

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Comments

Irby done?

Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.

by kriess on Feb 9, 2010 5:44 AM CST reply actions

Looks likely right now

I also left him off because I’m not sure where his eligibility is right now and if last season would count towards it or not.

by GhostofBigRoy on Feb 9, 2010 5:46 AM CST up reply actions

I've figured for some months that Ian Harris was even less likely

to ever play again than Blaine Irby. Harris has missed two of the last three seasons completely, so he’s far behind those who’ve been playing/practicing — and his upside is not what Irby’s was. With a five-player attrition needed to fit this year’s signing class into the 85-limit, I’ve calculated both tight ends will be moved to “non-participation” status.

Dominique Jones? No way he gets PT at defensive end. I’ve heard nothing about whether he’s healthy, and what position he’ll compete at.

by edsp on Feb 9, 2010 10:26 AM CST up reply actions

: ((((

by The Mack Attack on Feb 9, 2010 4:09 PM CST up reply actions

Is McFarland a good enough hoops player

…to actually play for Barnes?

by JudenSmithFan on Feb 9, 2010 6:14 AM CST reply actions

It depends

But it’ll probably hinge on how big his ego measures at junior day.

by burntorangehorn on Feb 9, 2010 7:18 AM CST up reply actions

Seferian-Jenkins

We should make this guy a number one priority to get on campus. If he can’t make the trip go to him. An elite TE would be a difference maker.

Can McFarland block?

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

by SpiritOfTheFedora on Feb 9, 2010 9:52 AM CST reply actions

Ahhh...McFarland plays WR in high school

Which means not right now for the blocking.

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

by SpiritOfTheFedora on Feb 9, 2010 11:50 AM CST up reply actions

What's up with Blaine Irby?

I thought he had at least another year like a medical redshirt? someone inform me!

by struglin2thetop on Feb 9, 2010 12:15 PM CST reply actions

He has up to 3 years of eligibility

possible, depending on the status of a redshirt season and an appeal to the NCAA for a possible sixth season.

But . . . indications are his injury will not permit him to play again.

by edsp on Feb 9, 2010 12:33 PM CST up reply actions

Wow.

Thanks for the info

by struglin2thetop on Feb 9, 2010 12:45 PM CST reply actions

austin jenkins

why havent we offered him yet. he has already visited and i think financially its to much to ask a kid from Washington to visit again for a offer.

by tcuhorns on Feb 9, 2010 4:34 PM CST reply actions

I'm tired of this flex-TE stuff. Give me a guy like Scaife, Thomas or Finley.

3/19/2009 & 12/15/2009 - Games Where Dogus Balbay Made a Three-Pointer. Never Forget.

by burrito on Feb 9, 2010 7:46 PM CST reply actions

+1

Vince Young = Greatness

by PineypointG on Feb 9, 2010 8:09 PM CST up reply actions

... a guy like Scaife, Thomas or Finley

so basically, someone who struggles with multiple injuries early in his career, an under-the-radar recruit that grows into the job, and a high-school WR that spins down…

sounds like exactly what we’ve been doing…

by Pflash on Feb 9, 2010 10:01 PM CST up reply actions

Took the words right off my keyboard

I have beat wholesale ass for a whole lot less.

by burntorangehorn on Feb 10, 2010 9:12 AM CST up reply actions

funny to compare the respective offer lists of McFarland and Barnett at this stage

McFarland has four offers. They are:
Baylor
San Diego St.
New Mexico St.
UTEP

Barnett lists 17 offers, including but not limited to:
Miami-FL
OU
Ok. St
Florida State
Tennessee
Arkansas
Stanford
Notre Dame
Kansas

At this stage, Barnett has one of the more impressive offer sheets of anyone in the country.

It would be interesting to know what the Texas staff sees that the rest of the college football world doesn’t that makes them prefer McFarland over Barnett.

by bigdukesix on Feb 9, 2010 8:25 PM CST reply actions

True Orange?

My partner’s husband is a big Longhorn fan (actually played for Texas in the late 60s-I think he was actually a TE). Anyway, whenever we see each other we share tidbits and he asked me if I heard about this big TE out of El Paso. I don’t know much about True Orange, but that is where he gets his information so I’m guessing they must be pretty high on McFarland.

GBR has stated that it is a no brainer to offer him, so I really want to see his video. I would like to see us get a real TE and not an “oversized” WR.

Barnett-Initially he didn’t have us listed on his wish list, which I thought was a bit strange given the status of his brother. If he doesn’t get an offer and commit within a reasonable time after Junior Days I doubt we hold a spot for him. I suspect we have made it clear we want him, but he isn’t Jeffcoat or Hicks and I don’t think we will give him a long time to decide.

by Wrangler86 on Feb 9, 2010 10:28 PM CST up reply actions

Barnett's not even listed as one of the TEs in the Rivals 250 watch list for 2011

Which obviously doesn’t mean he’s not a good prospect, but McFarland’s mentioned there, so it appears some people at that particular service like McFarland more than they do Barnett.

I have beat wholesale ass for a whole lot less.

by burntorangehorn on Feb 12, 2010 1:52 PM CST up reply actions