Brandon Alexander Commits to Texas A&M
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 1, 2011 4:27 PM CST
in Texas Longhorns Recruiting
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PrintThings looked promising for the Longhorns and 2011 Brenham defensive end Brandon Alexander late last week after Alexander's official visit to Austin and an in-home visit from the Texas coaching staff. An official visit to Arkansas over the weekend didn't seem to result in any seismic shifts in his recruitment, either.
Something else did, however, and after reports that Alexander had told some of those close to him that he was going to become a Longhorn, Alexander and his guardian David Barnham reportedly informed coaches ($) on Tuesday that Alexander will commit to Texas A&M and sign his LOI on Wednesday.
The Aggies were the first major school to recruit Alexander, offering him back in September, and that could have weighed heavily with him. Recruitocosm reported on Tuesday that if the decision was up to Alexander alone, he would have chosen Texas. It didn't happen and the thought is that his guardian preferred A&M.
Alexander is a big get for the Aggies, especially considering their highest-rated recruit going into Tuesday was a four-star kicker, their only four-star commit in the class. The commitment from Alexander could also help the Aggies as they pursue the talented 2012 class at Brenham: DT Malcolm Brown, LB Tim Cole, ATH Troy Green, and OL Adrian Bellard. A&M has offered all four and is in a strong position with all of them. Brown is the top defensive tackle in the state and will be a Texas target and Cole could be as well.
For Texas, Alexander would have filled a major need at defensive end, a position that will have only three scholarship players in 2011 -- sophomores Jackson Jeffcoat and Reggie Wilson and freshman Cedric Reed. Dravannti Johnson will fill in at the Buck position and there are rumors that Chris Whaley will move from H-back to DE, but the numbers are still short there.
The Longhorns are still in the mix for Shreveport Evangel DE Jermauria Rasco, with some reports that Texas is in the final two with LSU. The Tigers are, however, still widely considered the leader and have been since Will Muschamp left Texas for the Florida job. Rasco will announce his decision on Wednesday at 2 pm CST.
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Rasco is up next but he's an LSU lean
With Whaley moving to DE and Reed already committing I think we will be fine if we don’t land another DE this year.
ATX
Is it a sure thing that Whaley's moving?
Just Harsin around.
by burntorangehorn on Feb 1, 2011 4:34 PM CST up reply actions
Still a rumor at this point.
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by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 1, 2011 4:38 PM CST up reply actions
You have to see the forest for the trees
with Alexander’s recruitment. While he obviously has tons of potential he isn’t a make or break recruit, although the he would have helped the depth situation. However, there is no guarantee he would have been a contributor this coming year. Nothing won, nothing lost, IMHO.
"I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field."
-Walter Payton
Doubt he would have contributed this year.
Could have possibly played some Buck, but yeah, he’s definitely raw.
Hurts more in terms of wider perspective with the Aggies looking like they could land all four 2012 kids from Brenham and things not looking promising with Mario Edwards.
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by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 1, 2011 4:45 PM CST up reply actions
Good points about this year
Hey, we weren’t even recruiting BA six months ago. He became a priority because Okafor moved to tackle, Mims bombed out, and the pursuit of Rasco came up (apparently) empty. This was not a make or break addition to the class.
As to the impact of future prospects at Brenham, that’s why we hired a staff of young coaches/recruiters.
DE is definitely a position of concern...
There is really no reason why a program of our caliber and success churning out DE’s to the NFL should have problems filling in the numbers at this position. Obviously, I know guys like Okafor and others wound up at DT after initially getting looks at DE.
Still, only one guy has extensive experience in Jeffcoat. Whaley could project well to a DE as Melton did, but it still has to be considered a stretch until shown otherwise. You have to expect that Reed and Whaley will have to see extensive playing time unless Diaz feels comfortable going with the buck and two tackles - even then our tackle situation is not much better than it was last year. There are too many holes in the front 7 of this defense to expect much better next year…
Dom Jones also switched sides of the ball
and Russell Carter left the program. Kyle Kriegel, who looked like a swing guy, moved to offensive line and then got hurt. There’s been a lot of movement at the position. A year ago it looked stacked. Things change quickly.
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by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 1, 2011 4:46 PM CST up reply actions
Is this a symptom of the evaluation problem?
you salivate over guys that are monster DEs as HS juniors but by the time they hit campus they have added weight and project to be DTs instead of DEs. Meanwhile guys like Alexander pop up seamingly out of nowhere. DEs require a balance of size, agility, and strength and good ones are so hard to find. We ought to realize that you shouldn’t offer all your DE spots 18 months before signing day.
by BMG on Feb 1, 2011 4:53 PM CST up reply actions
My take on what's happened
is that all the movement of defensive ends has had a lot to do with attrition/misses at the defensive end and tight end positions. If the injuries at tight end hadn’t happened and if Texas had better depth at defensive tackle, then guys like Okafor and Jones wouldn’t have had to move.
Some of it is that there weren’t a lot of good DEs in the 2011 class. Nathan Hughes, for instance, is another guy who could end up swinging inside because of his frame.
In terms of poor evaluations, I think Texas made a mistake by not getting in on Alexander earlier. I understand it’s difficult to track move-ins across such a big state, but when they move in to a place like Brenham, a place you should stop by every fall practice, there’s no excuse for not knowing about him, picking up film, and starting to recruit him. He’s 6-6, 230 and can move! Those things make deciding to offer a guy pretty easy.
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by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 1, 2011 5:01 PM CST up reply actions
Don't be too upset, you'll still get to watch him in Dallas for the next 4-5 years
"I don't like Texas. I don't like the city of Austin. And I don't like the color orange. It reminds me of puke." The Boz
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Nathan Hughes has been GG bitch for two straight years.
Oak even moved him away from GG because he was getting his ass worn out. I have seen Hughes for three years and he has been far more impressive walking around in a letter jacket than his play on the field.
by davey o'brien on Feb 1, 2011 9:05 PM CST up reply actions
Agreed on the cause, but was D. Alexander the the appropriate response?
The downside of going into next year without depth outweighs the upside to landing Alexander. With the top three already in place, you don’t need to look for the next superstar, just someone to provide depth in case of injury. I would have addressed the depth issue by going after a 3 star player who was already committed to Baylor/OSU/Tech/TCU.
If Whaley does indeed switch positions, he would be bringing with him 0 experience at the position. Not only is this quite a bit of pressure to heap onto Whaley, I’d be happier with someone with a bit of experience that they can hang their hat on.
by BMG on Feb 1, 2011 5:30 PM CST up reply actions
A&M has offered (2012):
RB/LB Troy Green
OL Adrian Bellard
Timothy Cole
Malcolm Brown
& they are rumored to be making a “BIG” announcement in March. I wonder how much all of this played into Alexander’s commitment to A&M.
Also, Gerry H. confirmed this afternoon that Rasco is down to Florida, LSU & Texas.
You can delete my fanshot
I thought that Okafor moved to DT because we were thin there...
Seems to me he could move back fairly readily; more readily than bringing a freshman up to a competitive level. OTOH, where would that leave us at DT?
Depends on the development of guys like Calvin Howell, Ashton Dorsey, and Taylor Bible.
Don’t think that De’Aires Cotton will be ready to contribute this year. My expectation is that Okafor and Greg Daniels are swing guys between three tech DT and five tech DE (3-4). In other words, a lot of three down linemen in 2011 unless the young DTs make big strides. Also remember that Tyrell Higgins left the program again, so that further thins out DT depth.
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by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 1, 2011 4:52 PM CST up reply actions
My we live in interesting times
Thanks for the info, GOBR!
That's what I thought
I was more concerned about Jackson and Russell. Now that we have two solid DTs that can help give a breather can’t we move Okafor back to DE/Buck where he belongs?
We have Reggie Wilson, Daneils, and newbie C. Reed is a beast even if he is raw. We are ok I hope.
No expectation with Rasco. And, the way Mimms floated away I was keen on this late breaking Alexander train. IF the other guys are planning to join him at A&M, we never had any of them anyway.
The new recruits
don’t expect them to come in and play right away. Everyone expected the recruits last year to come in right away and play and only one of them did (JJ).
I don't get it
I can’t fathom forcing my kid into anything. How can parents such as Deandre Daniels and Alexander not let them go with their gut and/or first choice, if it’s Texas? Kids don’t get a final say when they are 8, not 18.
Not a single person here......
Can provide a link or any proof that Brandon wanted to go to Texas. This is a bunch of hearsay coming from the mouths of so called “recruiting experts”……….. the same mouths that are connected to a brain that controls the eyes that are looking through burnt orange glasses. Brandon himself wanted to be an Aggie all along. The fact that his guardian wants the same thing makes for a happy household.
by MrShankopotamus on Feb 1, 2011 5:38 PM CST up reply actions
There's about as much direct evidence of Alexander wanting to attend Texas as...
there is direct evidence that Aggy has a standing offer from the SEC. Oh , I went there.
by billfromlaketravis on Feb 1, 2011 5:57 PM CST up reply actions
Ur right, the SEC doesn't want A&M
You and every other school in the conference agreed to give A&M more money to keep us in the Big 12 b/c no one else wanted us.
by miketag on Feb 2, 2011 1:00 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Doesnt make sense
He could have committed months ago. Lacks logic
Brandon Alexander, is that you?....
Because you would be the only one whose eyes would be connected to your brain, right?
by SneezyBeltran on Feb 1, 2011 8:09 PM CST up reply actions
Me too, but...
… some kids are far more dependent on their parents for guidance on the big decisions than others. And some parents are more than eager to provide the guidance.
65 percent
Go where their parents want according to espn survey
by miketag on Feb 2, 2011 1:01 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Will Recruits be signing at home or their respective H.S. tomorrow????
I live in DFW area and I’m watching the news and a lot of ISD are closed tomorrow!!!!!! Just something to be aware of tomorrow morning!!!!!
I think Texas plays a ton of 3-4 in 2011
We’re lucky that we have some versatility at DT. I agree GOBR Daniels and Okafor can play both 3 and 5 technique, and they will certainly have to in 2011. Both Wilson and Jeffcoat can play OLB in the 3-4, or Buck positions.
I am not optimistic on Dr, Johnson he did very, very little with his starting role at the beginning of the 2010 season. I think Dr. Johnson is a solid, depth contributor at best.
I agree the Texas coaches should have noticed Brandon Alexander earlier. The Rasco confidence was uh well unfounded in my opinion. Out of state, nationally rated recruits are very difficult to be confident about. Should have moved to Alexander months ago.
I am not confident about Rasco, but hey we’re at least in his top 3, if not his top 2 depending on the source.
I hope the Texas coaches go full court press on Rasco tonight. The chances are slim I know, but hey we thought the Alexander to Aggy chances were slim too. I like the never say die attitude of the new staff. I’m certain the Texas coaches are scrambling to pick up steam with Rasco this evening.
I saw an interesting post on another site, that Aggy wins one head to head recruiting battle with Texas per year. Alexander was Aggy’s 2012 win.
I think we can possibly pull Cole out the Aggy 5 – some, but I’m much less confident about MB2 now.
by billfromlaketravis on Feb 1, 2011 5:18 PM CST reply actions
Agree BFLT...
The coaching staff should b in shreveport on Rasco’s front porch with a fruit basket for mom!!!!!
closings tomorrow...
The news has said that FWISD and DISD will be closed tomorrow!! Should be an interesting national signing day!!!!!
Don't know if this has been addressed before
but how come we have heard nothing about any previous recruits maybe switching from Miss. St.? I’m sure Diaz had a major hand in recruiting early and they always seem to have good players on defense. Was there really nobody with Diaz loyalties that the Horns wanted?
I've wondered the same thing LT
Mack might have asked Boom to not poach any recruits when he left Texas. It would be hypocritical if Mack then asked Diaz to bring a couple kids with him.
There could be a simpler answer, like Mack liked our guys better than anyone Diaz could have brought.
by billfromlaketravis on Feb 1, 2011 6:33 PM CST up reply actions
Pushing back some signing ceremonies
but it looks like the coaches are working to get the paperwork to the families of the players so that they can send them in tomorrow morning and that usual time. Per HS Game Time.
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by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 1, 2011 8:12 PM CST up reply actions
Does this possibly speed up Kendal Thompson's move to DE?
With his frame, DE seems like his final position to me.
Doesn't look good for Texas with Malcolm Brown and Tim Cole
No question about that. Not sure how Alexander relates to all the other decisions, especially since he hasn’t been at Brenham that long. Great day for the Aggies, though.
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by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 1, 2011 10:41 PM CST up reply actions
Very true about the situation with Brown and Cole. Hopefully we can get them on campus for a visit before they decide what they want to do.
Reasonable chance of that
but not high enough to be comfortable about even having a chance at getting a commitment from either of them.
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by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 2, 2011 12:04 AM CST up reply actions
Seems like
leaking that you liked one school, but parents preferred another and visiting a few other schools late in the process could be a great way to set up a Newton defense.
Supposedly
Green and Bullard checked with Cole and Johnson before they committed b/c they had originally planned for all 4 to commit to A&M together. 6 commits, hopefully soon to be 8
by miketag on Feb 2, 2011 1:05 AM CST via mobile reply actions
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