Needs -- Four
Name | School | JD invite? | Offer? |
Commitment/ odds |
Favorites |
Quick take |
LaDarrell McNeil |
A. Maceo Smith |
Feb. 13 |
No-brainer |
60% |
|
Top pure DB in the state at this time. Big hitter from safety position, but versatile enough to play some in coverage, although he's not a CB in college. Video. |
Will Hines |
Waco |
Feb. 13 |
Possible | 40% |
|
Tall for a CB at 6-1. Listed 4.4 40 speed. Has good recovery speed. Video. Emerged on the Texas radar with Junior Day invite. Muschamp invited him down to Florida camp. |
Damien Lawry |
A. Maceo Smith |
Feb. 13 |
Possible |
40% |
|
Plays receiver at Lawry, but would likely be looked at as a DB at Texas. Can high-point football; good ball skills. Reaches top speed quickly. Good balance. Video. Could get an offer if Texas sees him as a CB. |
Bryson Echols |
DeSoto |
Feb. 26 |
Possible |
60% |
|
Fast, can finish plays with interceptions. Breaks well on the football. Some evidence of being a solid tackler. Video. Prospect who has been getting increasing attention, but still relatively under the radar. Does not report any offers at this time. Texas connections at DeSoto could help Longhorns if they offer. |
Nick Coleman |
SA East Central |
Feb. 26 |
Possible |
60% |
|
Another cornerback with good size at 6-1. Known as fast and physical. Supposedly has hips to play corner. Good high jumper. Reports a 3.2 GPA. No offers yet. |
Names to know -- Kendall Sanders (Athens ATH), Corey Thompson (Fort Bend Elkins ATH), Bralon Addison (Fort Bend Hightower ATH), Reginald Davis (Tenaha ATH), Edward Pope (Carthage S)
Overview -- The good news for Texas is that a few weeks ago it looked like there weren't any pure cornerback prospects on the radar. Now, with the emergence of Hines, Echols, and Lawry onto the radar, the Longhorns have more options at the position. Perhaps just as importantly, those options actually have experience at the position, rather than playing at other positions like quarterback or receiver and having to convert later.
In terms of the composition of this group, the best guess is that Texas will probably take on pure safety, two cornerbacks, and then an athlete type.
The difficulty is in determining the best targets. McNeil is the top defensive back in the state and the only clear lock for an offer. After that, it's all a guessing game. Lawry has the most impressive offer list, while Hines and Coleman both have excellent height for the cornerback position. Are they fast and fluid enough to play there at Texas? That's the question the coaching staff has to answer. Muschamp's interest in Hines certainly bodes well for his talent level.
As for the others, Kendall Sanders looked like a strong candidate for an offer several weeks ago, but hasn't received an invitation yet. For whatever reason, Addison hasn't received an invitation either. Since Texas is in the market for cornerbacks more than safeties with McNeil the top target at safety, so Edward Pope may be on the outside looking in. He still may come in for a Junior Day, but the date is unconfirmed at this time. Thompson is a candidate to attend the second Junior Day. The problem with him is that many view him as a receiver and Texas doesn't need to target any more receivers with Dom Wheeler emerging as a serious candidate for an offer.
Of course, the elephant in the room here is the unresolved status of Jerry Gray. It's difficult to predict the type of impact that a possible departure by Gray could have on the class, but there's question that it wouldn't be positive, especially given the timing.
Wish list --
- LaDarrell McNeil
- Bralon Addison
- Will Hines
- Damien Lawry