Texas Recruiting 2012: Defensive Tackle Big Board Update

by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 24, 2011 11:37 AM CST in Texas Longhorns Recruiting

Needs -- Two or three

Name	School	JD invite?	Offer?	Commitment/ odds	Favorites	Quick take
Malcom Brown	Brenham	Feb. 26	Yes	5%	Texas Texas A&M	2/23: Missed JD1 due to transportation issues. Will be attending FBU camp in Austin this weekend, so should make it over to the Junior Day. Still considered a heavy A&M lean. If Texas is going to make up ground, this is the weekend to do it. 2/10: Long considered the top defensive tackle in the class. A bit on the small side at 6-2, but understands leverage well, is explosive off the ball, and has a high motor. Video. Uphill battle for Texas with commitment of three teammates to A&M.
Javonte Magee	SA Sam Houston	Feb. 13	Yes	40%	Texas Baylor Texas A&M	2/23: Some thought that he is an A&M lean over the Aggie Elite Junior Day last weekend. Texas made positive impression on his visit. Could be long recruitment. 2/10: Huge kid at 6-5, 270 pounds. A&M wants him as a defensive end, but he will probably into a defensive tackle. Athletic for his size and appears to have good feel for the game: diagnoses screens, gets hands into passing lanes, forces fumbles. Video. Still trying to find a way to get to Austin for JD1. Former teammate Quincy Russell is a 2011 Texas commit.
Alex Norman	Dallas Bishop Dunne	Feb. 13	Yes	Committed to Texas (2/12/11)	Texas ~~Oklahoma~~ ~~TCU~~	2/23: Instant analysis and scouting report. 2/10: Surfaced on radar on Wednesday with news of his invite. Texas has been looking at him for some time. 6-3, 280 with some bad weight. Not particularly athletic as a sophomore, looks like NG or 1 tech. Lost his base at times as a sophomore and took plays off. No highlights currently available.
Paul Boyette	Humble	Feb. 26	Possible	95%	Texas Alabama Auburn Nebraska Oregon Oklahoma	2/23: Still a likely commit if offered, but it's unclear if being pushed back from JD1 will influence his decision at all. 2/10: 6-4, 280. Moves well for his size, gets hands up and into passing lanes. Often loses leverage by standing up on the snap. Video. Pushed back to the second Junior Day with recent invite extended to Alex Norman. Father played at Oklahoma. Strong possibility to commit if offered.
Zorrell Ezell	Humble	Feb. 26	Unlikely	70%	Texas Kansas State TCU	2/23: More athletic than Boyette, but his size makes him a questionable take. 2/10: Borderline size at 6-1, 250. Highly athletic, however. Quick off the ball. Can re-direct. Has a spin move he likes to use. Could be swing guy in college between three and five tech. Video. Not much known about his level of interest in Texas.
Anthony Smith	Houston Westfield	Feb. 26	Unlikely	85%	Texas Kansas State TCU	2/23: Recently had his offer pulled by Baylor. Unsure if he will make JD2. 2/10: Undersized at 6-0. Built like a bowling ball with some quickness. Has a swim move similar to teammate Desmond Jackson. Projects as a Ben Alexander type in college. Video.

Moving forward -- This is essentially a make-or-break weekend for Texas with Malcom Brown, who is still expected to make a decision in March and right now, it still looks like Brown will become an Aggie barring a major change in his recruitment. Depending on how the staff feels about Magee and the recent rumors that he's high on A&M as well and the bad news in both of those recruitments could push the staff to lock up another defensive tackle.

That would likely be Paul Boyette, a solid prospect who doesn't have the upside of Alex Norman or Brown, but still projects as a guy who could be a contributor in college. Smith is another possibility and has a higher likelihood of landing an offer than the similarly undersized Ezell and would likely commit on the spot. On offer to Smith would seemingly indicate that the Longhorns don't feel confident about their chances with Brown or Magee or both.

There's probably as much uncertainty around the defensive tackle position and who receives offers as any other this weekend and the decisions the staff makes on Saturday will go a long way towards determining how recruiting proceeds at this position for the remainder of the process.

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Comments

years of laziness in evaluation and recruiting...

…is resulting in us having to fight with A&M for major recruits…

by vanterminatorhorn on Feb 24, 2011 1:39 PM CST reply actions

What evidence is there of laziness?

I sure don’t see any. Texas has out-recruited just about anyone in the market.

Then we'll write our own bible, with less Sodom and more Gomorrah.

by burntorangehorn on Feb 24, 2011 1:50 PM CST up reply actions

Probably

A reference to Giles supposedly slacking off on the Brenham pipeline the past couple years, which allowed Sherm to get in with the Cole’s and Brown’s of the world. That said, if we don’t go 5-7 and A&M didn’t win 9 games this year I don’t think we have a problem.

by GoHornsGo90 on Feb 24, 2011 4:35 PM CST up reply actions

More like bad luck

Players like Eddie Jones, Curtis Brown, Chykie Brown, Michael Huey, Kyle Hix, Russell Carter, etc. never lived up to their lofty recruiting ratings. Throw in Andre Jones, Aundre McGaskey, Brandon Collins, Tre Newton, Dan Buckner, D.J. Grant, Blaine Irby, Ben Wells, the list goes on. All highly sought recruits from the 2007/2008 classes who projected as juniors and seniors last year.

We have a 12th man and he's Bryan Harsin

by SpiritOfTheFedora on Feb 24, 2011 6:01 PM CST up reply actions

I think this is far more accurate

Then we'll write our own bible, with less Sodom and more Gomorrah.

by burntorangehorn on Feb 24, 2011 8:40 PM CST up reply actions

well when you say it that way...

I can’t disagree….

by TowerPower on Feb 24, 2011 10:15 PM CST up reply actions

Those guys weren't all highly rated

For instance Newton. I also wouldn’t put Curtis Brown into the category of not living up to his ranking.

I don’t think it’s completely “bad luck” that a bunch of players weren’t developed by the coaching staff, it’s bad coaching. Some guys like Collins and Andre Jones that obviously doesn’t apply to, but it certainly does to the O-linemen and guys like Chykie.

by GoHornsGo90 on Feb 25, 2011 12:22 PM CST up reply actions

Losing Muchamp and Tolleson didn't help

at least in the case of defensive recruits.

by Horncasting on Feb 24, 2011 2:23 PM CST up reply actions

I hope Boyette gets an offer this weekend

The kid is Texas good and a favorite of Bo Davis.

Yep lot’s of ground to be made up on MB2.

I didn’t know that Magee was an Aggy lean. That’s first I have heard that. I hope Bo stays on this one. Boyette, Magee and Norman is not a bad DT haul.

by billfromlaketravis on Feb 24, 2011 1:45 PM CST reply actions

by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Feb 24, 2011 2:49 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Say it Aint So

This position looks like the first time in years that Aggie recruiting just destroyed our capability to get quality depth. They get the top 2-3 and we get scraps? Say it aint so.

Note to Bill Byrne "Because you aren´t Texas and you´ll never be Texas"

by realmccoy on Feb 25, 2011 9:32 AM CST reply actions