Needs -- Two or three
Name | School | JD invite? | Offer? |
Commitment/ odds |
Favorites |
Quick take |
Malcom Brown |
Brenham |
Feb. 26 |
Yes | 5% |
|
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% |
|
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) |
|
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% |
|
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% |
|
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% |
|
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.