Aledo RB Johnathan Gray Down to Texas, TCU, A&M
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Mar 3, 2011 9:12 AM CST
in Texas Longhorns Recruiting
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PrintIn a meeting with his family on Wednesday night, Aledo RB Johnathan Gray, one of the top prospects in the entire country, narrowed his college choices down to Texas, TCU, and Texas A&M. As he has done throughout most of the process, already far advanced considering he has yet to finish his junior year of high school, Gray did not name favorites.
After an early visit for the first Texas Junior Day back in February, Gray was able to spend a significant amount of face time with members of the Texas coaching staff, particularly Major Applewhite. Following the visit, there were rumors that Texas was the runaway leader and even some talk that Gray might be a silent commit to the Longhorns. In recent weeks, the news out of Aledo has been that TCU is gaining ground on Texas.
As a whole, the rumors fall into the category of unsubstantiated, as the family has been careful with their public comments, as Gray's father, former Texas Tech RB James Gray, has handled most of the media attention that goes along with such a high-profile recruitment. The younger Gray plans to make his decision before his senior year begins this fall.
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WOW
While most people knew Tech wasn’t a going to win this battle, I can’t beleive he didn’t keep them in his favorites. From what I’ve read ($) its basically down to Texas (80%) and TCU (20%), so where does A&M fall?
Hasn't been much buzz around A&M recently.
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www.burntorangenation.com
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Mar 3, 2011 9:29 AM CST up reply actions
Except aggie would be wearing a flannel plaid shirt.
Then we'll write our own bible, with less Sodom and more Gomorrah.
by burntorangehorn on Mar 3, 2011 3:24 PM CST up reply actions
I would have doctored it up
but my MS Paint skills are limited. Maybe PB wants to give it a go?
If I were in his shoes
and I didn’t have any friends or family giving me their input nor childhood biases to any of the schools, what would make me choose one of these teams over the other? What’s the most important thing? Having an OL that I know will open up gaping holes for me on a consistent basis? Being promised a starting job in my first year? Going to a school that will get plenty of TV exposure during the season? What’s number one on his list (in your opinion)?
My guess
is a team that will feature Gray in a way to further his dreams of playing in the NFL. There’s been some talk that Papa Gray likes Texas because his son would be able to split carries with Brown, saving some wear and tear on him for the NFL. Recall also that the combination of Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown didn’t end up hurting either when they were drafted, so splitting carries probably wouldn’t hurt Gray going into the draft.
In terms of an offense featuring Gray, I think he’s going to take a look at what Texas is doing this spring and if he likes it, I think the Longhorns are in great shape. From his time at Boise State, my take is that Harsin had success with backs who were far less talented than Gray, so I think that also bodes well. Adding in the fact that Mack Brown is a run-first guy at heart and the fact that Texas provides a bigger stage than TCU and I think you have a pretty compelling case for Texas being able to further Gray’s NFL chances more than the Horned Frogs.
Follow me on Twitter: @GhostofBigRoy
www.burntorangenation.com
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Mar 3, 2011 9:59 AM CST up reply actions
Draft Prospects
Don’t forget Thunder and Lightning. And the two RB’s from Minnesota.
Another factor: can the Big East stadiums compare to those of the Big 12? And the Cotton Bowl?
Still a Blaine Irby fan
by patienthornsfan on Mar 3, 2011 10:13 AM CST up reply actions
Will TCU make a BCS game every year in the Big East?
"Football's so important in Texas. On the West Coast, it's a social. On the East Coast, it's a culture. Here, it's a religion."
-- Major Applewhite
Will Texas make a BCS game every year in the Big 12?
I hate to play Devil’s Advocate here, but Texas has far more competition making a BCS game year in year out than TCU will in the Big East. I think Gray ultimately chooses the Horns but TCU is not “the little sisters of the poor” anymore to quote tOSU’s president.
I was at TCU last week for a clinic and while there facilities are not the same as Texas they are really investing in that program. If I am Patterson my sales pitch is that Gray is the kind of kid that takes TCU to the next level of being a contender year in and year out. The kid that could help TCU win its first MNC. Like I said, just playing Devil’s Advocate here but I think TCU is a legitimate recruiting threat for the forseeable future.
"I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field."
-Walter Payton
I was speaking BCS era
The NC back then was decided by the press. The current day NC is referred to around here as the Mythical National Championship because of the disdain for the BCS.
"I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field."
-Walter Payton
right on... apparently AP didn't start giving NC until 1936 tho.. below is an exerpt from wikipedia
“TCU recognizes two national championships, one from 1935 and the other from 1938. In 1935, TCU lost in their last game of the year to SMU who then lost to Stanford in the Rose Bowl. That same year TCU defeated LSU in the Sugar Bowl. Since the wire services didn’t award national championships until 1936, TCU recognizes a statistical poll created by Paul O. Williamson who awarded his national title to LSU and TCU for the 1935 season. The 1938 team was undefeated and was the #1 team according to the Associated Press poll.”
here is the link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TCU_Horned_Frogs_football#National_championships
Didn't know that about the AP
thanks for sharing.
"I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field."
-Walter Payton
He has...
Taken a beating the last two seasons with over 700 carries and a couple of surgeries, I don’t see him being able to stay healthy as the lone featured RB with any program. Reggie “I got paid” Bush and Lindale “Tequila” White did ok in the draft too.
Aggies sure, not really TCU
TCU runs out 4 running backs every game and would likely not change that regardless of who is on the team. If he turns out to be as good as people think he will be, he might get more carries than anyone else on the team but I seriously doubt he’d get more than 15 touches in most games.
Today's NFL doesn't care where you come from...
He’ll probably end up going to Texas because for better or worse, that’s what most top recruits from this state do, but I don’t really think his NFL chances would be helped or hurt by choosing either. If he can play, he’ll get noticed regardless of where he plays. Really the only thing that Texas’ exposure would give him a greater chance at would be winning the Heisman, and it’s a big ‘if’ to assume that a 17 year-old kid is going to do that anyway. As a TCU alum, I can say that I kind of care about this sort of thing because I think we can all agree that the more highly rated players you are able to get relates to how viable your program is year in and year out, but at the same time we’ve managed to do some pretty special things recently with what most perceive to be lesser talent so if he doesn’t stick around Fort Worth I’m sure GP will find somebody to fill that position nicely.
also...
would you rather play 9 of your 12 games (home and away) in Texas and Stillwater, with only 2 games a year in Kansas/Missouri/Iowa; or play only 7 games in Texas (including SMU) games (and assuming they add another school) while the rest would be in Kentucky, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Connecticut.
Being promised a starting job in my first year?
I believe that any coach that’s promising playing time to a player who is a year and a half away from seeing the field is lying. I realize that a depth chart can be used as an advantage when recruiting players but there is no way that any coach should be telling high school juniors that they will have a starting position when they get on campus. Not only does this give the high school player a sense of entitlement, but it’s also demeaning to the players already on campus.
Sports is man's joke on God, You see, God says to man, 'I've created a universe where it seems like everything matters, where you'll have to grapple with life and death and in the end you'll die anyway, and it won't really matter.' So man says to God, 'Oh, yeah? Within your universe we're going to create a sub-universe called sports, one that absolutely doesn't matter, and we'll follow everything that happens in it as if it were life and death.'" - Sam Kellerman
Somewhat Agree
As long as the Coaches are being honest, I do not see a problem with it. Its not necessarily demeaning to a player on campus if its true. Like with Chance Mock and Vince Young or when TJ Ford got to campus for basketball… When you have a player with stellar talent you make use of it as best you can especially in a team sport. No one is saying the player on campus should lay down, they have every right to compete and it is up to the coaches to make sure the competition is equitable.
But if the competition is equitable
then they broke their promise to the recruit.
Promising a starting role is ridiculous. Coaches shouldn’t do it, and recruits would be fools to believe it.
Basketball is a little different, because 1-and-done’s are a little different. There are transcendant talents. Anybody who told John Wall that he might not start for their team would be kidding themselves.
"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese
But what is really being Promised?
No one knows for sure. Is he saying starter day 1, opportunity to start, guaranteed playing time??? It makes a lot of difference.
I’m sure make and the staff are careful not to break there word otherwise people would hear about that. If he is making a promise that a kid will start, I trust he recognizes a special talent and is willing to roll with it.
Would anyone really be upset if they promised MB1 the starting gig? The RBs on the team can hardly complain (save for Shead) because they have all had a shot to lock it down. The offer to start wouldn’t be there if we already had a “starter”.
If the promise is an opportunity then there is absolutely nothing inequitable about that, bottom line the staff knows what there doing and current players understand should understand how it works. Its UT, BEST TALENT should play bottom line!
I would be upset if Malcolm Brown was promised the starting gig.
Who’s to say he won’t come in here in the summer out of shape much like Taylor Bible did last year? Don’t get me wrong, I think Brown is a great young man with a great amount of talent, but in no way should he come in here without ever going through one practice and be the starting running back. He has to earn it through his work here at Texas, not what he did in high school. What he did in high school got him to Texas, now what he does in practice and games should determine his playing time.
You used VY in your argument above, and he didn’t become the full time starter until his 3rd year on campus.
Sports is man's joke on God, You see, God says to man, 'I've created a universe where it seems like everything matters, where you'll have to grapple with life and death and in the end you'll die anyway, and it won't really matter.' So man says to God, 'Oh, yeah? Within your universe we're going to create a sub-universe called sports, one that absolutely doesn't matter, and we'll follow everything that happens in it as if it were life and death.'" - Sam Kellerman
by 2Cor12:9 on Mar 3, 2011 2:40 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Now you are softening
He said this
Being promised a starting job in my first year?was ridiculous.
You said
As long as the Coaches are being honest, I do not see a problem with it.
But now you are saying
If the promise is an opportunity
Everyone is going to promise “opprtunity”. The point here is that promising someone he will be the starter is misleading and shady practice to both the recruits and the current players. Of course there is nothing wrong with “opportunity”. Different discussion.
As for this….
Would anyone really be upset if they promised MB1 the starting gig?
It’s over a year away. Yes, I would be upset if Brown was promised the starting role. What if Shead takes off? How many 5 stars have been busts? Nothing is guaranteed so nothing should be promised except a chance to earn it.
"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese
I think promising the job to a recruit results in Simms v. Applewhite
Then we'll write our own bible, with less Sodom and more Gomorrah.
by burntorangehorn on Mar 3, 2011 5:31 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
IMO, Mack Brown would never promise a starting gig to any kid.
Time & time again, he’s said “starting spots are up for grabs”, during regular season, bowl season, & off-season. He also has enough respect nationally that he doesn’t have to mislead & appease a kid just to get ‘em to sign. He’s apparently backed off of recruitments because of grades, arrogance (former Temple RB), etc… so I think he’s completely honest enough to say that, “if you don’t deserve to start, you won’t.”
However, the only single caveat I would add in is that Mack only really recruits one star QB at a time. I think by doing so, you’re indirectly “promising” the kid that he’s going to eventually be the starter simply because of a lack of other superstar talent at the position. He has certainly done this with RBs a time or two (Whaley) but he also doesn’t start ‘em (Whaley) if they don’t deserve the starting gig.
He will be ours.
"Football's so important in Texas. On the West Coast, it's a social. On the East Coast, it's a culture. Here, it's a religion."
-- Major Applewhite
You mean this?
I don’t see anything else.
Longhorns coach Mack Brown all but blew up his staff and started from scratch after last season’s forgettable 5-7 record. Harsin and Major Applewhite were named co-offensive coordinators. Mississippi State’s Manny Diaz was hired to replace Muschamp as defensive coordinator, and three other new assistants joined the staff.
Brown has closed every spring practice to media and fans for the first time. Texas has the talent to recover quickly, but it needs to find a more consistent running game, reliable receivers and better pass protection
.
Still a Blaine Irby fan
by patienthornsfan on Mar 3, 2011 11:10 AM CST up reply actions
We knew this was going to be a Texas v TCU battle
Coach Patterson deserves all the credit in the world for building his program up to where TCU is a real player for kids like Gray.
It can be argued that TCU is off to a better start in 2012 recruiting than Agro. Pope and LaDarius Brown are darn good pick ups.
I think Gray and Malcolm Brown’s recruitment stories are one in the same, Gray is coming we just have to wait. I’d like to see Gray visit Texas a couple more times during Spring Practice and then pull the trigger at the Spring Game.
I’d encourage everybody on BON to attend the Spring Game. I’ll be driving all the way from Dallas to get a glimpse of hopefully a much improved Texas team,
by billfromlaketravis on Mar 3, 2011 11:48 AM CST reply actions
Believe you mean LaDarius Anthony.
Follow me on Twitter: @GhostofBigRoy
www.burntorangenation.com
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Mar 3, 2011 12:28 PM CST up reply actions
Thanks for correcting me GOBR
I just realized my typo. Anthony is a good pick up for TCU.
by billfromlaketravis on Mar 3, 2011 12:31 PM CST up reply actions
Spring Game
I have never made it to the spring game, but would love to come down this year. Can someone tell me when it is?
I realize I am biased
But I always find it difficult to understand why an elite player in Texas would not choose Texas. The city offers much more than any other Big XII or Texas University. They have consistently put folks in the pros, and now have more afoletes in the NFL than any other University. The brand and resources are real assets for the player. From a top tier Pro Day to the national exposure in Dallas and T-Day.
Note to Bill Byrne "Because you aren´t Texas and you´ll never be Texas"
some eports say the T-day game with aggie
as well as the bedlam game could be moved to the first weekend in December to help keep the big 12 relevant that weekend… nothing concrete yet, but i heard its gained some support
It wasn't always that way.
IMO, the aggy uprising in the ’80s has still, to this day, gained them some credibility to recruits. & even though nobody here wants to admit it, the game day and fan participation of students and former students at Kyle Field is something to behold. I think DKRTMStadium on game day is as close to heaven as I could possibly get but our alums and most fans are certainly not very participatory.
Untl the last decade, UT wasn’t necessarily the classiest & best destination in the state. Many other programs have some very cool positives now in their favor. a&m (fans / spirit); TCU (perennial national recognition & super coaching); TTech (crazy offense & pirate mentality). But I do agree with you. UT is like the Camelot of college football to me. Everything else is 3rd-world and, worse yet, a Texan playing for the sooners is like an American enlisting in the Taliban.
According to JS at the Cosm
They project Gray at 95% UT waiting essentially on seeing the new offense in action at the spring game….
Hope he’s right! Hook Em!
BREAKING: Hookem247 ($) reporting that Gray to attend UT practice session Sat 3/5.
And that Jonathan will not be attending the TCU campus today with his father.
- follow me @ http:/twitter.com/TXStampede
RB LaDarius Anthony commited to TCU yesterday
And the Aggies already have commits from RBs Troy Green and Dennis Smith per Rivals. So, this is looking really good for us to land Gray. Hopefully he commits this weekend.
And that's what I have to say about that.
Per Gerry:
Mr. Gray was at TCU Spring practice today (Johnathan could not make it due to school commitments)
The family is planning on being in Austin this Saturday to watch the Horn’s spring practice. (plans not firm yet)
Excellent news. I heard Malcolm Brown will also be in town to watch the new and exciting practices. Quite the meeting of stud running backs.
Texas coaches please get as many targets in as possible during spring practices. Recruits are loving them.
by billfromlaketravis on Mar 4, 2011 6:19 PM CST reply actions
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