Texas Commit Thomas Johnson Confirms Rumors, Will Visit Oregon
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jan 2, 2012 11:56 AM CST
in Texas Longhorns Recruiting
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PrintAfter practice on Sunday in preparation for the Under Armour All-American game on Thursday, 2012 Texas commit Thomas Johnson finally substantiated weeks of rumors when he revealed that he'll take at least one official visit ($) when he travels to Oregon on January 201th, as reported by 247's Gerry Hamilton.
A late-night Twitter exchange with teammate Peter Jinkens last week strongly hinted at a visit to Oregon and was quickly deleted by Johnson in the morning. Given the persistence of rumors despite some token indications by Johnson to media outlets that his commitment to Texas was firm, the public exchange with Jinkens was hardly a surprise.
The reports out of both Texas and Skyline have been favorable for the Longhorns for some time, but it's hard to attest to the veracity of that support with Johnson visiting a school featuring a high-octane offense, the Texas connections there (this hardly seems like the wrong time to bring up Baron Flenory again, or at least Anthony Wallace), and the type of visibility few programs achieve with their ever-changing uniforms from benefactor Phil Knight and Nike and ever-improving facilities. Given that offense and how well Chip Kelly features his playmakers in the run and passing games, the Ducks might just be a better fit for Johnson than Texas, no?
So even if there is confidence within the Texas coaching staff about Johnson, the timing of the visit hardly bodes when re-considering the odds that the Longhorns do receive a signature from the Skyline star in early February. January 20th is the same weekend when the rest of the 2012 commits come to town after missing the banquet weekend because of playoff games. At this point, it's not clear when Johnson will take that official to Austin.
Frankly, comments from Johnson about being committed to Texas mean little, especially given his previous comments attempting to shoot down rumors all while making other plans to visit Eugene. Not to criticize Johnson, but that's the dance that prospects dance. No hard feelings, but let's call this for what it is. He's still committed to Texas, but he's hardly a solid commit if he's going to take the trip to Oregon.
As much as Johnson may want to see the world (according to him), and as unfortunate it is that to do so causes this great tempest throughout the Texas recruiting world, the fact is that the odds of Texas signing Johnson are now officially much lower than they were for so much of 2011.
Even if the trip to Eugene is truly of the pleasure-seeing variety only, affording the greatest benefit of the doubt possible to Johnson, it just doesn't seem very Texas Gang or Die, does it?
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Well hopefully we land DGB, so the blow will be a little softer
I’m pretty sure when TJ sees Eugene, he’ll like what he sees.
Hopefully he ll get bad weather and some travel delays
Kind of like dj grant a few years ago when he got stuck in the snowstorm in Oklahoma.
UA practice reports have him looking really good and flashing the hookem a few times.
Agree about the TGoD
But some guys need to see what else is out there like you say. Hell, Mario edwards went to Norman and found out what the rest of the world already knows, that OU sucks and so does the town it resides in. It’s not always so bad … I hope.
"Reality continues to ruin my life."
Hope TJ thinks this through
Word on the street is Connor Brewer enforces the “oD” with extreme prejudice.
Ha!
Well played. I’ve heard the same.
Follow me on Twitter: @GhostofBigRoy
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by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jan 2, 2012 12:14 PM CST up reply actions
Any news
..about the rumored Mike Davis transfer?
Nope
Follow me on Twitter: @GhostofBigRoy
Burnt Orange Nation
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jan 2, 2012 12:29 PM CST up reply actions
If Davis is serious about the A&M suttlebutt . . .
he has to wait until the Aggies are officially out of the Big 12. He has to sit out a year in any case, but he’d face a two-year sit if A&M is still a Big 12 member.
Really Hope he doesn't
I realize he had a bad year, but he was one of my favorite players on the field in 2010, and I still think he’ll have a big impact down the road. I think this is just a bump in the road for him.
Proud adoptee of Dick Tidrow the mastermind behind Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Buster Posey and many more. Also known as "The Reason".
Seriously. I'm trying to see both sides on this, but
if he wants to make another visit he needs to de-commit. I don’t want committed players visiting elsewhere. It’s a slap in the face not only to our University but a slap in the face to loyalty itself. If you plan on taking another visit, don’t commit.
well we have snagged a few commits from other schools so all's fair in love and football...
Because being a Texas fan means never having to say you're sorry.
by dukeoforange on Jan 2, 2012 12:55 PM CST up reply actions
Of course it is,
but that’s them coming to us. It’s a different situation. I’m not saying I’m losing sleep if TJ goes to Oregon, I AM saying that a commitment should be taken very seriously to us. We aren’t Oklahoma State, Baylor, Tech, etc etc. Besides, Mack in the past has been very serious about commitments and should still be that way.
Just my opinion though, doesn’t make it right.
by 40A on Jan 2, 2012 3:41 PM CST up reply actions
I guess it all depends on who the recruit is.
Jimmy Johnson used to openly say that he treated Emmitt & Irvin differenly than he treated the Curvin Richards’ of the football world. I would say that Mack will let a big recruit bark from the leash, rather than lose him over semantics.
He was probably 100% sure when he committed
Since then our offense, particularly our QB play, has looked fairly terrible. Not that hard for me to see why he might now want to look around. And whether he actually decommits or not is really just semantics at this point.
Then he wasn't committed.
That simple. Just don’t commit. It’s not a difficult concept. If you think you will have reservations down the road (for any reason) then don’t commit and take your visits!
I mean, did he really think we wouldn’t go after other WR recruits as good or better than him? No, he wants to go see the glitz and glamour that Oregon offers. As far as I’m concerned, he’s not committed, because that’s not commitment in any definition of the word.
by 40A on Jan 3, 2012 5:13 PM CST up reply actions
At this point, I think Mack just wants to TRY to hang onto him.
In this day & age, I think, in some aspects, coaches are going to have to bend their will a bit to try & please these 18-year-old prima donas. Gone are the days when someone’s word was solid. As evidence, look at how pro athletes “honor” their contracts and, thus, their “word”. You’re right. These kids should NEVER commit until they are absolutely positive about their future school. And, I think Mack Brown probably agrees with you 100%. But, nowadays, it’s probably more important to let a top kid look around rather than just send him a stern message by kicking him out. If Mack does that, publicly, even one time, that reputation may kick him in the tail for a long time w/ recruits. As long as Johnson doesn’t go to the suckin’ sooners, I’m happy.
Exactly.
I don’t care if a kid takes every single visit and commits to Texas in the end. I want these kids to take their visits and think about their decision. That’s important.
What is wrong is that kids don’t take the word “commitment” seriously these days.
by 40A on Jan 2, 2012 3:43 PM CST up reply actions
I agree totally
however it is not any different than the contract a coach signs than bails for say, I dunno, USC? we all know the vast majority of these “rules” are anything but. shrug
Because being a Texas fan means never having to say you're sorry.
Welcome to the professional sports world of contracts.
If you play above your contract, hold out or renegotiate it to get more $$$ before the contract dates expire. If you underwhelm or even sit for 2 years because of injury, enjoy the free undeserved million$.
Right. I wonder if there is a study that shows how the last second decommits pan out
versus one-and-done commits. Are these flakes any better or worse on the field during a college career than the ones that know and appreciate the meaning of commit?
Exhibit "1" Bryce Brown
Exhibit “2” Some running back from Temple, TX
I am curious to see how Gunner Kiel pans out. He played recruiting games with OU, Bama, IU, and now he is off to LSU. That little midwestern farm boy doesn’t have a clue one about Baton Rouge, LA. I won’t be surprised if he doesn’t give Oregon a look also now that they have super shiny helmets.
We're Texas, We're not OK.
The Bryce Brown case
is very interesting, because he was opposite of Kiel. I went to school in Kansas, and besides basketball, he was the next big thing. People EXPECTED him to stay in Kansas, whether that be KU or KState. He did the opposite and went to Tennessee (we all know why). His brother did the same exact thing (Arthur Brown was a big time LB recruit in his own right).
by 40A on Jan 3, 2012 5:17 PM CST up reply actions
Two words:
De’Anthony Thomas.
Ducks GOOOOD. Fuskies BAAAAAD.
by BigGreenWreckingMachine on Jan 5, 2012 1:05 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
I see TJ's point of view
He’s 18 yrs old.. he committed very early to Texas and has legitimate concerns given the number of receivers we have and the lack of success at QB. Obviously I hope our commits don’t take visits but I can reasonably expect 1-2 de-commits per year. Let’s hope it’s not TJ as I hear he’s killing it at UA.
Just as long as he doesn't go to 0U, I'm fine.
Bark from the leash, all you want. Just don’t take a looksee at the evil empire.
Following the whims of 16, 17 and 18-year-olds makes me tired. There’s a reason why we don’t allow them to drink. I’m glad you have the mental stamina to do this, GoBR.
Just tell me when they have signed on the dotted line. :-)
"Never let your persistence and passion turn into stubbornness and ignorance." - Anthony J. D'Angelo
No sense in panic
He may just be visiting to visit. Who knows…
Hopefully he will see that Oregon is mostly flash and not a lot of anything else. Yes, they are good in the Pac 12 but the Pac 12 also isn’t the best for defense. USC looks like they will be going back to their usual dominance. LSU made Oregon look mediocre. I don’t think Oregon will be running like they are for long.
Is Oregon still paying agents for recruiting evaluations?
And doesn’t Johnson have a buddy he is going with out there?
Proud of your offense? Manny badger don't give a shit!
Some talk
that Johnson and 2013 DeSoto star Dontre Wilson are talking about going to Oregon together, but Wilson won’t be making the trip until his spring break.
Follow me on Twitter: @GhostofBigRoy
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by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jan 2, 2012 1:38 PM CST up reply actions
I don't blame Johnson for looking
Our offense the last two years can’t be the magnet for WRs it was from 2005-2009.
And if he’s “soft” on us, don’t come, waste a scholarship, do a Darius White on your teammates, fail to contribute . . . and then bail anyway.
Go Defense
Manny building depth and wyatt builing dearth. Prolly we will have an issue with DGB – our passing game looks so Friday Night right now – at least until Ash gets comfortable.
Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen
by realmccoy on Jan 2, 2012 1:10 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Visits happen all the time
UT has benefited nicely from committed players who decided to take another look at UT and Austin. I know Mack likes his “committed” players to take a pass on further visits, but you don’t always get what you want, and until Johnson signs on the bottom line next month, he’s free to visit Oregon. I don’t see Mack threatening to pull Johnson’s offer, so I assume Mack’s not getting too worked up about Johnson’s trip out to the northwest.
"I'd rather die while I'm living than live while I'm dead." (Jimmy Buffett)
Interesting statement, coolhorn
Makes me wonder who and how many have taken official visits after commiting to UT?
Proud of your offense? Manny badger don't give a shit!
I don't think a free trip to OU is a de-commit to Texas
But, it does make the commit to Texas less than solid.
I wonder if he is worried about competition and depth: Per Scout: we have Cayleb Jones (#4), Kendall Sanders (#24), and Marcus Johnson (#26). If we land DGB we are loaded at WR. Sanders may end up at DB,but a few other commits are athletes that could be WRs too.
Another thing about kids that start switching at the end of the process. They may have received test scores and have concerns about getting enrolled. I have no idea if that is an issue for Johnson, but it may be. We know pretty little about the academic side of things as fans and it really pisses me off when OU folks call us arrogant for not offering kids like Trey Metoyer that even they had to send to rehab his transcript at Hargrave Military Academy. Kids like Metoyer may be elite talent but would not stay eligible at Texas and so maybe Johnson is having multiple concerns while still loving Texas and wanting to come to Texas if he thinks it is a good fit.
We're Texas, We're not OK.
When there's as much smoke as there's been around Johnson . . .
. . . there’s usually a fire. So this comes as no real surprise to anyone who’s been following this saga. Too bad for Johnson, really, because it seems as if the prospects who go through this kind of recruiting process often times don’t work out as players anywhere. Perriloux comes to mind. Seastrunk and others, too. Some, of course, have made it but still it seems a disproportionate number of them don’t. It’s as if this is a forewarning of latter character issues to come.
On a different topic, I notice that the ol’ “If you’re committed and visit other places, Mack will pull the offer” thing is still alive and well. This has NEVER, EVER been the case at Texas under Brown or anyone else.
What happens is that if a committed player visits other places, Texas, if it finds another player that it likes as well or better and secures a commitment from said player, will then inform the wandering eye recruit that he is no longer committed to Texas and wish him good luck at his new destination wherever that might be.
Committing to Texas is a two-way street. If a player commits to Texas and stays committed, Texas honors the scholarship, PERIOD.
However, if the player doesn’t stay committed (and to visit other schools is NOT to stay committed), then Texas doesn’t feel obligated to stay committed either. This doesn’t mean that Texas will necessarily pull the scholarship offer publicly or that the player won’t eventually sign with Texas, but it does mean that if we can find someone else who fills the need in our program that the wandering eye recruit filled, then bye bye wanderer.
Bottomline — any time a committed recruit takes an official to another school then that recruit’s scholarship offer to Texas is in severe jeopardy and is in danger of being pulled at any time.
Interesting Quote
“Working here with Connor and Cayleb gives us time to work together and get it going,” Johnson said. “Texas is getting a great quarterback in Connor. They are getting a big outside receiver in Cayleb that can do a lot of things. With me, I hope to give that offense some explosiveness and big play ability. When we get to Austin we will have some familiarity together.”
Committing to Mack Brown and the Longhorns was a no-brainer for Johnson. Texas offered in February, he went to a Junior Day in Austin, and gave Brown and the Texas staff his pledge shortly after.
“I just have always loved the atmosphere at Texas,” Johnson said. “It’s such a great school with academics. The team and program are exceptional. Once I got that offer there wasn’t too much to think about.”
If He is Watching Rose Bowl - We are Sunk
Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen
when did he say that?
if its in the past week, ill feel better. if not, i dont like where this is heading. too much smoke.
by TheContractor on Jan 3, 2012 1:47 AM CST up reply actions
looks like he said it Jan 2nd, i feel a little better.
by TheContractor on Jan 3, 2012 1:49 AM CST up reply actions
Is it me or is Oregon developing a nice little pipe line into Texas?
I wouldn’t mind if it was CA but Texas come on.
I don't believe the NCAA is through its Columbo work
on the Ducks. I was out there in June when a major announcement was made, and it was clear there was going to be more information to come. Which could mean . . . you sign with Oregon, and you get to spend bowl season back home with the folks.
quick
Name a wr from Oregon. Makes little sense for him to run to the Ducks. USC or Arkansas would make sense, but Oregon is a running school.
by codaxx on Jan 2, 2012 6:28 PM CST via mobile reply actions
they are developing a "system" qb,wr,rb label
their offense appears to be very gimmicky being that it is so outside the norm and, until tonight, has yet to accomplish anything of note. Combine their lack of results with players not panning out in the nfl and they come across as very “system” successful. Perhaps their rose bowl win will change some of that but it may not matter if penalties are headed their way.
Because being a Texas fan means never having to say you're sorry.
Dear Wisky, they're going to run another sweep. Love, Joe
We're going to play like we're in a bad mood.
Oregon WRs
Name more than one Oregon WR in the NFL off the top of your head. Can you do it? Only one I have is Dickson (or Dixon) with the Ravens. And he was a QB.
My point is this: Oregon develops RBs (think LeGarrette Blount and Jonathan Stewart), and that’s about it. They recruit speed, speed, speed at the skill positions, but don’t have much success past RB at the next level. Mack and Harsinwhite HAVE to be preaching this to TJ. It’s a big part of what they’re paid for.
Initially, I was worried about TJ’s visit to Oregon, and am still worried about 20%, but facts are facts, and TJ seems like he’s about the next level, and Oregon doesn’t project well the the NFL.
Correction
Dixon is a QB and Dickson is a TE. Oregon has three TEs in the League. One WR: Jeff Maehl with the Houston Texans. Maehl is a rookie.
Further proves my point. Just feed TJ the Texas-to-NFL pipeline story, and he’ll keep seeing the light.
Texas has three WR in the League: Quan Cosby, Jordan Shipley, and Roy Williams. Each had a much better college career than Maehl.
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