Week 7 Wrap

Week 8 Wrap

2010 Commits

Connor Wood, Second Baptist quarterback: The Eagles stayed hot in district play, trouncing Kipp Academy 57-12. As usual, Wood led the way, completing nine of 12 passes for 158 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 29 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. Second Baptist is now 7-3 and Wood's completion percentage is up to 55%.

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Finally, good news!

It seems like forever since the Longhorns actually landed a player in the 2010 class -- in fact, it has been more than seven months since Reggie Wilson decided to come to Texas. Since then, the Longhorns lost two commitments, from Ross Apo and Ahmad Dixon, and have fallen out of the race for the services of Darius White, though, on the positive side, Texas still has a strong chance with Jordan Hicks and Jackson Jeffcoat. The overriding point is that since the Longhorns receive so many commitments around the Junior Days in February, the recruiting class is essentially done shortly after it starts, leaving little in the way of positive news for the greater part of a year leading up to Signing Day.

The nearly complete and total lack of success in recent years in landing late commitments from elite players makes the commitment of DeMarco Cobbs, an athlete from Tulsa Central and the top-ranked player in the state of Oklahoma, all the more unexpected and surprising. Given that he got back in contact with the Texas staff, it doesn't mean that Mack Brown and company have finally found that elusive strategy that will suddenly result in elite players flocking to Texas near the end of the recruiting process -- if anything, the circumstances show just how much of an anomaly Cobbs' decision is, enough of one for Rivals to turn it "bizzare" on the front page of Orangebloods. In fact, Jeff Howe points out ($) that Cobbs is the latest big-time commitment for Texas since Roy Miller in 2005 and the first player from Oklahoma to commit to Texas since Brian Pickryl in 2002.

How exactly did Cobbs end up choosing to commit to Texas after committing to Tennessee back in September, seemingly ending his recruitment after seriously considering the Longhorns early in the process?

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More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

Get ready for McCoy-Shipley, version 3.0. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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McCoy shines against Brownwood. The younger brother of Colt McCoy may not have thrown six touchdown passes against Brownwood, as he did against Bridgeport earlier in the season, and he may not have gotten off to a strong start, but he did show why Texas chose to recruit him -- once again, it's not a case of nepotism, as Case McCoy is a talented quarterback in his own right. Pressured early by Brownwood's defense, which includes the younger brother of safety Kenny Vaccaro, McCoy struggled to find a rhythm ($) and suffered from two dropped touchdown passes by his favorite target, wide receiver Dylan Fulford.

Even the final, should-have-been-game-tying drive didn't start well, as the Brownwood defense sacked McCoy on each of the first two plays, letting time tick off the clock -- the drive started with 2:21 left and Graham had no timeouts. An incomplete pass on third down forced McCoy and his teammates to convert a 4th and 19 to keep their hopes alive. Much like Vince Young against Kansas, McCoy scrambled out of the pocket on the play, broke a tackle and headed for the sideline. As the defense closed around him, McCoy had to go airborne to pick up the final three yards, succeeding in making to the marker.

Said McCoy of the remarkable play ($):

I felt the guy almost grab my horse collar, but I thought I was about to go down and I was like no. If I did the game ends. I had to make a play. It was fourth and long, and I got those two sacks right off the bat and it was kind of frustrating, but we made a play and gave ourselves a chance.

Eight plays later, Graham had to convert another fourth down, with McCoy once again rolling out of the pocket, but this time finding a receivr in the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown pass, finishing the evening 24 of 37 for 407 yards and four touchdowns.

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Week 6 Wrap

Week 7 Wrap

2010 Texas commits

Connor Wood, Second Baptist quarterback: Wood helped Second Baptist continue their winning ways in district, moving to 5-0 with a 29-6 victory by completing 18 of 30 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns. Running the football, Wood added 29 yards on eight carries.

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More photos » by Donna McWilliam - AP

Recruits witnessed Texas fans giddily celebrating in the Cotton Bowl last weekend. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)

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What's been wrong with Wood? As I've tracked the performances of the 2010 Texas commits in the Friday Night Lights Wrap, one of the themes of the season has been a less than stellar completion percentage from quarterback commit Connor Wood, along with a relatively poor team record and a few more interceptions than anyone would like -- he's completing only 54% of his passes and has thrown six interceptions. The question, then, is why Wood's numbers are down? Has he regressed as a passer or are his relative struggles simply due to the loss of most of his offensive line and some offensive playmakers from last season.

Given those questions, one of the most important of Jeff Howe's evaluations this season over at IT is that of Connor Wood. The wait is over, then, for some answers. And judging by those answers, Texas fans have little to worry about with the Second Baptist star. As I mentioned back before Wood committed to Texas, I thought he was the best athlete that the Longhorns have recruited at quarterback since Vince Young and Howe seems to agree:

First of all he is one of the most gifted athlete's that I have seen at the quarterback in the state this decade. You are talking about a QB who is legitimately 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, runs a 4.6 and has enough hop and explosion to reverse dunk a basketball taking off from the dotted circle in the lane. He also has tremendous raw strength for a quarterback and his body has filled out very well over the past 14 months.

I have often compared him to Chance Mock, but after seeing him up close in person in pads he is right there with one-time Texas quarterback Jevan Sneed as far as his ability to run and throw and Wood has more raw talent than Sneed.

His release has gotten drastically better since his junior season and since I saw him at the Nike Camp at Rice in late May. In the past his delivery was long and he had a windup motion. Now he has a quick trigger and he can really snap throws off, especially on one and three step drops.

Besides making good decisions with the football and making accurate throws in the short passing game, Howe also really likes Wood's arm:

He has a big league arm which he showed on his 70-yard touchdown pass but the most impressive thing about that throw was the touch he put on the ball. For some quarterbacks it is easy to let the ball fly and in some cases overthrow the receiver or put too much air under it and an easy touchdown becomes an interception. But Wood dropped the ball behind the safety beautifully and the Second Baptist receiver was able to catch the ball in stride and go in for the score.

Of course, Wood also had to lead his team to a late comeback in that game, with that 70-yard pass providing the first score and a 60-yard touchdown run helping account for the final margin and Second Baptist victory, indicating just how much poise Wood has to lead his team from down two scores late in the game to a win.

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Week 5 Wrap

Week 6 Wrap

2010 Texas commits

Connor Wood, Second Baptist quarterback: After finally moving above .500 last week, the Eagles looked to consolidate their momentum with a victory over Northland Christian. However, Wood's team trailed 18-7 with less than nine minutes remaining in the game. Here's how the senior quarterback responded ($):

The Eagles started their ensuing drive on their own 30-yard line and on the first play of the drive Wood made what might go down as one of his top throws of the season. Wood dropped back and feeling backside pressure he rolled to his right, was able to brush off a changing Northland defender and drop the ball deep down the field on a dime to senior receiver Jordan Bilbo, who got behind the defense and raced to the end zone for a 70-yard touchdown.

Wood followed with a two-point conversion to draw within a field goal. After forcing a turnover on defense, Second Baptist got the ball back with a chance to win the game. The possession had a rocky beginning, however:

Thanks to a holding penalty the Eagles lost nearly 15 yards in field position and after a third down screen pass to Bilbo that netted a loss, Second Baptist faced a fourth and five at the 40-yard line.

On the fourth down play the Eagles called a designed quarterback sweep to the left side of the field and as he raced to the marker, Wood was able to hit the corner and get past an oncoming safety which put him in the clear and off the races for the game-winning score.

It was a 60-yard touchdown run for Wood and a game-winner. On the day, he was an efficient 18 of 25 for 253 yards and the touchdown to Bilbo and added two touchdowns and 50 yards rushing for the game. The high completion percentage is heartening for fans wondering why Wood has struggled so much in that department this season, while the poise and leadership to account for the two monumental touchdowns at the end of the game says a lot about Wood's makeup as a quarterback.

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More photos » by Eric Gay - AP

Jordan Hicks could become the next Roddrick Muckelroy. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Successful trip for Hicks. It had been some time since Jordan Hicks had set foot on the Texas campus -- some 16 months, but from the sound of things, it was worth the wait. Able for the first time to explore the campus, dorms, and extensively tour the football facilities, Hicks stayed until Monday before returning to Ohio. During his time in Texas, he was hosted by Keenan Robinson, toured the business school, visited with current Texas players like Sam and Emmanuel Acho, Garrett Gilbert, and Sergio Kindle, and even met university president Bill Powers and his wife.

As usual for the Longhorns, the staff worked hard to make him feel at home and seems to have succeeded:

The way the team and the staff welcomed me in, that was the biggest thing for me. I didn't feel like some kid from Ohio, I felt like just another kid. They welcomed me in real well.

Besides making Hicks feel at home, the coaching staff also took the time to talk some football with Hicks, especially Will Muschamp, with whom Hicks already felt comfortable:

We already had a really good relationship and this time we were able to talk a lot of football and where he sees me and how they will use me. It's a good relationship and it keeps growing.

One of the most important things that Muschamp spoke with Hicks about was how he will use him at Texas. It turns out that it should be an easy transition if Hicks decides to don burnt orange in college:

After the game we were talking and he told me that we use Jordan in our defense exactly like they plan on using him. It's a direct fit, obviously, but Jordan's personality is key. Will wants somebody who can execute in their system but that also brings good chemistry to the player-coach relationship. That's what most coaches like about Jordan; it's not just the physical side of things but the chemistry in building the player-coach relationship that people want on their team.

Like most recruitments, the impressions of the mother will be crucial to the final decision, as she is planning on relocating to wherever her son ends up in college. Hicks said that she enjoyed the trip, when she re-acquainted herself with Mad Dog, whom she had known at Colorado.

As for a timetable, Hicks will take a visit to Florida about two months from now and will not take any officials visits after that time -- if he decides to travel to USC or Alabama, it wil be before then. After the visits, Hicks hopes to make a decision soon thereafter and not wait until Signing Day to announce. If the past several seasons are any indication, that's a good sign for the Longhorns.

With the possible exception of Ohio State, Hicks has the best relationship with Muschamp, a fact that should play heavily in his recruitment because it seems unlikely that he can establish that level of trust in one visit to USC or Florida. In fact, even though Hicks did not name a favorite during his conference call this week, it's safe to say that Texas at least narrowed the gap with Ohio State, if not taking an outright lead, although that is just speculation -- the key point here is that the Longhorns greatly improved their chances with Hicks this weeked.

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Week 4 Wrap

Week 5 Wrap

2010 Texas commits

Connor Wood, Second Baptist quarterback: Wood and the Second Baptist Eagles moved above .500 for the first time this season with a 17-6 victory over Fort Bend Baptist. The star Texas commit helped the cause with a 62-yard touchdown run and a 20-yard touchdown pass, finishing with 127 yards on 16 carries.

Update: The struggles of Wood and Second Baptist throwing the football manifested themselves again, as Wood went three of 10 for 28 yards and a touchdown and interception.

Head coach Mike Sneed on his quarterback ($):

As a senior he's been playing with maturity and excellent knowledge of the game. We're very happy with the way he's progressed. Conner's playing at a very high skill level right now.

When you talk about what separates Connor first you look at his physical attributes. He can beat you with his arm or his legs. He has excellent arm strength. I don't really know how far he can throw a ball, but he can make any throw we ask him to.

What else separates Connor is his scrambling ability. He can avoid the rush and buy time in the pocket or move out of the pocket and throw it on the run or hold it for a run.

For someone his size, you wouldn't think he be as good as running away from trouble like he does. Even though most consider him to be a pro-style quarterback, I think of him more as a dual-threat because he can run so well.

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