Back at the beginning of February, right after the 2010 class signed, it didn't seem like a stretch to think that most of the 2011 class, the class that will not sign their Letters of Intent until 11 months from now, would be in place after the second Junior Day. Since it is Mack Brown and company and Texas is Texas -- that's according to a high school coach at a prominent program outside the state -- most of the class is indeed in place, as 18 of the top high school football players in the state have already verbally committed to becoming Longhorns.
Though the class has generally been projected at around 23 players, the possibility exists for the staff to make a full 25 and more are possible with early entrees able to count against the scholarship limit from the previous season. With those numbers in mind, there are between five and seven spots currently available.
Here's a look at updated Big Boards for each position:Quarterback
Needs: One
| Name | School | JD invite? | Commitment odds | Quick take |
| JW Walsh | Denton Guyer | Did not attend | Committed to Oklahoma St. (2/1/2010) | The best combination of running ability and passing ability in the class -- big-time ability and has remarkable arm strength for a dual-threat quarterback. |
| David Ash | Belton | February 13 |
Committed to Texas (2/13/2010) |
2/7 -- Stock dropped during junior season as a result of an ankle injury that slowed him most of the year. Looked like no. 1 target after 2009 summer camp. Pro-style quarterback who can make some plays with his feet. 3/1 -- More in the mold of Garrett Gilbert than Connor Wood or Colt McCoy. Impressive speed for a kid who is considered a pro-style quarterback. Good mechanics, throws well on the run. Not a thing to dislike about Ash and his make up. |
| Michael Brewer | Lake Travis | Did not attend (met with Greg Davis 2/10/10) |
Offered grayshirt, committed to Texas Tech (3/5/10) |
4/1 -- Impressive film -- has excellent mechanics and a strong arm, as well as above-average speed for his position. The size is still a little disconcerting, but he's probably only an inch or so shorter than Colt McCoy. Has the potential to be an extremely productive college quarterback. 2/7 -- Undersized for a quarterback at around 6-0, but is a Texas legacy, as his father played quarterback for the Longhorns. Proven ability to lead after taking Lake Travis to a third straight state championship. Reportedly was offered a grayshirt by the Texas coaches and wasn't particularly happy about it. |
Outstanding offers: None.
Moving forward: The Longhorns are finished recruiting at the quarterback position -- Ash was either the top target at the position or 1b. Brewer's junior film removes most speculation that he's not "Texas good." Brewer would not have been a stretch for the Longhorns and was clearly the top player on the board after Ash and Walsh.
Running back
Needs: Two or three
| Name | School | JD invite? | Offer? |
Commitment/ odds |
Quick take |
| Brandon Williams | Brookshire-Royal | Feb. 27 -- did not attend |
Not offered |
Committed to Baylor (2/15/10) |
2/10 -- Wow. Gimme, gimme. It doesn't take long for Williams to blow you away on film. Closest thing to Adrian Peterson since AD himself -- runs hard, has elite speed, but is probably an even more polished receiver than AD at the same age. Has the size to be effective in blitz pick up. No questions about size or speed. 3/1 -- After his commitment, the word was that Williams was not planning on taking visits, but will visit Oklahoma -- hard to call a kid who is committed and taking visits a "solid verbal." 3/17 -- Reportedly visited Austin for a practice last week. Safe to say now that his verbal to Baylor is a soft one. 3/28 -- May visit Austin for a second time for the spring game, though it looks like that trip won't happen now. |
| Malcolm Brown | Cibolo Steele | Feb. 13 | Offered | 70% |
2/10 -- Extremely solidly built back who runs with a bulldozing mentality and has plenty of speed. Elite speed? No, but plenty of speed. The concern is that he isn't a perfect fit in the Texas scheme. 3/22 -- The change in scheme effectively eliminates any concerns about Brown as his balance, toughness, and speed become more apparent over increased film viewing. Film. Consider any and all doubt removed at this point. |
| Aaron Green | San Antonio Madison | Feb. 13 |
Offered | 35% |
2/10 -- A late injury and an overall subpar junior season has dropped Green's stock a bit, but his sophomore success was not a fluke -- he's an elite talent. 3/28 -- Expected to visit for the spring game. Reportedly not interested in Oklahoma at this point. Film. |
| Herschel Sims | Abilene | Feb. 27 -- did not attend |
Not offered |
N/A |
2/10 -- Excellent receiver and in the return game. Perhaps best pure burst of all the backs. At around 5-8 or 5-9, his size is a concern and he may not project to be an every-down back in college and his ability to pick up the blitz is questionable at best. 3/1 -- Watching him in the state championship left questions about his pure speed. Was basically told by the Texas coaching staff that he was not going to receive an offer at the second Junior Day and did not attend -- Mack Brown and company simply have Brown and Green ranked more highly. 3/17 -- Doesn't have elite burst/speed and is trapped in an undersized body. Even after a spectacular junior season in terms of production and a 5A state championship, Sims' stock is now falling amidst concerns that he doesn't have elite-level quickness. Film. |
| Bradley Marquez | Odessa | Feb. 27 -- did not attend |
Not offered |
N/A | Big OU fan experienced as a blocker and receiver, but lacks the explosiveness and top-end speed of the top prospects in the class. Second tier. |
| Daniel Lasco | The Woodlands | Feb. 27 -- did not attend |
Not offered |
N/A |
2/10 -- Burst onto the scene with a huge sophomore season and has excellent speed, but a little lanky and doesn't have a lot of shake in his hips. Questionable if he is a running back at the next level. Reportedly prefers the Florida schools. Second tier. 3/1 -- Looks extremely fast on film and has one-cut ability to fit the zone scheme and could even project as an athlete. Little chance of receiving an offer at this point. Film. |
| Joe Bergeron | North Mesquite | Feb. 13 | Offered |
Committed to Texas (2/13/10) |
2/10 -- Big kid with excellent feet for his size who could be the short-yardage replacement for Cody Johnson and also spend some time at fullback. Virtual lock for commitment. |
Outstanding offers: Malcolm Brown and Aaron Green
Timetable:
- Brown -- Late spring or early summer.
- Green -- Senior season and beyond.
Moving forward: The coaching staff had a tough decision to make with the top four prospects -- which ones to offer and at what time. Offering only Brown and Green at the first Junior Day and choosing not to offer Sims clearly shows that the strategy is to focus on the top two running backs on their board and take it from there.
After his visit to Oklahoma, it seemed like only a matter of time until Brandon Williams made it to Austin. Despite committing to Baylor -- a commitment that still stands, though certainly in a "soft" state at this point -- without visiting Austin, Williams' recruitment seems extremely open at this point, making it hard to understand why exactly he chose to commit to Baylor so early in the process. The details of his commitment and why it went down so quickly will probably never become public, but it's clear that Texas isn't out of it with Williams.
If the Longhorns do in fact miss out on Green and Brown -- which would count as a catastrophe for most Longhorn fans -- there is some chance that they would pursue one of the second-tier backs, but it appears for all intents and purposes that Texas has chosen to go after the top backs at the expense of being able to recruit any of the others. However, it's still possible that as far behind as the Longhorns currently find themselves in recruiting any of the second tier backs that they could quickly secure a commitment from at least one just by simply extending an offer.
As good as the class is currently, particularly on the defensive side of the ball and along the offensive line, many judgments on the class as a whole will be swayed by the whether or not the Longhorns manage to land one of the three elite backs in the state. If they don't, concerns about Major Applewhite and his ability to recruit the position will become magnified and many will not be content to simply look towards the 2012 class for help. After all, the narrative all has been that Texas must capitalize on all the in-state talent at the position and right now Texas is not particularly well suited to do that if Brown and Green head elsewhere and Williams remains committed to Baylor.
Wide receiver
Needs: Two
| Name (School) | JD invite? | Offer? |
Commitment/ Odds |
Favorites | Quick Take |
| Jaxon Shipley (Brownwood) | Feb. 13 | Offered |
Committed to Texas (2/12/10) |
|
2/12 -- Instant analysis and scouting report 2/9 -- May not have the pure burst or change of direction ability of his older brother, but more refined at the same stage. Deeply grasps nuances of receiver position and has superb athleticism to match. Had 245 yards receiving against Graham. |
| Trey Metoyer (Whitehouse) | Feb. 13 -- did not attend (mutual) |
Not offered |
Committed to Oklahoma (3/12/10) |
|
4/1 -- Easily the biggest early commitment for Oklahoma. Some concerns about his grades because he was ineligible for a time during basketball season. 2/9 -- Football speed. Playmaking ability. Draws comparisons to Michael Crabtree. Fantastic balance and body control. Oklahoma is his long-time favorite, but Texas and Texas A&M have both made up ground. |
| Miles Onyegbule (Arlington) | Feb. 13 | Offered |
Committed to Texas (2/13/10) |
|
3/30 -- Instant analysis and scouting report. 2/9 --Quick, agile, and possesses strong make-you-miss ability for such a big receiver. May not be done growing. Loves Texas. |
|
Marquis Jackson (Fort Worth Arlington Heights) |
Feb. 27 -- could not attend
|
Not offered |
60% |
|
3/22 -- No question about his playmaking ability, but doesn't have the elite explosiveness Texas wants in a cornerback, the last need position besides running back. 3/1 -- Could not attend the second Junior Day because of basketball obligations. Would receive an offer as an athlete/defensive back. 2/10 -- Made a name for himself with Texas coaches following a fantastic performance against Darius White and Fort Worth Dunbar. Could be offered as an athlete, but is probably too talented with the ball to play on defense. Similar to Chris Jones with his straight-line speed and one-cut ability. |
| Hakeem Flowers (Greenville (SC)) | Feb. 27 | Conditional | 10% | Flowers has offers from all over the country and has not yet formulated a list of favorites. |
3/30 -- Is he even better than Mykkele Thompson? It's rather questionable at this point and there are persistent rumors that his offer sheet is inflated. 2/12 -- Most likely projects as a receiver at the next level -- it's unclear why Rivals lists him as an athlete. Long, lean, and fast as hell, Flowers shows off his excellent feet on jet sweeps and is clearly a big-time deep threat. Could be an impact player in the return game. Has had little or no personal contact with the Texas coaching staff. |
Outstanding offers: Hakeem Flowers (conditional)
Timetable:
- Flowers -- Has not yet begun the process of eliminating teams from his extensive list of offers, so expect a decision from him late in the process.
Moving forward: Texas is essentially done at the position with the commitments of Onyegbule and Shipley, the top two targets on their board, but could potentially accept a commitment from Flowers, though the talented South Carolina prepster could end up without an available scholarship if he holds off on a decision until Signing Day or any other time late in the process.
Tight end
Needs: One
| Name (School) | JD invite? | Offer? | Commitment/ Odds |
Favorites | Quick Take |
| MJ McFarland (El Paso El Dorado) |
Feb. 13 | Offered |
Committed to Texas (2/13/10) |
|
3/10 -- Doesn't have exceptional straight-line speed, but if he can separate from the best defensive backs in the country at the Army combine, he should have success against linebackers at the next level. Has the frame to play at 250+ pounds without losing his speed. Catches the ball well in traffic and understands how to use his body to shield defenders. Film. 2/9 -- Impressed at the Army Junior combine with his ability to create separation against defensive backs. Could eventually grow into an attached tight end role. Excellent basketball player. |
| Max Stevenson (Klein Oak) |
Unknown |
Unlikely | N/A |
|
3/3 -- Has impressed with his speed and agility at recent events and may have been the second tight end on the Texas board. With his skill set, has the potential to be an impact player at the college level. 2/9 -- Has excellent speed for his size, but is a project, as he will need several years in a college weight program to play attached tight end. Plays some outside for Klein Oak and performed well at the Army Junior combine. Minimal experience blocking inside. Not hearing much from Texas. |
| Chris Barnett (Euless Trinity) |
Not invited |
Not offered |
Committed to Oklahoma (2/20/10) |
|
3/30 -- Stock continues to drop and Barnett probably ranks as a reach for the Sooners right now. 2/10 -- Brother of Eryon Barnett. Sounded like a Miami lean early in the process and then sounded like a Texas lock. Hard to tell where exactly he stands. Plays some defense and just transferred to Euless Trinity, but his film is unimpressive -- looks like just another guy. Hasn't heard much from Texas recently. |
|
Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Gig Harbor, WA) |
Did not attend | Unlikely | .1% |
|
A top national prospect who would have to make it to Austin to receive an offer. Has a unique size/speed combination and experience playing outside in high school -- an extremely versatile receiver and blocker. Often mentions that he is waiting on a Texas offer. |
Outstanding offers: None.
Moving forward: McFarland was the top target on the Texas board and the Longhorns are now finished at the position. The coaches clearly evaluated McFarland as a better talent than Stevenson, whose stock is rising around the country, but in terms of comparisons, those are the two players who will probably end up being intertwined when looking back on the class in several years.
Offensive line
Needs: Five or six
| Name (School) | JD invite? | Offer? | Commitment/ odds | Favorites | Quick take |
| Taylor Doyle (Lake Travis) | Feb. 13 | Offered |
Committed to Texas (2/12/10) |
|
3/17 -- Dropped on the latest LSR as some previously underrated players move past him and the talk is that he may get a shot at guard at Texas. Instant analysis and scouting report. 2/10 -- Extensive game reps in pass protection and has good hand placement and arm extension in the running game. Could be an underrated prospect -- has the potential to become a solid contributor in college. |
| Spencer Drango (Cedar Park) | Not invited |
Not offered |
N/A |
|
3/17 -- Stock continues to fall as his junior film circulates. 3/3 -- Was not invited to either Junior Day -- apparently did not receive a positive evaluation of the staff, possibly resulting from questions about his feet. 2/10 -- Excels in Cedar Park zone-blocking scheme and added some nastiness as a junior. Doesn't get a lot of game reps in pass protection, but has the arm length and athleticism to play tackle in college, though perhaps not left tackle. |
| Garrett Greenlea (Klein Collins) |
Feb. 27 |
Offered |
Committed to Texas (2/27/10) |
|
4/1 -- Huge prospect with excellent feet, natural strength, and mean disposition. Greenlea also has a massive frame at 6-7 and is in excellent shape with virtually no bad weight. Projects as a true tackle and could possibly contribute early outside, making him a major addition to the class. Offer probably kept him away from Oklahoma. |
| Sedrick Flowers (Galena Park North Shore) | Feb. 13 | Offered |
Committed to Texas (2/25/10) |
|
3/3 -- Could be the next Kasey Studdard on the interior of the Texas line. Impressive strength for a high school player and isn't carrying bad weight. Will probably be expected to contribute as a freshman. 2/10 -- Absolute mauler on the offensive line and one of the top 2011 prospects in the state regardless of position. Big, strong, and nasty with a college-ready frame. Can't-miss prospect. |
| Josh Cochran (Hallsville) |
Feb. 13 |
Offered |
Committed to Texas (2/13/10) |
|
3/3 -- Considered one of the possible early reaches in the class, Cochran will have to spend some serious time in the weight room before he will be able to contribute in college, but he has the potential to play tackle and fills a major need as a result. Athletic for his size. 2/10 -- A basketball player and quick-rising prospect, college coaches love his big, projectable frame. Would likely jump on a Texas offer. |
| Matthew Hegarty (Aztec, NM) | Feb. 27 |
Offered | 60% |
|
3/28 -- Watch out for Notre Dame in his recruitment -- one national writer pegged them as the current frontrunners after a recent visit. 3/3 -- Seemed impressed by his visit and said that he felt comfortable in Austin, a good sign for his recruitment. 2/10 -- Big kid with excellent frame and little or no bad weight. Needs to gain strength to block well in the running game, but is advanced in pass protection. Performed extremely well at the Army Junior combine. Is not able to attend either Texas Junior Day as a result of his basketball commitments. Will need to take a summer visit to receive an offer. Plans to commit during the summer. |
| Marcus Hutchins (DeSoto) | Feb. 13 | Offered |
Committed to Texas (2/13/10) |
|
3/3 -- His athleticism on film is really astounding -- he moves incredibly well in space. Some talk that he could play guard for Texas because of his mobility, but he does have the frame to play tackle. Hard to overstate just how well he moves in space. Working on adding good, lean weight in the weight room. Should be on track to contribute after two years or so if he can get up to 270 or 275 by the time he reports to Texas. 2/10 -- Gave up basketball this spring to work on adding good weight, a struggle for the last several years -- was down to 235 pounds last spring and it has caused his stock to fall. Has all the athleticism, but can he reach a good playing weight to hold up in the running game? However, he is an excellent, possibly elite, athlete at his position. |
| Christian Westerman (Chandler, AZ) |
Feb. 13 | Offered | 50% |
|
3/28 -- More college-ready than Hegarty. Planning on attending several Texas games in the fall with his family. Film. 2/10 -- Could be best offensive line prospect in the nation. Parents fell in love with Texas at the Fiesta Bowl and highly enjoyed a summer camp visit last year. The question is whether Christian likes the Longhorns as much as his father. USC could be dropping on his list with the departure of Pete Carroll. Can't-miss prospect. |
Outstanding offers: Matthew Hegarty, Christian Westerman
Timetables:
- Hegarty -- Plans to make a decision well before his senior season -- probably some time in the early summer.
- Westerman -- Could take up until Signing Day and wants to make sure that there is continuity on the coaching staff of the school he eventually chooses.
Moving forward: The Longhorns targeted five offensive linemen in the state and received commitments from each of them -- only Flowers waited before committing, taking a visit to LSU before becoming a Longhorn. It's really an incredible level of success for the program and the commitments of Floweres and Greenlea have gone a long way towards silencing the numerous skeptics, many of whom considered either Cochran or Doyle to be reaches, and possibly both.
Right now it looks like Texas will take six linemen, setting up scenario where Hegarty could commit before Westerman and possibly leave the more talented player without room in the class. Would Texas be willing to go to seven offensive linemen in the class just to take Westerman? It's hard to believe that would happen, but it's equally hard to believe that the Longhorns would be able to turn down one of the top offensive linemen in a year when that position represents the greatest need in the entire class.
Defensive tackle
Needs: Two
| Name (School) | JD invite? | Offer? | Commitment odds | Favorites | Quick take |
| Desmond Jackson (Spring Westfield) | Feb. 13 | Offered |
Committed to Texas (2/13/10) |
|
3/30 -- Has an outstanding swim move he uses repeatedly. Will probably need to develop another move in college. Some concerns about his ability to play at 280+ pounds without losing his quickness. Film. 2/8 -- A strong, explosive, gap-penetrating tackle in the mold of Dorsey and Bible who was unstoppable at the Army Junior combine. Uses his hands well for his age. His is a family divide -- his father an Alabama fan and his mother a Texas fan. |
| Marquis Anderson (Cibolo Steele) | Feb. 13 | Offered | 55% |
|
3/28 -- Recently, Anderson was not aware of whether or not he still had a Texas offer, indicating that the staff may be slow playing him. Not overly impressive on film. 2/12 -- Able to both hit and separate and explode through gaps, Anderson plays with violence. Lacks ideal thickness in his lower body. Not as talented as Jackson, but would be far more than just a consolation prize. |
| Quincy Russell (San Antonio Sam Houston) | Feb. 13 |
Offered | 65% |
|
3/28 -- Has a prototypical frame for a defensive tackle. Possesses raw strength and though he could work on his technique, he looks like a better pure talent than Anderson. 2/12 -- Raw but talented -- similar to Cotton, but may have more athletic ability. Impressed at the Texas summer camp last year. Most likely zero or one tech in the class. |
| James Castleman (Amarillo) | Feb. 27 | Not offered |
N/A |
|
Undersized at 255, Castleman helped lead Amarillo to the playoffs. Solid regional prospect not quite on the level of the other three. Little information available. |
Outstanding offers: Quincy Russell, Marquis Anderson
Timetable:
- Russell -- Plans on taking summer visits to Oklahoma and Nebraska. Decision probably will not come before late summer.
- Anderson -- Wants to make a decision before the start of his senior season.
Moving forward: It's possible that the Longhorns are done at the position, pending a decision by Cedric Reed, who could conceivably grow into a three tech tackle (though the coaches have told him he could play the Buck position at Texas). However, the 2012 class currently looks thin at the position, placing a higher premium on landing one of Anderson or Russell. After landing three defensive tackles in 2010, the position is not one of major need in the class, but attrition can quickly thin the ranks and as long as scholarships are available, both Russell and Anderson are worth adding to the class. Right now, it looks like Russell is the top target, though a commitment by Anderson could help the Longhorns with Malcolm Brown and Anderson has said that he wants to stay close to home.
Defensive end
Needs: One
| Name (School) | JD invite? | Offer? | Commitment/ Odds | Favorites | Quick take |
| Jermauria Rasco (Shreveport (LA) Evangel Christian) | Feb. 13 |
Offered | 20% |
|
3/28 -- Some sentiment that the Longhorns may be following behind the Tigers in this race, but Rasco's stock has slipped slightly and his junior film doesn't show any edge rushing at all. Strange that there is no film available of him as a pass rusher after racking up close to 30 sacks as a sophomore. 2/12 -- Had one of the best sophomore seasons in the history of high school football with 29 sacks and almost 150 tackles. National recruit who may be a top-10 player in the country. Excellent edge rusher with advanced technique, but may not have a projectable -- he has relatively narrow shoulders, though he will have no trouble playing at 240-250 pounds in college. Traveled to Dallas to watch Texas against Oklahoma this season. Coached by former Longhorn Phillip Geiggar. Expected to come down to Texas and LSU. |
| Cedric Reed (Cleveland) | Feb. 13 | Offered |
85% |
|
3/30 -- Has visited both Texas and Texas A&M often in the last several weeks and plans on making his final unofficial visit to Austin for the spring game. Conventional wisdom has Reed becoming the 19th Texas commit, possibly as soon as this weekend. Aggies could be serious contender and can offer virtually immediate playing time. 2/12 -- Possesses raw athleticism, as evidenced by his success on the basketball court and at the tight end position. Could stand to use his hands better but clearly has impressive natural strength and explosiveness.National prospect. |
| Nathan Hughes (Klein Oak) | Feb. 13 | Not offered |
N/A |
|
3/3 -- Perhaps the only first Junior Day attendee who did not receive an offer, Hughes was the first victim of the numbers game in the class. The Texas coaches will continue to evaluate him through the spring, but it does not currently appear that there is room for him in the class, surely a major disappointment for a kid widely expected to be one of the first commitments in the class. 2/12 --Big kid at 6-5 and 240+ -- has the frame to play some three tech situationally. Plays a five tech in the Klein Oak 3-4, so he has little experience as an edge rusher. Would project as a run-stopping defensive end in college. Reportedly loves Texas (comes from a family of Texas fans) and has a big-time offer list. |
| Lance Skyler (Lancaster) | Feb. 27 | Not offered |
N/A |
|
3/3 -- The Longhorns are still evaluating their options at the defensive end position and with limited numbers there, no offer will go out until after Cedric Reed makes a decision. On the fringes of the recruiting radar, Skyler stands little chance of receiving an offer. 2/12 --Relatively undersized at 6-3, 220 pounds. Little information about him available, but he could be the project edge rusher in the class. Plays on a talented high school team. Played some linebacker as a sophomore. |
Outstanding offers: Cedric Reed, Jermauria Rasco
Timetable:
- Reed -- A decision from Reed appears to be imminent, though the fact that he has publicly gone silent about any favorites could mean that he is planning on taking more time than originally thought.
- Rasco -- Currently does not have a timetable for a decision.
Moving forward: Since the Longhorns already have a commitment from Kendall Thompson, a possible spin-down candidate, there is little need at the position and the coaches may shut down recruiting across the defensive line with another commitment, the most likely being Cedric Reed in the near future. A commitment from Anthony Wallace could end recruiting at the position without securing a commitment from a true defensive end.
Rasco remains a possibility, but much more of an outside possibility than he did even several months as conventional wisdom had his recruitment shaping up to be a battle between LSU and Texas. The seismic shift has been the commitments of Steve Edmond and Kendall Thompson and the continued pursuit of Anthony Wallace, as well as positive signs in Reed's recruitment. Add to it the looming possibility of a visit from James Vaughters and Rasco doesn't look like he would add any unique skills.
Linebacker
Needs: Three or four
| Name (School) | JD invite? | Offer? | Commitment odds | Favorites | Quick take |
| Anthony Wallace (Dallas Skyline) | Feb. 13 | Offered | 20% |
|
3/29 -- Texas still in the mix and still recruiting Wallace despite three linebackers already committed. 2/10 -- Highly regarded, but looks a little stiff and doesn't have elite feet for the position. Looks like a strong candidate for the Buck position or a spin-down to defensive end, where he played as a sophomore -- may not have an ideal frame for linebacker. Less than elite short-area burst. Big-time hitter -- understands power angles and leverage when tackling. Comfortable fighting through the wash. National prospect. |
| Steve Edmond (Daingerfield) | Feb. 13 | Offered |
Committed to Texas (2/23/10) |
|
3/29 -- Commitment instant analysis and scouting report. Junior highlight film. 2/12 -- Could be the best and most physical linebacker at the point of attack in the class. Extremely fast and physical -- like a larger, but slightly less athletic version of Tevin Jackson. Incredible production in high school. Has the frame to spin down to defensive, but has the feet and change of direction of a linebacker. Looks faster than Wallace. Had 182 tackles as a junior, including 34 for loss, as well as five sacks and five interceptions. PLAYMAKER. Unbelievably, Texas hasn't been in contact much, but Will Muschamp and Oscar Giles visited the school this spring. |
| Kendall Thompson (Carthage) | Feb. 27 | Offered |
Committed to Texas (2/28/10) |
|
3/30 -- Kind of an Anthony Wallace-light, Thompson doesn't possess the speed or burst of Edmond, but does have experience getting deep drops playing Cover 2 with Carthage. Not as strong of a striker as Wallace or Edmond -- tends to drag opponents down rather than form tackle. 2/12 -- Spin-down/Buck position candidate. Plays for two-time reigning 3A state champs -- beat Graham for that honor in 2009. |
| Trevon Randle (League City Clear Springs) | Did not attend -- Feb. 27 |
Not offered |
Committed to LSU (2/20/10) |
|
3/29 -- Not overly impressive on film -- fast, but just isn't that physical at the point of attack and isn't a strong striker. Victim of Texas coaches wanting bigger linebackers to combat power running teams. 2/11 -- Smaller, faster linebacker in the mold of Aaron Benson capable of excelling in coverage. Played some running back as a junior and wants to play both ways in college. |
| Devon Hocutt (Killeen Ellison) | Did not attend |
Not offered |
Committed to Texas Tech (3/1/10) |
|
3/29 -- Should be a nice pick-up for Texas Tech -- has good feet for his size and throws himself around like a battering ram. Physical at the point of attack. May take some time to find a position at the collegiate level, but he's a player. 2/12 -- Probably doesn't have the feet to play linebacker in college. Could end up at defensive tackle, but is undersized for that position as well -- if he can use his leverage, his size won't matter. Loves Texas. |
| Chet Moss (Cedar Park) | Feb. 13 | Offered |
Committed to Texas (2/12/10) |
|
3/28 -- Strong performance at the Army Junior combine helped assuage concerns about his speed and athleticism. Desire by the coaches by add linebackers capable of holding up against power running teams no doubt helped Moss secure his offer. Commitment instant analysis and scouting report. 2/10 -- Good frame and athleticism, but a little stiff in coverage. More impressed with teammate Joey Nichol when I saw Cedar Park play. Some questions about whether he is Texas good. |
| PL Lindley (Round Rock Stony Point) | Not invited |
Not offered |
Committed to Oklahoma (2/20/10) |
|
3/30 -- Though Lindley is a good player, he seems like a bit of a reach for Oklahoma considering the concerns about his ability to play at the point of attack. 2/10 -- Perhaps the most athletic linebacker in space in the class. Excels in 7-on-7 and covering slot receivers and running backs out of the backfield. Improved at point of attack as a junior, but still isn't comfortable taking on blockers inside the tackle box -- miscast as a inside linebacker, where he played for several games due to an injury. Could contribute on special teams immediately. |
| James Vaughters (Tucker (GA)) | Unofficial visit pending |
No-brainer if he visits | 15% |
|
3/28 -- Vaughters planning Austin trip. Note: Vaughters had to cancel the trip due to a death in the family. He plans on re-scheduling.
2/12 --Rare combination of speed and physicality and ability to play all over the field. Candidate for the Buck position, but has speed to play any linebacker position. Film here. Big-time national prospect who would have to visit during spring or summer for Texas to begin seriously recruiting him. New limitations on Muschamp could really hurt with this kid. Does he have a link to Texas? |
Outstanding offers: Anthony Wallace
Timetable:
- Wallace -- The Skyline star hasn't made any indications about leaders at this point, so he is probably going to take his recruitment at least into the fall, having said that he plans on taking several visits this summer.
- Vaughters -- Wants to commit before his senior season, but has not committed to a firm timetable at this point.
Moving forward: If Cedric Reed commits in the near future, the Longhorns could shut down recruiting at the linebacker position because the two remaining targets, Wallace and Vaughters, could both play the Buck position, or, in the case of Wallace, spin down to defensive end. It's somewhat surprising that the Longhorns even continue to pursue Wallace considering that both Edmond and Thompson possess similar skill sets, so it probably indicates that the Texas coaching staff really likes Wallace.
Defensive back
Needs: Three
| Name (School) | JD invite? | Offer? | Commitment odds | Favorites | Quick take |
| Leroy Scott (South Houston) | Feb. 13 | Offered |
Committed to Texas 2/13/10) |
|
Top pure cover corner in the class -- no question about where he will play in college. Physical in press coverage with elite recovery speed. Ball skills are his only major weakness -- has trouble finishing plays and intercepting the football. |
| Sheroid Evans (Sugarland Dulles) | Feb. 13 | Offered |
Committed to Texas (2/13/10) |
|
3/30 -- One of the fastest kids in his age group in the country. Won the 200m and 400m in March at the national meet. Solid tackler who often uncoils at the ankles of defenders. Coaches will look at him at cornerback first, but could have incredible range at safety. Will run track in college. 2/12 -- Runs track and would like to continue to do so in college -- ran a 23.5 200m. Texas A&M has a legitimate shot with him because of their indoor track facility and overall quality of their track and field program. Interested in majoring in engineering. Incredible range at safety, but he's a football player all the way. |
| Charles Jackson (Klein Collins) | Feb. 27 | Not offered/possible |
N/A |
|
3/30 -- Physical and a hard hitter at the cornerback position, but does not appear to have elite top-end speed or ability to break on the football. 2/12 -- Just recently surfaced on the Texas radar. |
| Franklin Shannon (Dallas Skyline) | Did not attend Feb. 27 |
Not offered |
N/A |
|
3/30 -- Appears to lack the pure speed and burst to play safety in college. Looks like a second-tier player on film. 2/12 --Big safety with the frame to add weight and spin down to linebacker. Could end up being the smaller, rangy linebacker the Longhorns take in the class -- played linebcker as a sophomore. Strong tackler in space -- possesses tackling range -- and takes good angles. |
| Eric Agbaroji (Midlothian) | Feb. 27 | Not offered |
N/A |
|
2/12 -- Stock took a hit this fall because of a knee injury that slowed his progress and, according to Agbaroji, dropped him on the Texas board ($). Has the potential to play nickel back because of his size at 6-1. Loves Texas. |
| Kolby Griffin (Houston St. Pius X) | Did not attend Feb. 27 | Not offered |
Committed to TCU (2/15/10) |
|
4/1 -- Perhaps did not perform as well as thought at the Texas camp paired with the 2010 commits. Lifetime Longhorn fan -- commitment to TCU without visiting seems to indicate he knew a Texas offer was not imminent. 2/12 --Good size and solid speed -- his lack of elite speed may keep him from receiving an offer. Strong competitor. Young for his age, as he won't turn 16 until the fall. Performed well at the Texas summer camp, eventually playing alongside Texas commits Bryant Jackson, Adrian Phillips, and Adrian White. Loves Texas. |
| Josh Turner (Oklahoma City, OK) |
Unable to attend |
Offered | 33% |
|
3/30 -- Turner onto the radar. |
| Nick Waisome (Grove City, (FL)) |
Unable to attend |
Offer if he visits |
10% | Has close to 20 offers, plans on releasing list of favorites soon. |
3/29 -- Doesn't have the elite speed of Turner, but is known as an instinctive player who has improved his strength and ability to play in press coverage. Strong in zone coverage. Will need to make it to Austin to receive an offer and demonstrate serious interest in the Longhorns. |
| Avery Walls |
Visited Feb. 18 |
Not offered |
15% |
|
3/29 -- Since the Texas staff is targeting a pure cornerback for the last member of the defensive back class, an offer doesn't look likely for Walls, who projects as a pure safety in college. Thoughts on Walls. Film. |
Outstanding offers: Josh Turner
Timetable:
- Turner -- The Oklahoma City Millwood star plans on taking all five official visits before making his decision.
Moving forward: Turner is clearly the top target on the board at this point and the coaching staff appears to like Waisome, who would have to visit Austin to receive an offer and confirm any interest that he may have for the Longhorns. The question with Turner is whether or not the coaching staff wants to wait until close to Signing Day for him to make a decision. Texas probably cannot afford to lose out on a Signing Day decision by Turner to head elsewhere, so if it looks like he will extend the process that long, the Longhorns may look in another direction to ensure another cornerback commitment.
The commitment of Diggs probably closes in-state recruiting at defensive back, though the coaches will continue to evaluate players like Charles Jackson and Eric Agbaroji. If either of those players impress the coaches enough to receive an offer or another prospect emerges from under the radar, it will probably appear at the summer camp after an in-person evaluation.
Athlete
Needs: Two
| Name (School) | JD invite? | Offer? | Commitment odds | Favorites | Quick take |
| Ladarius Brown (Waxahachie) | Did not attend Feb. 27 |
Not offered |
N/A |
|
As a receiver, Brown has the ball skills and body control that would translate well to the safety position, but his pure speed is something of a question mark -- he doesn't look to have elite speed on film, but his height (6-2) could make him deceptive in that respect. Needs to work on tackling form. Hard to say how exactly Brown feels about the Longhorns, as he is apparently hard to get into contact with and has done few interviews. |
| Desmond Roland (Dallas Lake Highlands) | Did not attend |
Not offered |
N/A |
|
Much like DeMarco Cobbs, Roland projects as a guy who could play receiver or running back or a combination of the two in college. Has the feet, vision, and balance to play running back. Excellent athlete, but the Longhorns don't have a particular need for him and he's thought to be an Oklahoma lean. |
| Mykkele Thompson (San Antonio Stevens) | Feb. 13 |
Offer |
Committed to Texas (2/13/10) |
|
3/30 -- Looks like a similar athlete as Flowers and projects as a defensive back at Texas, most likely at safety, though the coaches will surely give him a shot at cornerback first. Will play quarterback and spend some time on defense as a senior. Film. 2/12 -- All-around athlete who played quarterback and wide receiver for Stevens as a junior. One of the best long-jumpers in the state. Only recently surfaced on the Texas radar. |
| Quandre Diggs (Angleton) | Feb. 27 | Offer |
Committed to Texas (3/11/10) |
|
3/29 -- Diggs finally a Longhorn. 2/12 -- Well-built kid, but undersized at 5-8 or 5-9 -- probably too small to play cornerback for Muschamp. A better comparison might be a thicker, stronger DJ Monroe and he could fit into the Texas offense in a similar way. Could also be an excellent safety, but it would be difficult to make the decision to take the ball out of his hands, which would solve the problem of his size as well. Says he wants to play defensive back. Brother of Quentin Jammer -- has known the Texas coaching staff for most of his life. Texas fell out of contact for some time and it's not clear whether they stopped recruiting him or just thought that they didn't need to keep up with him as much because he was a virtual lock to accept an offer. |
Outstanding offers: None
Moving forward: The Longhorns are finished at the athlete position with commitments from Thompson and Diggs, the top two players on the board. It does not appear that Texas will recruit Ladarius Brown because they landed a commitment from a similar player as Brown in Thompson.
Remaining needs
If the Longhorns do indeed decide to keep the class to 23 commits, here's a look at the top remaining needs in the class:
- Malcolm Brown -- There's no question that this class will be a disappointment without either Brown or Green and Brown seems the more likely be far and may fit the new scheme better with his strength and power. Substitute either Green or Brandon Williams for Brown and will be no complaints from this quarter.
- Josh Turner -- The coaches desperately want another true corner who can contribute early and Turner fits that bill as well as anyone in the country. Looks like his interest is serious.
- Christian Westerman -- Westerman gets the nod over Hegarty because he's physically more ready to play and Texas could use a third lineman who can contribute early, especially on the outside.
- James Vaughters -- Doesn't fill a need, but he's just that good.
- Quincy Russell -- Recent experience at the defensive tackle position is strong evidence of how quickly a depth chart can go from stacked to barren. Russell over Anderson because of his ability and potential to play some nose tackle, if not become a true run-stuffing anchor.