It's probably time to stop considering Texas the favorite to DeSoto all-purpose back Dontre Wilson, whose Oregon trip last week sounds like it was a resounding success ($) for the Ducks, despite some cold, rainy weather.
The best news for Oregon is that Wilson reportedly spent a significant amount of time with former Duck LaMichael James, the fellow Texas product who was able to successfully transition to living so far from home and also faced questions, as Wilson does, about his ability to be an every-down back in college.
As reported by Hookem.com, the Wilson family knows James, so this was not apparently a play orchestrated by Oregon head coach Chip Kelly, though it would have been a smart one.
As a result, Wilson now has Oregon at the top of his list, along with Oklahoma State, despite saying within the last two weeks that Texas was his favorite ($).
It's unclear when Texas will have another chance to make an impression on the DeSoto product, as he said he doesn't have any plans for visits until the summer, even though his father has said at other times that he will be at the spring game.
The 'Horns needed to make up ground when Wilson visited for JD1 and managed to do so, selling him on an expanded role that was nevertheless similar overall to what DJ Monroe has done for the last several years.
One potential pitfall for the Longhorns is that Wilson sees himself as an every-down back in college and while he might still receive that opportunity at Texas, the overall depth at the position and even the 2012 commitment from Daje Johnson both reduce the need for Wilson and his options for early playing time.
The next step for Texas is to get Wilson back on campus, preferably for the spring game, but even with his strong feelings for the 'Horns, it would not be surprising to see Wilson's recruitment end up on the backburner for the 'Horns with so few spots available and that aforementioned depth at running back. Well, perhaps calling it an embarrassment of riches is more fitting than simply calling it depth.
Wilson is a fantastic talent who could even play on the defensive side of the ball if necessary (though it won't happen given his dynamic ability with the ball in his hands). It does appear at this time that the two schools currently at the top of his list may provide better fits and more opportunities for early playing time.