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The Texas Longhorns didn't have to wait for star linebacker Dontavious Jackson and the rest of the Houston-area contingent to visit to host some important recruits, as three high-profile 2017 prospects tripped to Austin on Monday:
Down here at Texas pic.twitter.com/d9XC2j7H8R
— LorenMondy30 (@sandmanAPA) June 15, 2015
From left to right, that's Mansfield Lake Ridge linebacker Loren Monday, Plano East linebacker Anthony Hines, and Wylie East running back Eno Benjamin with Texas head coach Charlie Strong.
Of the three, only Hines holds an offer, one of more than 70 offers reported by the naiton's No. 4 outside linebacker in the 247Sports Composite rankings. Here's his quick take on the visit:
Had a great visit at UT with @Strong_TexasFB @luc_brian @UT_CoachNorvell @Official_MalikJ @charless_94 !! #HookEm pic.twitter.com/y4D1x20B1F
— Anthony Hines III (@2017D1Prospect) June 15, 2015
The former Mississippi State commit also visited Austin on June 1, when the national contingent of prospects all traveled to Texas, so he's demonstrated some legitimate interest in recent weeks with those trips.
Benjamin also visited Austin on that trip, so he's clearly interested in picking up a Texas offer. However, the Horns have been slow to extend them at the running back position in 2017 after taking three in 2015 -- Houston Langham Creek superstar Toneil Carter is currently the only pure ballcarrier in the class to receive one so far, though Texas is recruiting La Grange athlete/all-purpose back JK Dobbins as a running back. Wtih 11 offers so far, Benjamin's recruitment isn't particularly far advanced, so there's certainly no harm in moving slowly with him and the rest of the in-state running backs since the Horns are in a strong position with Dobbins.
A consensus high three-star prospect, Mondy is a bit undersized since he's listed at 6'1, but he's currently a top-15 inside linebacker nationally. Committed to Arizona State for nearly two years, he only holds five offers and it's not clear how high he is on the Texas board right now.