Decision timeline for remaining 2016 Texas Longhorns targets

Mack Brown would be scared to death right now.

Famous for wanting to avoid decisions on National Signing Day because misses cost the program that player and their replacement, the former Texas Longhorns head coach preferred to lock up his classes as soon as possible, often landing the great majority of a signing class nearly a year in advance.

This year, new head coach Charlie Strong and the Longhorns are poised for an even more dramatic National Signing Day than last year, when running back Chris Warren picked Texas after a coin flip, wide receiver Ryan Newsome flipped from UCLA days after committing, and safety PJ Locke signed instead of heading to Oregon despite public rebuking Texas hours before.

It was the biggest National Signing Day haul for the Horns since, well, the previous year, when Strong landed two key defensive tackles, a stark change from the boring and uneventful finishes under Brown.

This year, the Horns are still in pursuit of no fewer than 18 prospects with only eight days until the 2016 cycle officially comes to a close, with at least 13 of those recruits currently slated to decide next Wednesday. It is both an outgrowth of prospects wanting to enjoy official visits after the season and the spotlight of National Signing Day, but also a result of Strong willingly using the entire process without applying significant commitment pressure at any point.

Or taking no for an answer.

And if one listens to Texas wide receiver commit Reggie Hemphill, there are around six silent commitments already, reducing the angst for Strong and his staff, but leaving Longhorns fans speculating about the identities of those six recruits.

This year, there wasn't a momentum-changing commitment like the decision by Malik Jefferson in December of 2014. However, according to defensive coordinator Vance Bedford, there are several players with that capability in this class.

"Oh there's a top dog out there," Bedford said in November. "There's a bunch of 'em. There's about two or three guys out there that when they make a decision, I think other guys will follow."

Next Wednesday, Texas will find out whether that's the case.

Until then, here's the list of remaining targets and when they are expected to decide.

On or before National Signing Day

Manor defensive end Erick Fowler

Mom wants the 2016 US Army All-American to stay closer to home, but Fowler wants to stick with his pledge to LSU, which looks increasingly likely to happen after his official visit to Baton Rouge this weekend.

247Sports Crystal Ball -- 100 percent Texas

National Signing Day

Katy running back Kyle Porter

Down to Arkansas, TCU, and Texas, Porter doesn't have a set date yet ahead of his final official visit to Arkansas. Despite an official visit to Texas last weekend, TCU seems to have the momentum here.

247Sports Crystal Ball -- 44 percent Texas, 22 percent Oregon, 22 percent TCU, 11 percent Arkansas

New Orleans (La.) Brother Martin tight end Irvin Smith

Texas tight end commit Peyton Aucoin's teammate decommitted from Texas A&M last week and has taken two official visits recently, to Memphis and Alabama. An official visit to Austin in December appeared to loom largest until he cancelled his in-home visit with the Longhorns on Thursday evening. He'll announce between Alabama, Memphis, and Texas at some point on NSD, but there's not a lot of drama now -- he's set to sign with the Crimson Tide.

247Sports Crystal Ball -- 100 percent Texas

Silsbee offensive tackle Patrick Hudson

Texas brought out Silsbee native and former Olympic weightlifter and wrestler Mark Henry to recruit Hudson on his three-day official visit weekend. Strong followed that up with an in-home visit last weekt in an attempt to sway the longtime Baylor pledge. A decision from Hudson will come at 10:30 a.m. CT on Wednesday.

247Sports Crystal Ball -- 50 percent Baylor, 38 percent Texas A&M, 12 percent Texas

Aldine Davis linebacker Jeffrey McCulloch

The Shark will decide on ESPNU at 10:20 a.m. CT on Wednesday morning and will likely choose between Notre Dame, Texas, and Texas A&M, though Stanford also has an outside shot. The Aggies and Fighting Irish were the hot teams during the fall, but the Longhorns have been surging when it matters most.

247Sports Crystal Ball -- 100 percent Texas

Alief Elsik linebacker Dontavious Jackson

The 2016 Under Armour All-American is being wooed by superstar Florida State recruiter Tim Brewster, but has also talked with a number of prospects about playing together in their home state. While Michigan and Florida are also in his final grouping, as is Alabama, this looks like a two-team race and Texas will get the final word this weekend. Jackson will announce on ESPNU during the 9 a.m. CT hour.

247Sports Crystal Ball -- 73 percent Texas, 13 percent Oklahoma, 13 percent Florida State

Euless Trinity defensive tackle Chris Daniels

The former Oklahoma commit is somehow still considering Texas despite the late offer from the Longhorns. Shockingly, Texas might even be the leader after an impactful official visit on January 15 that featured host Patrick Vahe, a former high school teammate. Tennessee received an official visit last weekend and Texas A&M will host Daniels this weekend. Daniels will decide at 7:45 a.m. CT after originally planning on signing at 10 a.m. CT.

247Sports Crystal Ball -- 32 percent Texas, 27 percent Oklahoma, 18 percent Texas A&M, 14 percent TCU, 5 percent Arkansas

New Orleans (La.) defensive tackle D'Andre Christmas-Giles

Now down to LSU, TCU, and Texas, Christmas-Giles looks like another Longhorns lean at this time with the Tigers likely full at defensive tackle and the Horned Frogs seemingly a fringe contender recently. The decision could come on Monday, however, as Christmas-Giles publicly pondered that possibility on Twitter Thursday evening. The Louisiana product is one of three defensive tackle targets to decide at noon CT on National Signing Day.

247Sports Crystal Ball -- 71 percent LSU, 14 percent Tennessee, 14 percent Texas

Houston Westside defensive tackle Jordan Elliott

Once so committed to Michigan that he wasn't even speaking with the Texas staff, Elliott re-opened the lines of communication recently and took an official visit on January 22, then decommitted from the Wolverines. Right now, it does not appear that the Longhorns have any serious competition. Elliott will announce at noon CT.

247Sports Crystal Ball -- 61 percent Texas, 17 percent USC, 17 percent Michigan, 6 percent Baylor

Duncanville defensive tackle Marcel Southall

Getting Southall on campus for the big official visit weekend coming out of the dead period was big for the Longhorns. Was it enough to overcome the perceived lead of Oklahoma? Probably not. Southall will announce at 7:30 a.m. CT on Wednesday.

247Sports Crystal Ball -- 75 percent Oklahoma, 25 percent Texas

New Orleans (La.) McDonogh 35 defensive tackle Stephon Taylor

How about an all-Louisiana defensive tackle class for Texas? It's certainly a possibility, assuming the Longhorns can hold off the Seminoles following Taylor's official visit to Tallahassee. Taylor is the third player who will announce at noon CT.

247Sports Crystal Ball -- 50 percent LSU, 40 percent Texas, 10 percent Florida State

Fort Worth All Saints defensive tackle Mike Williams

The Longhorns have felt like a back-up plan for some time for the Cardinal defensive tackle pledge, who got big news not so long ago when he got admitted into Stanford. An official visitor at Texas last weekend, Williams will at least make an announcement on National Signing Day, leaving some hope for the Horns. At 8 a.m. CT, Williams will announce on Wednesday.

247Sports Crystal Ball -- 33 percent Oklahoma, 33 percent Stanford, 22 percent Ohio State, 11 percent TCU

Manvel safety Deontay Anderson

Despite a positive official visit to Austin, Anderson feels like a recruit who will follow through on his affinity for the SEC. Ole Miss has been the leader for some time, but LSU also had a chance to make an impression last weekend. Of course, don't rule out his teammate, Recruiter Reggie, the hard-working Longhorns pledge. Anderson will announce on ESPNU during the 9 a.m. CT hour.

247Sports Crystal Ball -- 60 percent Ole Miss, 30 percent Texas A&M, 7 percent Alabama, 3 percent LSU

Nacogdoches safety Brandon Jones

A childhood fan of Texas, proximity to College Station helped Texas A&M lead through much of the process until he started visiting other schools. Now Arkansas and Baylor both have a shot at pulling him away from the two former rivals, but this recruitment is also trending in favor of Texas with a final visit to Waco looming this weekend. Jones will announce on ESPNU during the 8 a.m. hour.

247Sports Crystal Ball -- 73 percent Texas A&M, 27 percent Texas

Alief Elsik safety Chris Brown

Part of the key Houston contingent that includes his teammate, linebacker Dontavious Jackson, Brown is down to Florida, Michigan, and Texas. The Longhorns received his final official visit and are in strong shape with the versatile defensive back. Brown will announce with Jackson during the 9 a.m. CT hour.

247Sports Crystal Ball -- 100 percent Texas