Predicting how the Texas Longhorns finish out the 2016 recruiting class, version 2.0

Can you feel the excitement, Texas Longhorns fans? The anxiety? With 13 targets remaining to decide on National Signing Day, one on Tuesday evening, and the recent momentum generated the flip of offensive lineman Zach Shackelford and the commitments of cornerback Eric Cuffee, athlete Lil'Jordan Humphrey, and running back Kyle Porter on Tuesday, the anxiety is diminishing and the excitement is ramping up.

Way up.

Here are some final thoughts on how things will shake out for head coach Charlie Strong and his staff on what will unquestionably be the most historic National Signing Day in the Internet era of recruiting -- for better or for worse. Right now, even in a conservative scenario, the scales look highly likely to tilt towards the better side.

And please note that while a best effort was made to compile all the commitment times, the decisions might not all come down at exactly the times noted. And 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions may not all be recent and will not reflect any changes made throughout the evening on Tuesday.

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 last week. 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 some time between 2:15 and 2:30 p.m. CT (presumably).

BON Prediction: Alabama

247Crystal Ball:

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 the other week. Strong followed that up with an in-home visit on Monday night in an attempt to sway the longtime Baylor pledge, but there hasn't been a lot of information coming out this week from Hudson's camp. Hudson made his decision on Monday and judging by the confidence being expressed by coaching staffs, he hasn't yet told either. He'll announce at 8:30 a.m. CT.

Prediction: Baylor

247Sports Crystal Ball:

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 looked increasingly likely to happen after his official visit to Baton Rouge last weekend, during which the Tigers had the chance to sell Fowler on his fit in new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda's scheme and win over his mother. However, that didn't fully happen and Strong landed an in-home visit last weekend. Now, it could be either way in the final hours.

BON Prediction: Texas

Euless Trinity defensive tackle Chris Daniels

The former Oklahoma commit is somehow still considering Texas despite the late offer from the Longhorns. Shockingly, Texas looks 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, but Oklahoma may still be the bigger competition here because his father really likes the Sooners defensive line coach. Daniels will decide at 7:45 a.m. CT.

BON prediction: Texas

247Sports Crystal Ball:

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. Christmas-Giles moved his decision up from Wednesday at noon to Tuesday at 10 p.m. CT to announce on local television.

BON prediction: Texas

247Sports Crystal Ball:

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 last weekend before officially decommitting from the Wolverines. Now it doesn't even look like there is any serious competition for the Longhorns with a decision set for 1 p.m. CT.

BON prediction: Texas

247Sports Crystal Ball:

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? It seems that the Sooners are fading late in the race and the other out-of-state contenders like Miami and Ole Miss have no momentum, either.

BON prediction: Texas

247Sports Crystal Ball:

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

How about Texas landing three defensive tackles from Louisiana? It's certainly a possibility, assuming the Longhorns can hold off the Seminoles following Taylor's official visit to Tallahassee. At least, that was the prevailing thought for some time, but with only hours left until the big defensive tackle's decision, there's some thought that South Carolina is in the mix after an official visit last weekend. He's expected to decide at noon, along with Elliott and Christmas-Giles, as long as the later's plans don't change in that regard.

BON prediction: Texas

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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.

BON prediction: Stanford

247Sports Crystal Ball:

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 and McCulloch has probably been a silent commit for several weeks now.

BON prediction: Texas

247Sports Crystal Ball:

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 got the final word last weekend. Right now, this one feels like it could be a toss up, but it's hard to dislike the Longhorns' chances given Jackson's longtime affinity for the program and respect for Strong. Jackson will announce on ESPNU at 9:45 a.m. CT.

BON prediction: Texas

247Sports Crystal Ball:

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.

BON prediction: Ole Miss

247Sports Crystal Ball:

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. Baylor and Texas are his other two finalists, as of Monday -- the Bears are a darkhorse contender after hosting him on an official visit last weekend, but this one almost feels too close to call right now between the Longhorns and Aggies.

BON prediction: Texas

247Sports Crystal Ball:

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. He's supposed to decide at 8:30 a.m. instead of with Jackson, as previously anticipated.

Prediction: Texas

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