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The Texas Longhorns coaches haven't moved quickly on many evaluations made on defensive tackles in the 2017 class, but did extend an offer to Plano East's Deiontae Watts on Tuesday morning:
Blessed to saythat I've picked up my #9th offer from The University of Texas!! #HookEm ◻ pic.twitter.com/DR3H2wKkEZ
— Deiontae Watts KBC (@wattsdeiontae1) February 23, 2016
The 6'3, 300-pounder is only the third defensive tackle in the class to pick up an offer from the Longhorns, joining consensus five-star prospect Marvin Wilson of Houston Episcopal and massive Iowa recruit Juan Harris, who is currently committed to the Hawkeyes after multiple decommitments.
Since Watts visited Austin last fall for the Kansas game with his high school teammate, highly-recruited linebacker Anthony Hines, he has some familiarity with the Texas program and he's clearly been on the radar of the coaching staff for some time:
Tonight was #UTvsKU pic.twitter.com/vd4iRQV8QK
— Deiontae Watts KBC (@wattsdeiontae1) November 8, 2015
It wasn't until picking up an offer from Baylor at a Junior Day in Waco at the end of January that Watts really saw his recruitment take off, however, as he's also added offers from Texas A&M and Nebraska within the last two weeks.
There are not yet any predictions in the 247Sports Crystal Ball for the consensus three-star prospect, who is considered the No. 377 player nationally, the No. 24 defensive tackle, and the No. 54 player in Texas, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.