Athletic LA DE/LB Tahj Brown sets March visit to Texas

On March 25, the Texas Longhorns will host Donaldson defensive end/linebacker Tahj Brown for an unofficial visit, the Louisiana native tweeted on Sunday evening.

The 6’3, 248-pounder currently has offers from Kansas, Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, and UAB, among others.

In the past, he’s taken visits to Auburn and Baylor, but does not yet hold offers from either school.

Ranked as a consensus three-star prospect, Brown is the No. 31 strongside defensive end, and the No. 32 player in Louisiana, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

At nearly 250 pounds, Brown has good athleticism — he ran a 4.83 40-yard dash at a recent Nike event, certainly a solid time for someone that size. Comparable, in fact, to what 2017 Texas signee Taquon Graham ran last spring at a similar weight.

Also listed as an inside linebacker, Brown played some an offense as a junior, scoring three touchdowns and averaging 5.4 yards per carry on the ground and recorded 118 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and six sacks, along with an interception.

Much like Malcolm Roach, Brown plays middle linebacker for Donaldson and recorded big-time numbers. In college, he most likely profiles as a defensive end because of his size, but he could end up playing a hybrid position like Roach did last season as a Fox end for Charlie Strong.

Texas has offered Katy standout Max Wright and Oklahoma City (Ok.) Putnam City’s Ron Tatum at the position. Both visited this weekend, though the ‘Horns are likely playing some catch up with each player, depending on how the visit went for Wright this weekend.

Brown told Burnt Orange Nation on Sunday evening that the coaching staff sees him as a player who could project at defensive end or at linebacker at times. In other words, similar to the role that Roach, the fellow Louisiana prospect, played last season.

So perhaps the weakside defenders end targeted by the staff provide a better perspective on where Brown fits on the recruiting board — Herman and company are still pursuing Dallas Carter’s Jarrell Cherry and Conroe Oak Ridge’s Joseph Ossai just picked up an offer.

In setting up the visit, Brown was told by defensive line coach Oscar Giles that the Texas staff wants to meet him in person and that an offer should come for him at that time.

A month from now, the versatile defender wants to find out how he would fit in Todd Orlando’s scheme, build a relationship with the staff, and see if he experiences the family atmosphere he wants in his eventual school of choice.

In that final regard, the alignment of the coaching staff and longtime experience together should help the Longhorns.

Meanwhile, if the staff extends the expected offer, the ‘Horns would be in a favorable position, Brown said.

“I've been loving Texas for a while and if they offer and the visit goes well they would definitely sit high up on my list.”