Coveted JUCO DT Perrion Winfrey says Texas ‘feels like family’

It’s safe to say Tom Herman and his staff have enjoyed their fair share of success recruiting the JUCO ranks. Since the new regime arrived in Austin in November 2016, the Texas Longhorns have signed seven JUCO prospects and hold another pledge in the form of Butler C.C. product Juwan Mitchell, who marked the final addition to Texas’ 2019 class.

A little more than two weeks ago, finally, for the first time this cycle, the Longhorns looked to replicate that success, presenting their first 2020 JUCO offer to Iowa Western C.C. defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey.

Not much time has past since that May 10 evening, but nevertheless, the Longhorns have left a lasting impression — so much so that on Sunday afternoon, the 6’4, 305-pound interior presence named Texas as one of his top eight schools.

Why is Texas, a team that’s officially been in the mix for hardly more than half a month, a top option? Well, even if it’s only over the phone for now, the Longhorns staff has made Winfrey feel welcomed like family.

“Feels like a family,” Winfrey told BON of why he named Texas in his top group, despite the Longhorns being one of his most recent offers. “They got a great thing going down in Austin.”

It can only help that the Horns have an extra voice in Winfrey’s ear. During his debut season with Iowa Western, Winfrey shared the field with Longhorns offensive tackle signee Willie Tyler, so unsurprisingly, Texas has been a hot topic between the two as of late.

“We’ve been talking a lot,” Winfrey said of Tyler. “He’s really had nothing but great stuff to say about Texas.”

Winfrey is yet to see the Forty Acres first-hand, though he said a visit is “definitely coming soon.”

In the meantime, Winfrey’s touring his other top options, with Nebraska being the more recent to welcome him over Memorial Day weekend.

So what will Winfrey be looking for in the program he ultimately elects to call home for the 2021 and 2022 seasons?

“Just a place where I can come in and dominate right away,” Winfrey said.

Texas, along with each of Winfrey’s other top options, have just a small window remaining to make the most of his recruitment, as he’s aiming to announce his commitment prior to the 2019 season and set himself up to become an early enrollee. As he describes it, though, which ever program does ultimately win out will be gaining an immediate game-changer in the trenches.

“A game-changer,” Winfrey said of how he’d describe his game, adding that he feels he can thrive in any defensive scheme. “I feel as if when I am in the game, there is nobody that can stop me. I feel like I can change the game no matter what adversity is in front of me.”

Last season, Winfrey made his presence felt to the tune of 27 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and four sacks.

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