Texas WR target JoJo Earle commits to LSU

Hours before the 2020 NFL Draft, the Texas Longhorns missed on a key wide receiver target when Aledo’s JoJo Earle announced his commitment to the LSU Tigers.

The decision wasn’t especially surprising in the final hours — since Earle tweeted about making his decision, word got out to the extent that 10 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions came in for LSU in a matter of hours.

However, it is another disappointing development on the recruiting trail for a Texas program that doesn’t seem to have much momentum right now. With Earle, things played out in a similar way. Back in January, the Aledo speedster didn’t include the Longhorns among his final five schools. Then, just before the coronavirus pandemic locked down the country and necessitated a recruiting dead period, Earle visited the Forty Acres, at which point it seemed like Texas might have a chance to get back in the mix.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

Last summer, the Horns did offer The Woodlands wide receiver Theodore Knox, but it’s not clear if he’s interested in Texas or if the new offensive staff is still pursuing him — Mississippi State looks like the favorite for Knox right now. Knox is the only other in-state slot receiver prospect with an offer.

Among the six commitments in the 2021 class, Denton Ryan athlete Billy Bowman may be too electric to take the ball out of his hands and play him at cornerback, so the Longhorns do have a potential slot receiver in the class and just increased long-term depth at the position by moving Jordan Whittington from running back.

Still, the coaches felt there was enough of a need at the position to get Earle on campus six weeks ago, so expect the staff to continue looking to add a slot receiver in the 2021 class.