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Previously: QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG
Defensive tackle
Needs: Two or three
Commits:
- Bryce English, DeSoto
- Daylon Mack, Gladewater (Texas A&M commit)
- Shy Tuttle, Lexington (N.C.) North Davidson
- Darrion Daniels, Dallas Bishop Dunne
There's a little bit more depth in the state this season, as evidenced by the fact that the 5'11 English is the No. 7-rated defensive tackle in the class. When there were questions about whether Bruce Chambers would remain on the staff, it seemed as if English's offer could perhaps be in jeopardy, but since Chambers is back and English is his godson, it looks like he will remain a member of the class, despite representing a significant bust risk because of his height.
Where that isn't as much of an issue for Poona Ford because of other attributes like long arms, a pretty incredible motor, and obscene quickness for someone of his size, English has much less margin for error because his other attributes aren't as impressive as those possessed by Ford.
The top target here was obviously Mack, a consensus five-star prospect and a player Texas should continue recruiting because he's been interested in hearing from the new coaching staff and grew up a Longhorns fan. How open will he be to the new staff? Perhaps not enough to make it likely that he decommits from the Aggies, but he's good enough to try.
Daniels received his offer in late January and becomes a more important prospect because of Mack's commitment to Texas A&M, though he's hardly a can't-miss prospect and is currently thought to be a heavy Baylor lean. As with all the other targets, getting him on campus for Junior Days is extremely important because he needs face time with the new staff.
Another prospect the Longhorns may opt to pursue is current Oklahoma commit Du'Vonta Lampkin, who is probably a slightly better athlete with more strength at this time than Daniels. While the Composite doesn't agree with that in terms of overall ratings, 247Sports does have Lampkin higher.
After not finding any defensive tackles in 2013 and taking an undersized prospect and a project in Chris Nelson, this is a class that needs an impact player at the position. Unfortunately, the recruit with the best shot of becoming that impact player is Mack.
Strong and his defensive staff should be able to land some bodies here, but the top prospect is already off the board, Texas is nowhere at the moment with the second-ranked defensive tackle, and the third-ranked defensive tackle, who has received no interest from Texas, is already committed to Oklahoma.
There's a lot of work to do to keep this defensive tackle class from being underwhelming at a position where recruiting has been underwhelming since landing Malcom Brown, with the exception of only a single, much-needed day.
