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One of the top offensive tackles of the 2016 class, J.P. Urquidez has been receiving significant nationwide interest since opening his recruitment. Standing at 6' 7" and weighing in at nearly 300 lbs, he is currently rated as the No. 21 OT in the nation by 247Sports. - and he holds offers from Wisconsin, Baylor, Nebraska, Texas Tech, West Virginia, and Kansas State, among other schools. Now, Charlie Strong & Co. have jumped into the fray.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23blessed&src=hash">#blessed</a> just recieved my 11th offer from the University of Texas! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23longhorns&src=hash">#longhorns</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23hookem&src=hash">#hookem</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23horns&src=hash">#horns</a></p>— JP Urquidez (@JP_OT2016) <a href="https://twitter.com/JP_OT2016/statuses/473642612571013120">June 3, 2014</a></blockquote>
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A consensus four-star prospect, Urquidez received his offer from Texas on June 2nd - exactly 24 hours after attending a football camp at the 40 Acres, his second visit since last year. Given the suddenness of the offer, it's fair to assume that his performance left a significant impression on line coach Joe Wickline and the staff. Footage of Urquidez in action at the camp appears promising.
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Despite his impending move to DeMatha Catholic HS in Maryland, Urquidez still seems to have an affinity for the Lone Star State - he has taken multiple visits to Texas, Baylor and Texas A&M since last year. Currently, there isn't too much information to be had about his leading schools - although Texas and Texas A&M do seem to be among the leaders for his services. Of the three 2016 offensive tackles currently holding offers from Texas, Urquidez does seem to be the most likely guy to end up at Austin.
Urquidez's size and stability allow him to effectively handle bull-rushing defensive tackles and ends - he holds his ground against bigger linemen in pass protection, and uses his arms well to neutralize moves to the inside (watch out for holding calls!). He protects pressure from both gaps equally well, and keeps his center low and steady - making him nearly impossible to displace without getting pushed off the ball. If you play high against this kid, you're gonna have a bad time.
On the ground, his quickness is a major asset to the rushing game - he is almost always the first offensive lineman off the line of scrimmage in goal-line formations, and he reliably fights his way to the second level. It will be interesting to see how he handles the swift defensive ends and linebackers of the Big 12 - his film highlights do not show much of his lateral quickness, and it is unknown how well he handles speed off the edge. The 5.59 s 40-yard dash time Urquidez posted at the U.S. Army National Combine indicates that there may be some room for improvement in this area. Nevertheless, his massive frame, excellent balance and physical tools make him a huge target for coach Strong as he seeks to mold Texas' offensive line into a dominant unit over the coming years.