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Could having an Art Briles disciple at OC boost Texas Longhorns recruiting?

Sterlin Gilbert's Briles-inspired offense goes into effect this fall, and could have an impact with recruits.

By Haisten Willis
Texas athletics

There are many ways the Art Briles fallout at Baylor could affect the Texas Longhorns, and one of the largest may be in recruiting. What has happened in Waco is much bigger than football, of course, but it does have big implications on the field as well.

Not only have the 'Horns and Bears offered the same player multiple times over the years, Texas is installing a Briles-esque offense under new OC Sterlin Gilbert.

Stewart Mandel over at Fox Sports addressed the issue in his latest mailbag column:

There is, however, one very interesting Texas-Baylor storyline to follow over the next year. As you may know, Charlie Strong hired a Briles disciple, Sterlin Gilbert, as his new offensive coordinator. Texas will essentially be running the Baylor offense now -- but Baylor might not be following this one-off Jim Grobe season.

So if you're a quarterback, running back or receiver in the state of Texas who grew up watching Robert Griffin III/Bryce Petty/Lache Seastrunk/Antwan Goodley and want to play in the offense that produced them, your only opportunity in the Big 12 now may be in Austin. If so, that's a wild turn of events.

The list of offensive position Baylor signees with Texas offers over the last few years isn't short. It includes:

  • Wide receier Robbie Rhodes in 2013
  • Receivers K.D. Cannon and Ishmael Zamora plus athlete Davion Hall in 2014
  • Quarterback Jarrett Stidham and running back JaMycal Hasty in 2015
  • Quarterback Zach Smith, receivers Devin Duvernay and Tren'Davian Dickson, running back Kameron Martin, offensive linemen Patrick Hudson and JP Urquidez in 2016

For 2017, both schools have offered more than a dozen of the same players:

  • Dual-threat quarterback Shawn Robinson (though Texas is now done at quarterback)
  • All-purpose back J.K. Dobbins and running back Toneil Carter
  • Wide receivers Devonta Smith, Hezekiah Jones, Damion Miller, Omar Manning and Jalen Reagor
  • Tight ends Brock Wright and Kedrick James
  • Offensive linemen Austin Deculus, Walker Little, Chuck Filiaga, Grayson Reed, Jack Anderson, Tyrese Robinson and Edward Ingram

Baylor commits have been dropping left and right since Briles was fired last week, and with the schools just 100 miles apart and offensively similar, the 'Horns recruiting class could be impacted in a major way.

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