4-star Texas DT target Bobby Brown commits to Texas A&M

For the second time is as many weeks, a key Texas Longhorns target is headed elsewhere, as elite Arlington Lamar defensive tackle Bobby Brown announced his commitment to Texas A&M on Friday.

Despite the need for talent and depth at the position and Brown’s relationship with defensive line coach Oscar Giles, Texas rarely seemed like a legitimate option for the four-star prospect. Although Texas remained in the mix and was even named in Brown’s top eight earlier in the month, Texas A&M, Alabama, Oklahoma and even Florida State were often mentioned as teams in a better position to land Brown, and that proved true on Friday. Such was even evident surrounding Brown’s official visit plans, as he officially toured Oklahoma, Florida State, Alabama and today, Texas A&M, but never Texas.

Brown has noted that if he elected to take his fifth and final official visit then he’d visit the Longhorns, but following the familiar theme of Texas remaining just outside looking in, that visit didn’t happen.

Rather, with yet another target off the board, Saint Louis (Mo.) Chaminade product Trevor Tout stands as an uncommitted defensive tackle holding a Texas offer, and there is relatively little known momentum there, if any.

The ‘Horns do hold a pledge from Houston Westfield’s Keondre Coburn, but realistic defensive line options beyond that come in the form of edge rushers rather than run stuffers. To that end, if Texas is going to add any more talent in the trenches this cycle, it’s likely going to come in the form of Conroe Oak Ridge weak-side defensive end Joseph Ossai and Saint Louis (Mo.) Lutheran North weak-side defensive end Ronnie Perkins.

The ‘Horns remain firmly in the mix with each, seemingly having gained a late edge over longstanding favorite Texas A&M in the case of Ossai, while remaining in a heated Red River recruiting battle with Oklahoma for Perkins’ pledge. Unlike Ossai, however, the 256-pound Perkins can and has played defensive tackle throughout his high school career, making the need to secure his signature a heightened priority with few remaining options.

If and when Texas can add one or both of Ossai and Perkins to its No. 2-ranked 2018 class remains to be seen, although each donning burnt orange by national signing day appears more likely than not at this point. But of course, things can and do change dramatically in recruiting in short order and at this point, Texas doesn’t appear to be too publicly involved with any other talents that can help in the trenches.