Pre-existing relationships helping Texas with 4-star DT Keondre Coburn

HOUSTON, Texas — At a Nike The Opening event with nearly 300 high school athletes competing, it wasn’t difficult to notice Houston Westfield defensive tackle Keondre Coburn, one of the key Texas Longhorns targets at the position.

At 6’1 and 326 pounds, the four-star prospect is a presence that demands attention and he’s been getting plenty of it on the recruiting front.

“It’s been amazing,” Coburn told Burnt Orange Nation on how the recruiting process has been for him. “I’m enjoying every moment I get. It’s only once in a lifetime so I’m going to take advantage of each moment I get.”

Since the start of the new year, Coburn has picked up offers from Texas, Indiana, Arkansas and Louisville, while taking Junior Day visits to Texas A&M Jan. 22 and TCU Jan. 29. This doesn’t include the numerous daily phone calls, which Coburn told BON he also enjoys.

“You see who actually has interest in you.”

Following the 2017 Texodus, keeping Coburn within state lines is a priority for each of the six in-state schools pursuing his services — Texas, Texas A&M, TCU, Baylor, Houston ad UTSA have offered Coburn and he told BON they’re all making him a priority.

“They’re saying stay home,” Coburn said of the in-state schools’ pitch to him. “This is home but I’m looking right now, I’m thinking, you know? I’m just taking it slow.”

Taking is slow should be just fine with the Texas staff. After all, they’ve patiently pursued Coburn since his freshman year when Longhorns tight ends coach Corby Meekins was the head coach as Coburn’s high school, Spring Westfield.

“I’ve got a lot of interest in Texas, especially because of the U of H [Houston] staff and I loved the U of H staff,” Coburn said on why his interest in Texas is so high. “Adding them made it even better.”

Coburn described his relationship with the Longhorns staff as one similar to family.

“It keepS getting better and better,” Coburn said. “They feel like family. I know them, they know me.”

By the time he begins his senior season, it’s safe to assume nearly every Power 5 coaching staff will want to know Coburn. Ranked just outside of the top 100 in his class and the top 10 in the state, and with a growing list of offers, Coburn still felt he had something to prove at The Opening Regionals.

“[I’m here] to prove that I’m the best in the nation.”

Though it’s quite possible he continues to climb the recruiting rankings during the next year, Coburn currently ranks as the nation’s No. 106 player and the No. 11 player in Texas, per 247Sports Composite.

He’d be an addition Tom Herman and the ‘Horns would happily welcome. Texas can get step one step closer towards placing Coburn in burnt orange later this month as he’ll join a small army of other elite in-state targets attending Junior Day in Austin.