2019 targets talk Texas following Junior Day visits

Over the weekend, approximately 70 prospects from the 2019, 2020, and 2021 classes flooded to Austin for the Texas Longhorns Junior Day.

Burnt Orange Nation spoke with some of those who attended to get their thoughts on the visit and their interest in the Longhorns:

Jonathan McGill — 3-star S — Coppell: “The experience was real cool, anytime you get to talk to guys like BJ Foster and Caden Sterns it’s real fun. Also being able to have positional meetings and listen to how college coaches break down film is real cool. Texas would be on my radar [If UT offered]. The idea of staying in Texas is intriguing along with the tradition of DBU as well.”

— McGill said Texas is recruiting him as a nickel back.

Chux Nwabuko III — Unranked APB — Hutto: “I had an amazing time and the whole junior day at Texas really opened my eyes. UT is where I really wanna be and I think I would fit the system and the culture.”

— Nwabuko added that he spoke with Stan Drayton, Drew Mehringer and Michael Huff, and that Drayton said he’ll be heavily recruiting Nwabuko as long as he’s interested. He called Texas one of the best universities in the country and can’t wait to go back.

Nolan Matthews — 3-star TE — Frisco Reedy: “It was great. I had a great talk with my position coach, Coach Warehime. The facilities and the weight room is world class and the coaching staff is great.”

— Matthews said Warehime told him that his skill set and intangibles match what the Longhorns are trying to do offensively. The staff will continue to evaluate him throughout the spring wants Matthews to return to the Forty Acres during spring practice and the spring game.

Carl Williams — 3-star DT — Lufkin: “It was a great experience, the environment was nice, and the atmosphere was amazing.”

Logan Compton — 3-star TE — IMG Academy (Fla.): “It was great! I had a great time meeting Coach Warehime and catching up with Coach Meekins. The whole experience was absolutely incredible. It was my first time meeting coach Warehime this weekend. I’ve been talking with him on the phone pretty often so we had already started to get a relationship going. Coach Meekins was really impressed with the amount of weight I’ve put on since I was that there. They said they would be watching me in the Spring.”

— Compton said the Longhorns coaching staff is in contact with him more frequently than any other staff recruiting him, save for Maryland tight ends coach Dave Bucar. Compton added that Texas is a top school for him, calling UT a dream school.

Jayden Jernigan — 3-star DT — Allen: “It was great. Texas is a great university. I talked with coach Giles and he said I am a big priority for Texas. I would fit in a nose in 3 man and a 1 technique in a 4 man.”

— Jernigan said if Texas offered, he would be very interested a the idea of staying close to home and playing in-state.

TQ Jackson — 3-star WR — Jefferson: “The experience was great man.. honestly.”

— Jackson added that he watched film with Mehringer and that he made him feel more comfortable than other coaches he had been around. Jackson hopes to make it back out to Texas. His interest is high and most of his family likes Texas.

Javasia Brunson — 3-star SDE — Lufkin: “The experience was great. I loved the atmosphere the coaching staff showed tons of love, especially Coach Giles and the current players showed love too, showing us around and talking about the campus. Also the people were great it feels a lot like home!”

— Brunson added that if he had to choose right now, it would be between Texas and Oklahoma State. He plans to commit on July 3, but will still take official visits after his commitment.

Peter Mpagi — 3-star WDE — Richmond George Ranch: “My visit went great. I learned a lot from Coach Giles, he helped teach us the defense and quizzed us over it. I also enjoyed learning from the players and how the life of a college football player at Texas was and I also enjoyed the nutrition center as it is only for the football players.”

— Mpagi said Giles told him that he has a future as a Longhorn and they would speak again this week. Mpagi is definitely an offer candidate for Texas. Mpagi plans on taking his official visits throughout the spring and committing on his birthday, June 8. He will officially visit TCU.

Marques Caldwell — 3-star CB — Alvin — Oregon commit: “Amazing. Coach J Wash [Jason Washington] made me feel at home.”

“They would love for me to play for them and that it’s a different vibe at Texas it’s more juice more hype the hype makes you want to play for a team of that caliber,” Caldwell said of Texas’ message to him.

Stacey Wilkins — 3-star OT — Camden (Ark.) Fairview: “It was really good getting to meet the coaches. I felt loved when I first walked in getting greeted by players and coaches everybody already knew my name. Had a great time touring the facilities and getting to know about the university and academic side of things and etc. and the networks and things they have set up to help you if you don’t play at the next level to help you be a better person,father and husband.. After looking at them they will change your perspective on a lot of things when you visit and you will have a really great time there when you visit for those other athletes. Coach Herman is turning things around up there and I’m excited to see what he has in store for the guys.

— Wilkins added that he can’t wait to get back to Austin and the Longhorns will receive an official visit. He said Texas is one of his top schools right now.Wilkins raved about Texas offensive line coach Herb Hand, who he called one the best in the business. Wilkins is scheduled to commit on May 9.

Breylon Garcia — 3-star WDE — Lufkin: “I loved it up there, that was the best visit I’ve been on, no doubt. The facilities were crazy. I could see myself going there already with coach Giles.”

Isreal Isuman-Hundley — 3-star WDE — Argyle Liberty Christian: “I think Texas was great, Austin is a beautiful place, and all the coaches were nice. They have great facilities.”

— Isuman-Hundley said he spoke with Tim Beck and Oscar Giles and added that he speaks with Giles about four times a week. Texas is a top option at the moment.

Curley Young — 3-star OLB — Pflugerville Hendrickson: Young said his visit to Texas was good, describing it with fireworks and fire emojis ( ). Young noted that the academic aspect of the visit impressed him, as well as watching film to see where he fits on defense.

“They need 4 LB’s and see me as one of them,” Young said. “Coach Herman said he likes watching my film.”

“I could see myself playing for UT.”

Gilbert Ibeneme — 4-star SDE — Pearland: The experience was great, the coaching staff were fun to be around and players were a big help.”

— Ibeneme also said that he talked with Giles quite a bit and said he’s “a cool guy with a great mind for the game.” Ibeneme said his interest is high and he definitely plans on returning to Texas.

This story will be updated as we speak with more recruits.