This is simply a basic introduction to the class. I’ll be much more exhaustive when I rank players by position groups over the coming days and weeks.
Before I get to it, I’ll say Strong should have earned your total trust over the last two months. You won’t be hearing any complaints about the way he does things so whether he hits the gas pedal on the class of 2017 earlier than in previous years (he already has to a degree) or doesn’t, I don’t care.
The 2015 cycle filled tons of needs and what few needs it didn’t – defensive tackle, tight end, high floor quarterback – were filled last Wednesday. Now Texas finds itself in the favorable position of being much more selective in who it targets, especially in light of lower numbers.
For now I’m working off the number 20. It could be more or less but that sounds like a good starting point. You never know the various forms attrition will take; injuries, disciplinary, transfers, etc.
The smaller the class the more elite it needs to be because elite players are more likely to translate from high school to college. The great thing about Charlie is he can find elite in 3-star players like few others if he needs to go that route, but right now I’m expecting a high star-rating class, i.e., lots of household names.
OFFENSE
Quarterback (1)
Commits: Sam Ehlinger, Westlake (Austin, TX)
Offers of Note: Shawn Robinson, Guyer (Denton, Guyer)
Possible Offers of Note: None
Last cycle was a great illustration in how other players – both current and future members of the team – can be a boon on the recruiting trail. Ehlinger was just that and the early enrollee is still 11 months from hitting campus. Having him being a $15 Uber ride from campus also helps recruiting because he can be at Moncrief in the time it takes him to drive Westlake the length of the field.
Ehlinger is a high floor, high ceiling asset who will be ready to compete upon arrival if he’s needed immediately.
Looking for him to help tremendously during the cycle, starting first with teammate, LB Levi Jones. Along with Breckyn Hager, Ehlinger, and possibly Jones, Westlake is becoming the 41st Acre.
Running Back (2)
Commits: None
Offers of Note: Toneil Carter, Langham Creek (Houston, TX), JK Dobbins, La Grange (La Grange, TX)
Possible Offers of Note: Eno Benjamin, Wylie East (Wylie, TX), Kennedy Brooks, Mansfield (Mansfield, TX)
Texas could easily survive with one running back especially if Tristian Houston and incoming freshman Kyle Porter show positive signs, but it would be nice to see UT add more dynamic skill.
Carter is the state’s best composite of size and speed but he’s getting the Roland treatment. JK is a darting, bouncing, pinball, capable of making poorly blocked plays long scores.
Benjamin and Brooks are both volume-carry players who can wear on a defense. Eno has surprising power and finishes runs well while Brooks has great vision lateral ability.
It’s a good cycle in-state and others will emerge.
Wide Receiver (3)
Commits: Damion Miller, John Tyler (Tyler, TX)
Offers of Note: Camron Buckley, (Cedar Hill, TX), Hezekiah Jones (Stafford)
Possible Offers of Note: Too numerous to list, see Prospect Board.
I’d love to see another speed burner with length to go along with the explosive Miller as well as an ultra-quick slot who can excel in the screen game and break tackles.
Because of when he was hired, Sterlin Gilbert wasn’t able to target “his” guys. I’ll be interested to see who he targets. I’d love to see him make a run at Baylor commit, Hezekiah Jones. Saaid Adebo from Mansfield is another guy to keep an eye on because he can play either receiver or corner which provides tremendous value in a smaller class.
Tight End (1)
Commits: Major Tennison, Bullard (Bullard, TX)
Offers of Note: Brock Wright, Cy-Fair (Cypress, TX), Kedrick James, La Vega (Waco, TX)
Possible Offers of Note: Chance McLeod, Victoria East (Victoria, TX), Brian Polendey, Guyer (Denton, TX)
It’s one of the better years I can recall in Texas coming on the heels of a cycle when New Orleans single-handedly had better options than the entire state.
With Wright committed to Notre Dame and James committed to Baylor, Tennison is the best choice available, in my opinion, and a very underrated prospect (which I said long before he committed to Texas on the spot). He combines elite size (6-foot-6, 245) and uncommon fluidity for a young man of that stature. He’s an ideal fit because he should excel at blocking in-line and also prove to be able to threaten the seem due to size and ability to run. The networks will eventually come around to his ability. Hopefully he attends some camps.
Theoretically Texas could add a second TE in the class because of low numbers at the position (Caleb Bluiett graduating, Andrew Beck will be a senior by the time 2017 gets to town) as well as the possibility 2016 signee, Peyton Aucoin, moves to offensive line.
Offensive Line (3)
Commits: None
Offers of Note: Walker Little, Episcopal (Bellaire, TX), Grayson Reed, Cy Creek (Houston, TX), Tyrese Robinson, Boyd (McKinney, TX)
Possible Offers of Note: See Prospect Board.
Depending on Aucoin’s developmental path, Texas took 9-10 offensive lineman in the last two classes. That’s pretty heavy numbers which is what Texas needed and Strong wanted. The class can afford to be a bit smaller but because of Strong’s preference for big bodies, I could see them going to four in this class. That will likely depend on how the ’15 and ’16 guys are looking next season. Another thing to look at is if Connor Williams indeed looks like a 3-year player.
The staff is in great shape with Little and Reed and I’m really impressed that each already knew Matt Mattox. The new offensive line coach was coaching at Tulsa yet knew two guys he’d never have a chance for. That’s an impressive work rate. I’m very encouraged by early returns on Mattox and feel like he’ll be a star on the recruiting trail. If that’s the case, that could be yet another reason to take the class to four.
Tyrese Robinson is a fantastic guard prospect in the mold of Denzel Okafor who recently committed to Oklahoma. Strong’s ability to thief recruits from Stoops meets the McKinney Curse head on, imo.
Hitting numbers here will be a breeze but the staff should exhaust all available resources to get Little. He’s a future pro.
Overall the class is off to a great start on this side of the ball. You have your quarterback of the future who’s surrounded by a big-play wide receiver and sensational tight end. Texas is also in great shape with the running backs and could honestly already have a commit or two at the position if it wanted. O-line numbers should be a breeze to hit.
Strong is in prime position to do what he does best; take his time and be selective.
DEFENSE
There was a time during the 2016 cycle when people were wondering where the defensive players were.
Indeed, Texas only received four verbal commitments during the calendar year for the class, and just two before November. A vocal minority questioned the method to Charlie Strong’s madness, but as we saw over the course of the last couple months, Charlie Strong got this. Hashtag #errybody. Hashtag #Believe.
The end result of the defensive class was very few holes going into 2017 and yet another drastic increase in roster talent, but rare is the class that fills every need. Though 2016 will be remembered for the massive defensive line haul, there’s still a need for a true fox end, even if Jeffrey McCulloch and Erick Fowler can play there. Another need is a true, elite lockdown corner. You can make the case that’s a need in any cycle when you dwell in the Big 12, but especially so after Texas took three guys who project to nickel or safety long term (all three can man-up in a pinch at corner if forced to do so) and one or two corners on the current roster are likely 3-year players.
I’m working off of a number of 20 but there’s always a chance, and typically likely, that will grow. I start off projecting low and raise the allocation as we see attrition. On Monday I predicted a class of 10 on offense so obviously I’ll stick with those numbers for defense. That will be a chore.
The talent at the top of the defensive class is fantastic. I have five prospects I see as 5-stars or very possible 5-stars: Marvin Wilson, Baron Browning, Anthony Hines, Jeffrey “Bear” Okudah, and Texas commit Lagaryonn “Wayward Son” Carson.
It’s my opinion there shouldn’t be a take in the class who requires much more than 30 seconds of Hudl viewing to decide how good he is. That’s the position Charlie Strong has put himself in with the last two hauls.
Obviously sleepers will be uncovered, some of which we’ll end up coveting. Also, Texas will take a spirited run for some national prospects. For now here’s who is firmly on the radar or immediate periphery. I mention again that I’ll soon start ranking guys by position. I have about 250-300 guys to watch.
Defensive Line (3-4)
Commits: Lagaryonn Carson, Liberty-Eylau (Texarkana, TX)
Offers of Note: DT Marvin Wilson, Episcopal (Bellaire, TX), DE K’Lavon Chaisson, North Shore (Houston, TX), DE Taquon Graham, Temple (Temple, TX)
Marvin Wilson will very likely go wire-to-wire as the state’s best prospect. He’s a giant tackle who’s extremely light and quick on his feet. Those guys don’t come around often. Alabama and LSU will make Wilson tough to keep home, but Texas can be very selective and patient at the position and recruit Wilson with laser focus. Also helping matters would be landing HS teammate Walker Little, though it’s not a big game-changer for Wilson.
With Carson in the fold, Texas doesn’t even need to take a defensive tackle in the class because it’s very likely he’s headed to the 300-pound club. He profiles as a 3-tech to SDE because of his size and athleticism. Yes, he’s comparable to Hassan Ridgeway as a player at this same stage in their development.
Chaisson is a true fox and if you’re looking for an analog, Derick Roberson in high school sounds about right. He’ll be a big priority, though he’s a Baylor legacy and is also fond of LSU. In the handful of times I’ve talked to him, including at last July’s Under the Lights camp, he seemed to have genuine interest in Texas. It would be interesting if the roster held two cases of a defensive end going versus a quarterback in the state championship finals. Roberson was bested by Jerrod Heard, and Chaisson came away victorious in a hard fought nail-biter with Sam Ehlinger.
I’m a big fan of Graham and like him as a fox early on but I think he’ll transition to SDE after a year or two in the program. He’s similar to Charles Omenihu in that regard. It’s hard to not like UT’s chances here. He’s good friends with 2016 signee, Davion Curtis. The two were teammates at Temple who visited Texas together and talked about one day again being teammates. Factor in Sterlin Gilbert’s ties to the program and UT should be in good shape.
I could see Texas yet again looking to Louisiana or perhaps Florida if some more high upside targets don’t emerge. I’m looking forward to breaking down these three position groupings in detail. There has to be some unheralded studs out there somewhere, but Texas may not need to make any “reach” offers.
Linebacker (3)
Commits: None
Offers of Note: Baron Browning, Kennedale (Kennedale, TX), Anthony Hines, Plano East (Plano, TX), Levi Jones, Westlake (Austin, TX), Dylan “Pipedream” Moses, IMG (Bradenton, FL)
A position Texas should not need to look for unheralded players is linebacker. The staff should be in no hurry to offer beyond the current four offers.
Browning is the best of the bunch because he can play all three linebacker spots, as well as fox, at an elite level. He’s long, can run, and looks to crush people. Perhaps he’ll even crush Art Briles’ heart by flipping to Texas at some point.
Hines is the rare elite athlete as a true Mike. He can run like a safety but damn near looks like a defensive end. The Hines hype train got started early but count me in to shovel coal and keep it going.
Jones has tons of upside and potentially could play fox. Scipio hit me up the other day and said he liked him a lot and that he was reminded of Emmanuel Acho. That’s a solid comp. Jones looks like a Will for Texas, but could grow into a fox long-term. You have to like UT’s chances to keep him home, especially with Jones being so close to quarterback commit, Ehlinger.
Defensive Back (3-4)
Commits: None
Offers of Note: CB Chevin Calloway, Bishop Dunne (Dallas, TX), S Robert Barnes, Carroll (Southlake, TX), S Derrick Tucker, Manvel (Manvel, TX), S Jeffrey Okudah, South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, TX), S Major Wright, Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
There are a couple other defensive back offers out, but none that I deem likely to develop into storylines at this point.
Calloway’s a terrific, island cover corner the class desperately needs. He was offered some time ago. Here’s a refresher on him.
When last I talked to him he hadn’t been hearing much since he was offered. I’ll get back in touch with him.
Barnes is an OU legacy and current commit, but Texas won’t go lightly here. He projects to being a box or boundary safety.
Derrick Tucker is the most likely Longhorn of the current group and is rangy, both in size and coverage ability. I’m sure he’ll be hearing plenty from Recruiter Reggie over the next several months.
Okudah’s a havoc-wreaking stud who’s also a devastating offensive weapon for SGP. At this point there’s very little chance he ends up at Texas but we’ll see if Jason Hall can get him to reconsider. He’s good enough you stay on him until the bitter end.
I have a feeling we’ll at least see Wright on campus at some point. He’s the brother of Major Wright who Strong recruited to Florida. Curiously, Wright the Younger is viewed as FSU’s to lose but Florida is definitely in it. He’ll be a tough pull to say the least but Strong does have an ‘in’.
UT will definitely be scouring for in-state corners and a couple will emerge. A name to keep an eye on is Matt Hankins from Flower Mound Marcus. I know Vance Bedford is a fan of his.
We’ll find some guys worthy of a Texas offer in a couple of days. I’m a fan of Terry Petry, personally.
The class should be long on star power, depending on how the team performs in 2016. Show vast improvement on defense and some coherent offense, and Texas should be off and running.
I expect this to be a lower offer class than 2016. Texas can be patient and selective on both sides of the ball. This will allow the staff to build very strong bonds with fewer guys to keep up with.
