2012 Texas Longhorns Recruiting Thread (+ related news)

[TFloss32]

Some parents are flat-out stupid. I still can't believe our running back is named 'Christine' because his mother liked the name and was expecting a girl. I don't think I'd have a good relationship with my parents if they did that to me.

The worst name I can remember is Georgia RB Ben Gay from a while back.

[TFloss32]

*Darrell Wyatt and Bruce Chambers made it to Dallas Skyline yesterday to check on WR Thomas Johnson and LB Peter Jinkens.

*Oscar Giles did not make it to Weimar yesterday to see 2013 OL Ja'Braylin Thomas, but he is scheduled to by the school today.

*Read a report that the staff is most likely finished recruiting DT Eddie Goldman of Washington, D.C. now that there are already three DTs committed to UT for the 2012 class. DT Javonte Magee of San Antonio Sam Houston will likely be the sole focus at that position from this point forward.

[TFloss32]

*Per a source at Beaumont West Brook HS, Major Applewhite is in town to check on DE Caleb Bluiett. Apparently West Brook has some younger talent that Applewhite wants to evaluate as well.

*Duane Akina will be in San Antonio today to see DT Javonte Magee.

[TFloss32]

According to the coach at Shreveport Evangel Christian, Stacy Searels was in town this morning to see two 2013 prospects. Searels is proving to be quite the beast on the recruiting trail (UT is already recruiting Thomas heavily for the 2013 class).

OL, Josh Thomas, Evangel Christian (Shreveport, LA) (6-6, 290)
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/footbal...-Thomas-118424

LB, X'Zavier Preston, Evangel Christian (Shreveport, LA) (5-10, 215)
http://www.maxpreps.com/athletes/7wt...er-preston.htm

[TFloss32]

Interesting article from Recruitocosm about Texas not recruiting RB Trey Williams:

http://recruitocosm.fantake.com/2011...#comment-84678

[rjv]

Interesting article from Recruitocosm about Texas not recruiting RB Trey Williams:

http://recruitocosm.fantake.com/2011...#comment-84678

perhaps mack is better off deferring RB evaluation to the other coaches. he has had some nice RBs in his tenure (charles, benson) but also a lot of misses, especially as of late.

[TFloss32]

Stacy Searels has scheduled another visit with a top national prospect. He'll be in Buford, GA on Friday to meet with OL Vadal Alexander.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/footbal...exander-108515

[TFloss32]

*Per Gerry Hamilton of 24/7 Hook 'Em, the best news of the week so far is Darrell Wyatt went to see ATH Kendall Sanders at Athens HS today. There's no word yet if an offer was extended, but Hamilton seems to think that the UT staff is recruiting Sanders as a WR first and a DB second. That could be the reason he's yet to receive an offer because the staff is still evaluating him at that position. If true, this tells us just how much the staff wants Sanders in the mix by possibly granting him a shot to play WR. I know that Mack Brown really likes him a lot.

*Hamilton also made mention of a mystery recruit that Texas is after right now. I don't have a clue as to who it could be as there was no mention of what position he plays. The only hint we have so far is he's currently committed to another school. My first guess would be DE Mario Edwards, Jr. of Denton Ryan, but that seems to be too simple of an answer.

[TFloss32]

Considering UT's needs right now, my other guesses would be S Edward Pope (TCU) of Carthage or ATH Reginald Davis (Texas Tech) of Tenaha.

[TFloss32]

*Another candidate for that mystery recruit could be ATH Daniel Brooks of Rockdale who recently committed to OU.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/footbal...-Brooks-109588


*Oscar Giles definitely made it to Weimar today to see 2013 OL Ja'Braylin Thomas. Thomas is now set for UT's summer camp in the first week of June. Sounds like Weimar has another 2013 prospect worth evaluating in WR Lynx Hawthorne. He's currently committed to Baylor.

[TFloss32]

Sorry for all of the stop-and-go, but lots of info floating around this week:

*Correction on ATH Kendall Sanders...the staff actually visited Athens yesterday, not today. Turns out BOTH Darrell Wyatt and Duane Akina made the trip. It sounds like the staff is pretty serious about his recruitment if they sent both of his potential position coaches out to evaluate him. It's encouraging news and hopefully the staff will offer at some point this spring.

*Stacy Searels will be visiting OL Andrus Peat of Tempe, AZ tomorrow instead of Thursday. That puts Searels in Jacksonville, FL on Thursday to see OL John Theus and he'll follow that up with a trip to Buford, GA to visit with OL Vadal Alexander on Friday. He had tentatively planned to see OL D.J. Humphries of Charlotte, NC as well but he'll be out of town on Spring Break this week.

[TFloss32]

Lots of news coming down since last night...

*First of all, RB Johnathan Gray has set his announcement time. He'll be releasing his decision to the media at 9:10 a.m. on Friday morning in the Aledo field house. Like I said before, if Gray commits to Texas, the staff is hoping that this will create a domino effect with other big recruits committing to UT as well. Word is Gray's commitment will go a long way towards wrapping up OL Kennedy Estelle. The rumor going around is Gray has been doing a lot of his own recruiting for UT lately.

*Stacy Searels stopped by Woodlawn HS yesterday in Shreveport, LA to see DE Torshiro Davis. Turns out Searels watched a bit of film on Davis and he was offered a scholarship on the spot. This offer will likely become "official" once Davis sits down with Mack Brown in the future, but it appears that Davis is a realistic target at this point. UT wouldn't have offered if that weren't the case. He still plans on being in Austin for UT's annual summer camp during the first week of June. The fact that Bo Davis, Torshiro and Torshiro's coach are all very close is going to help UT tremendously. I read an article on Davis after he committed to LSU back in February and his mindset reminds me a lot of DT Malcom Brown of Brenham. He said he basically committed to LSU early because it was the only school he knew much about. Sounds like he wants to be a bit more thorough with the process and check out other schools. It's a positive for UT that the Shreveport area is not hardcore LSU.

*More good news...per 24/7 Hook 'Em, Stacy Searels will be in Tempe, AZ this morning to see OL Andrus Peat. He'll then head over to Chaparral HS in Scottsdale to check on QB Connor Brewer. Bryan Harsin is expected to make a follow-up visit with the two prospects during the first week of May. The best news is Peat confirmed that he'll be making a visit to the UT campus at some point during the summer. Brewer has plans on coming back for UT's summer camp in June so hopefully Peat will make it in at the same time. It's always better to have these big-name recruits on campus all at once.

*Stacy Searles was also in Carthage yesterday to see OL Greg Brantley. He's a guy that they want to give a longer look and are trying to get him on campus during the summer to evaluate him further.

*Lastly, there's apparently another mystery recruit that Texas is looking at and it's a totally different player than the one I mentioned yesterday. The only information I have so far is he's an out-of-state prospect. I'd imagine he comes from SEC country. I'll let you know as soon as I find out who these guys are.

[TFloss32]

*ATH Kendall Sanders was not extended a scholarship offer by Texas yesterday. No need to panic, though. Word is things are starting to heat back up again with him.

*I thought it was worth mentioning that Texas will be the first school to visit OL Andrus Peat during the spring evaluation period. Hopefully that's one of those little things that will help UT in the long run.

[TFloss32]

Thing have already changed a bit since RB Johnathan Gray's coach wrote that press release yesterday evening. Gray will actually be announcing his decision around midnight on Thursday and then he'll adress the media at 9:00 a.m. on Friday morning. Gray says he'll be calling the coaching staffs of UT, A&M and TCU prior to making his decision. I'll be up late on Thursday since I don't have work on Friday, so I'll post the news as soon as I see it.

[TFloss32]

More awesome news...

*Darrell Wyatt is scheduled to be in Springfield, MO today to see WR Dorial Green-Beckham. Now, the report was a bit confusing, but there's a possibility that Wyatt may not actually get to speak with Green-Beckham (which isn't unusual for school visits as the coaches are sometimes there to simply watch a player workout and let there presence be known). Turns out Green-Beckham and his adopted father and coach, John Beckham, will be making a trip to Memphis later today to see Green-Beckham's little brother who's being treated for cancer at St. Jude. I'll let you know how it all works out, but as of right now, the staff's hope is to at least have a conference call with Mack Brown, Wyatt, Green-Beckham and Beckham's father. Brown is insistent upon everyone being together when they speak.

*The mystery out-of-state recruit that the UT staff visited yesterday is DT Quay Evans of Morton, MS. Evans is considered to be one of the top DTs in the nation and looks to be another Bo Davis special. Davis was recruiting Evans last season for Alabama. No word which staff member made the trip, but I assume it was either Davis or Manny Diaz. We'll keep an eye on this one to see if the interest is mutual and if the staff is seriously thinking about offering. UT is pretty much full at the DT position for the 2012 class, so it'll be interesting to see what the staff is thinking on this one with DT Javonte Magee still on the board.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/footbal...y-Evans-104479

[TFloss32]

Here's some good info on the recruiting rules that the coaches are dealing with. I did not know that the coaches aren't allowed to speak with prospects on their visits to schools other than a " o" or taking pictures for evaluation purposes. Prospects and coaches are allowed to speak via email and facebook as much as they want, but only a single phone call can be made by the coaches to juniors from April 15th to May 31st. They can then contact them once a week after September 1st of their senior year. Recruits are allowed to call coaches as much as they want regardless if they're a sop re, junior or senior, but the coaches are bound by the following rules:

Per NCAA Bylaw 13.1.3.1 Time Period for Telephone Calls - General Rule. Telephone calls to an individual (or his or her relatives or legal guardians) may not be made before July 1 following the completion of his or her junior year in high school (subject to the exceptions below); thereafter, staff members shall not make such telephone calls more than once per week.

In football, the exceptions are,
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.3.1.2 Exception.Football. [FBS/FCS]
In football, one telephone call to an individual (or the individual’s relatives or legal guardians) may be made from April 15 through May 31 of the individual’s junior year in high school. Additional telephone calls to an individual (or the individual’s relatives or legal guardians) may not be made before September 1 of the beginning of the individual’s senior year in high school. Thereafter, such telephone contact is limited to once per week outside a contact period, but may be made at the ins ution’s discretion during a contact period.

[symple19]

Well, Auburn getting Zeke Pike makes me feel a lot better about losing out on Matt Davis.

[TFloss32]

*Just a reminder that RB Johnathan Gray will be announcing his commitment tonight around midnight. He'll address the media at Aledo HS on Friday morning at 9 a.m. Things still look very good for Texas on this one. I'll definitely be up waiting for the news, so I'll post anything I read.

*Also a reminder that Stacy Searels will be in Jacksonville, FL this afternoon to check on OL John Theus. Theus is considered to be all but a Georgia lock at this point, but it is encouraging that Searels knows the Theus family very well after recruiting John's brother for Georgia last year. Theus mentioned a while ago that he plans on taking an official visit to Texas during the fall.

*Following up on Darrell Wyatt's visit to Springfield, MO to check on WR Dorial Green-Beckham...no word yet if they were able to make the conference call with Mack Brown, but Green-Beckham's father said yesterday that Texas will be receiving a visit at some point this spring or during the summer. My guess is the UT staff won't be picky and they will take a visit whenver they can get one, but ideally they'd like to have him on campus for UT's annual summer camp during the first week of June. Lots of other commitments and recruits will be in town at that time.

*Wyatt also made two additional visits yesterday. First, he stopped in Whitewright to see 2013 QB Tyrone Swoopes (nephew of WNBA legend, Sheryl Swoopes). Swoopes currently checks in at 6'5"/220 and is a Vince Young clone when it comes to his measurables. There's no way of knowing how good this kid will be, but he's supposedly dominating his compe ion on the football field and basketball court as a sop re. UT is definitely recruiting him as a QB (not as an ATH) and they will be one of many schools after him for the next two years. TCU has already offered. Wyatt also made a stop in Sherman to see DB Ryan Reid. Reid is one of a handful of prospects that Texas is currently evaluating for their last DB spot of the 2012 class.

*Speaking of DBs, the mystery in-state prospect who's committed to another school turned out to be ATH Daniel Brooks of Rockdale (who's currently pledged to OU). His spring track times have caused a lot of schools to do a double-take as he recently won the 100 M and 110 M hurdles at Texas Relays. With the interest in Brooks heating up, it appears as if the staff may offer him as a DB while offering ATH Kendall Sanders of Athens as a WR/ATH. Darell Wyatt is supposed to be in Rockdale on Friday at some point to take a look at Brooks.

*Stacy Searels apparently had a great visit with OL Andrus Peat's coach yesterday at Corona Del Sol HS in Tempe, AZ. Searles didn't get to talk with Peat due to NCAA rules, but Peat came out and said that he's "for sure" going to be taking a visit to the UT campus during the summer. Peat's coach stated this morning that Texas is pretty much a lock right now to make his "Top 5." He mentioned Peat really appreciated Texas being the first school to come by and visit him during the spring evaluation period. It's important for him to be at a school where he knows he's wanted. Searles is supposed to be making a second trip back to Tempe, AZ before the spring evaluation period is over. The NCAA permits coaches two visits during that time...one for academic purposes (picking up transcripts) and the other for athletic evaluation. Searels also had the opportunity to check in with QB Connor Brewer yesterday. I'd imagine the staff would like to bring in Peat for the summer camp in June as Brewer is already scheduled to be there. Brewer is going to be an integral part of Peat's recruitment.

*ATH Nelson Agholor's coach mentioned that Duane Akina will be making a trip to Tampa, FL during the month of May even though an official date has yet to be scheduled. Berkeley Prep doesn't start their spring practice until May 2nd, so it will be at some point after that. UT is recruiting Agholor as a safety.

*Major Applewhite is expected to be in Orange, TX today at West Orange-Stark HS to check on DB Justin Thomas (former UT DB Earl Thomas' cousin). Now, I mentioned a while back that I didn't think Texas would seriously pursue Thomas (mainly because of his height...he's only 5'8"), but it's simply been too difficult for schools to ignore his skills despite his small stature. He remains a candidate for that last DB spot. I'd be more than happy if UT decided to offer him.

*Lastly, I thought it was worth noting a quote that I read from new DT target, Quay Evans, of Morton, MS. Like DE Torshiro Davis of Shreveport, LA, Evans had planned on committing to Alabama early on in the recruiting process. He decided against that once Bo Davis left for Texas. He said he couldn't imagine committing to the Tide if Davis wasn't going to be his position coach. Turns out Davis was the UT coach in Mississippi earlier in the week to check on Evans.

[Kermit]

Tristan Thompson is gone.

[Thompson]

Tristan Thompson is gone.

Did he sign with an agent?

I'm betting Gray will commit to Texas tonight. I hope I'm wrong obviously, but Mack is apparently a phenomenal recruiter.

It remains to be seen whether Texas will be able to hang on to all of these commitments if they have another bad year. I'd think after two down years they'd start losing people, but I thought they'd lose more kids after this past year and they kept practically everyone.

[Thompson]

Yep, Texas. Congrats.

At least we got Trey Williams. We should have some good games ahead of us.

[DMX7]

It was pretty much a given.

[TFloss32]

Quote from RB Johnathan Gray after becoming #16 for Texas. He and RB Malcolm Brown will make a of a tandem.

"It's Texas! This was a difficult decision. I chose UT because I get a chance to be teammates with several good players. Getting a chance to work with Malcolm Brown will make me a better player. I also feel that having a young staff playing in a new offense will be exciting. I feel really blessed to have this opportunity."

[TFloss32]

[TFloss32]

DE Hassan Ridgeway of Mansfield has accepted an invitation to play in the 2012 Army All-American Game.