2015 Texas Longhorns Recruiting Thread

[TFloss32]

Update on OL Madison Akamnonu of Arlington Bowie (24/7):

“You can tell that he (Coach Wickline) really wants me,” said Akamnonu. “Texas has really been after me hard lately and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. The attention they’re showing me really stands out.”

“I plan on heading down there (Austin) in a few weeks,” he told Horns247. “Most likely the first of next month, probably for their camp or something like that. I want to get to know the coaches more and talk more with Coach Wickline in person."

“I'd also like to compete against some of the nation’s top guys and I know they’ll be there. I’m looking forward to it.”

“I’m still thinking it over,” said Akamnonu. “Those two schools (Texas and Oklahoma) will be in there for sure, it’s the others I’m trying to figure out.”

[TFloss32]

Quotes from a source close to CB Kris Boyd of Gilmer (24/7):

"The visit went very well,” said a source close to Boyd. “He (Coach Vaughn) stayed for about four hours. He watched Kris practice and then went with Kris' position coach. I know the coaching staff had a great time with him."

"Kris really enjoyed it too,” added the source. “He thought a lot of Coach Vaughn coming in and spending all that time there. He loves Texas, as you know, but the fact of how interested they are in him and how much they show him they love him are very big in his book. That's something they need to keep up."

"I think he commits sometime during football season,” the source said. “He wants people to see him as a wide receiver too, not just as a defensive back and running back, but as a complete athlete."

[TFloss32]

More on JUCO QB Daniel Fitzwater (24/7). If he enrolls at his next school this summer, he'll have four years to play three:

“They (Texas) talked to my coach earlier in the week,” said Fitzwater. “I don’t have all the info on what was said, but I know that they're interested in me. I just know they have expressed interest and they want to learn more about me as a quarterback and then we’ll go from there.”

“I’m excited,” he said. “Being from Texas, it’s very exciting. I lived in Dallas, then Amarillo and then Houston, so if they offered it would be a good opportunity for a Texas boy to go back to Texas.”

[TFloss32]

2016 RB Sewo Olonilua of Humble Kingwood made an unofficial visit to Texas yesterday (24/7):

“It was great,” Olonilua told Horns247. “I stayed for about an hour and a half, took a tour through all the facilities and saw everything. What really stood out about that was their game field. You really get to see just how big the stadium really is when you are on that field.”

“I like how Coach (Charlie) Strong is rebuilding that team,” he said. “I hope to see them shock some people next season.”

“I will be camping there on June 1,” Olonilua said. “Coach (Chris) Vaughn said if I show out at the camp, then they will have an offer waiting for me. If that happened, it would put them way ahead of the pack.”

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2606556/highlights/80896383

[texas4ever]

2016 RB Sewo Olonilua of Humble Kingwood made an unofficial visit to Texas yesterday (24/7):

“It was great,” Olonilua told Horns247. “I stayed for about an hour and a half, took a tour through all the facilities and saw everything. What really stood out about that was their game field. You really get to see just how big the stadium really is when you are on that field.”

“I like how Coach (Charlie) Strong is rebuilding that team,” he said. “I hope to see them shock some people next season.”

“I will be camping there on June 1,” Olonilua said. “Coach (Chris) Vaughn said if I show out at the camp, then they will have an offer waiting for me. If that happened, it would put them way ahead of the pack.”

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2606556/highlights/80896383

Wow... BRUISER!

[TFloss32]

Inside Texas saying Coach Wickline is in Jenks, OK today to see blue-chip DT Marquise Overton (committed to OU).

http://247sports.com/Player/Marquise-Overton-25903

[TFloss32]

Wow... BRUISER!

Olonilua is another reason why 2016 RB Kameron Martin hasn't been offered, imo.

Lots of good options in that class.

[Needs More Bourbon]

Update on Pine Bluff (Ark.) TE Will Gragg from Scout:

"We talk about once a week," Gragg said. "They are in a great place with me and I'm in a great place with them."

"We were really talking about things outside of football, relationships in life and things like that. Then we get into football."

"Just talking it over with my family, we haven't started to settle down and narrow things down just yet," he said. "Once the school year is over we will cut things down. I definitely want to get out and see some schools that I haven't seen yet. Then we will just go from there."

He's got OVs set up for Texas, Alabama, FSU, LSU and Ole Miss.

[Needs More Bourbon]

Gladewater DT Daylon Mack told Scout that he would visit LSU (May 31) and Alabama (June 13-14) but didn't know if he'd visit Texas.

[Bloeddyr10]

2016 RB Sewo Olonilua of Humble Kingwood made an unofficial visit to Texas yesterday (24/7):

“It was great,” Olonilua told Horns247. “I stayed for about an hour and a half, took a tour through all the facilities and saw everything. What really stood out about that was their game field. You really get to see just how big the stadium really is when you are on that field.”

“I like how Coach (Charlie) Strong is rebuilding that team,” he said. “I hope to see them shock some people next season.”

“I will be camping there on June 1,” Olonilua said. “Coach (Chris) Vaughn said if I show out at the camp, then they will have an offer waiting for me. If that happened, it would put them way ahead of the pack.”

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2606556/highlights/80896383

I headsome good things about him at the NFTC in Dallas. Apparently he has two brothers who graduated from Texas. My favorit back of those I've checked so far.

I'm not worried about the Kam Martin situation, at all.

[Needs More Bourbon]

I really wasn't impressed with Olonilua. If Jamabo's going to outgrow the position at 6-2 206, what's Olonilua going to do at 6-2 212 as a sop re? He also ran a 4.86 at the NFTC — he's got better acceleration on film than that time would suggest, but the top-end speed is certainly lacking. And he doesn't break as many tackles as I'd expect from a back his size.

Someone on Shaggy introduced me to Rakeem Boyd the other day — he's easily the best in-state back I've seen in the class out of the 15 or so I've watched so far.

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1604222/...ghts/141612375

[TFloss32]

I'm not worried about the Kam Martin situation, at all.

I like that Strong and staff aren't letting the hype determine who they target. It's interesting to me that Martin is receiving all of these OOS offers, but A&M and UT aren't in any hurry at all. If you simply look at film and ignore the names, I like a handful of guys in the '16 class more. I have no problem with how UT is playing that one and it's already obvious they like RBs with size. Some film for everyone to view and want to hear who y'all like:

RB, Darius Anderson, Richmond George Ranch
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1343402/highlights/68181376

RB, Rakeem Boyd, Houston Stratford
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/o/160422...ghts/118723139

RB, Sewo Olonilua, Humble Kingwood
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2606556/highlights/80896383

RB, Kyle Porter, Katy
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/o/324160...ghts/138274396

RB, Nic Smith, Arlington Martin
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2594964/...ghts/109277376

RB, Trevor Speights, McAllen Memorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxv53fm2eX8

RB, Devwah Whaley, Beaumont Central
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2628796/devwah-whaley

RB, Ja'Ron Wilson, Euless Trinity
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2162738/highlights/98066376

[TFloss32]

Someone on Shaggy introduced me to Rakeem Boyd the other day — he's easily the best in-state back I've seen in the class out of the 15 or so I've watched so far.

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1604222/...ghts/141612375

I'm a fan of Boyd as well, but Whaley is my guy right now.

[Needs More Bourbon]

Good list. Bryson Denley from Cibolo is supposed to be good but I can't find film anywhere.

I didn't like Darius Anderson much — he's a dancer who isn't quick enough for it. Ja'Ron Wilson looks good but is hard to project because his OL is just mauling people. Trevor Speights was one of the first backs I noticed, just before he committed to Arizona. He looks like a better version of Kam Martin.

[TFloss32]

Coach Vaughn and 2016 RB Sewo Olonilua

[TFloss32]

@scoutrecruiting
The #Longhorns have reached out to Oregon's QB, Jake Rodrigues. Who do YOU think #Texas needs?

[Needs More Bourbon]

@scoutrecruiting
The #Longhorns have reached out to Oregon's QB, Jake Rodrigues. Who do YOU think #Texas needs?

Rodrigues told Scout that Texas, Michigan, Miami, SDSU and Utah St. have shown interest. He said he's very interested in UT and understands the needs at QB. He'll start taking official visits as soon as next weekend.


However, he told Oregon 247 writer Justin Hopkins the other day that he's talking a lot to SDSU and that they're the favorite to land him.

[rkell87]

Good list. Bryson Denley from Cibolo is supposed to be good but I can't find film anywhere.

I didn't like Darius Anderson much — he's a dancer who isn't quick enough for it. Ja'Ron Wilson looks good but is hard to project because his OL is just mauling people. Trevor Speights was one of the first backs I noticed, just before he committed to Arizona. He looks like a better version of Kam Martin.

anderson was constantly looking for the inside cutback, great for punt returns, bad for runningbacks at the next level. olonilua was pretty meh to me, solid all around and fights for yards but nothing special about his game. Whaley was always trying to get to the edge, not a fan of that unless you have elite speed which he doesn't. Best of the bunch to me was boyd, making people miss on inside runs is something special that few backs do well ala shady, he also has great acceleration through the hole when it opens up, definitely my early favorite.

[pgardn]

I like Whaley as well, very quick immediate change of direction from the get go.

Never know how they will grow up though.

[Bloeddyr10]

I would like to correct myself, Sewo is my personal favorite. I love big backs who can pound the ball and runs north/south more than east/west. I believe Boyd, Speights or Whaley are the best. I wouldn't mind Sewo as a compliment to one of the three others.

I found some quotes from VarsityPreps from Rakeem Boyd (who seems to be a favorite here), basically a Q&A:

- Who are you hearing from right now?
"Right now I'm gearing from Oklahoma, Kansas State, Texas and UCLA."

- What schools are you interested in?
"I really like Texas a lot, but Alabama is my dream school."

- Do you have any camp plans for the summer?
"Just the Texas camp for now."

- Will distance be a factor in your recruitment?
"Not really, I'm from New Orleans, but I live in Houston. It won't be a factor."

[TFloss32]

Allen's football stadium will close for 2014:

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metro...his-season.ece

[Blake]

Allen's football stadium will close for 2014:

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metro...his-season.ece

We may suck at math and science compared to the rest of the world but as long as the football stadium is big and bad ass, wgaf

[Needs More Bourbon]

Amy Campbell @MsAmyCampbell: 4* 2016 DE Joseph Jackson grew up a #Wolverines fan. Has early 3 favorites: http://recruiting.scout.com/story/1404160 #Michigan #Bama #LongHorns

http://247sports.com/Player/Joseph-Jackson-35065
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1699556/highlights/97427375

[Bloeddyr10]

So much for slow-playing the RB's for the 2016 class. Trayveon Williams of C.E. King in Houston claims to have received an offer from Texas. The mods over at 24/7 are trying to see how legit the offer is. But the first 2016 RB offer might be out.

http://247sports.com/Player/Trayveon-Williams-55099

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2146528/

[rjv]

Good list. Bryson Denley from Cibolo is supposed to be good but I can't find film anywhere.

I didn't like Darius Anderson much — he's a dancer who isn't quick enough for it. Ja'Ron Wilson looks good but is hard to project because his OL is just mauling people. Trevor Speights was one of the first backs I noticed, just before he committed to Arizona. He looks like a better version of Kam Martin.

my daughter is in the band at cibolo steele so i see all their games. if you know anything about justin stockton (going to tech) who ran a 4.3 then i can tell you that denley is just a shade slower than stockton was (my guess would be he runs a 4.4). he was not used much as a receiver so i can't say how good his hands are. he is not big but may grow (his dad is well over six feet). i would say he is about 5'8" or 5'9" at the end of last season and probably 170 or 165 soaking wet. but he is shiftier than stockton was. not tough between the tackles but very elusive and very hard to catch when he gets in the open field (whereas stockton was absolutely uncatchable). not sure how he'll get the ball next year as steele has some deep threats and their QB also runs a 4.4 so he will certainly get some reps as well. i'll keep you all posted on all cibolo steele prospects as next season starts. the positive is that steele has a brutal schedule (madison, judson, smithson valley, wagner and desoto as a non-district game) so i can even watch some other local prospects.