Tag: billy bowman

Breaking: Texas decommit Billy Bowman officially commits to Oklahoma

The Texas Longhorns once held the commitment from Billy Bowman. Not even a month after his decommitment, he commits to the Oklahoma Sooners.

During the mass exodus that has occurred over the last several months, the Texas Longhorns lost Quinn Ewers and Phaizon Wilson from their 2022 class. They haven’t been the only ones. Denton Ryan’s Billy Bowman was the other notable name to decide to think about his decision to commit to Tom Herman and the Longhorns. On Sunday night he officially made his decision which wasn’t a surprise to anyone.

Bowman will now be heading across the Red River to join the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners and Longhorns battle it out in every sport and on the recruiting trail, more often than not going after the same players throughout the state of Texas. You can add one more to the list. It was widely known that Oklahoma would be the front-runner. According to Horns247’s Mike Roach, Bowman wanted to be considered for offense and not defense. Some held out hope that Herman and Yurcich would reclaim his commitment.

The Longhorns 2021 recruiting class is currently ranked 17th in the nation with 17 total commits. The class is led by Bowman’s teammate at Denton Ryan, Ja’Tavion Sanders. If the class finishes 11th or worse it will be the worst ranking under Tom Herman who has secured a top 10 class every year since his hire.

It appears this staff still has some work to do to finish out this class and stop the recruiting hemorrhaging that has occurred in recent months.

Texas Football: The Longhorns need to decommit from Tom Herman

With the latest news of top 2022 recruit Quinn Ewers decommitting, it is time the Texas Longhorns move on from Tom Herman.

The Texas Longhorns are a team that has underperformed for the last decade. It started with the decline under long-time coach Mack Brown you spent 16 seasons in Austin. That was followed up by a disaster of a three-season run by Charlie Strong and now a less than stellar campaign under Tom Herman. Herman did lead them to three consecutive bowl games in which they won. However, only one Big 12 Championship game appearance and one New Years Six bowl isn’t enough.

The University of Texas generates more revenue than any school in the country. They have begun to work on upgrading their facilities and the stadium. Which helps when it comes to recruiting and visits each year by top recruits. Now they need the head coach that is going to get them there. They thought they had the guy in Tom Herman.

Herman was the offensive coordinator at Ohio State when they won the National Championship in 2015 along with current defensive coordinator Chris Ash. They improved to 7-6 in Herman’s first year from the 5-7 2016 season under Strong. In 2018 they won double-digit games, defeated Oklahoma, played in their first conference title game since 2009 and won a New Years Six game. That year they defeated the No. 6 ranked Georgia Bulldogs.

Since that run in 2018, it has been downhill for the Longhorns. They have won just 11 games with seven losses in the 18 games following. Under Tom Herman the team is 10-7 as a ranked team playing an unranked opponent. Losing seven games to unranked teams shouldn’t sit well with Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte. Not to even mention the recruiting aspect, but we will get there momentarily.

This season he had the opportunity for a clean slate and CDC has stated numerous times that Herman knows you only get this one chance. He brought in Ash and Mike Yurcich from Ohio State. The team looked solid in the first game against an inferior opponent in UTEP. Since that game they struggled with a Texas Tech team that has won just once in conference play.

They lost to a TCU team that Herman has struggled with his entire tenure but was blown out by Oklahoma. They forced overtime against the Sooners and in the Tech game because of the quarterback. Sam Ehlinger has saved this team time and time again. The Longhorns did win their last game against Baylor, who has struggled out of the gate. They handled a Kansas team but lost to West Virginia and now the Longhorns.

There isn’t anything that this team has done on the field to lead you to believe they are trending in the right direction. The 2018 season looks like an aberration on the Herman resume. He won at Houston but that hasn’t translated to Austin. Now that is starting to leak into recruiting. This isn’t something new.

The first domino to fall in the downward spiral was the legacy twins. James and Tommy Brockermeyer were set to join the Texas Longhorns as third generation talents. Their grandfather and father played for the Longhorns. Their brother Luke is currently on the team. However, the constant failing on the football field, the lack of development pushed them to the University of Alabama.

Shortly after securing the commitment of Quinn Ewers, the Longhorns lost another top recruit in Jalen Milroe. Again he is heading to Alabama. The last one being the decommitment of Ewers. He likely is now heading to Ohio State.

In 2017 the Longhorns ranked 25th in the 247Composite team rankings. They followed that up with a top three classes in 2018, 2019. The finished the 2020 class with the No. 8 ranked class. This next class not anywhere near that level. They currently sit at 17th for the 2021 class after losing out on the Brockermeyers, Milroe and even Billy Bowman.

Regardless of the buyout for Tom Herman, the Longhorns need to make it happen. They shouldn’t be a middle of the road football team. They have finances, they have the updated facilities, they need the football coach. If the Longhorns need the money for a buyout, they will find it.

Oklahoma made the top-3 for top-50 recruit in 2021 recruiting class

Not often does one school’s failures result in another school’s success in the OU-Texas rivalry. Not as of late. It may with Billy Bowman.

Not often does one school’s failures result in another school’s success in the OU-Texas rivalry. Not as of late.

Oklahoma and Texas don’t have the marquee recruiting matchups against each other that often anymore. The Sooners outlasted Texas for four-star edge rusher Clayton Smith in thus recruiting class, but that’s become a rarity and not the norm.

Four-star and No. 35 overall player in the 2021 recruiting class, Billy Bowman, de-committed from the Longhorns last week. Oklahoma became the sole focus of his recruitment for many national, local and team reporters.

Bowman has already released a final three ahead of a new commitment date with the Sooners in it.

Oklahoma will be fighting common opponents in LSU and Georgia for the ballyhooed recruit. Bowman was committed to the University of Texas for well over a year, growing up a fan of the Longhorns.

The Sooners may have an ace up their sleeve in this one as Bowman’s girlfriend, Jayda Coleman, was one of the best softball players in the 2020 recruiting class and signed with Oklahoma. She is already on campus and preparing to play for legendary head coach Patty Gasso.

Bowman is listed as an athlete and could play either side of the ball for the Sooners.

Oklahoma currently has 15 commitments in the 2021 recruiting class and is ranked 13th in the country according to Rivals.

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Texas Football Recruiting: Former four-star Longhorn commit trending towards Oklahoma

For nearly 15 months, Billy Bowman was a staple in UT’s 2021 recruiting class. Now, he could be heading to the other side of the Red River.

For nearly 15 months, Billy Bowman was a staple in Texas’ 2021 recruiting class. Listed as a verastile athlete, the four-star prospect could play both wide receiver and cornerback at an elite level while also returning punts.

After being recruited by defensive coordinator Chris Ash and cornerbacks coach Jay Valai, Bowman was expected to join Texas’ secondary.

The high school senior plays bigger than his 5-10, 175-pound size and possesses incredible speed. Mix in Bowman’s solid tackling ability and great hands from playing wide receiver and there is no question why Texas wanted him on defense.

However, Bowman decommited from the Longhorns on Oct. 7 and it came as a major shock.

“I’ve decided to take a step back, analyze my future & dream goals,” Bowman announced on his Twitter page.

It was a huge loss for Texas as Bowman was the second-highest rated recruit in their 2021 class. The No. 33 player overall, Bowman was on the cusp of becoming a five-star prospect.

Now that he has reopened his recruitment, big-time schools have taken notice, including LSU who offered Bowman the next day. However, predictions have poured in for the Denton Ryan product jump across the Red River.

When Oklahoma won the Red River Shootout on Saturday, it was not the only win they would secure over Texas this week. Bowman seems set to be heading to Norman for at least the next three seasons.

Four 247Sports crystal balls have been in favor of the Sooners since Oct. 7, all with a seven or eight level of confidence. Lincoln Riley offered Bowman on July 21, 2020, and has been pursuing him ever since.

Also of note, Bowman’s position on 247Sports has been changed to wide receiver. It seems as if Oklahoma has focused on making the athlete apart of the Sooners’ explosive offense instead of defense like Texas planned.

While it is certainly possible for Bowman to commit back to Texas, it is rare to see a former decommit go back on his word.

Oklahoma will expand on its lead as the No. 1 2021 recruiting class in the Big 12 if Bowman commits. The Longhorns currently sit at the No. 2 spot in the conference with major ground to make up.

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Oklahoma commits react to four-star ATH Billy Bowman’s de-commitment from Texas

There are major news in recruiting, then there is the University of Texas losing a longtime commitment who grew up a fan. 

There are major news in recruiting, then there is the University of Texas losing a longtime commitment who grew up a fan.

Denton, Texas, native Billy Bowman is one of the most coveted players in the 2021 recruiting class. He held offers from the whose who of college football like Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Penn State and Oregon.

Bowman, though, dropped the bombshell on Wednesday night that he was going to de-commit from Texas. The 34th best player in the 2021 recruiting class according to Rivals, no less.

Oklahoma offered late. The Sooners got in the conversation in July of this year, which is really late to offer someone in the current day and age of recruiting.

Lincoln Riley may have the wild card in all of this. Bowman’s girlfriend is now at Oklahoma and was one of the best players in the country, winning the Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year for 2020-21. She is set to be one of Patty Gasso’s best softball players as just a freshman.

Some of Oklahoma’s top commitments took to Twitter to let Bowman know how they feel about him being back on the open market. Here is what they said.

 

Texas loses commitment from coveted 2021 recruit Billy Bowman, holds Oklahoma offer

Could Oklahoma backdoor itself into one of the best players in the 2021 class? Longtime Texas commitment Billy Bowman is now on the market.

Could Oklahoma backdoor itself into one of the best players in the 2021 recruiting class?

Denton, Texas, native Billy Boman grew up a Texas fan and has been committed to the Longhorns for a long, long time. The wide receiver and defensive back is rated as the 34th best player in the country according to Rivals.

Oklahoma showed up in the picture late, offering in July of this year. However, offering at that time could have paid off.

Bowman de-committed from Texas on Wednesday night.

The coveted Texas high school football recruit holds offers from the whose who of college football. Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Oregon and Penn State have all thrown their hats in the ring.

Oklahoma, though, may have a trick up its sleeve. Bowman’s girlfriend, Jayda Coleman, is one of the best softball players in the country. She won the Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year for 2019-20 and will play for Patty Gasso and Oklahoma softball in 2020-21.

Bowman plays both sides of the ball, so it’s unclear where Oklahoma sees him at. Regardless, he is one of the best talents in the 2021 recruiting class and a guy the Sooners could desperately use regardless if it’s on offense or defense.

Oklahoma has four defensive backs committed for the 2021 recruiting class and three wide receivers. The Sooners could take a recruit at either place.

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Texas Football Recruiting: 2021 four-star athlete Billy Bowman decommits

Texas’ 2021 recruiting misery continued on Wednesday, with Billy Bowman decommitting. He was UT’s second-highest rated recruit in the class.

Texas’ 2021 recruiting misery continued on Wednesday night, with Billy Bowman decommitting. A four-star athlete on the 247Sports composite, Bowman was the Longhorns’ second-highest rated recruiting in the class.

Coming out of Denton Ryan High School in the Dallas Fort Worth area, Bowman announced his decision via Twitter. Here is what he had to say:

I’ve decided to take a step back, analyze my future & dream goals. I want to thank everyone at The University of Texas for recruiting & beleiving in me. I will be decommitting & re-opening my recruitment. Thank you all for your support and prayers.

No Interviews Please

Defensive coordinator Chris Ash and cornerbacks coach Jay Valai have been the main recruiters for Bowman. The four-star prospect had committed to Texas back in July 2019. Now, Bowman will have 30 other offers to decide from.

Able to play wide receiver, defensive back, and even return punts, Bowman was listed as an athlete on 247Sports. Nationally, the senior was the No. 33 overall player and the No. 6 prospect in the state of Texas.

Texas’ 2021 class has dropped to No. 17 in the country. Bowman was seen as an intricate member of the #trUTh21 movement. Tom Herman’s off the field recruiting performance will not help his poor on the field results.

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Texas commits Ja’Tavion Sanders, Billy Bowman account for four TDs

Texas commitments Ja’Tavion Sanders and Billy Bowman exploded in Denton Ryan’s season opener.

Texas head coach Tom Herman is putting together an impressive 2021 recruiting class. Continue reading “Texas commits Ja’Tavion Sanders, Billy Bowman account for four TDs”

August recruiting update: Oklahoma homing in on 2021 WR targets

August recruiting update: Oklahoma spreading the wealth for WR targets

Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley hasn’t seen a shortage in wide receiver talent in his time with the Sooners, and he isn’t planning on it anytime soon.

The Sooners already have one of the two five-star recruits at WR, and they’re not stopping there.

With second-ranked WR Mario Williams and four-star Cody Jackson already committed, Riley is dedicated to getting a talented cast around top-ranked 2021 QB Caleb Williams.

Here are some of the top wide receiver targets for Oklahoma’s 2021 class:

EMEKA EGBUKA—FIVE-STAR-NO. 1 WR

Oklahoma already has 2021’s second-ranked receiver in Mario Williams, but are going for it all by seeking the top-ranked route-runner in Emeka Egbuka. Egbuka has 35 division I offers in total, but now Oklahoma will have to fight against Clemson, Ohio State and Washington for his talents. At 6-foot-1, 180-pounds, there’s not much that Egbuka can’t do as a receiver. Riley could use him in nearly any situation, and as a punt and kick returner. Egbuka was thought to be leaning towards Ohio State, but with Williams pushing for him hard, who knows what could happen?

BILLY BOWMAN—FOUR-STAR-NO. 1 ATH

Riley has recently started stoking the fire for No. 1 athlete in the country Billy Bowman. Bowman recently committed to Texas, and has not shown many signs of flipping. But at 5-foot-10, 170-pounds, Bowman is nearly a must-have in terms of speed for Riley’s future offense. Oklahoma recently reached out to offer, and if they could get Bowman to Norman for a visit, the rest could be history.

JALIL FAROOQ—FOUR-STAR-NO. 33 RB

Ranked the 33rd receiver in 2021, Jalil Farooq would look familiar in Riley’s offense, but still incredibly useful. At 6-foot-1, 200-pounds, Farooq could be a splitting image of a certain Cowboys first-round draft pick in 2020. The Sooners will have to fight all of the major schools for Farooq, but should they land him, will have one of the more talented and diverse WR classes.

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Texas Football Recruiting: Where does the 2021 defensive class sit now?

The defensive recruiting has been good but there is still room to work. Here is your latest update on the 2021 defensive recruiting class:

During Tom Herman’s time in Austin, defensive recruiting has been the backbone. From the 2018 class alone, the Longhorns pulled off the No. 1, No. 3, and No. 6 safety, plus the No. 6 and No. 10 cornerback.

Moving forward to 2021 and recruiting in the secondary is still there. However, if there is going to be a star this recruiting cycle, it will come off the defensive line and Ja’Tavion Sanders. For now, he is the only five-star the Longhorns have a commitment from.

With new defensive coordinator Chris Ash taking the reigns, Texas will be switching to a base 4-3 defense. This will change the way they recruit, trying to find blue-chip players who also fit into their new scheme.

The defensive recruiting has been better than the offensive recruiting but there is still room to work. Big players such as Shemar Turner and Andrew Mukumba are still there to battle for.

Here is your latest position by position update on the defensive recruiting class:

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