Tag: texas longhorns recruiting

2021 Recruiting Profile: Denton Ryan athlete Ja’Tavion Sanders

Top rated 2021 recruit for the Texas Longhorns Ja’Tavion Sanders. Will Sanders be the next ‘Jack’ for the Longhorns defense?

While Ja’Tavion Sanders is both a pass catcher and pass rusher, he is projected as a quarterback hunter for the Longhorns. Once Joseph Ossai moves on to the NFL, look for Sanders to try and take up the mantle as the “Jack” over the next several years for Texas.

Sanders was the first player to commit in the 2021 recruiting class and he is also the highest-rated one. He gives the Longhorns their second-straight commitment from a 247Sports composite five-star after the team signed Alfred Collins in the last cycle.

Vitals
Hometown Denton, Texas
Projected Position Defensive End/Jack
Height 6-3.5
Weight 220
Rating
Stars Overall State Position
247 4 17 3 2
Rivals 4 45 7 2
ESPN 4 48 5 4
247 Composite 5 24 4 2
Commitment (September 8, 2019)

Analysis

Power Five-caliber recruit on both sides of the ball as an edge defender and flex tight end. Good height with enough frame space to add some bulk. Flashes straight-line athleticism to run by much smaller players, including as a wideout in the passing game. Quick off the line when playing in a three-point stance. Not just an edge-bender but a corner-turner when rushing the passer. Strong tackler. High-motor player who’s active and engaged against the run. Shows encouraging hands-catching ability for a two-way player with ample defensive experience. Dangerous against the screen pass because of that. Could potentially fit multiple defensive schemes. Strong junior campaign on offense reinvigorated case for long-term offensive positional home. Great ball skills. Strong production when considering two-way duties against good competition. Will need to expand pass-rushing repertoire if playing off the edge in college. Relies on athleticism to beat high school OT’s. If playing tight end, will need to hone technique as a blocker in the box as he’s often asked to play as a wideout, rather than an in-line TE or H-back. Very intriguing prospect thanks to physical potential, athleticism, and playmaking ability on both sides of the ball. Possesses long-term early-round NFL Draft ceiling. – Gabe Brooks 247Sports

Texas Recruiting: Top ranked 2022 quarterback commits to Texas

The number one ranked quarterback in the country commits to Texas. Quinn Ewers is the number one recruit in the 2022 class.

The quarterback position has been one for years that the Longhorns haven’t had the same level of luck recruiting compared to other spots on the team. Since recruiting Vince Young and Colt McCoy, they haven’t been at that level. Garrett Gilbert was their last five-star quarterback and expected to fill the void left by McCoy, but he didn’t pan out and transferred.

The likes of Case McCoy, David Ash led mediocre teams. Many wondered how a high profile school such as Texas couldn’t find a top tier passer. Shane Buechele provided excitement but he wasn’t able to hold down the spot with Sam Ehlinger in the fold. However, attention now turns to life beyond Sam.

Ehlinger will move on following the season and many wonder who lead the team upon his departure. The Longhorns have Casey Thompson, Hudson Card and Ja’Quinden Jackson in house with Jalen Milroe en route. Could there be another name?

Quinn Ewers is the most sought after quarterback in the 2022 recruiting class. The number one overall prospect in the class could be a game changer for the Texas Longhorns. Ewers was named sophomore of the year by MaxPreps and those won’t be the only accolades that he will earn by the time he leaves Southlake Carroll.

With Ewers now in the fold, the battles starting in 2022 will be must watch TV. Ewers along with Milroe, Jackson and Card should be an intense battle for quarterback supremacy. By the time it happens Card or Jackson could be the starter but with a quarterback the caliber of Ewers, how long can they hold him off?

Texas target and top running back in state trending towards Oklahoma

Texas target Camar Wheaton is now trending to the rivals across the river, Oklahoma. Wheaton is second-ranked back in the nation.

During the last recruiting cycle the Texas Longhorns were able to snag the top running back in the country. According to 247Sports composite rankings, Bijan Robinson was the best of the best. The five-star composite runner is expected to a part of the offense in 2020 but will have to earn snaps behind Keaontay Ingram and Roschon Johnson.

This year’s top target was Lakeview Centenial’s Camar Wheaton. He is also a five-star composite prospect much like Bijan was. Wheaton is the second-ranked running back in the country and top back in the state of Texas. The Longhorns have been in the running for him to come to Austin and provide a two-headed monster for the next few seasons.

The LSU Tigers, SMU Mustangs and Oklahoma Sooners are among the top contenders for his commitment. However recent trends indicate that the Sooners are leading the charge to secure him. The 247Sports staff recently put in their crystal ball predictions with  everyone picking Oklahoma.

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Crystal ball predictions aren’t the end all for Texas. Recently they were projected to land transfer linebacker from Arizona Tony Fields II, but he ended up heading to West Virginia. Even with the news of Wheaton trending to the team across the river, the Longhorns have another running back trending their way with L.J. Johnson.

Robinson has been communicating with Johnson to bring in another weapon for the Longhorns offense. Provided that he has a big season in 2020, Bijan could be the man leading the charge moving forward. As far as Wheaton, there has been no indication of him making an announcement prior to National Signing Day.

Could Texas land another blue chip wide receiver?

The Longhorns recently landed a commitment from 2022 receiver Phaizon Wilson, could Ketron Jackson be the next to Austin?

Tom Herman and the Texas Longhorns recently secured their first commitment in the 2022 recruiting cycle. They landed a blue chip talent from Lancaster, Phaizon Wilson. Wilson could become the next top wide receiver for the Longhorns once he gets to campus. However another blue chip talent at the position could be coming to the Forty Acres a little sooner than 2022.

Following the 2019 season the Longhorns lost both Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay to the NFL Draft. Both players were listed as blue chip talents as four-star prospects. This year they are expected to be replaced by some combination of Brennan Eagles, Jake Smith, Jordan Whittinton, Joshua Moore and newcomer Tarik Black. It still remains unclear who will remain standing when the dust has settled.

Looking forward to the 2021 recruiting class, could the Longhorns find yet another blue chip talent for the new look Mike Yurcich offense? Billy Bowman is a part of that group and the second-highest rated commitment behind teammate Ja’Tavion Sanders. Both players are listed as athletes and both play wide out for Denton Ryan. Sanders is likely playing defensive end while there is an unknown element with Bowman.

Will Bowman play slot receiver or defensive back? Many feel it will likely be receiver since he is so dangerous with the ball in his hands as a return specialist. Outside of Bowman, there could be another receiver on the way to Austin, Ketron Jackson of Royse City is picking up steam.

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Up until recently Jackson was predicted to go with fellow Big 12 school Texas Christian or with an old rival in Arkansas. Now the Longhorns are in the mix and crystal ball predictions are giving them the edge. Texas offered him back in March and in the past 48 hours it seems like many feel like it is a done deal.

Jackson fits the mold of some of the recent Longhorn receivers such as Marquise Goodwin or John Burt. He is a football player who also competes in track. His athletic prowess could be on full display very soon under the lights of Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

Locked on Longhorns Podcast: Potential schedule plans for the Big 12

With all other conferences making their decisions on the upcoming season’s schedules, we still await the Longhorns plans.

Prior to the announcement from the Southeastern Conference regarding their conference only schedule, we recorded the latest Locked on Longhorns podcast. With the ACC announcement and SEC, what would the Big 12 schedule look like in 2020? A couple options are on the table but the full 12-game schedule looks like it won’t be a viable option.

The Longhorns finally received a commitment at tight end in the 2021 class. The hope is that this one sticks with Gunnar Helm. Both Landen King and Lake McRee committed but then ended up committing to other schools. In the on again off again relationship, Anthony Cook has decided to stay at Texas. What does that mean for the secondary? Plus just how bad was the NFL 100 list?

Prior to their announcement, the topic of the Big 12 virtual media day was up for discussion. Unfortunately it doesn’t appear that we will receive any answers on Monday. The positive news is that the Texas Longhorns football team has reported zero positive COVID-19 cases. A step in the right direction. The show wraps up with Athlon Sports naming Jordan Whittington and Vernon Broughton as their wildcard players.

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Updated Big 12 Recruiting ranks, Texas still in the lead

With the current movement on the recruiting track, Austin American-Statesman reviewed the conference rankings in recruiting.

When it comes to recruiting under Tom Herman in Austin, it hasn’t been an issue. Development of these prospects has been a different question entirely. Herman and staff are well on their way to yet another top 10 recruiting class in the 2021 cycle. The Longhorns currently sit at 12th in the nation after being pushed down by Florida and Miami. A strong push in the coming months could launch them back inside the top 10.

Texas, Oklahoma rise to top of the Big 12 football recruiting rankings

Mike Craven of the Austin American-Statesman provided an update on the Big 12 recruiting rankings.

The 2021 Big 12 football recruiting rankings are beginning to take a familiar shape as Oklahoma begins pushing its way towards the top spot. Texas and OU dominate the Big 12 recruiting landscape on a yearly basis with the Longhorns taking the crown the past two years despite the Sooners’ on-field domination, though transfers like Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield and Jalen Hurts don’t count toward the rankings.

Texas Longhorns: 15 Commits

Texas’ lone commitment over the past month was four-star cornerback Jamier Johnson from Pasadena, Calif. Johnson, the 17th-ranked cornerback in the nation, is considered a national top-250 prospect. The Longhorns gained a commitment from four-star cornerback Ishmael Ibraheem, forming a formidable duo at the position. Texas also holds pledges from four-star safety JD Coffey and elite athlete Billy Bowman Jr., who is expected to play primarily in the defensive backfield.

Eight of Texas’ 10 in-state commitments rank among the top 55 players in Texas. The Longhorns possess the best class in the Big 12. Texas now holds a commitment at every position except for kicker, though the Longhorns did add a punter from Australia in Isaac Pearson.

What we say

The Longhorns just added yet another commitment to their 2021 class after the publication of the article mentioned above. Gunnar Helm gives Texas the tight end prospect that they didn’t have. With the decommits of Lake McRee (USC) and Landen King (Auburn), the staff was able to get Helm. He just adds to an already impressive class for Tom Herman.

The Longhorns class could end up even better with the possibility of running back Camar Wheaton out of Garland. The five-star runner would give the Longhorns their second-straight five-star runner if it falls their way. Wheaton would be yet another big weapon on the offensive side of the ball. He is the next name to keep an eye on.

Why Texas is still in great shape after missing on Brockermeyer twins

While losing out on the Brockermeyer twins to Alabama will sting, there’s no need to panic.

Unfortunately, the highly-touted Brockermeyer brothers announced their commitment to Alabama on Friday. Continue reading “Why Texas is still in great shape after missing on Brockermeyer twins”

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The Athletic is reporting that Juco football will move to the spring

The Athletic is reporting that the NJCAA is close to moving football to the spring. They would be the first league to do so.

In the ever-changing COVID-19 situation there have been reports of leagues cancelling football like the Ivy League. The Big Ten and PAC 12 conferences have decided to cancel all non-conference games. We await the announcements from the ACC, Big 12 and SEC to follow suit. At least that is the current expectation.

What about the Junior College circuit? How are they handling fall sports, specifically football? According to Max Olson of the Athletic, Juco football will be played in the spring*.

*Story requires paid subscription

The National Junior College Athletic Association is expected to announce Monday that it will move to a spring football season, two head coaches told The Athletic. Teams would play up to eight games with preseason practices beginning on March 1 and the regular season beginning at the end of March and extending through the end of May.

The NJCAA is the first college league to move their football season to the spring officially.

“We would like to play football this fall,” Parker said. “But I think from a national perspective, moving it is probably the right decision holistically.”

This is unfamiliar territory on the college recruiting front. As Max Olson mentions in his article, schools will have to make decisions on players they won’t even play this upcoming year. Almost a blind decision for major universities. The Longhorns are no strangers to Juco recruiting but this will be new for all parties involved.

Tyler Junior College head coach Thomas Rocco mentioned trying to have a few scrimmages in the fall. That would put some of these players on film and help the major colleges make decisions.

Texas makes top 12 for 2020 four-star cornerback from Katy, TX

The Texas Longhorns are in the running for Katy cornerback Bobby Taylor. The 2022 four-star defender is the son of a former NFL player.

The Texas Longhorns have made another top list for a 2022 cornerback. Bobby Taylor of Katy has released his top 12 schools with the Longhorns among them. Taylor is the son of former Notre Dame and NFL defensive back Bobby Taylor.

Continue reading “Texas makes top 12 for 2020 four-star cornerback from Katy, TX”

Longhorns cornerbacks coach Jay Valai is proving his worth

The Longhorns new cornerbacks coach Jay Valai is proving his worth on the recruiting trail. He has been huge in getting three players.

Before Jay Valai was hitting the recruiting trail for the Texas Longhorns and before he was training professional athletes, he was playing for Chris Ash in Wisconsin. Ash was his defensive backs coach in the final year of his collegiate career in 2010.

As a player, Valai was a four-year letter winner for the Wisconsin Badgers. During his career he accounted for 153 total tackles, four forced fumbles and two interceptions in the 48 games he played for Wisconsin. Valai was twice named second-team All-Big Ten for his efforts. Following his stint training athletes in his performance center, he would join the Georgia Bulldogs as their defensive quality control coach. That team made it to the College Football Playoffs Championship game.

He would leave to the NFL working for the Kansas City Chiefs as an assistant defensive backs coach and quality control. He would join Ash at Rutgers before coming to Texas as the cornerbacks coach. He has been instrumental for the Longhorns without them playing a game. It is hard to not love the energy and passion from Valai.

Valai has been credited with the recruitments of recent commits Jamier Johnson, J.D. Coffey and Ishmael Ibraheem. All three are four-star prospects for the 2021 class. For the 2022 class, he is hot on the trail for another California product Domani Jackson. The three commits that Valai has been getting to come to the Longhorns did so without a single visit.

Due to the NCAA’s dead period, coaches and players are prohibited from face to face visits. Given that all of their contact is done through video messaging, phone calls or texts messages Valai is proving his worth already. Even before coaching a single game, it appears as if Ash was right to bring in one of his former players to help mold this defense into his vision.