No. 2- Recruiting-Development issues
In the world of college football, the recruiting and development of said recruits are almost as important as the on the field product. Mostly because it will impact the on-field product. For a head coach that has produced three consecutive top 10 recruiting classes, this is a big problem with Herman. After finishing top three in his first two full seasons, the Longhorns dipped a bit in 2020. That slide is continuing into 2021.
It isn’t the rankings that bother fans and media alike, it is more of who they are losing. The Texas Longhorns are losing the recruiting battle in their own backyard. Tommy Brockermeyer is the No. 1 recruit in the state of Texas and No. 5 in the country. His brother, father, and grandfather all played for the Longhorns. He is heading to Alabama. Of the top 20 players, one is committed to Texas. Oklahoma has three and that number could grow to five or six. Schools are coming into the state and taking the top talent.
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While it might be early, the 2022 class isn’t looking too good either. Of the top 20 players, Ohio State, LSU, and Oklahoma all have commitments from the top players in the state. The Longhorns don’t have any and the fact they lost the No. 1 player in the country. Probably has a lot to do with the on-field production and Herman hasn’t shown the ability to get players to the league. Yes, there are some day two or day three products, but no first-round talent. That also sells to prospects who want to get to the NFL.
When you have a talent the caliber of Caden Sterns explode onto the scene as a freshman and slowly regress over the next two seasons, that tells you there is a development issue. Sterns is just one example of many but it is a real problem.