Recruits: In the Bag?

[Darrell McPhaul]

I'm hearing these five are strong Texas leans.

 

Jah'Shawn Johnson DB from Ennis

 

Poona Ford DT Hilton Head SC

 

Alex Anderson OL for New Orleans

 

Chris Nelson DT

 

Corey Avery Ath Dallas

[PTA]

any word on how many they are expecting to sign? That would give a good indication of how many current recruits/players they expect to lose.

[seahawkhorn]

Be nice to land a few of those and not lose out on anymore offensive commits.

 

If that happens, I would say the first few weeks of the strong era were pretty darn successful

[LongviewLobo01]

Those guys would definitely work for me. Reel em in coach!

[GumbyHorn]

I'm hearing these five are strong Texas leans.

 

Jah'Shawn Johnson DB from Ennis

 

Poona Ford DT Hilton Head SC

 

Alex Anderson OL for New Orleans

 

Chris Nelson DT

 

Corey Avery Ath Dallas

 

Does Corey Avery project to the offensive side? RB/WR type? Is he considered a speed back?

 

And Jah'Shawn Johnson a DB? More like a CB or FS type? I was under the impression that Beford liked larger DBs? Does Johnson have agility/quickness that appeal to Bedford/Vaughn?

 

Thanks, not very familiar with the newer names! Exciting times!

[utisdabomb12]

From what I've seen, I think we have a chance to get all 5. 4 is probably what will happen, and 3 is worst case scenario.

[littlejon82]

Here's to hoping we get the DTs. I think we need that position more than any other on the board.

[pompomman]

I am very excited about those 5, but a bit concerned that 4 out of 5 (depending on what becomes of the "athlete") are Defensive. I hope we can land some big offensive recruits too.

[Davharjac]

DB is a need as well.

 

Texas has a lot of young talent on the team as it is. There are like three wrs that rs this year. I think they have 3 rbs signed as well. This class needs to close strong with Defense.

[Darrell McPhaul]

I was surprised to hear that the DB out of Ennis was considered for any offer with Bonney, Freeman and Hall all onboard.

 

My take is if Hall can CB and Freeman moves to LB, we would need another Safety along with Bonney.

 

My understanding is if Avery comes to Texas, he would be a in a Daje Johnson type roll.

[utisdabomb12]

Poona Ford is the guy we must get on that list IMO. I wouldn't worry too much about the other DT in Chris Nelson. Something serious would have to happen for him not to come to Texas.

[msphorn1616]

would of loved to see a Solomon Thomas and somehow a jamal Adams on this list, but i'll take it.

[GumbyHorn]

I was surprised to hear that the DB out of Ennis was considered for any offer with Bonney, Freeman and Hall all onboard.

 

My take is if Hall can CB and Freeman moves to LB, we would need another Safety along with Bonney.

 

My understanding is if Avery comes to Texas, he would be a in a Daje Johnson type roll.

 

Thanks, McPhaul.

 

I hope we can go after Soloman Thomas after this morning's news re: Derek Mason!

[CoachBobbyFinstock]

Knox is still being courted

 

Harvey,according to one person on another site, feels he will be flipped to Texas.

 

Thomas is still out there but a long shot unless Texas can get him on campus.

 

Sawyers, the DT from Nashville, wants to visit Texas still. He would be a great late get....Rivals250 player

[Davharjac]

Harvey is a big get, Strong and co need to make a push for him. Really excited about Freeman, he feels a need. A physical tweener type guy that can cover but make a difference in the run game. Perfect Big 12 olb.

[utisdabomb12]

from tf at spurs

 

Update on where things stand with all of Texas' commitments and realistic targets as of today:

 

Commitments

QB, Jerrod Heard, Denton Guyer - solid verbal

RB, Donald Catalon, Aldine Eisenhower - solid verbal

RB, D'Onta Foreman, Texas City - solid verbal

WR, Roderick Bernard, Houston Sharpstown - solid verbal, tried to enroll early but had a late credit, will enroll in June

WR, Armanti Foreman, Texas City - solid verbal

WR, Garrett Gray, Marble Falls - soft verbal, official visits to Cal (1/24) and UCLA (1/31)

WR, Lorenzo Joe, Abilene Cooper - solid verbal

WR, Dorian Leonard, Longview - solid verbal

WR, Emanuel Porter, Dallas Lincoln - very soft verbal and likely to flip, official visit to LSU (1/24)

TE, Blake Whiteley, Arizona Western College (Yuma, AZ) - currently enrolled at UT

OL, Terrell Cuney, Jasper - solid verbal

DT/DE, Jake McMillon, Abilene - solid verbal

DE, Derick Roberson, San Antonio Brennan - solid verbal

DE, Sione Teuhema, Keller - solid verbal

LB, Otaro Alaka, Cypress Falls - soft verbal, official visits to A&M (1/17) and LSU (1/24)

LB, Andrew Beck, Plant (Tampa, FL) - currently enrolled at UT

LB, Cameron Hampton, Dallas Carter - solid verbal

LB/S, Edwin Freeman, Arlington Bowie - solid verbal

CB, Jermaine Roberts, St. Augustine (New Orleans, LA) - solid verbal but wants to meeting coaching staff, may visit Ohio State (1/24)

S, John Bonney, Houston Lamar - solid verbal

S, Jason Hall, South Grand Prairie - solid verbal

ATH, Kevin Shorter, Newton - medical scholarship (spinal cord injury), will not count against roster numbers

 

Targets

RB, Corey Avery, Dallas Carter - official visit to UT (1/17), likely commitment if offered

OL, Alex Anderson, O. Perry Walker (New Orleans, LA) - Texas lean, official visit to Arizona State (1/18), early enrollee

OL, Demetrius Knox, Forth Worth All Saints - Ohio State verbal, unclear right now how hard Texas will push

DT, Poona Ford, Hilton Head Island (Hilton Head, SC) - Texas lean, official visits to Oregon (1/24) and Missouri (1/31)

DT, Chris Nelson, Victory Christian (Lakeland, FL) - hard Texas lean, official to UT (1/24)

DE, Solomon Thomas, Coppell - Stanford lean, official visits to Arkansas (1/24) and Ohio State (1/31)

S, Jah'Shawn Johnson, Ennis - Texas Tech verbal, likely to switch to Texas

[markbow]

I'm hearing these five are strong Texas leans.

 

Jah'Shawn Johnson DB from Ennis

 

Poona Ford DT Hilton Head SC

 

Alex Anderson OL for New Orleans

 

Chris Nelson DT

 

Corey Avery Ath Dallas

 

McPhaul - If it is true that Derek Mason the Standord DC is taking the Vanderbilt job would Solomon Thomas be more open to listen to Coach Strong?

[BevoBlake]

McPhaul - If it is true that Derek Mason the Standord DC is taking the Vanderbilt job would Solomon Thomas be more open to listen to Coach Strong?

 

Obviously I'm not McPhaul so I'll weigh in until you get the response you're looking for. Mason leaving for Vanderbilt is going to give Thomas a reason to really give Stanford another look over. While I think Shaw remaining at Stanford is going to appealing to Thomas, I also think being this late in the process without having a defensive gameplan is something that is going to heavily weigh against Stanford. Thomas already appears to like Strong and I think we're gaining ground on Stanford as is. But Mason leaving could be just the break that Texas needs to finally sway Soloman to Texas for good.

[Brasky]

So Garrett isn't really even considered a target? Nor is Harvey? Or is it that they are obvious targets? Or that we simply don't have a real shot??

[Juan]

What about one-time UT commit Daniel Gresham?

 

A four-star prospect by 247Sports, the 5'10, 230-pound Gresham is the No. 51 player in Texas and the No. 426 player in the country by the 247Sports Composite rankings.

 

Petrinio/Louisville cut him loose.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>It appears Daniel Gresham will not be a Cardinal: <a href="http://t.co/bTk9HfFlkH">pic.twitter.com/bTk9HfFlkH</a></p>— Mike Rutherford (@CardChronicle) <a href="

">January 13, 2014</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

He is a big back or FB. We already have De la Torre and Moss at FB.

But we do not have a lot of big backs. Brown and Bergeron will be seniors. Neither Gray and Catalon are big. And Shorter's career may be over.

[Davharjac]

What about one-time UT commit Daniel Gresham?

 

 

 

Petrinio/Louisville cut him loose.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>It appears Daniel Gresham will not be a Cardinal: <a onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'Outgoing', 't.co', '/bTk9HfFlkH']);" href="http://t.co/bTk9HfFlkH">pic.twitter.com/bTk9HfFlkH</a></p>— Mike Rutherford (@CardChronicle) <a onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'Outgoing', 'twitter.com', '/CardChronicle/statuses/422531860938235905']);" href="

">January 13, 2014</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

He is a big back or FB. We already have De la Torre and Moss at FB.

But we do not have a lot of big backs. Brown and Bergeron will be seniors. Neither Gray and Catalon are big. And Shorter's career may be over.

 

I like the idea of bringing him in..I would want to use him in the same way that OU uses Millard. He would see time at FB RB and H-Back.

[Juan]

I like the idea of bringing him in..I would want to use him in the same way that OU uses Millard. He would see time at FB RB and H-Back.

 

I think OSU (and Wickline?) did some of this as well.

[Davharjac]

I think OSU (and Wickline?) did some of this as well.

 

Highlights of him

 

 

Avg speed, but good lateral movement and explosiveness. Runs with vision and power. Have to think that Strong calls him. He was committed to Texas and then committed to Strong at Louisville.

[Juan]

LB, Otaro Alaka, Cypress Falls - soft verbal, official visits to A&M (1/17) and LSU (1/24)

 

 

Been watching his film. Seems like the kind of LB we need in this conference. Would be a very nice match with Freeman.

Hope he stays with the good guys. Early recruiting test for Brian Luc Jean-Mary.

 

 

JUNIOR YEAR <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Kg3GIm7mbbw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

SENIOR YEAR <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/IB2mzrsZn6o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Edited January 17, 2014 by Juan Grande

[Davharjac]

Been watching his film. Seems like the kind of LB we need in this conference. Would be a very nice match with Freeman.

Hope he stays with the good guys. Early recruiting test for Brian Luc Jean-Mary.

 

 

JUNIOR YEAR <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Kg3GIm7mbbw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

SENIOR YEAR <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/IB2mzrsZn6o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

He's a heck of an ath, uses hands well and appears to have good instincts, brings some pop when he hits- brings it from the hips

 

He drops his head a lot when he goes to make tackles. That can get you destroyed especially in the Big 12 w all the "space guys", that can be coached up though.

 

Good stuff Juan.