Joseph Ossai has kept a low public profile, but raised some eyebrows when he took a bit of a surprise official visit to Oregon this past weekend. He gave some complimentary lip-service to the experience, but nobody ever was ready to think that was enough to write off Texas or Texas A&M. Had he gone to the Ducks, that would have likely been one of the biggest upsets of National Signing Day. A&M’s momentum on the recruiting trail over the past few weeks didn’t extend to Ossai, who despite a positive recruitment throughout by the Aggies, lost too much ground in the transition from Kevin Sumlin to Jimbo Fisher.
WHY IT'S BIG FOR THE LONGHORNS
The Longhorns were hoping to make one last push with its linemen group in this class, and Ossai gives them an athletic pass-rusher to pair with Keondre Coburn and Moro Ojomo, who committed on Tuesday evening. Not only does Texas finish with one of the best recruiting classes in the country, it finishes with one of the most complete; landing elite recruits at nearly every position on both sides of the ball - many of them from in-state. Ossai isn’t quite a complete product in terms of some of the more technical and intangible elements, but he is one of the most naturally athletic players at his position in this class and brings with him a load of potential.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE TEAMS THAT MISSED OUT
While Texas A&M fans might be upset that they missed on out Ossai after being tied to him for so long, they also were able to lure Rivals250 defensive lineman Bobby Brown back in and Boling athlete Vernon Jackson seems likely to commit and sign as well. Although he played quarterback and running back in high school, Jackson has been projected as a defensive end/edge-rusher and prior to his de-commitment from Alabama, had been hailed by the Crimson Tide staff as one of the most athletic players it had seen in this class.