Take Two: Can Texas stay out in front for Tommy Brockermeyer?
Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling an issue in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and an expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites or a regional analyst.
MORE: Fact or Fiction - Dan Mullen is a top-five coach | Hit or Miss?
THE STORYLINE
Lost in the constant news flow that is National Signing Day and the lead-up to next Wednesday, one of the top overall prospects in the 2021 class released his final five in recent days and it’s a loaded list of national powers.
Fort Worth (Texas) All Saints Episcopal five-star offensive tackle Tommy Brockermeyer has Texas, Clemson, Alabama, LSU and Auburn as his frontrunners.
Brockermeyer is not only a Texas legacy but his brother, Luke, is already on the team and that could further push the Longhorns to the top of this group.
But there are certainly questions about the direction of Texas’ program - and possibly Tom Herman’s future there - after a disappointing 7-5 season.
This was supposed to be a year Texas built off its Sugar Bowl win over Georgia and maybe made a run to the College Football Playoff. Instead, Oklahoma is back in in the playoff and the Longhorns stumble into the Alamo Bowl against Utah.
Throughout the season, Brockermeyer has also been doing his due diligence and taking numerous visits to his frontrunners. There’s no counting out the SEC powers on his list and Clemson, which can go anywhere to get anybody.
Can Texas stay on top for Brockermeyer? Or are things not as clear any longer?
FIRST TAKE: SAM SPIEGELMAN, TEXAS & LOUISIANA ANALYST
“Texas has a unique edge with the family connections and he’s incredibly familiar with the campus and the coaching staff. Herb Hand is one of the coaches who remains on the staff under Herman. But this fall has definitely opened up opportunities for other schools.
“Alabama, LSU and Auburn are definitely teams to watch. Clemson as well. It is a completely level field between Texas and the out-of-state schools. Right now, I would say Texas has some ground to make up.”
SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, NATIONAL RECRUITING DIRECTOR
“The problem is I don’t think Herman is going to have the chance to show what he can do on the field next season before Brockermeyer makes his decision. Texas is heading into the offseason and it is in a lackluster bowl. So, it’s going to be all about selling a vision and, ‘You can come here and make a difference’ type stuff.
“Brockermeyer really liked Auburn. Alabama is attractive to him, as it would be to any offensive lineman. But in the end he will likely end up at Texas just because there are so many connections there. The only thing that would stop that is if Herman gets fired.”