Texas: Recruiting has never been better
RIVALSTEXAS:GotoOrangebloods.comforthelatest
Here'sthedealwithTexas'current2013recruitingefforts:
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Whentherecruitingseasonbegan-whenitsfirstJuniorDaywentbywithoutasingleon-campuscommitment,whenrivalTexasA&Mstartedoutwithabang,whenfansstartedputtingallthistogether-theLonghornsappearedtobeintrouble.
Perhapstheirtraditionalgriponthestate'sbestrecruits-followingadisappointing8-5season,followingconferencechangesforA&MandTCU,followingHouston'ssurprisejumpintotherankings-wasstartingtoloosen.
Asitturnsout,nothingcouldbefurtherfromthetruth.
Texasmaynothavestartedthis2013classasittraditionallydoes,lockingupmanytopprospectsrightfromthestart,butitsresultshavebeenbetterthanever.
SevenofTexas'13recruitsareRivals100players-atotalmatchedonlybyMichigan.AlabamaandOhioStatebothhaveonlyfourRivals100playerscommitted.
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"It'salittlemoreselectivestartforTexasthaninrecentyearsandIthinkit'sthebestqualitythey'vestartedwithinafewyears,"Rivals.comnationalrecruitinganalystMikeFarrellsaid.
BrianPerroni,whocoverstheTexasregionforRivals.com,agrees.
"TexasalmostalwaysgetsitstoptargetsinthestateofTexas,butitisunrealhowwellMackBrownhasstartedthisyear,"hesaid."TheLonghornsalreadyhavesevenRivals100commitsandaguylikeDeoundreiDaviswillseehisstocksoarinthenextrankingscycle."
ThebiggestcatchmaybeWhitewright(Texas)HighquarterbackTyroneSwoopes,afive-starplayerwhoisrankedasthetopdual-threatquarterbackinthecountryandtheNo.11recruitoverall.
Becauseofhissize(6-5,220pounds)andspeed(4.59inthe40),somehavebeguncallinghimthesecondcomingofVinceYoung.Farrellsayshisskillscouldmakehim"therarestathleteinthecountry."
Ironically,whatstarteditall-waswhatfolksthoughtwasthebiggestdisappointment.
ClickHeretoviewthisLink.TexashelditsfirstjuniordayonFeb.12,buttherecruitsleftwithoutanymakingacommitment.
Itwasachangefromthepast-butachangethatwaspartofaplan.
"Brownaskedtheplayerstogohomeafterthejuniordayandthinkaboutthings,"Perronisaid."Almosteverysingleprospectthatwasofferedhasalreadycommitted.Itistrulyamazingwhattheyaredoingthisyear."
No.61overallrecruit,widereceiverJakeOlivercommittedthreedayslater(onWednesday),thentheNo.69recruit,defensivetackleA'ShawnRobinson,verballedonThursday.SwoopescameonFriday.ThenKyleHicks,afour-starathlete,announcedonSaturday.
ThosefourcombinedwithoffensivelinemanJakeRaulerson,theNo.51overallplayerwhocommittedatthebeginningofFebruary,gaveTexasagreatstart.
Sincethen,Texashasaddedeightverbals,includingtheNo.13overallrecruit,widereceiverRickySeals-Jones,andtheNo.25overallprospect,offensivelinemanKentPerkins.
Farrell,whohascoveredrecruitingformorethanadecade,knowswhatTexasisabletogetonanannualbasis.Thisyear,evenhe'samazed.
"Thisstartseemsmoreimpressive,"hesaid."TheyhavetheNo.11playerinthecountryonboardandapotentialhomerunatquarterbackinSwoopes.AndtheyhaveotherpotentialfivestarsinRickySeals-JonesandKentPerkinsandtheyhavesevenofthetop100playersinthecountryalreadycommitted."
PerroniismoreimpressedbyhowfewplayersotherTexasschoolshavelanded.
"Theonlyin-stateRivals100prospectstheyarelikelytomissonarethetwoAggiecommits-DerrickGriffinandIsaiahGolden-anddefensivetackleJustinManning,whosebrotherplayedforOklahoma,"hesaid."IftheLonghornsdecidetooffersafetyKameronMiles(No.86),thenhewouldlikelycommitaswell."
Whowillcomenextisuncertain.Butthismuchisclear,anythoughtthatTexashadlostastepinrecruitingwaswrong.
"AfterTexasA&M'sfirstcoupleofjuniordays,wheretheAggiesendedupwith13commitments,includingtwoRivals100prospects,andTexasgrabbedzeropledgesduringitsfirstjuniorday,itreallylookedliketheLonghornsmightstrugglethisyear,"Perronisaid."Thatwasincrediblywrong."
MorefromRivals.com:
RIVALS.COM/VTO camps: Spots filling up fastClick Texas high schools: Torii Hunter's kids are star WRsClick Texas baseball: Winning is mandatoryClick Here to view this Link.Here to view this Link.Here to view this Link.
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