Jump to content

Machinator

Certifiably Surly
  • Posts

    43458
  • Joined

  • Days Won

    179

Posts posted by Machinator

  1. Nahlin on Brooks

    Spoiler

    It is a commitment.

    It is hard to get a read from the Brooks side of things.

    Confidence on the Bama side seems to be waning. We heard some things yesterday from out that way that had us thinking it would be the Crimson Tide. That tune has changed some.

    Brooks will likely talk to both staffs tonight. We don’t know if that will impact his decision or if he’s stating his intentions.

    Texas has recruited him very well and aggressively since July. We’ll see if it pays off.

     

    • Hook 'Em 9
  2. Last week's blog post: https://texassports.com/sports/2021/6/25/sez-blog-seat-selection.aspx?id=1003

    South End Zone Seating Selection
     

    Quote

    While hundreds of Field Club seats have been sold, those who have purchased seating in the Field Club have not yet actually selected their season ticket locations. That is due in part to safety guidelines surrounding the SEZ (which is still an active construction site), but also to our commitment to providing the most authentic experience of gameday from the SEZ as our donors choose where they want to view the action from. Once construction of SEZ premium areas has reached substantial completion in August, we're doing just that.

    In August 2021, we're hosting a never-before-done, in-person and virtual seat selection event for all Field Club seat holders. During this hybrid special event, seat holders will take a full, private tour of the all new Field Club either in person or via a video call with a Longhorn Foundation staff member. During this time, they'll select their seat(s) in the order of commitment to the project and, after confirming seating with our staff either online or in person, season tickets will be assigned and delivered to seat holders as mobile tickets.

    More details about our hybrid seat selection event will be shared with SEZ season ticket holders and donors in the coming weeks. If you are interested in being a part of the exclusive group of inaugural Field Club seat holders, it is important that you secure your spot in the selection order as soon as possible. 

     

  3. Wells

    Spoiler

    QB Derek Lagway, Willis (Willis, TX) - 2024:

    If you're into looking three classes ahead, here's a quarterback to know.

    The 6-foot-2, 180-pound sophomore carries a big arm and big-time confidence. He's constantly working and training, perfecting his craft. He hit UT's camp last weekend, and opened some eyes.

    “UT’s message to me was understanding the level of competitiveness this university has to offer,” said Lagway. “Getting a feel of what they expect from their athletes."

    With one offer in hand, Baylor, the same place where his father, Derek Sr, played running back, the snowball of attention will slowly seep into this sweepstakes. He had some praise from the Texas staff after his camp performance.

    "(Texas) liked my height and size and ability to create big throws," Lagway said. "What stood out to me is seeing the multitude of great athletes and meeting some big-time players. Beyond grateful for this opportunity.”

    One of those was Texas-Ex Vince Young, who you could say Lagway looks up to. And while this has a ways to go, I like how Sarkisian is already evaluating the future passers within the state borders.

     

  4. Wells

    Spoiler

    TE Jaden Platt, Eaton (Haslet, TX) - 2023:

    The 6-foot-4.5, 235-pound junior might be unranked, but he's certainly not unknown.

    The rising tight end from Eaton hit the road this month, performed well on the camp circuit, and nabbed seven offers. UT, Stanford, Florida State, Texas A&M, and Iowa State are among the verbal invitations for the future Aerospace Engineer.

    He hit Austin recently and loved the trip.

    “It felt pretty good talking to Coach (Jeff) Banks and Coach Sark," said Platt. "I could see a future there. They coached me up and tried to really elevate my game.”

    With a fondness for NASA, Hayden Conner might be one the Horns use in this pursuit. He passes the eye-test, great movement for his size, and highly intelligent prospect. Now that the dead period has reappeared, Platt is ready to get back home and work.

    “My UT visit was the last one," said Platt. "Now, it’s all preparation for the season.”

    I could see him opening as a four-star when the rankings get revamped in the future. He'll definitely be a known commodity.

     

  5. Wells

    Spoiler

    OL Cam Williams, Duncanville (Duncanville, TX) - 2022:

    Less than 48 hours until the 6-foot-5, 360-pound offensive giant announces his decision. He tells IT he's ready, and after his official visit to Texas over the weekend, the Horns are in great shape.

    “It was really good,” said Williams, about his Austin visit. “(Texas staff) were all amazing. The coaches and players really stood out. It's big a family."

    Williams took full advantage of the lifted dead period and tripped across the country. With 31 offers in hand, it came down to Texas, Miami, OU, and Oregon.

    Each offered positives that the Williams' family gathered, but staying close to home is often the winning recipe. As I've said, the thought of UT going into Duncanville and nabbing one of their top prospects seemed unlikely six months ago. When Williams told IT in March he really wanted to hear from the Longhorns, the candle was lit.

    He's releasing his Top 3 schools later this evening and fully expect Texas to be represented.

    On July 1st, we'll know if Kyle Flood and the UT coaches have the correct ingredients. I can see them start cooking very soon.

    ATH Trey Fite, Tatum (Tatum, TX) - 2022

    One of those underrated products in the piney woods, the multi-sport athlete hit the ATX last week.

    “Texas was awesome," said Fite. "The coaches seemed really cool and engaged in the athletes. The facilities and campus was nice."

    At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, the EDGE from east Texas holds 13 offers including Arkansas, Houston, Washington State, and Kansas State. He tallied 63 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, six sacks, and three pass breakups in 2020.

    He was vital in Tatum Basketball's 25-4 record and 3A state basketball championship game appearance as a junior. He also excels in track and field with a 6'0 high jump and running first leg of the Eagles state-qualifying 4x400 relay. He certainly keeps busy.

    “I did play 7v7 this year, but we didn't qualify for state," Fite said. "And I played AAU basketball."

    Fite is your prototypical project take, especially with his size and ability. Texas likes him, but to what degree remains to be seen. Check back in September.

     

  6. Some OU stuff from one of their reporters/analysts who hangs out on IT

    Spoiler

    Absolutely no worries from Oklahoma's end on Raleek Brown or Gavin Sawchuk. brown quotes last night in Biggins article back up that. confirmed a bit of it last night. They'll land Kaden Helms as a tight end, kid from Nebraska, to go with Jason Lewellyn.

    i don't know what they are doing at wide receiver, but they are getting into a small fight for Talyn Shettron with his brother getting an Oklahoma State offer. Edmond Santa Fe has a pipeline right now to Stillwater. Luther Burden still solid and has an OV in the season. no clue on other targets or if they punt again and move onto 2023. i keep hearing Evan Stewart's name but i just don't see it. wouldn't be surprised if he visited though.

    Jacob Sexton-Jake Taylor-Demetrius Hunter with one of Malik Agbo and George Fitzpatrick at tackle and then keeping an eye on Earnest Green/Dave Luli at guard for right now. Sexton and Taylor are high floor tackles, not high ceiling guys, which is the opposite of what Bedenbaugh typically does. Guess having some guys bust the past few cycles will do that to ya.

    they are starting to get super confident on Gabe Dindy at DT, are super confident on Kenyatta Jackson and Derrick Moore on the DL. then a growing belief about their chances with Abor with Ohio State's momentum getting stymied a bit. Bama is going to be the final competition and distance is going to play a lot. Abor's family are OU people. I bet they get an OV from Jaray Bledsoe due to his relationship with Calvin Thibodeaux. Chris McClellan was never an OU lock and was going to be a battle with Ohio State. Oklahoma has their OV left with him and I bet they win if they push hard. Jadon Scarlet and DeSean Brown (local kid without an offer) are the backup guys. I think they value Brown almost as highly as they do McClellan.

    done at ILB is what is being reported. i have no clue but true freshman Danny Stuttsman and Shane Whitter are getting some heavy praise this summer so they don't need anyone more than Kobie McKinzie-Kip Lewis.

    Jayden Rowe committed in the secondary. Gentry Williams sounds like a Jacob Sexton situation where one party is a little upset with communication, but Williams grew up wanting to play for Oklahoma and has his OV remaining. My guy up in Tulsa says USC absolutely leads, but nothing's done yet and it's going to be a dogfight for USC to keep him. They'll get Austin Jordan, Myles Pollard and Robert Spears-Jennings (Tulsa kid who they want as a safety).

    lastly, Oklahoma is incredibly far out ahead for Malachi Nelson, Jalen Hale, Brandon Innis, Treyaun Webb, Cayden Green, Luke Hasz in 2023. they'll decide between if they want to push for DeAndre Moore (another 5-star out of Nevada) or Johntay Cook. Moore from the same high school as 2022 RB Jovantae Barnes. Would imagine Moore and Barnes are mutually exclusive when it comes to Oklahoma.

     

    • Hook 'Em 2
  7. (Gabe Brooks) What Texas gets in 4-star running back Jamarion Miller

    Spoiler

    Texas landed a major addition to its 2022 recruiting class Monday, when Tyler (Texas) Legacy four-star running back Jamarion Miller announced his commitment to the Longhorns. Texas now holds pledges from the top two running backs in Texas in this class in Jaydon Blue and Miller, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite and Top247 rankings.

    Miller -- ranked in the top 120 overall of the Top247 -- gives Texas a second running back who has verified his speed in a track setting. In fact, Miller's personal record of 10.71 seconds in the 100 meters is virtually identical to Blue's PR (10.70). Both of those times came during the spring semester.

    Miller's track speed translates to the field, where he has produced big-play punch for three years already at the varsity level. In 2020, Miller averaged 9.82 yards per carry and one touchdown for every 6.92 touches -- 28 total touchdowns in 194 touches.

    An encouraging aspect of Miller's production is his yards per attempt increasing as his volume has increased. Miller ran for almost six yards per carry as a freshman, nearly eight yards per carry as a sophomore, and fell just shy of 10 yards per carry in 2020. Those gains coincided with rush attempts of 105, 140, and 166.

    Additionally, Miller's pass-catching prowess has increased each season, from four catches (43 yards) in 2018, to 12 catches (111 yards) in 2019, to 28 receptions (424 yards, eight TD) as a junior. The combination of legitimately verified top-end speed in the form of 100-meter context and the production/yards per carry data gives Miller a strong profile at his position, relative to what recent NFL Drafts have shown.

    I have heard some concern about Miller's size. In the 5-foot-10, 195-pound range, Miller is stoutly and compactly built with a naturally low center of gravity that helps him play larger than that list sized. His quick-twitch athleticism manifests as power in spurts to allow him to run through arm tackles and finish runs.

    For a bit of NFL Draft context to running back height, in the 2021 draft, 13 of 18 running backs selected were shorter than 6 feet. Eight of those backs were 5-foot-10 1/2 or shorter, according to NFL.com data.

    Miller combines quick-footed athleticism with good vision and instincts to make him dangerous as a home run-hitting back with patience to let plays develop for him. He's an outstanding one-cut back who gets to the second level quickly, allowing his long speed to take over in the open field.

    While I don't worry much at all about Miller's limited frame affecting his long-term upside, could it become an issue in regards to translating the running style with which he thrives vs. high school competition -- often between the tackles, relying on cutback burst -- to the Power Five level? I personally am not concerned about that much, but I understood the spirit of the question from those who raise it. Again, Miller is quick-footed, but he can still get looser and more explosive in his open-field change of direction.

    Nevertheless, Miller checks plenty of other boxes, and his improving pass-catching ability could allow for some personnel creativity. I think Miller's standing as a top 10 running back in the country in the Top247 rankings is well deserved. The verified athletic data and physical makeup -- fostering consistently low pad level and finishing ability -- fit the profile of a player who has an NFL Draft ceiling in a few years.

     

    • Hook 'Em 2
×
×
  • Create New...