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BornAndRaised

Certifiably Surly
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Posts posted by BornAndRaised

  1. 4 minutes ago, Teryor said:

    Seemed inevitable given the lack of sunshine from Bama and the no guaranteed snaps here

     

    Side-note: @immamac is there a best practice for supporting the OTF site when cross-posting news? I try to link to stuff like the Athletic etc because I know the clicks do matter. Maybe posting the link can embed in some way? 

    I asked this same question. Because of how they're integrated as websites (signing up with surly acc, and having a sidebar of OTF headlines) it's not an issue. I plan on supporting them if a paywall goes up but theres not a way other than attributing what we read/hear from them, to them.

  2. CJ Vogel thoughts from 2026 visitors from Junior Day:

     

    Spoiler

    While the focus of the Junior Day on Saturday was to get the ball truly moving in the 2025 class, the Longhorn staff hosted an impressive crop of 2026 prospects as well.

    The weekend allowed for the Longhorns to get their 2026 class started with the commitment of Aledo RB Raycine Guillory Jr., though some of the top in-state prospects in the state for the class were able to meet with the Texas staff and see campus. A few updates on some important sophomores that were on campus: 

    ***

    A pair of Temple (TX) prospects made the trip down i35 for the Junior Day – DL Jamarion Carlton and DB Jason Bradford.

    Bradford is a 6'2" defensive back with tremendous fluidity. I have watched him a few times in person in training sessions and each time he has been better than before. High upside with offers from Oklahoma State and Texas State.

    The Temple staff is also very high on Jamarion Carlton as well. Five offers in the books already – Nebraska, UNT, SMU, Baylor and Houston.

    *** 

    Texas hosted 2026 Panther Creek WR Jalen Lott, formerly of Lovejoy. Lott spent plenty of time with Coach Steve Sarkisian on the visit with one-on-one time in his office. Jalen is the son of Texas Hall of Honor inductee James Lott for those unfamiliar. I think there is five-star potential here.

    *** 

    Another WR to be on notice for is 2026 San Marcos Henry Harris. The 6-foot-5 wide out from San Marcos plays like he is 6-feet tall. He is quick and can move very well. Add Harris to the offer watch list as the Longhorn staff continues out of the trail in the open window.

    ***

    Texas has not offered a 2026 quarterback so far. Sarkisian is quite picky with his quarterback prospects and likes using the "We are only recruiting you" approach at the quarterback position.

    Right now, Tampa (FL) QB Will Griffin is the one I am keeping my eyes on the closest for the 2026 QB picture. Griffin arrived Friday night and spent all of Saturday with the Texas staff, including Steve Sarkisian.

    Griffin, a 6-foot-3 gunslinger, is the No. 4 quarterback in the class per 247Sports composite.

     

  3. In actual news, Bobby reported on OTF that we are still the heavy favorite for the AZ DT. He provided an update on Muhammad as well saying he was going to pack up his shit at Washington, but it didn't sound particularly good or bad. Just that he has one visit left with Oregon.

     

    Spoiler

    From a source in Tucson, I am told that Texas is the "clear favorite" to land Tiaoalii Savea , the 6-foot-4, 305-pound defensive tackle transfer from Arizona. Savea visited Texas over the weekend and has a very strong bond with Texas linebackers coach Johnny Nansen, who joined the Longhorn staff from Arizona this off-season.

    Savea is expected to be a mid-term enrollee. All mid-term enrollees at Texas must enroll by Jan. 30 at the very latest.

    Texas has already added seven players from the NCAA's transfer portal. Besides Savea, Texas also continues to recruit Washington cornerback Jabbar Muhammad. Muhammad visited Texas with his parents on Wednesday and Thursday and visited Alabama over the weekend. He is expected to return to Washington to collect his belongings this week and visit Oregon while in the Pacific Northwest.

     

    • Hook 'Em 1
  4. Akina got promoted to Defensive Coordinator to stay at Arizona per Footballscoop. This is important for 2 reasons.

    1) it shows what it took to get him to come back rather than leave with Nansen.
    2) it ends any flirtation with Nansen
     

    Spoiler

    Sources tell FootballScoop new Arizona head coach Brent Brennan has opted to make Duane Akina the defensive coordinator for his Wildcats. 

    Akina guided the defensive backs for Arizona under Jedd Fisch. Prior to Brennan's hire, Akina had accepted a position with Steve Sarkisian at Texas; but was quickly pulled back to Arizona by Brennan. 

    One of the most accomplished defensive backs coaches in the game, Akina has coached three Thorpe Award winners, six finalists, 12 All-Americans, 41 NFL defensive backs, and seven Pro Bowlers.

    The 67-year-old has spent most of his career at Arizona and Texas. His first U of A stint came from 1987-2000 in a variety of important roles -- as defensive backs coach for the famed "Desert Swarm" defense, as defensive coordinator, as offensive coordinator, and then as defensive coordinator again.

    Akina left Arizona for Texas in 2001. In 13 years there, he developed a number of future pros and helped the Longhorns win one national championship and play for another.

    Akina then spent 2014-22 coaching defensive backs at Stanford before his return to Tucson.

     

    • Hook 'Em 2
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