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Texas Recruiting Notes 2020


Reese Bennett

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IT on Kimber stuff:

Spoiler

 

EN: Silver linings: Texas at least knows his decision before the summer and can now press a little harder for Kitan Crawford, Jahari Rogers, and Ryan Watts.

Sliver linings: Kelee Ringo and Kimber may end up teammates afterall.

I expect UT to try and get two in the boat - likely Rogers and Crawford - and push for Ringo until the end.

/


Q: IIRC in your personal rankings, you had Ringo #1, Kimber #2, and the other three in a group at #3. Would you consider Kimber closer to #1 or #3?

EN: Right in between. Ringo would vie for #1 in the state, Kimber around 15 and those three around 30.


/

Q: Is this a worthwhile trade for getting Kenyatta Watson outta there?

EN: It’s not necessarily a trade but I would definitely take Kenyatta over Kimber. No question there.

/

JW: I like where Texas stands with Rogers and Crawford. Even more now.

/

EN: This has no bearing on Ringo.

/


EN: Reminder that Kimber is not a native Texas kid. His family moved here for football purposes. They also considered Georgia and Florida when they moved.

Slight bummer but oh well.


/

Q: I’m taking from this thread that our prospects for Ringo have diminished since the spring break trip? Is that accurate?

EN: He likes UT a lot.

I’m worried about Georgia long-term.

 

 

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IT: Umanmielen and Gumms talk UT

Spoiler

 

he aftermath from the Made In Texas weekend that included a packed Bevo Blvd., a well-attended spring game, and a Ludacris concert is slowly starting to rise up. Priority guys know they are priorities, and you'll begin to see official visitors head to Austin starting on May 3rd for UT's first OV weekend. 

Two guys squarely on the Texas radar hit the ATX last weekend. Both left with a strong sense of what the Longhorns offer and how they'd fit on the Forty.

PRINCELY UMANMIELEN

The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder from down the road in Manor made yet another 20-min drive to DKR on Saturday. It's been well-documented that Texas and OU lead this recruitment. It'll be a Red River battle for the four-star's services.

“I loved the visit,” said Umanmielen. “I got to sit in the defensive meetings and d-line meeting to see what it was like. The game was a little chilly but it was worth it.”

After a night hanging with the players and other prospects, Umanmielen can see himself in burnt orange. He also has a fondness for the Sooners, but UT might have taken the lead over the weekend.

I asked Princely who were some of the guys he communicates (calls/texts) with about potentially going to Texas.

“Prince (Dorbah), Xavion (Alford), Hudson (Card), Logan (Parr), Alfred (Collins), Vernon (Broughton), and Kelee (Ringo),” said Umanmielen.

Not a bad group to join if you're a Longhorn. He's yet to setup his official visit. UT might save his for a later date. Just know at the moment it's Texas vs. OU here and the Horns just took the third quarter lead.

VAR’KEYES GUMMS 

Texas went to Spring Dekaney in 2018 for a four-star tight end (Malcolm Epps). Looks like they are going back for seconds.

Meet 2021 prospect Var'Keyes Gumms. The former New Orleans product is starting to see his recruitment take off. Texas likes what it sees and vice versa.

“The spring was great,” said Gumms. “I liked the atmosphere and the fan support. The hype before the game and the Ludacris performance was great. I’ll definitely will be back in the Forty Acres to see Bevo.”

Gumms originally lived in Marrero, an oilfield town on the west bank of the Mississippi in New Orleans. His family came to Houston years ago and lives in Spring. He brings that South Louisiana mentality; work like a dog to feed your family. It's that attitude that makes the 6-foot-3, 230-pound prospect so intriguing.

“I’ll bring whatever player they need," said Gumms. "I’ll play my hardest and do what I have to do to get to the next level and get us to win if I was to sign.”

As of today, Gumms holds two offers - Texas and LSU. He hears from Alabama, Ole Miss, Auburn, and OU. It's still early for the junior-to-be, but Texas sees a kid that is a mixture of Jermichael Finley and Andrew Beck.

"I played both TE and H-back last season," Gumms said. "I can play both at the next level. Whatever it takes."

After a conversation with Gumms, you can't help but like this kid. He's team-first and that is rare. Culture fit, IMO.


 


 

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6 hours ago, NoName said:

i mean, we are 9 months out from NSD1 and like 4.5 months from the first game. 

so...not really?

I meant in terms of committing. It feels like most announcements are lists of top 10 or top 5 schools.

Nothing wrong with taking your time of course, just feels slower than usual.

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1 hour ago, thepop said:

I meant in terms of committing. It feels like most announcements are lists of top 10 or top 5 schools.

Nothing wrong with taking your time of course, just feels slower than usual.

I mean, right now looking at the 247 Composite...there are the following # of commits in State Top 20s committed

  • Texas has 8/20
  • Cali, it is 4/20
  • Florida is 10/20
  • Georgia is 11/20
  • Ohio is 3/20
  • Louisiana is 4/20
  • Bama is 8/20

I think we are just ready for shit to start popping off 

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E.J. Holland: Four-star OL Chad Lindberg talks Texas visit, spring game

Texas hosted a ton of key targets over the weekend. Perhaps the most important was four-star Clear Creek offensive lineman Chad Lindberg. A top priority this recruiting cycle, Lindberg said he enjoyed his time on campus and was impressed with the way the offensive line performed during the spring game. “I had a really great visit in terms of recruiting," Lindberg said. "I enjoyed my time with the commits a lot. I feel like the offensive line is definitely on a good trend in terms of physicality. With guys already committed, I definitely would fit in as a tackle that could bring a lot of size to the Big 12.”

Lindberg didn’t get to spend as much time with the Texas staff as usual on this particular visit as he made his way to the home of UT quarterback commit Hudson Card before the game. However, Lindberg keeps in frequent contact with both offensive line coach Herb Hand and head coach Tom Herman. “I had limited time with Coach Hand because before the game I was at the Card’s and after was short,” Lindberg said. “But (his pitch) is the same it has been — meaning that I could fit in there and make an impact. Coach Herman preaches my ability to bring other great players with me.”

Texas has been considered the favorite for the majority of the recruiting cycle. Still, Lindberg recently made stops at Georgia, Stanford and Texas A&M and is keeping his options open. So where exactly does Texas stand coming out of this visit? “The visit holds their spot high on my list because I can see myself playing with the players they have for 3-5 years,” he said. Lindberg is looking to make a decision closer to the beginning of his senior season. At 6-foot-6, 327 pounds, Lindberg is ranked as the No. 8 offensive tackle and No. 75 overall prospect in the country, per 247Sports Composite.

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Friday in the Humidor

Spoiler

 

By: IT Staff

TEAM

Things will be a little quiet on the team front until the new arrivals in early June, but we'll continue to plug away and try and ask sources questions we have when they arise.

With spring still fresh in everyone's mind I asked about players who will play a bigger role this season than last, and what they need to improve on the most.

So. CB Jalen Green - Technique needs to be more consistent -- there's never a reason for a technical breakdown. He's come a long way already but still work to be done. He could also know the playbook a little more, but so too can many other players. I asked if he could be better than Cook and my guy said that would be difficult because, "Cook can be almost as good as Holton Hill. Hill is just more of a ball hawk." He's still really high on Green.

So. CB Anthony Cook - He needs to know the whole defense better to work better in concert with the safeties sort of like a quarterback being on the same page with his wide receivers. The corner/safety dynamic changes depending on the coverage and there's ways to maximize results if everyone is on the same page. This has been stated before, but this source is very high on Cook and thinks he would have overtaken Kris Boyd if the senior wasn't out of eligibility. Knowing Green and Cook have added good weight I still asked if there were any size concerns. "They're not built like Boyd and Davis but they'll be fine and will get bigger and stronger."

RS Fr. OG Junior Angilau - He's not lacking athleticism but he needs to keep his feet underneath him. He relies on his hands and reach too much and this gets him off-balance. Defensive lineman are able to yank him around. When he is in proper position he's tough to beat. "He's not going to have the power of a Tope Imade but he moves much better." I asked about Imade, who will likely be the 4th guard next year and heard, "He's immovable." But with his heavy feet you can take that two ways.

RS Jr. DB Chris Brown - His problem is just getting on the field with all the talent in the secondary. "If they had to play him this year I'm not sure you'd notice any drop off from the starters. He took some major steps this spring. He's much more reliable when it comes to the small things." Brown won't start but his versatility will help him see the field, especially with the prospect of injuries and targeting penalties.

RS Fr. WR Malcolm Epps - He needs to become a more versatile route runner. He's a bit of a one-trick pony, though he's really good at that one trick. "He can dominate average corners by running fades but how will he do against guys UT hopes to play against?"

Sr. LB Jeffrey McCulloch - McCulloch played a lot last year but at a different position. With the new role and expanded snaps I specifically asked about him. He's a physical player but he can be even more physical in the run game taking on blockers. Some of that is understanding where they're coming from but he's pretty instinctive. "He needs to tackle better. He has a tendency to reach rather than hit and wrap up. It'll show up against the more elusive guys."

So. DB DeMarvion Overshown - The first thing with him is he needs to stay healthy. He just had his knee cleaned up in a routine procedure and should be fine. He'll find his way to Joker (we're expecting a heavy dose of Dime next season) but needs to rely less on instincts. He's currently just a run-to-the-ball player. They don't want to bridle him too much but he can get out of position at times.

So. LB Joseph Ossai - Ossai was good enough to earn snaps even though McCulloch played well at linebacker. He's going to take on an expanded role, likely even playing some Rover. "He needs to work on taking on blocks, he tends to catch blocks or try to beat them with athleticism. He needs to work on fundamentals but he's already improved a lot. He's a hell of an athlete but coverage is still new to him and entirely different than playing defensive end like he did in high school."

Fr. RB Jordan Whittington - The true freshman is going to be a key player in the offense even though he's playing a position that's new to him. "He just needs more reps. He's missed some running lanes. Not sure if that's a vision thing or if he's still learning where the play is supposed to hit but he's left some yards out there. Not to knit-pick, he's a stud.

Sr. RB Kirk Johnson - "He just needs to stay healthy and everyone will see. He's a dog."

RS Jr. OL Denzel Okafor - Getting to red-shirt last year was big for him. "He's still off balance in pass pro too much but he's definitely improved from last year. He improved this spring." Do you still give the nod to Kerstetter at tackle? "Yes, he's the better tackle but either can play there. Okafor is the better guard, but either can play there too."

These are the players my guy mentioned with minimal coaxing from me. You could add some other guys to the discussion, like Josh Moore, Brennan Eagles and Bru McCoy. On defense you could likely add Keondre Coburn. He's not bullish on the other linebackers for this upcoming year.

Final note: The team is back to running and lifting weights. Yancy McKnight hasn't exactly been taking it easy on them from what we hear.

STATE OF RECRUITING
A few of the Texas coaches have already hit the road recruiting, while most of the staff will venture out on Monday.

Stan Drayton was at Kimball yesterday. He’ll also see Zach Evans, Jase McClellan, Ty Jordan, and Camar Wheaton soon.

Todd Orlando is going to see the Texarkana Trio - Landon Jackson, Marcus Burris, and Clayton Smith early next week. Burris could be an offer. He’ll also hit DFW to catch up with Prince Dorbah and Brennon Scott.

Craig Naivar will hit Houston for Bryson Washington and Xavion Alford, then hop a plane to Arizona to check out Lathan Ransom.

Derek Warehime is seeing Kitan Crawford, Lyrik Rawls, Jamarion Miller, and Moochie Dixon soon. Might pop into Dallas to see Jaden Hullaby, then Temple for Quentin Johnston.

Oscar Giles is seeing Alfred Collins, Princely Umanmielen, and Vernon Broughton soon.

Tim Beck is hitting Arizona to see Kelee Ringo, Tosh Baker, and Bijan Robinson next week.

Jason Washington is hitting Jahari Rogers, Ryan Watts early, then maybe out-of-state. Georgia is on the itinerary with Jo’Quavious Marks and others.

Herb Hand was in the metroplex to see Nate Anderson, the rising OL prospect from Frisco Reedy. He’ll also check in on Jake Majors and the Brockermeyers. Maybe Savion Byrd.

As for the next big recruiting event, that looks like May 3rd-4th. We could see as many as 8-10 kids potentially visiting that first weekend in May.

Chris Thompson, Chad Lindberg, and Vernon Broughton are the early confirmations for OVs. Texas likes where they stand and wants to lock them in.

Kitan Crawford would OV that weekend, but he’s taking the SAT on May 4th. His official is set for June 21-22.

Bryson Washington is taking his OV on June 27-28, with an announcement planned for July 4th. Watch OU here closely.

BASKETBALL

A few weeks after Texas won the (nominally) prestigious NIT, UT has already turned its eager eyes to the future as they prepare for a hopefully positive 2019-2020 campaign.

For the program, four questions persist...

1. What, if any, attrition will affect the team between now and next season?

Well, it should surprise absolutely no one that sophomore Royce Hamm and redshirt junior Eli Long are kicking the transfer tires this offseason. Royce showed enough positive minutes to prove his worth to somebody and Eli has seen the wall’s writing that Matt and Courtney are the playmaking future of the team.

2. Are there any other prospects Texas will land between now and the summer?

McDaniels would represent one of the best scoring wings Texas has ever landed (perhaps only behind Durant and, potentially, Hamilton). Would being the key word. I don’t see it happening. Kentucky looks great here. Good on the staff for the effort.

3. Any (grad) transfers coming Texas’ way?

Texas A&M transfer Admon Gilder (remember him?) is a name to keep an eye on as Texas would relish the chance to bring in a sure thing of his magnitude.

Familial Marquette forwards John and Sam Hauser are also names to keep an eye on. The 6-foot-10, sweet shooting combo forwards are seeking a new destination after deciding the green (brown) pastures of Milwaukee aren’t for them. Twitter chatter suggested Texas is squarely in the mix for the stud brothers, but nothing is close to done. Virginia is the program which seems most likely.

4. Any Shaka news?

He believes he can win and win big. This matters. He’s recruiting players who want that same goal. When he stops attempting to recruit at that level, feel free to assume all hope is unreasonable. Will he land the players to get to compete at the level he aspires to? Good question.

It’s basketball recruiting...Just wait and see.

 

 

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TFB Open Post: https://texas.thefootballbrainiacs.com/2019/04/open-post-weekend-april-19th-21st/

Brennon Scott | Post Visit | Bottom Line
– Super K

2020 LB, Brennon Scott (Bishop Dunne) made a return trip down to Texas this past weekend for the Spring Game.

Going into the visit, I thought perhaps Scott may pull the trigger but that did not happen.

That isn’t to say the visit didn’t go well, it did, “Texas is always live. Enjoy it every time I go down there but I don’t yet [when I’ll announce]. I’m going to wait till I take all my officials”.

In terms of visit timelines Scott said, “I’m going to try two officials in this spring and summer and the rest in the fall”. He said his Texas OV will come in the fall.

Outside of Texas, the two officials he wants to take are Oregon and Florida.

Bottom Line: In my estimation, the weekend strengthened Texas’ already strong position but a decision isn’t as imminent as I once expected.

Another week, Another 2020 Sleeper

A sleeper that we have talked about for the past two weeks here on Thirsty Thursdays (Jalin Conyers) was in town and picked up a Texas offer over the weekend.

With all of the big names that were expected in town, there were sure to be a few guys that made it in without a ton of attention or fanfare. Every year, there are a few commitments that happen from guys that seemingly weren’t on the radar of the fans that follow recruiting (Jaden Hullaby has already been one surprise for Texas fans).

Mark down Dayron Butler III as a name to add to the list that the Longhorns are keeping an open line of communication with at the Defensive Back position. Butler is a speedy 5’10, 160lber that has the nation’s top 100-meter dash time this year, with a time of 10.24 (you can watch it here) at Austin suburb Pflugerville High School. That’s some serious speed and anytime you see a time like that, it is going to attract attention. He’s been receiving steady attention from the likes of Iowa State, Baylor, Houston, SMU, Kansas State, and feels like Army and Air Force are close to making offers.

In addition to having the top 100-meter time this year, he also competes on Pflugerville’s 4×100 and 4×200-meter relays and in the Long Jump. Butler III says he also has an interest in running track at the next level and the attention there has increased in recent weeks as well.

Butler III was invited out by Texas Assistant Coach Corby Meekins, and told me that Texas informed him that they’re going to keep the lines of communication open. He says that Texas is interested in him as a Cornerback and Butler III also brings added value as a Return Specialist. If the Longhorns were to eventually turn up the heat and present an offer, Butler III made it clear that he knew what he would do, “I would take it right away. I would commit on the spot.” Butler III informed me via text.

My take: I believe that Butler III falls into the category of guys that Texas is going to continue to keep in contact with (similar to Ethan Pouncey) while waiting to see what some other targets do first. He could be an intriguing option in later months if Texas is still in search of adding some speed to the roster, which is something that Head Coach Tom Herman has stated in the past that Texas will constantly seek to improve.

Texas makes the cut for 5-Star OOS LB and 4-Star OOS CB

For those not active on Twitter, Texas made 12-team cut for 5-Star Upland (CA) Linebacker Justin Flowe. Texas is expected to get Flowe on campus sometime this spring/summer. Until this happens though, it’s hard to see Texas as a legitimate contender in this race.

Texas also made the cut for Baton Rouge (LA) Cornerback Joel Williams, who trimmed his list to 13 teams. Williams recently visited campus a few weeks ago. Texas is keeping a long list of Defensive Backs that they are staying in contact with. Williams attends the same High School as Texas Defensive End Malcolm Roach and is coached by Roach’s father, which can’t hurt at all if you’re Texas.

Bryson Washington | Trending 
– Super K

Before this past weekend, I would’ve said 2020 DB Bryson Washington (CE King) was trending Texas.

This past weekend he took a visit to OU and based on my conversations with a few sources, it appears he is trending Oklahoma.

I’m told he will announce a list of top schools tonight (both OU and UT will be included).

In terms of a commitment timeline, I was originally told he wants to do something this summer but that may get moved up significantly.

Texas fate, I surmise, is tied to how soon he does something. If he makes a quick decision I think OU is in the best spot to land him. If he holds off then it gives Texas a chance to get him back on campus and work to turn things back in their favor.

But again right now my trending report says OU.

Chris Thompson | Update | Visit Schedule
– Super K

Texas is still looking for their first defensive commit in the 2020 class. At the safety position, the staff loves guys that’ll split em’ a ball carrier in two. Chris Thompson is one of those guys.

With things looking less certain on the Bryson Washington front, Chris Thompson, a long time Texas priority, becomes that much more important.

Thompson is coming off an unofficial to Auburn. I checked in with the father of Chis Thompson and they have set some of their official visit dates as they eye a likely summer decision.

Texas is set to host Thompson for his first official visit on May 4th. That will be followed  an official to Florida on May 18th. On June 23rd, they are headed up to Notre Dame for an official visit.

Thompson Sr tells me they will also take an official visit to LSU but no date has been set yet.

Those schools are the likely competition for Texas.

Thompson did take an unofficial visit down to Texas last month during, “we were checking out practice. Nice visit for sure. Texas is definitely headed in the right direction”. Thompson Sr said.

He also added something that sounds pretty promising for Texas fans, “We want to make sure we are truly committed before we take that next step”.

That does not mean they’re committed to any particular program. It means they don’t want to do anything before they are absolutely certain – hence the visits. But I do think that going into these visits, the other schools are in the position of trying to shake Thompson’s confidence in Texas and not the other way around.

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Mike Roach: Texas feels like family for four-star defensive end Princely Umanmielen

Princely Umanmielen spent some extended time at Texas on Saturday. The four-star Manor defensive end made the short trip to campus to meet with coaches before taking in the Texas spring game. Despite the windy weather, Umanmielen had a great time with the Longhorns. “I loved the visit,” he said. “I got to sit in on the defensive meetings and defensive line meetings to see what it was like. The game was a little chilly, but it was worth it.”

Aside from meeting with coaches and observing the defensive game plan, Umanmielen was able to spend time with several members of the team. Spending time with players near his age gave Umanmielen a warm vibe. “I hung out with De’Gabriel (Floyd) and Peter (Mpagi),” Umanmielen said. “Hanging out with the players afterwards made me feel like family.”

Umanmielen has yet to set up any upcoming official visits, but that may change soon. He’s considering a spring official to Texas, and it could come in early May. Texas is hosting an official visit weekend on May 4th, and Umanmielen might pick that weekend to use his visit. As a local prospect, Umanmielen is familiar with what Texas has done under Tom Herman. Texas sits high on his list because of their past and their future. “It’s the way they are turning the program around, and the tradition,” he said.

Umanmielen holds over 20 offers from programs such as Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas A&M, Arkansas, LSU, TCU and Washington. He was named first team all-district as a junior in 2018 as a part of a Manor team that finished 5-7 and lost in the second round of the playoffs. At 6-foot-4, 256 pounds, Umanmielen is ranked as the No. 11 strong-side defensive end in the nation and No. 30 overall prospect in Texas, according to 247Sports Composite.

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13 minutes ago, Elmer_Fudd said:

This would suck.

Yeah, definitely. Pickings are slim this year in state, and there are currently only a few coals in the fire OOS. Next year is looking limited in state as well. I have been quite interested in watching what unfolds in regards to LB recruiting.

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3 minutes ago, Jabberwocky said:

Yeah, definitely. Pickings are slim this year in state, and there are currently only a few coals in the fire OOS. Next year is looking limited in state as well. I have been quite interested in watching what unfolds in regards to LB recruiting.

I think the kid from Mineola that visited last weekend could be a LB offer for 2021.

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