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Posted
3 hours ago, closetojumping said:

“Potentially” means a couple of things depending upon the position. 

1) They’ve done everything they can to not spook Cooper before he arrives on campus. They had to sell the Georgetown guy to him as a non-threat. They’re not going to come out and say “yep, got to get us a top line RB to get that room in order”. Some of you guys have been really dense about the RB room and Cooper this whole cycle. 

 

This explains why they didn’t go after Estrada, the totally superior Minnesota RB commit from El Paso who might be one of the best prospects in the nation. It is the only explanation that makes sense.

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Posted
2 hours ago, TexasExe14 said:

What does it matter. I don’t even think worthy likes Texas. He says his high school in his intro with the chiefs.

 

2 hours ago, Atticus said:

The same Worthy who was on the sidelines for the A&M game yucking it up?

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Posted
20 minutes ago, Ricky Butler said:

If I have anything to say about it, he will. 


Both IT and OTF mentioned he is more of a raw athlete and we should not count on him as a day one contributor. 

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Posted
17 minutes ago, Newy25 said:


Both IT and OTF mentioned he is more of a raw athlete and we should not count on him as a day one contributor. 

Are we expecting Baxter to eat up a good number of carries? Even if we get a top flight RB in the portal seems like we could still be thin if Wisner leaves. 

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Posted (edited)
57 minutes ago, Newy25 said:


Both IT and OTF mentioned he is more of a raw athlete and we should not count on him as a day one contributor. 

The OTF guys expect Cooper to play early, although perhaps not being the bellcow as a freshman. They think he's "football smart", but *not* on the level that Baxter was coming out of HS, which was rare. That's important regarding the playbook and picking up the blitz. It all seems to be predicated on picking up the blitz for the young RBs, along with ball control, I guess. 

Edited by closetojumping
left out a kind of important "not" there.
Posted
1 minute ago, closetojumping said:

The OTF guys expect Cooper to play early, although perhaps not being the bellcow as a freshman. They think he's "football smart", but on the level that Baxter was coming out of HS, which was rare. That's important regarding the playbook and picking up the blitz. It all seems to be predicated on picking up the blitz for the young RBs, along with ball control, I guess. 

I remember Saban saying that Baxter was the best RB in that years recruitment. That is high praise. I'm hoping/wishing to see him play a full season at 100% and see if he lives up to the praise.

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Posted
4 minutes ago, crash_davis said:

I remember Saban saying that Baxter was the best RB in that years recruitment. That is high praise. I'm hoping/wishing to see him play a full season at 100% and see if he lives up to the praise.

You might see that, but I doubt it will be at Texas, man. 

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Posted
The OTF guys expect Cooper to play early, although perhaps not being the bellcow as a freshman. They think he's "football smart", but on the level that Baxter was coming out of HS, which was rare. That's important regarding the playbook and picking up the blitz. It all seems to be predicated on picking up the blitz for the young RBs, along with ball control, I guess. 

Saw Arch mention that Baxter knows the playbook better than anyone.
Posted
30 minutes ago, Ghost of Shag said:

You guys need to give up the Baxter dream. 

Disagree.  We can all hope and pray and wax poetic about Baxter all we want until he graduates out or hits the portal.   There is nothing wrong with rooting for and hoping the get the best year out of a kid who has by all accounts done his best to be a good teammate and represented UT well.  Obviously injuries suck and it's not his fault he got some bad ones.

What the scouting/GM/coach types need to do is to give up on the Baxter dream.  He's a lottery ticket if he stays on the roster.  If it hits next year, great.  If it doesn't, it was worth a roster spot for next year and hopefully diminished NIL with the understanding that he needs to help Cooper come along if it's not happening next year.

 

Posted (edited)
45 minutes ago, Ghost of Shag said:

You guys need to give up the Baxter dream. 

It’s possible to come back to full strength from the surgery he had.  It might take more than 12 months.    Willis McGahee had a similar injury and played  a long time in the NFL.  Of course he was better to start with.  But it’s possible to get back to what you were.  I’m sure there are other examples besides just the one exception.

Edited by ClubWhatever
Posted

Personal Class Rankings of 2026 Signees | Vogel, OTF

Spoiler

Personal Class Rankings of 2026 Signees | 12:10 p.m.

 

CJ Vogel

By CJ Vogel

  • 2 hours ago
 

Personal Class Rankings of 2026 Signees

***

Another year, another top 10 class for Texas. It is time for perhaps my favorite talking point of the year when I get to put my recruiting analyst title on the table and basically predict which players in the 2026 Texas recruiting class will have the biggest impact during their time on campus.

If you are new here, I have done this for the past seven seasons with the predictions being anywhere from spot on, to couldn’t be further off. That I have no issue divulging in, it's all fun conversation. For anyone wondering, I will drop some previous class rankings in the comments below.

I divide my rankings into four categories. The boundaries for each category are used quite loosely, however I take into account instant impact, a level of excitement around each player and how they project for the duration of their career. Historically, offensive linemen have received the short end of the stick in past rankings due to the inability to project immediate play time.

  1. Instant impact with program changing talent.
  2. Early career contributor
  3. Likely to be a starter in career.
  4. Will take time to develop. Potential to be starter late in career.

Enjoy.

***

Tier 1

LB Tyler Atkinson – My favorite prospect in the class and for good reason. Atkinson will be the green-dot wearer and defensive play caller for the Texas defense during his time in Austin. He is violent on the field and won't shy away from contact. And most importantly, he brings a level of competitive spirit that is going to be fantastic for spring ball, fall camp and of course Saturdays in the SEC.

ATH Jermaine Bishop Jr. – It is so difficult to watch Bishop's senior tape and not get head over heels with excitement. Sarkisian mentioned both wide receiver and cornerback as a possibility for Bishop at the next level, but I can't get over what I am seeing with the ball in his hands. Texas went (physically) big at WR during the 2025 season. Bishop brings an immediate after the catch ability that was absent in 2025. Just an absolutely electric playmaker. 

QB Dia Bell – Anytime you add a five star quarterback to the class, there is reason for excitement. Bell is a natural thrower of the football and with the basketball background, I expect to see a very fluent passing game when it is time for him to take over the reigns. Not to mention, the opportunity to sit and develop right away is so crucial for a young quarterback.

RB Derrek Cooper – Texas made sure they landed a top running back in the 2026 cycle. Cooper comes in with a larger frame and a fantastic level of production out of Miami-Dade County. There will be immediate playing time available for Cooper and I expect him to be a key piece of the offense immediately in Austin.

OL John Turntine III – Look, will Turntine be on the field immediately? Probably not as a true freshman. However, I do believe he has the talent and makeup to be an All-Conference player while at Texas. A full year behind Baker or Goosby will be massive for getting his body where it needs to be. 

 

Tier 2

EDGE Richard Wesley – The talent is undeniable, and originally I had Wesley as a Tier 1 player. However, I have to remember he is only 16 years old at the time of his signing. That would likely lend him to being one of the youngest players in the conference by the time next August comes around. Still, he has a frame that will allow him to not look out of place and a motor that is evident on tape. Will be a major player as a Longhorn.

DL James Johnson – Perhaps the most underappreciated commitment and signing of the class, Johnson is a total stud. You win a recruitment from Miami and end up flipping a defensive lineman from Georgia, yeah, those typically work out well. Johnson is explosive with his first step and has strong hands. Excited to see how his body molds.

WR Kohen Brown – Another player that will outplay his rating right away. Texas will have a crowded WR room when Brown arrives as a freshman, but I want to go on record saying that I will be 0.00% surprised if he jumps some folks going into year two. 10.6 speed and already 200 pounds, he is physically ready for the college game.

CB Smoke Matthews – Drew some comparisons to Malik Muhammad on some OTF shows during the week of NSD build up, and personally, I don't hate that comparison. A 6-foot-1-inch, top-100 level cornerback is a great addition to the class. Watch the tape, the man coverage ability stands out most to me.

CB Toray Davis – I am a big fan of Davis as a late addition to the class. The ball skills jump off the page for me. He was a prolific wide receiver in high school and his highlight tape includes nothing but plays on the football, something that was too absent from the Texas secondary in 2025.

DB Yaheim Riley – Nickel or safety, it doesn't matter. Texas is getting an uber physical and willing tackler in the secondary with Riley. Riley also trains with Bernard Blake in the Austin area, so you won't see any wasted movements in his back pedal or breaking abilities. Above all, it's his knack for putting a nose on the ball that stands out to me.

DL Jamarion Carlton – I like Carlton a lot, and believe the upside of his athleticism and frame bodes well for his time in Austin. How long might it take to get to the point where he contributes immediately is going to be interesting. He is already 280 pounds and likely to spin inside. How quickly can he develop the technical side of the game is going to be the main key for his immediate impact.

LB Kosi Okpala – Coming right out of the Brad Spence and Trey Moore factory, Kosi Okpala should have an immediate home in the Texas linebacking room. Getting on the field immediately could see some traffic, but altogether the combination of playing in space with his ability to rush the passer is really intriguing.

Tier 3

CB Hayward Howard Jr. – Howard split time this season at safety and cornerback at Edna Karr, adding to his versatility. The length jumps off the page off the first look. There were also some welcomed moments of physicality to his game that will translate. Footwork and technique will be the main points of emphasis upon arriving at Texas.

WR Chris Stewart – The second commit in the Texas class remained firm all the way through signing day. Texas had gone the route of larger-bodied wide receivers, but Stewart brings them back to the quicker, more agile, after the catch threats that helped Sarkisian's offense previously put up major numbers. I like the acceleration speed more than the top end speed.

RB Jett Walker – A true workhorse at the high school level, Walker will be a fantastic addition to the program and special teams units upon immediate arrival. Will he become a bellcow at Texas? That remains to be seen, but the vision and one-cut and go ability were among the highlights at Georgetown.

OL Nicolas Robertson – Texas will be portal heavy at the OL spot allowing Robertson some time to get physically right for play in the SEC. I don't question the nastiness at all. The term "Road grader" gets tossed out often with offensive linemen, but that's exactly what I see with the future guard. At 355 pounds, I see 330 and a possible DJ Campbell-lite for Robertson at Texas. 

OL Kaden Scherer – The easy comparison here is to follow the arc of Trevor Goosby. Coming in around 275 pounds, Scherer has plenty of athleticism, having played basketball, track, soccer and just about everything else growing up. Will the athleticism allow him to stick at tackle?Or does his arm length push him to the interior? Those will be the questions to follow.

P Mikey Bukauskus – Typically I toss all of the specialists down in Tier 4, but there is a lot of optimism about the Prosper punter.

Tier 4

TE Charlie Jilek – Love Jilek's game, but the frame needs a lot of work. Texas took a tight end after all in the 2026 class because they see the upside in his game. Previously they were alright with not adding anyone in this cycle. The nastiness is there to play physically in the trenches as a tight end. Sign me up for that.

LB Rocky Cummings – A bit split on Rocky Cummings at the moment. He played some TE and H-Back in HS, but will he stick at backer or spin to the edge at Texas is the question mark for me. Regardless, an athletic prospect with options.

K Jake Collett – A year of acclimation to the college game is always the goal for me with kickers. 

LS Trott O'Neal – O'Neal could actually step right into a starting role as a true sophomore considering Lance St. Louis is a senior and Tate Haver is a junior. 

 

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