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Ten days away. Signing day.
On February 6th, 2013, the nation’s top high school football players will sign a pledge to their college choice.
It’s Christmas for recruiting guru’s and college football fans everywhere.
Mack Brown and Texas are one of the schools that will celebrate another top 20 class for 2013. 16 commits to date. That number could increase in a matter of days. But first, let’s talk about the two offensive lineman that committed to Mack and Co. last week
On Monday, Desmond Harrison, all 6-foot-8, 305 pounds of him, of Contra Costa College in CA, pledged to play next fall in Austin, and considering he boasts offers from the likes of Alabama, Miami, OU, and Oregon, he’s a ‘get’. A big ‘get’.
He can play immediately. His move allows Donald Hawkins (starting Left Tackle) the chance to slide inside to guard. He also adds depth to a position solely missing it in the last three years. Six years if you want to be technical.
Then on Wednesday, Irving’s Rami Hammad committed to Texas as well. The 6-foot-5, 320 pound offensive guard puts the bow on the best O-Line class in the nation. Hammad’s recruiting has amped up in the last month, thanks to a phenomenal Semper Fi All-Star showing. 50+ offers later, the former Baylor commit became a Longhorn.
Who’s next ???
There are two prospects Texas wants. Waco High’s Andrew Billings and Desoto’s Dontre Wilson.
Billings plays defensive tackle, a position of premium desire. He’s 6-foot-1, 305 pounds. He holds offers from OU, Miss St, and Texas Tech to name a few. He’s become fond of Baylor and Texas. But I’m hearing he wanted to commit on his visit to Austin and Mack informed him to go home and think about it. Either way, I’d put his chances at committing to Texas at about 70%. He could more than likely become #17. Stay tuned.
Wilson, a multi-purpose back, has been hitched with Oregon for well over a year. Then Ducks coach, Chip Kelly, took the Philadelphia Eagles head coaching job, and UO’s pledge’s have started looking around. He visited Ohio State this weekend and came back impressed. He really likes Oklahoma State as well. He has said a few times he’s not really interested in Texas. But I don’t think Major Applewhite is buying. Look for the staff to make one final push right up to signing day eve. Chances he signs with Texas, probably 15%. But that’s also the same percentage I gave Torshiro Davis (Woodlawn, LA signee in 2012, once committed to LSU). And we know where he is right now.
UPDATE : Desoto RB Dontre Wilson will visit Austin this weekend. Said he will announce his school of choice Sunday Night. I would like to increase my odds of Wilson committing from 15% to 39%. I still feel like Major and company got started a little too late with the #1 rated RB (in Horn Sports 50 for 2013), but a visit to the 40 acres can do wonders for an 18-year old kid. This just went from ‘Not Likely’ to “Interesting’ rather fast.
On a side note, it looks like Texas has shied away from Ronald Butler, Juco wide receiver from Contra Costa College, cancelling their trip out there last week.
I would also like to add that Horn Sports will begin the column, Friday Night Lights, on Friday, February 1st. To kick off the high-school based article, we’ll be debuting the Horn Sports Top 50 rankings for 2014. It will be a comprehensive look at all the top players in Texas for the class of 2014. And, to give you a sneak peek, there are two Texas commits and two Texas A&M commits among the top 10.
Longhorn commits Jerrod Heard, 4A state title winning QB from Denton Ryan is No. 7, and San Antonio Brennan’s ultra pass-rushing DE Derick Roberson is No. 8. Future Aggies include No. 1 ranked Hoza Scott, linebacker from LaPorte, and Lancaster CB Nick Harvey is No. 4.
Now, let’s talk about hoops.
Texas started the week with a Big Monday date with rival Oklahoma. Two and half hours later, the Horns left Norman with a 74-67 loss and a 0-5 mark in Big-12 play.
Fast forward to Saturday night. Texas hosted the Red Raiders of Lubbock, one of the only teams in the Big-12 worse than UT. And the Longhorns prevailed, 73-57 to notch their first win in conference play. Julien Lewis led all scorers with 18 points as UT ended a five-game losing streak in the Big 12. Ioannis Papapetrou notched 15 points, while Demarcus Holland added 11 for the Longhorns, who got their first win since Dec. 29th and ended their worst losing streak in the Big 12 since the conference began play in the 1996-97 season.
The brightest spot was Sheldon McClellan. The Longhorns’ leading scorer on the season, started for the first time in the five games and poured in 10 points. But more than that, it signaled a positive vibe from both him and Rick Barnes. It’s been reported that Barnes and him ‘ butted heads’ before. And that’s not the first time we’ve heard those terms used regarding Barnes and a star player.
For any matter, it was the first, real positive to come from the Men’s basketball program in months. It’s been noted that if UT can beat Tech and TCU on the road, squeak out a few W’s in the Big-12 tourney when Myck Kabongo returns, that Texas has a legit shot at 20 wins. And even farther fetched, could sneak into the NCAA’s with momentum. The theory is unlikely, but the notion that Texas could actually participate in the Men’s national tournament during March is outstanding. Especially considering the circumstances of this virtually lost 2012-13 season. Stay tuned.
Have a great Monday morning, and even better week. Hook ‘Em Horns.
