Monday Morning Horn - July 8,2013

Â Gladewater’s manchild defensive tackle, Daylon Mack has decided to take another visit to Austin next month. The No. 1 ranked player in Texas (No. 9 in USA) in the 2015 class has been an Aggie lean for some time now, so this is encouraging for Longhorns fans.

Texas visit on the 27th of this month #Can‘tWait

â€” Daylon Mack (@DaylonMack) July 7, 2013

But I don’t want Longhorn fans to get their hopes up. I’ve gotten to know Mack and his family over the past 10 months, and they are as good as advertised. Mack, himself, is a smart, well-spoken young man, with a great personality. He and his family are making sure they are taking their time with this life-changing decision.

Understand that Mack wants to play with the best talent in the land. He also wants the ‘Fab-Five’ to play together. He’s openly stated he wants Larry Pryor (Sulphur Springs), Malik Jefferson (Mesquite Poteet), J’Mychal Hasty (Longview), and Justin Dunning of Â Whitehouse Â to play on the same sideline come fall of 2015. Like he tweets, ‘great players want to play with great players’.

And the school that comes up the most: Texas A&M.

The school that comes up the least: Texas.

Now, he’s admitted that he grew up a Longhorn’s fan, like so many his age did. They witnessed Vince Young’s 4th down touchdown scamper in the 2006 Rose Bowl and BCS National Championship like the rest of the football-loving world. And it’s hard to deny the genuine family atmosphere in Austin or the fact that only one coach in the last 20 years has sent more college talent to the NFL than Mack Brown.

The problem isn’t the phenomenon known as Heisman winner, Johnny Manziel, or the good vibrations Kevin Sumlin is emitting, Beach Boys style. It’s the SEC. He believes that’s where the best high school prospects play in college. And he’s correct, for defensive lineman. Therein lies the problem.

Texas could have a great 2013, which would greatly increase their chances of landing the mammoth d-lineman. But nothing short of a BCS National Title appearance would sway Mack to Austin.

In other recruiting news, Jason Hall , cornerback out of South Grand Prairie, de-committed from Nebraska late last week. He is know to favor UT after an offer from a Sunday mini-camp last month. He’s also considering Oklahoma and may take a visit to Waco and see Baylor. I’d be surprised if Hall didn’t commit to the Horns before the start of his senior season next month.

Junior quarterback David Ash was named to the Maxwell Award (best player in college football) watch list Monday. He was joined by senior defensive end, Jackson Jeffcoat, who was named to the Bednarik Award watch list, for Defensive Player of the year.

Also, junior defensive back Quandre Diggs was named to the Paul Hourning Award watch list, given to the most versatile player in college football.

BTW….we are 54 days from the opening of college football season when New Mexico State comes to Austin Week 1.

Texas shortstop, Erich Weiss signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates this week. Just adds to a major hole in the infield for UT next spring. There are also rumblings that UT signee Blake Goins of Pearland, drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 12th round, might indeed sign the pro contract after all. Stay tuned.

Quote of the Week: “Â One time, I saw a Texas game was going on. You could see all the fans from far away. I looked at my mom and said, ‘I’m going to play there.’ “ -Â Rami Hammad, Class of 2013 Texas signee (quote via Max Olson/ESPN)

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