In this week’s edition of the signing day forecast we give you our take on the crystal ball to track the top targets on the Texas board. Each week leading up to National Signing Day, HornSports will give you a look at how the top-targets are trending. We will give you our prediction as well as a confidence rating based on a scale of 0-5.
Running Backs
Devwah Whaley – Things still look good for the State’s top back. We will have a better idea after Whaley visits in January, but if things keep on this track Whaley should be in Austin next year.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)
Confidence level: 4.5 (Last week: 4.5)
Kyle Porter – Things should pick up with Porter now that his season is over. The state champion runner has always held Texas in high regard, but the numbers will be in play here.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)
Confidence level: 3 (Last week 3)
Wide Receiver
Lil’Jordan Humphrey – It will continue to be between Texas and Cal for this one. Humphrey loved his time on the west coast when he visited, and has a role in the “Bear Raid†offense. We just can’t see Humphrey leaving the state, and the new offensive direction could be the factor that ices it. Humphrey will visit Austin in January with his teammate, Texas commit Tight End
Irvin Smith – Smith is holding on to A&M by a thread, and if Jake Spavital is canned he will be gone. Regardless, Smith is building a good relationship
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas A&M)
Confidence level: 3 (Last week: 1)
Jamal Pettigrew – The LSU commit flirted with Texas a lot this season, and I think he really loves Charlie Strong and what the Longhorns can offer. That said, outside of guys like Shiro Davis it’s very difficult to pull Louisiana kids away from LSU.
Prediction: LSU (Last week: LSU)
Confidence level: 4.5 (Last week: 4.5)
Offensive Line
Jean Delance – Delance released a top 3 of Texas, LSU, and Michigan today. The out of state schools are making a push but we still believe Texas lands their big line target.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)
Confidence level: 3.5 (Last week: 3.5)
JP Urquidez – I don’t know that Texas is seriously involved here. I’d say we know more after the dead period.
Prediction: Baylor (Last week: Baylor)
Confidence level: 3 (Last week: 2.5)
Zach Shackleford – We were told Shackleford really enjoyed his Kansas State visit. His bond with that coaching staff is strong and is a potential hurdle for Texas. Matt Mattox is going to need to put in serious work in January.
Prediction: Kansas State (Last week: Kansas State)
Confidence level: 2 (Last week: 2)
Patrick Hudson – Hudson doesn’t talk much, but there’s a feeling behind the scenes that Hudson is there for the taking. Get him on campus and go from there.
Prediction: Baylor (Last week: Baylor)
Confidence level: 2 (Last week: 3.5)
Defensive Line
Jordan Elliott – Win the battle for the group of Houston prospects and the battle for Elliott gets easier.
Prediction: Michigan (Last week: Michigan)
Confidence level: 3 (Last week: 3.5)
Kelvin Lucky – The Alabama athlete has been very quiet since his initial offer from Texas happened. Alabama was involved but haven’t come through with an offer yet. If things hold we’d say Texas is sitting in the pole position.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)
Confidence level: 2.5 (Last week: 2.5)
Tyrell Chavis – After hearing good things about Texas and the JUCO prospect early on, chatter has all but dropped off. We’d expect things to heat up when recruiting resumes in early January.
Prediction: Auburn (Last week: Auburn)
Confidence level: 3 (Last week: 3)
Stephon Taylor – This one could swing based on the recruitment of D’Andre Christmas-Giles. If DCG picks TCU then Taylor could be headed to Austin.
Prediction: TCU (Last week: TCU)
Confidence level: 2 (Last week: 3.5)
D’Andre Christmas-Giles – This is another guy that really blew up after Texas offered him and new film emerged. He really loved his visit to Texas this weekend and his de-commitment might show favorable signs there, but based on what we are hearing there are possibly 2 schools in front of the Longhorns.
Prediction: LSU (Last week: LSU)
Confidence level: 2 (Last week: 4)
Marcell Southall – This one has been trending a certain way for weeks now.
Prediction: Oklahoma (Last week: Oklahoma)
Confidence level: 5 (Last week: 5)
Mike Williams – Once again, it will depend on whether Williams gets his acceptance to Stanford but if he doesn’t we believe the Longhorns will benefit. Williams will visit Texas in January.
Prediction: Stanford (Last week: Stanford)
Confidence level: 3 (Last week 3)
Linebacker
Dontavious Jackson – This feels like the lynch pin for things, but D-Jack is planning on taking this all the way to signing day. Florida and Michigan loom large, and Alabama seems to be making a push.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)
Confidence level: 2.5 (Last week: 2.5)
Jeffrey McCulloch – The problems at A&M are changing things here. McCulloch really likes Stanford and Notre Dame as well, but I don’t believe he leaves the state at this point.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas A&M)
Confidence level: 2.5 (Last week: 1)
Erick Fowler – Where once we strongly considered him a candidate to flip, it seems like those chances are slipping away.
Prediction: LSU (Last week: LSU)
Confidence level: 4 (Last week: 3)
Defensive back
Deontay Anderson – After being one of the last holdouts on the Anderson to Texas train I’ve decided to get off at the next stop. Things could change on his official visit and the race is down to Texas and Ole Miss from what I hear.
Prediction: Ole Miss (Last week: Ole Miss)
Confidence level: 4 (Last week: 4)
Brandon Jones – This will be the signature recruiting win for Jeff Traylor if he can pull it off. Once again the assist will go to Kevin Sumlin if Jones picks Texas.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas A&M)
Confidence level: 2 (Last week: 0.5)
Eric Cuffee – We wrote him off when I was told he silently committed to A&M earlier in the fall. Recently he’s been coming around Austin more and making it known he’s still open. His official visit went well and Texas appears to be back in the driver seat.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)
Confidence level: 3 (Last week: 2)
Chris Brown – The Elsik DB loves Texas, and if they get Dontavious Jackson he’s a shoe in. He might be even if they don’t get Jackson.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)
Confidence level: 2.5 (Last week: 2.5)
