Another Houston domino has fallen, and this time it is of the five star variety. When Brennan Eagles showed up to the Houston Regional of The Opening, most knew of him, but hadn’t seen him before. However, as soon as he stepped onto the field, every single person in attendance was impressed with his size, strength, and speed. It wasn’t until he beat every single defender in one-on-ones that people realized just how elite he is.
The Texas coaches knew long before everyone else what Brennan Eagles possessed, and Drew Mehringer worked tirelessly to build up a relationship with Eagles that trumped that of teams like Clemson, LSU and Oklahoma. And Mehringer’s reward? Texas now, in Eagles, has one of the best wide receivers in the nation, the highest-rated wide receiver in Texas, and their second highest rated recruit in the class.
Film Analysis
As I said above, the 6’3.5″, 214-pound Alief Taylor wide receiver drew national attention during The Opening regional when he ran a 4.51 40-yard dash and 3.99 shuttle in addition to registering a 37-inch vertical leap…at 214 pounds. Then, he went up against some of the best defensive backs in the country and high pointed balls over guys like Anthony Cook, Jalen Green, and others.
Eagles has the size, speed, frame, and explosiveness that a wide receivers coach covets. How does he do on the field? Eagles is your prototypical outside wide receiver, and draws comparisons to the likes of Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons and Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals – receivers who are physical at the line of scrimmage, but have the ability to win the ball in the back corner of the end zone. Eagles also uses his huge frame, strength, and pure athleticism to really make 50/50 ball situations a bit unfair, and when he comes down with the ball, his 220-pound frame makes it difficult for defensive backs to bring him down.
His hands are not a concern either, as he has displayed his strong but soft hands in camps and on film with his ability to hang onto a ball while a defensive back hangs onto him and tries to wrench his arms open.
Eagles also runs a multitude of different routes. He’s not your average #1 receiver who only does well with the go route, although he’s pretty good at it. His high school has mainly kept him to the outside, but he has excelled in the screen game, short routes, digs, quick ins, and of course the go. He’s not too shabby as a blocker either, which often goes unnoticed.
The only problem I have with him whatsoever is his ability to get off the line, as he’s a bit slow off the line.
Final Verdict
And so, another big time Houston-area talent has been snatched up by Tom Herman with the help of Mehringer. Most have been in awe of all of the talent on the defensive side of the ball in this class, but with Eagles in the fold, the offensive side of the ball looks like it is in amazing shape for 2018. Brennan possesses the size and speed to be a big-time threat at the next level, and Mehringer has to be salivating at the thought of having him as one of his offensive weapons.
Herman and his staff made it a priority to win over the talent rich Houston area this cycle, and with Eagles now on board they continue to stack talent in a major way. With guys like Eagles, Al’vonte Woodard, and Jalen Green on board, the staff’s attention will now turn Houston Lamar’s Anthony Cook and D’Shawn Jamison. Texas is in thick of it for both prospects, and it’s not out of the question for them to land both.
