Burnt Ends – 05/16/2016

The point on a brisket is typically the fattiest cut. Pitmasters often trim the point (and select edges) off a brisket and return those pieces to the smoker.

 

 

 

Are burnt ends tough, chewy worthless cuts of meat, or are they heavenly bites of smoky goodness? It depends on who you ask…

 

 

 

Rather than discard the trimmings and fat, we choose to savor all the information that flows through the site. So, sit down and help yourself to some burnt ends.

 

 

 

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This is a free site, so anyone can read this report. If you share it with someone, please take time to attribute the information to HornSports.

 

 

 

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We’ll start tonight by bringing you some notes we’ve heard from team sources and some current players we’ve spoken with over the last week. What we have is a mish-mash of info, so we will try to hit the big story lines and blend in what we were told.

 

 

 

On the QB battle

 

 

 

“It’s Shane. If it’s not Shane, the team might riot” – Team source

 

 

 

“I think it will be Shane. That dude is just so good in practice. Every throw he makes is right where you want it to be, and guys listen to what he says. His only problem is that he’s a little small, but he will basically live in the weight room with coach Moorer this summer”. – Current player

 

 

 

On new members of the coaching staff

 

 

 

“There was an adjustment at first, but everyone realizes that these new coaches are just trying to help us get better. Some of us are getting used to the new coaching style, but our coaches are just learning about us too”. – Current player

 

 

 

On Sterlin Gilbert

 

 

 

“That’s my dude! He seems like he’s real serious and hard, but he has a great time with the team. His offense is so good, I don’t know where he comes up with some of these plays”. – Current player

 

 

 

On Pat Moorer/The Pit

 

 

 

“You don’t want to be there, it’s miserable. You’re pulling tires, running with cinder blocks, and all sorts of other things. I try to stay out of there”. – Current player

 

 

 

On DBU

 

 

 

“DBU is most certainly back. Those boys are about to surprise some people this year”. – Current player

 

 

 

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Last week in Burnt Ends we wrote this regarding players we’d like to see Texas target in the spring evaluation.

 

 

 

“Mansfield DB/WR Paulson Adebo is a fit both academically and athletically for Charlie Strong’s team. Adebo is a two way star, but we think his ultimate upside lies at defensive back. In a deep playoff run for Mansfield last year, Adebo locked down the competition at corner. He has a long frame and smooth athleticism, and he’s also an excellent student. Texas showed some interest in him last fall, but he hasn’t heard from them this year. In the past few weeks Adebo notched offers from Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Mississippi State. We have been told by sources close to his recruitment that Adebo would be extremely receptive to a Texas offer, so we will watch this one closely.”

 

 

 

Texas offered Adebo last week, and we were able to connect with our sources near his recruitment again to get the latest.

 

 

 

“That was one he was waiting on for a long time. I think Texas will be near the top of his list.”

 

 

 

Adebo is a bit like Kyle Porter from last year’s class. He’s not much for social media, and he bucks the trend of publicizing his offers on twitter like most prospects. Texas told Adebo they’d like to bring him in as a defensive back, and that aligns with Adebo’s goals for his college career. While he would be happy to play wherever he is needed, it was made clear to us that Adebo believes his long term future and upside is at the corner. Adebo is also working very hard to perfect his craft. He competed at the state track meet in Austin on Friday and Saturday, before returning to training on Sunday. It looks like this recruitment could stretch out through the season, and we will stay on top of it to bring you the latest.

 

 

 

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Last week we told you about Henderson (TX) athlete Trestan Ebner. We connected with Ebner later in the week to talk about his Texas recruitment and where he currently sits. As we told you Texas increased their contact with Ebner over the last few weeks, and Jeff Traylor is putting in the work on this front.

 

 

 

“I talk to coach Traylor every day, and he came to visit me last week,” said Ebner. Texas is recruiting Ebner at receiver, but he told us he’s happy to play on either side of the ball at the collegiate level. “I don’t have a preference for either because I like playing both,” Ebner told us. If Texas were to offer they’d jump right to the top of his list. Ebner said he would have a top three of Texas, TCU, and Ole Miss if the Longhorns put an offer on the table.

 

 

 

As for Jeff Traylor, Ebner seems very impressed by one of the best recruiters on the Texas staff. “I knew coach Traylor before he went to Texas. He’s pretty cool! He keeps in touch with me and he keeps me up to date on what’s going on with me being recruited at Texas.”

 

 

 

From talking to him, it seems that Ebner lights up when Texas is mentioned. We believe Texas has a very good shot if they finally do extend an offer. We will keep you up to date of this recruitment as it develops.

 

 

 

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We’ve been bullish in telling people that we believe if Texas can muster some wins in 2016, it could blow the roof off of recruiting. Kids really are buying what Charlie Strong and company are selling, but they want to see results and wins before fully buying in. It seems some programs from around the state are a bit worried that might happen. We were told of two separate instances in which other Big 12 schools were negatively recruiting against Texas this week. One instance involved a current Texas commit, while another involves a prospect many believe is leaning towards Texas. For the committed player, we have been told that this school is sending him tweets regarding each player Texas offers at the same position. This is a particularly bold strategy since this school hasn’t offered the commit in question, yet they keep trying to convince him Texas is stringing him along. Expect these things to continue, because if Texas is viewed as a sleeping giant, other schools will try to cut off the head before it can wake up.

 

 

 

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The HornSports staff is hard at work to bring you the first edition of the 2018 top 100. We are targeting the release of that list for early June, but in the mean time we thought we’d bring you a sneak peek at some of the top prospects from the list. This is a good chance to familiarize yourself with these names prior to this summer.

 

 

 

Today we bring you some names from the 2018 Quarterback class.

 

 

 

Jalen Mayden – Sachse

 

 

 

Mayden is already a known man in the class of 2018, and that is for good reason. While the quarterback comes from an impressive family of athletes, his talent stands out on its own. The lefty is a perfect spread quarterback with all the tools to be the top passer in the state. Mayden has size, arm strength, accuracy, and plus mobility to go along with an intense work ethic and mature mental makeup.

 

 

 

Mayden is also a star off the field due to his involvement with the community through his charity program called “See Me Beyond”. Mayden began the program to collect food and clothes for those in need after his time in the NFL Prep Academy. The Academy is put on through the NFL Hall of Fame, and stresses education, degree completion, community service, and leadership development in aspiring collegiate or professional athletes. Mayden will serve this summer in a leadership role with the Prep Academy this summer as he prepares for his junior season.

 

 

 

Athletics are a family affair for the Maydens. His older brother James is entering his junior season as a receiver at Rice University, while his brother Jared will ship off in a few weeks for his freshman season as a defensive back at Alabama. Jalen’s father James Sr. was a basketball star at Oklahoma in the 90’s, and there is no greater cheerleader on a high school field than his mother Katrina. Kat or “Momma Mayden” as she’s known, beams when she speaks about her boys accomplishments, and she has played an incredible role in getting them noticed while keeping them grounded.

 

 

 

Jalen has been to Austin multiple times in the last year, and he’s hoping Texas will extend an offer soon. The Longhorns have been out twice this spring to evaluate him, and Sterlin Gilbert is scheduled to attend his spring game on May 24. Mayden shows the qualities both on and off the field to fit everything the Texas staff is looking for in their next quarterback selection.

 

 

 

Clayton Tune – Hebron

 

 

 

Tune isn’t a huge name yet, but he could be on the verge of exploding onto the scene. While he isn’t a big name to recruiting fans, many of the schools in the area are aware of him. Tune visited both Texas and A&M this spring, and Oklahoma is starting to step up their attention. What stands out about Tune is his laser focus and command of the field. He shows good arm strength and decisiveness to go along with his pinpoint accuracy. Tune moves pretty well, and he could be considered a dual threat in this class. His brother Nathan Tune played at North Texas under Todd Dodge, so quarterbacking runs in the family. Tune trains with former Packers quarterback Craig Nall, who works with the Elite 11 group. He has family ties to the Longhorns, but at this point he’s truly wide open in his recruitment. We expect his name to rise during the next few months as he makes a cycle of the summer camps on the circuit. Tune already plays in a spread offense, and his field command along with his football intelligence make him a player to watch as Texas searches for their 2018 quarterback.

 

 

 

Spencer Sanders – Denton Ryan

 

 

 

Sanders is picking up offers at an incredible rate. Within the last month he’s been offered by Texas A&M, South Carolina, Colorado, North Carolina, Penn State, Texas Tech, and Ole Miss. At 6’2, 190 Sanders can really sling it. Sanders shows the ability to make all the throws, and he can fit the ball into very tight spaces. Sanders also has the ability to make plays with his feet when the play breaks down. Texas hasn’t shown a ton of interest at this point, and most think Sanders is leaning early on to Texas A&M. Of the top group of quarterbacks in the state, Sanders has the ability to challenge Mayden for the top spot throughout the next two years. Sanders has a huge ceiling, but he plays in a stacked quarterback class. If Sanders were to be targeted by Texas it seems they could be in the fight, but at this point it looks like both sides are looking in opposite directions. Whatever the case, Sanders shows the skill both running and passing to continue the strong quarterback pipeline Texas is starting to establish.