Burnt Ends – 5/9/2016

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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Since the day Charlie Strong arrived on campus, he’s asked for a quarterback to step up and take the position by the proverbial ‘horns. In talking to some folks around the Longhorn program, it appears that Shane Buechele is doing just that and taking large steps to land the starting quarterback position. For those of us that covered Buechele throughout his recruitment, this is more of what we saw on Friday nights last fall. We caught up with some sources at Arlington Lamar to get their thoughts on the developments with Buechele in Austin. The prevailing thought from everyone we spoke with, was that Buechele’s early success surprised nobody. “Everybody knew he had the talent and mental capacity, but you can’t quantify his leadership ability until you work up close with him,” a source told us.

HornSports was there during the playoffs last season when Buechele almost overcame extreme adversity to complete an improbable comeback. While Lamar had every right to pack it in and feel good about their season, Buechele kept his teammates in it by owning up to his mistakes and encouraging his team raise their level of play along with him. “Shane is just such a special person,” a teacher at Arlington Lamar told us. “He’s so focused and goal oriented, but at the same time he’s relatable to everybody. He’s such a real person that he’s able to reach others from different cultural backgrounds. He’s one of the most remarkable kids I’ve ever come across.”

We’ve been told that Buechele was not satisfied with his spring game performance and thought the team had room for improvement. He’s been active in organizing voluntary workouts with his teammates, and he even took his fellow freshmen to a Ranger game where his dad serves as the bench coach. This battle will still rage throughout the summer, but Shane Buechele is doing all he can to step up and take control of the position.

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The 2015 class was filled with talent, but ultimately they were hurt by academic casualties that never made it to campus. Devonaire Clarington, Gilbert Johnson, and Du’Vonta Lampkin did not qualify to enroll at Texas. The 2016 class had fewer grade risks, but we did some checking around on the ones we have heard about. To this point we’ve heard some murmurs about Duncanville’s Marcel Southall and Manor’s Erick Fowler. We were told that both players have some things to shore up before reporting, but both players were in range of having things taken care of. Bobby Burton of 247 reported that Fowler will need summer school before enrolling in the second summer session in Austin. While we haven’t heard that from anyone, it was hinted at as a possibility by other sources we spoke with a few weeks ago. From what we know, both players face smaller hills to climb than the casualties in the last class. We will watch both situations closely and keep you updated throughout the summer.

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With the spring evaluation period underway, it looks like Texas is starting to identify the next wave of targets for offers. One of the best kept secrets in the state (until recently) is Henderson (TX) WR/DB Trestan Ebner. Ebner was previously committed to SMU, but he opened his recruitment back up after seeing more attention in the spring. In the past few weeks he picked up offers from Houston, Ole Miss, and TCU, and Texas is starting to show serious interest. Jeff Traylor has been out to Henderson to evaluate Ebner this spring, and from what we know a Texas offer could jump the Longhorns to the top of his list. Ebner is an explosive inside receiver candidate with the ability to score from just about anywhere on the field. He also plays at safety for his high school, and though he has legit ability on both sides of the ball, we’ve been told he prefers to stay on offense. We connected with Ebner this week, and should have some more details on his recruitment out later.

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If you’re looking for a cornerback candidate to pop up in the next few months, look no further than Clear Springs DB Langston Frederick. Frederick came into the Under the Lights camp last year as a relative unknown, but he performed very well at the one day camp. Following an excellent junior season, Frederick showed up to the Opening in Houston and locked down the competition. He received an offer from Michigan State shortly thereafter, and the Spartans currently lead for the Houston area defender. While Frederick doesn’t have the 6 foot size that Charlie Strong typically recruits, his physical play at the line is probably the best in the state and he has legit 4.4 speed. Clay Jennings stopped by Clear Springs last week to check in on Frederick, and I’d expect to see Texas show more interest going into the summer. If Frederick were to camp at Texas this summer he would be a strong candidate for an offer. Frederick reminds us a bit of Quandre Diggs in his ability to play bigger than his size and feature in multiple roles on defense. He also has high end football IQ, and a competitive streak that would rival anyone on campus.

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There are two other corners that would love to hear from Texas in this cycle, and both are DFW products.

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 believe 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.

Flower Mound Marcus DB Matt Hankins is another long corner that is starting to pick up interest throughout the spring. Hankins already has great length, but he’s starting to add bulk to his impressive frame. Recently Hankins picked up offers from Illinois, Connecticut, Southern Miss, and Texas Tech. He had a strong performance at the Opening regional in Dallas, and camped in Austin last year. If Hankins were to return for camp this year he could be looking at an offer. Hankins trains with Kobe Boyce, and he is close to the Texas commit. With Boyce in the fold and Andrew Fitzgerald enrolling in the fall, Texas should have some strong voices in their corner should they choose to pursue him.