With the Texas offensive line group experiencing issues with depth, the Longhorns added Copperas Cove offensive lineman JP Urquidez to the fold following the release of his letter of intent. Urquidez committed to Baylor during the spring of last year, but he decided to request a release once the full details of the Pepper Hamilton Report were released. The big offensive lineman held offers from Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and Wisconsin among others.
Urquidez was linked to Texas for quite a while, but under Joe Wickline it seemed that communication between the two parties dropped off. Texas renewed their interest once Matt Mattox was hired as the offensive line coach, but it appeared to be too late at that point. Texas got another chance at Urquidez in the wake of the Baylor scandal, and they closed the deal today. Urquidez is ready to play early from a size standpoint, and his transition to the Texas offense will be the same one he planned to make at Baylor. The most impressive thing about Urquidez was the changes he made to his body over his senior season. He transformed bad weight into an impressive physique, and as a result he turned himself into a good athletic prospect for a man his size. It’s encouraging to see this type of work ethic before a player arrives to college, and it will ease the transition into a rigorous strength and conditioning program.
Film Analysis:(By Daniel Seahorn)
If we are keeping it 100, I wasn’t very impressed after watching JP’s junior film and concluded that he was a little overrated. With that said I am much more encouraged after watching his senior film, and he made strides in several areas that I had red flagged. He has the size you look for as an OL coach so reshaping his body won’t be too tall of a task, and he vastly improved as a finisher as a blocker, which is something I have harped on that I have to see from a kid. He isn’t passive on his senior tape and he is consistently getting after guys and looking to finish them. While he has good size, he still has to work on his pad level, which is something most guys his size and age struggle with. It is going to be important that he becomes a knee bender more than a waist bender. He is also going to have to improve on keeping is hands within the frame of the defender and work on not being as grabby or else he will be a holding call waiting to happen. I like that he is going to get after guys, but he has to known when to disengage so that he doesn’t draw flags and he can’t drag guys to the ground. He is obviously has plenty of things to get cleaned up technique wise, but the improvements from junior to senior year have me more encouraged now more than ever. I also think he ends up being a guard rather than a tackle due to him not having the ideal athleticism. I think his upside is an all- conference player who has a chance at earning a draftable grade if he continues to make strides.
Final Verdict:
Urquidez really improved during his senior season, and his latest film shows an impressive prospect with a lot to build on. He has the size to mix into the rotation at right tackle immediately, and he could also push inside to guard. Urquidez has the size and athletic ability to excel under good coaching at the next level. He gives Texas immediate depth on the offensive line, and lessens the need to reach on any prospects in the 2017 class. If Urquidez reaches his ceiling, he could be a multi-year starter and an all-conference level performer with a chance to be drafted early.
