On one of the busier signing days in recent history, Longhorn fans received a bit of a surprise when they landed the signature of Duncanville (TX) defensive tackle Marcel Southall. The Dallas area prospect chose Texas over offers from Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Miami, Baylor, Tennessee, and TCU.
Southall was offered by Texas earlier in the year before his profile started to take off. Though he remained quiet throughout the recruiting cycle, Southall was thought to be a heavy lean to Oklahoma. Southall showed up on an official visit to Austin by surprise in January, but the outlook seemed to favor the Sooners. As signing day neared, things started to trend more positively for Texas. Going into the last months of the recruiting cycle, recruiting at the defensive tackle position looked dire. Now as the faxes roll in, Texas is looking at one of the best tackle classes in the state. Southall is the versatile defensive line weapon Charlie Strong has been searching for since he arrived in Austin. He currently ranks number 41 on the 2016 HornSports Top 50.
Film Analysis:
Southall has good size at 6’3, 290 lbs. He could probably use some sort of re-shaping to his body once he reaches campus. He played at around 270 his junior year, and could probably maximize his potential somewhere between there and his current weight. Southall has a quick first step, and he plays with good leverage and hands. Southall is a bowling ball of a player with a developed lower half he uses to anchor against the run. He’s light on his feet with good handwork, and he shows a sturdy tackling ability. His motor was better in his junior season when he had less weight, but when he plays with a motor he can be relentless against blockers. Southall is very strong in his upper body, and he uses that strength to stand tall at the point of attack. He has versatility to play end in an odd front and inside in an even look.
Final Verdict:
With some re-shaping, I believe Southall could be a valuable weapon along the defensive line. Modern football is moving to an era with fewer defined positions, and more sub packages featuring versatility and mixed skillsets. Depending on where Southall finds his position, he could turn into a very nice prospect. Body development will be key, but I could see him turning into an all conference level player with an NFL future, including high NFL upside.
