Commitment focus: Peyton Aucoin

New Texas tight end coach Jeff Traylor landed his first win at the position with the commitment of 2016 New Orleans (LA) Brother Martin tight end Peyton Aucoin. Texas offered Aucoin early in the spring and made him a priority at a position where the Longhorns are mired in bad luck.

Aucoin chose Texas over offers from Florida, Arizona State, Michigan, Ole Miss, and Missouri among others. The Brother Martin star is the first tight end commitment of the class but the coaching staff is recruiting like they’d prefer to take two TE’s, if possible.

Texas targeted two types of players at the tight end position in the 2016 class – Aucoin was the primary target for a traditional “in-line” tight end on the UT board. 2015 signee Devonaire Clarington plays split out and is a different mold than Aucoin. Even if Clarington qualifies, the depth at tight end is lacking in numbers and versatility. Aucoin gives Texas a physically developed body that can contribute at the position quickly.

After visiting both Florida and Texas during the home stretch of his recruitment, Aucoin narrowed his choices to those two schools. The New Orleans native returned to Austin this past week, and that sealed the deal for the Longhorns.

“The whole day I was thinking about it,” Aucoin said about his decision process post-visit. After a great trip to the 40 Acres, Aucoin called the coaches once he got back home, “Coach Strong and coach Traylor were real excited, and they saw it coming.”

In this day and age recruits tend to commit and then immediately talk about evaluating options and taking other visits, but that won’t be the case with Aucoin, “I’m committed to Texas 100 percent and it feels great to be done.”

Film Analysis:

Aucoin has a physically developed frame at 6’5, 255 pounds, and already looks college ready. A tenacious run blocker from the line or H-back position, Aucoin locks on to his opponent and drives him all the way to the whistle. From a blocking perspective, Aucoin is technically sound with great flexibilityand strength.

Although he is more experienced as a blocker, Aucoin also shows solid skills as a pass catcher. His quickness off the line and adequate speed for the position make Aucoin a threat down the field. His superior size and hands combined with his understanding of positioning and body control help him make catches around and over defenders.

Aucoin is raw as a route runner and is utilized much more in run blocking than the pass game. In his newest player, Coach Traylor gets all the athletic tools and frame needed to develop as a weapon.

Final Verdict:

Although he appears to be a bit more gifted as a natural pass catcher, Aucoin will remind fans of former Texas tight end Geoff Swaim, who the Cowboys drafted in the 7th round. With his size and ability, Aucoin projects as a player that could contribute early in college.

Depending on his development as a receiver, Aucoin’s ceiling could certainly rise. As it is now, Aucoin is a prospect that could play at an all conference level and end up as a mid to late round NFL draft pick.