With two receivers already committed for the 2016 recruiting class, Texas added a new offensive piece to the puzzle when they received a commitment from Lamar (Arlington, TX) quarterback Shane Buechele on Monday. Buechele chose the Longhorns over offers from Kentucky, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, TCU, and Texas Tech. The son of former Texas Ranger third basemen Steve Buechele, Lamar’s signal caller came onto the scene last season after competing as a junior at the Elite 11 camp in Dallas.
After several years of detrimental quarterback recruiting at Texas, Charlie Strong and Shawn Watson are aggressively pursueing options both in and out of state to correct past mistakes in the program. Texas targeted Buechele early in their evaluations as one of their top options in the state. And although the Buechele family has a history with Oklahoma, that didn’t stop Shane from choosing Texas as his top option.
The status of Matthew Merrick is still undecided. Officially Merrick is set to enroll after a year, but could be offered a chance to come in during the fall with the 2015 class. If that happens, Texas could be looking for a second quarterback in the 2016 class. Buechele currently ranks 30th on the 2016 HornSports top 50.
Film Analysis
Buechele has nearly ideal size at 6’2 185 lbs., with room to add more bulk. Operating Lamar’s spread offense is paying dividends in terms of a high football IQ.
Buechele shows good arm strength, quick decisions, and good accuracy. Additionally Buechele is well coached as demonstrated by great mechanics and footwork.
Despite a quick release and a solid understanding of when to put zip or touch on the ball, the Lamar product does not have the ability to completely take over a game with his legs. Even though he is not an elite runner, he demonstrates good speed and running ability on both designed runs and scrambles. Buechele also shows good leadership skills and is a clear field general who appears to thrive in the mental aspects of the game more than physical ones.
Final Verdict
Like most prospects his age, Buechele still has growth and development ahead of him. Regardless of that potential he is a good first option at quarterback for the 2016 class. I will be interested to see more of him at the Elite 11 camp this year.
While his ceiling isn’t incredibly high, Buechele has a higher basement than most other options. If he reaches his ceiling, he could be a multi-year starter at Texas and mid-to-late round NFL draft pick.
