The Longhorns excelled at finding players with position versatility and high ceilings under Charlie Strong. Texas landed another player with that profile when Brenham linebacker Marqez Bimage committed to Texas today. The former Houston commit chose Texas over offers from Baylor, California, Kansas State, LSU, and Texas Tech.
Bimage was one of the first players targeted by the Texas staff when they left Houston, and they made their interest clear to him right off the bat. Brenham’s star defender saw a rise in status late in his recruitment as he fielded interest from multiple schools late in the process, and he decided to open things up just after the dead period began. Baylor made a late push for him, but Texas was a dream scenario for Bimage. Texas targeted Bimage as an edge rusher in a 3-4, but he could also play inside linebacker. With Todd Orlando bringing his multiple defense to Austin, the Longhorns will be looking for players who can fit that scheme.
Film Analysis:
Bimage has good size at 6’3, 233 lbs. with long arms and a frame to add more weight. Bimage shows a nice first step off the ball, with good quickness to the inside. He shows violent hands and good leverage, and he runs the arc well to pressure from the edge. Bimage has a relentless motor, and he shows an extra gear when closing on the ball carrier. Once Bimage arrives it’s usually with explosion. He shows a nice array of pass rushing moves, and there are a few clips of him beating All-American offensive tackle Walker Little on his film. He also uses his long arms and plus awareness to knock down passes and strip the ball. Bimage moves well laterally, and he shows a good ability to change direction. There are a few areas of improvement Bimage could focus on. He could use more consistent hand placement, and he is prone to cut blocks. He also struggles a bit at dipping his shoulder when turning the edge to cut close angles to the quarterback. He showed constant improvement over the course of his high school career, especially between his junior and senior season.
Final Verdict:
With film that gets better each time you view it, Bimage appears to be one of the more underrated prospects in the state. His total package might remind some of Malcolm Roach due to his similar skillset and under appreciation in the ranking process. Bimage could be a plug and play weapon at inside linebacker and edge rusher. His versatility could get him on the field early, and if he continues to physically develop you’re looking at a player who could play at an all-conference level for several years. His athletic ability and tenacious motor are exactly what NFL franchises covet in today’s era of sub-packages. While this might not tilt the recruiting rankings much it is an important acquisition for Texas as they look to fill holes in the depth chart.
