Mack Brown and Early Commits

[utisdabomb12]

IMO the biggest contributing factor to Mack Brown’s failure at the end of his tenure were the amount of early commits he took. I was interested to see if he actually took that many early commits. The numbers are pretty staggering

79 percent of Mack Brown’s commits came before July of the given recruiting class from 09-14 (presumably before the recruit’s senior year even started). This is why I'm a fan of Strong's recruiting style. The amount of development, or lack thereof, that can happen in a player's senior year can actually be fairly significant. 


’09: 
Gilbert-2/7/08
Walters-3/29/08
Okafor-3/22/08
Whaley-2/10/08
Davis-2/9/08
Allen-3/5/08
Timmons-2/10/08
Kelley-2/10/08
Howell-5/14/08
Ashcraft-2/10/08
Vaccaro-2/29/08
Barnett-2/25/08
Porter-2/10/08
Mathews-3/3/08
Kriegel-2/23/08
Johnson-5/28/08
Graham-3/4/08
Jones-2/23/08
Nkwopara-2/23/08
Mims-1/18/09


’10:
Jeffcoat-1/29/10
Hicks-1/29/10
Davis-12/13/09
Wilson-3/20/09
White-1/2/10
Cobbs-10/29/09
Jackson-2/8/09
Dorsey-3/1/09
Hopkins-2/7/09
Jones-2/28/09
Bible-2/7/09
White-3/13/09
Byndom-2/23/09
Benson-2/29/09
Wood-2/18/09
Phillips-2/8/09
Jackson-2/28/09
Espinoza-2/28/09
Shead-2/28/09
Daniels-2/28/09
Harris-2/7/09
Cotton-2/8/09
McCoy-2/9/09
Russ-1/31/10

‘11
Brown-8/18/10
Edmond-2/23/10
Jackson-2/13/10
Flowers-2/25/10
Diggs-3/11/10
Turner-6/19/10
Shipley-2/12/10
Evans-2/13/10
Reed-4/23/10
Greenlea-2/26/10
Thompson-2/27/10
Thompson-2/13/10
Scott-2/13/10
Cochran-2/13/10
Ash-2/13/10
McFarland-2/13/10
Onyegbule-2/13/10
Bergeron-2/13/10
Moss-2/12/10
Hutchins-2/13/10
Doyle-2/12/10
Pruitt-2/2/11


’12
Gray-4/22/11
Brown-4/3/11
Estelle-6/5/11
Riser-2/13/11
Jones-2/27/11
Davis-2/1/12
Sanders-12/2/11
Jinkens-2/26/11
Hughes-2/26/11
Colbert-12/11/11
Thomas-2/13/11
Brewer-2/7/11
Echols-2/25/11
Johnson-1/28/12
Santos-1/29/12
Cole-4/3/11
Ridgeway-2/16/11
Johnson-12/4/11
Boyette-2/26/11
Overstreet-10/31/11
Norman-2/12/11
Hawkins-1/27/11
Bluiett-2/26/11
De La Torre-2/12/11
Brandon Moore-12/7/11
Cottrell-1/30/12
Jordan-6/6/11
Vacarro-12/11/11

’13
James-3/5/12
Perkins-2/27/12
Raulerson-2/3/12
Davis-2/26/12
Davis-5/4/12
Oliver-2/15/12
Swoopes-2/17/12
Warrick-2/26/12
Hammad-1/23/13
Harrison-1/21/13
Collins-10/8/12
Huhn-6/3/12
Hughes-2/28/12
Swaim-6/12/12
Meander-2/4/13

‘14
Roberson-8/2/12
Heard-8/14/12
Foreman-6/27/13
Joe-8/2/12
Catalon-8/3/12
Bonney-9/5/13
Bernard-1/30/13
Roberts-4/12/13
Beck-4/9/13
Hampton-2/10/13
Leonard-6/6/13
Cuney-3/30/13
Gray-6/10/13
Mcmillon-4/1/13
Hall-7/27/13
Foreman-6/27/13
Shorter-8/17/13

 

[Juan]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

I don't necessarily think it was the quality of the players, per se, but their lack of development under Mack that doomed the program. Having said that, I appreciate CFS and staff for evaluating prospects longer. Assuming, of course, that they actually pan out - unlike C. Cherry, G. Johnson, etc.

 

[utisdabomb12]

I don't necessarily think it was the quality of the players, per se, but their lack of development under Mack that doomed the program. Having said that, I appreciate CFS and staff for evaluating prospects longer. Assuming, of course, that they actually pan out - unlike C. Cherry, G. Johnson, etc.

IMO development was absolutely an issue at the end of Mack's tenure. 

I think a lot of people underplay the early commits angle. A recruit's development can shift drastically from February to  December. Mack essentially ended recruiting in June. On paper Mack was landing top 6 classes, but were they really top 6 classes? Some of the players Mack landed in February are players he probably wouldn't have wanted at the end of the cycle if he evaluated further. 

 

[java]

Many of you are much more involved on a day to day basis than I am, so perhaps I don't know what I'm talking about but...

I am not certain when Sally became more involved in the program, but I suspect that is precisely when Mack quit recruiting the type of players he needed to win.  I also believe that Sally became more involved at about the same time that Cleve got caught with his hand or 'whatever' in the goodie jar.

Cleve's antics, the demolition of Mack's staff, and the hip replacements took Mack way out of his comfort zone.  Sally came in to help him, though she knew nothing about football, and Texas ended up with a potluck of players.  Some years we had too many WR's, and other years we had too many whatevers.  There was not plan, no blueprint.  Assistants had to fight for every morsel.

Muschamp was in a good position, and he was able to do a good job with the defense for the most part.  Harsin showed promise, but didn't have the patience for the b.s. going on.  I, personally loved his game plans.

I think we can divide the time Mack was here into the Mack era and the Mack/Sally era.  Suffice it to say, Sally is not a football coach.

Charlie, love 'ya man!  Hook 'em!

 

[Eastexhorn]

I never liked the early commit aproach. However with more coaches doing it now, Strong might have to join them in some areas. One cannot depend on flips every year.

 

[dillohorn]

Development is the key no matter when the recruitment begins.

 

[TeamMayhall]

Development is the key no matter when the recruitment begins.

Preach!

 

[GBT]

Mack's biggest problem was he did not like to be told NO. He didn't push hard for a kid if he wasn't 90-98% sure he would sign. That left us with kids who wanted to come to Texas, but were not necessarily Texas good..The fact they committed got them an extra star from recruiting guru types and made Mack look like he still had that Coach February magic.....Along with the lack of development, we ended up with what we have today. A bunch of kids who are not that good, which is why we are getting spanked by the likes of Arkansas, losing to the Baylors, and barely beating the Iowa States....Its that simple. Can Charlie pull us out of this pit ? Maybe.....Our women's basketball is still struggling to recover from Jodie's last years of recruiting. and may never catch up to Baylor as long as Kim is there. Our football program could suffer the same fate as TCU and Baylor roll on. Going out of State was basically a bust aside from Lockley who actually had some ties to the Coaching staff, so I don't consider him a true WIN in recruiting battles where there are no loyalties, family, or friendships involved. Its going to be interesting seeing Charlie try to right this ship.

 

[streettopeschel]

We had early commits when we were winning big. We had early commits when we stopped winning big.

 

[MikeV73]

Mack's biggest problem was he did not like to be told NO. He didn't push hard for a kid if he wasn't 90-98% sure he would sign. That left us with kids who wanted to come to Texas, but were not necessarily Texas good..The fact they committed got them an extra star from recruiting guru types and made Mack look like he still had that Coach February magic.....Along with the lack of development, we ended up with what we have today. A bunch of kids who are not that good, which is why we are getting spanked by the likes of Arkansas, losing to the Baylors, and barely beating the Iowa States....Its that simple. Can Charlie pull us out of this pit ? Maybe.....Our women's basketball is still struggling to recover from Jodie's last years of recruiting. and may never catch up to Baylor as long as Kim is there. Our football program could suffer the same fate as TCU and Baylor roll on. Going out of State was basically a bust aside from Lockley who actually had some ties to the Coaching staff, so I don't consider him a true WIN in recruiting battles where there are no loyalties, family, or friendships involved. Its going to be interesting seeing Charlie try to right this ship.

I am pretty sure Lockley didn't comit to the Horns, which is far from home, simply because of one personal connection to his family. Strong did the work and sold his plan to this kid and did indeed WIN his commitment. He didn't lose it, therefore it is a win.

 

[Bear19]

EABODGBT

and SOT

 

[utisdabomb12]

We had early commits when we were winning big. We had early commits when we stopped winning big.

No doubt. Mack made his recruiting style work in the early years, it was also a contributing factor to his downfall IMO. There's not a one sized fits all approach to recruiting. You can be successful by recruiting several ways. I do think Mack's recruiting style had a bunch of inherent risks. 

 

[utisdabomb12]

LMAO at "going outside of state was a bust outside of Locksley." 

Oh yes, Burt is already looking like he's going to be a starting WR. Davanate Davis is pushing for a starting corner spot. Not to mention we have no clue how Johnson, Hodges, and Thomas turn out. Matter of fact, Johnson has been getting pretty good reviews from practice. 

Poor GBT.