Burnt Ends - 04/11/2016

[HornSports Staff]

The point on a brisket is typically the fattiest cut. Pitmasters often trim the point (and select edges) off a brisket and return those pieces to the smoker.

Are burnt ends tough, chewy worthless cuts of meat, or are they heavenly bites of smoky goodness? It depends on who you ask...

Rather than discard the trimmings and fat, we choose to savor all the information that flows through the site. So, sit down and help yourself to some burnt ends.

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This is a free site, so anyone can read this report. If you share it with someone, please take time to attribute the information to HornSports.

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Let’s start the week with an update on South Grand Prairie athlete Jeff Okudah.  We caught up with the five star prospect this weekend at a skills clinic put on by his trainer Clay Mack in conjunction with Margin Hooks at Sky’s The Limit.  This event brought together two star-studded prospect groups, and Okudah looked great as expected.  Okudah has been training with Clay Mack for the last few years, and he told us he’s seen a huge improvement in his own game. 

“My game has improved tremendously”, said Okudah.  “I went from a rover (safety/outside linebacker role) to being a cornerback by some schools, it’s really taken my game up.”  Okudah possesses a rare blend of skills that is not often seen in high school defensive backs.  He can play just about any position in the secondary, and he wants to use that as a weapon at the next level.  “I want to do a little bit of everything, from corner to safety to nickel.  Wherever I’m needed.” 

When we put together our 2017 rankings last year, we thought Okudah was the best athlete in the state regardless of class.  After spending time as an early favorite, Texas fell out of Okudah’s list as a number of out of state options started to pull ahead.   Okudah took a junior day visit to Austin this year, and he enjoyed his time so much that Texas made their way back into the mix for the talented defender.  With a versatile role in mind for himself, Okudah plans to make his future position a key point in his recruitment.  “I’ll probably go there (Austin) sometime in the next month, and I plan to sit down and talk with the coaching staff about where I fit in to their scheme.” 

Texas defensive back coach Clay Jennings is a big reason why Texas was able to gain some ground in this recruitment.  Okudah wasn’t very familiar with Jennings when he was at Arkansas, but he really enjoyed his time with him during his visit to Austin.  “Just talking to him at the junior day, you could tell he’s a straight forward guy who’s really honest.”  Not only does Okudah value that approach from Jennings, he said it extends to the entire coaching staff at Texas.  “Coach Strong is great, he’s a real honest guy up front kind of like Coach Jennings.  The whole staff is that way really.”  Okudah plans to graduate early and enroll at his school of choice during the spring season next year.  He told us he plans to sit down with his family and coaches to discuss a possible decision. 

While it’s good news that Texas is back in the picture, they still have ground to make up before they’d be considered the outright leader.  What can the Longhorns do to gain that ground?  Just win, baby.  “Now that they have two classes, I’d like to see some improvement, but at the same time I know that Rome wasn’t built in a day”.

Okudah will be one of the most heavily recruited players in the entire class, and while the Horns still have some work to do, they have an opportunity to land the high impact defender. 

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Cedar Hill (TX) wide receiver Camron Buckley was offered by Texas last year during the Under the Lights camp.  “Buck” spoke with us today, and it sounds like he’s nearing a possible commitment date.  He told us he’d like to make a spring decision so that he could go into the season with the weight off of his shoulders.  Texas is in the mix, along with schools like Miami and Houston.  Buckley is a physical receiver with great work ethic and polished route running ability.  Buckley is part of an explosive Cedar Hill offense slated to take on Las Vegas Bishop Gorman this season.  Stay tuned for his commitment, as the Longhorns sit in a strong position here.
Kobe Boyce did make his planned trip to the A&M spring game, and while the Lake Dallas corner had a good time, it sounds like there is nothing to worry about on this front.  We were able to connect with Boyce on Sunday, and he’s still firm in his commitment.  Boyce will be in Austin for the spring game this weekend.

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We will have a full list of spring game attendees out this week, but we do have a preliminary list of visitors this week.

Walker Little/Marvin Wilson – The Bellaire Episcopal duo plan to make a trip to Austin on Tuesday.  It’s obviously big news for Texas to get two of their primary targets on campus for some close up time.

Langston Frederick – The Clear Springs DB was impressive at the Houston Regional, and he’s on the radar for Texas.  He will be in attendance for the Texas spring game. 

Myles Jones – Magnolia West’s gigantic defensive back committed to Texas A&M last week.  He already had this visit on the books, but it wouldn’t be a total shock to see him cancel following his commitment.

Parker Eichenberger – The Katy tight end is really starting to pick up steam.  He could be an offer target if Texas feels they are losing their grip on Major Tennison, and a spring game visit could go a long way to positioning the Longhorns in the right spot.

Baron Browning – The top player in the state loves Charlie Strong, and he’s making his second visit to Austin this spring.  While Texas sits in a strong position, they will have a fight on their hands.  The more Browning makes it to Austin, the better.

Sam Ehlinger – The captain will be on hand to press the flesh and spread the Longhorn message.  There are no worries on the recruiting front, and Ehlinger is going to be a great recruiter for the Longhorns.

Damion Miller – John Tyler’s star receiver has been taking his visits, but getting him back on campus is a win.  Miller has been to College Station a few times this spring, but he truly does love Texas.  The Longhorns needs to do all they can to secure his pledge.

Josh Thompson – The Nacogdoches corner is another prospect on the Texas radar, and he will be on campus with Brandon Jones.  Thompson is starting to see some more attention, and he could be a target at corner for Texas.

Isaiah Humphries – The 2018 Sachse safety is tentatively scheduled to be in Austin with his dad.  Humphries is a highly rated junior to be, and while Texas has yet to offer, they’ve stayed in close contact. 

Lagaryonn Carson – If the massive defender can find a ride to Austin, he will be there to help Sam Ehlinger recruit for the 'Horns.

Taquon Graham – If I had to put out a commitment watch, Graham might be the guy I’d circle.  Graham has Texas in the lead, and right now it seems like a matter of when rather than if.

Anthony Hines – The most heavily recruited prospect in the history of recruiting will be making yet another visit to Austin.  While Oklahoma sits in a strong position, Texas is set up to make a strong run here.

 

[CoachEmUp64]

Good stuff! Thanks Mike

 

[MBHORNSFAN]

Others are saying Buckley is ready to commit however the coaching staff is not ready to take him yet. Thoughts? 

 

[Mike Roach]

Others are saying Buckley is ready to commit however the coaching staff is not ready to take him yet. Thoughts? 

We've heard the same, but Buckley is in contact with the staff, so we'll be watching closely.

 

[MBHORNSFAN]

We've heard the same, but Buckley is in contact with the staff, so we'll be watching closely.

I really do not understand this strategy. You offer a kid and than he looks around at all his options and then he is ready to pick your school and you say no. Why even offer? 

 

[Mike Roach]

I really do not understand this strategy. You offer a kid and than he looks around at all his options and then he is ready to pick your school and you say no. Why even offer?

This is a bit different because he was offered last year by a different OC and WR coach

 

[MBHORNSFAN]

This is a bit different because he was offered last year by a different OC and WR coach

So he basically does not have an offer from the new staff. 

 

[java]

Quite possibly it's all about timing and momentum. Nothing more and nothing less.

Hook 'em!

 

[tejasrulz]

This is a bit different because he was offered last year by a different OC and WR coach

But wasn't Charlie Strong the head coach last year? Wouldn't he have final say on who receives an offer?

 

[Mike Roach]

So he basically does not have an offer from the new staff.

I'm not saying that, I'm saying that's why the change in status came along. There's a lot of speculation out there, but we will see what happens when it comes time to commit. For now, I'll go off what Buckley tells me.

 

[Bigdawwg007]

Probably depends on what the Lancaster kid does

 

[utisdabomb12]

The Buckley news is why I love how this staff recruits. The staff has obviously prioritized other targets at WR and/or want to evaluate Buckley further. It's way to early to be settling for lower tier targets like Mack did at the end of his tenure. 

This is also why I laugh at aggys that get excited over head to head battles. Just because you have an offer doesn't always mean it's a commitable offer. There were several players the past two cycles that wanted to commit who didn't have commitable offers. 

This is simply how recruiting works now. If you don't offer guys early they get pissed and you are most likely out of the running. This isn't anything new either, all the top tier coaches slow play guys. 

If Buckley gets pissed that's a risk you take with this strategy. But I'll take this approach over landing a bunch of early commits that you are looking to get rid of at the end of the cycle. 

People think it's just some random narrative that Strong doesn't like early commits, but this is further proof that it's true. Strong likes to evaluate and prioritize. That's a good recruiter. 

Saban and Strong are actually very similar recruiters, they just go a different way of getting there. Saban takes early commits but he pushes them out at the end of the cylce (by either pulling their ship or asking them to greyhirt). But Saban prioritizes/evaluates all the way up to NSD. Same approach as Strong, except Strong doesn't take as many early commits as Saban. Both have the same general mindset just a different approach. 

 

[utisdabomb12]

I'll also say this, there's always reports that coaches/familes/recruits get pissed when you slow play them or don't take their commit. It's normally nothing. 

When Strong took over he pretty much pulled Hemphill's offer to evaluate him further. Hemphill recommitted. 

When Strong took over he pretty much pulled Johnny Shaw's offer and it was reported that he pissed off the Golden Triangle. I know Strong/Bedford are widely respected in that area, so that was false. Also, be glad Strong wanted to evaluate Shaw because he's already left LA Tech's program. 

From what I was told, this past cycle Lil Jordan Humphrey wanted to commit much early then he did. Slow playing LJH had no impact. 

There's always a risk of slow playing somebody by not taking their commit, but rarely is there any type of real backlash. 

 

[ah-blong]

families aren't stupid.

you talk to any mom or dad and tell them they have an important decision to make and there are lots of different ways it could be handled, and they'll tell you they go about it just about the same as charlie.  the great respect most families are expressing for charlie strong shows there isn't much backlash from his being both smart and strong.