Burnt Ends - 12/21/15

[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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With the dead period in full swing and the Christmas season upon us things are pretty lean this week.  We would like to announce that the 2016 rankings are being prepped for a final update, and we will also put out a final 2017 ranking right around signing day so that you have a good idea of things before the next recruiting cycle officially starts. 

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We caught up with 2017 Flower Mound Marcus DB Matt Hankins last week to get word on his recruitment.  Hankins camped with Texas this summer and visited for a game.  While his name isn’t big time in recruiting circles yet, he is certainly one to keep an eye on. 

Hankins is being recruited by Texas coach Chris Vaughn and is also teammates with Texas commit Andrew Fitzgerald.  Hankins told us that Fitzgerald isn’t putting on the hard press but he’s got plenty of interest in Texas.  “He hasn’t told me much yet, but it’s a big school and one of the tops on my list”. 

Hankins plans to camp this summer at Texas once again and is hoping an offer might come through.  “They said they don’t like to offer when you’re real young because they don’t want you to get a big head but I think one might be coming”. 

We saw Hankins at a workout with his private coach, and he played with a lot of physicality and athleticism.  Hankins uses his long arms and rangy frame well to control receivers and position his self to defend passes.   He’s built like Holton Hill and shows the traits Texas usually targets in their defensive backs.

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Cedar Hill is loaded with top end talent in 2017.  Their receiving corps is flush with FBS prospects, making them a top contender to win it all next season.  Charleston Rambo is arguably the most talented of the group, and we spoke with him recently to see if Texas was a player in his recruitment.

Rambo trains with coach Margin Hooks at the heralded Sky’s The Limit camp, along with several other very talented prospects.  Hooks has the benefit of training alongside a group of explosive receivers and against a group of talented defensive backs.  Football never sleeps in Texas, and Rambo embraces the challenge.  “I just like the competition we go against and the work to get better”, Rambo told us. 

Rambo is heavily recruited and already holds 17 offers.  He’s received so many recently he has a hard time recalling them when asked.  Rambo is not hearing from Texas at this point but told us he would like to.  The Longhorns did offer his teammate Camron Buckley in the summer, but Rambo has yet to be contacted by the Texas coaches.  Oklahoma appears to be the leader in the clubhouse for his services, but Texas has a chance if they can get involved.

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In this week’s edition of the signing day forecast we give you our take on the crystal ball to track the top targets on the Texas board.  Each week we will give you a look at how these recruitments are trending and give you our prediction and a confidence rating based on a scale of 0-5. 

Texas did lose one off the board when Michigan linebacker David Reese committed to Florida earlier this week.

Running Backs

Devwah Whaley – Things still look good for the State’s top back.  We will have a better idea after Whaley visits in January, but if things keep on this track Whaley should be in Austin next year.

Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)

Confidence level: 4.5 (Last week: 4.5)

Kyle Porter – Things should pick up with Porter now that his season is over.  The state champion runner has always held Texas in high regard, but the numbers will be in play here.

Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)

Confidence level: 3 (Last week 3)

Wide Receiver

Lil’Jordan Humphrey – It will continue to be between Texas and Cal for this one. Humphrey loved his time on the west coast when he visited, and has a role in the “Bear Raid” offense. We just can’t see Humphrey leaving the state, and the new offensive direction could be the factor that ices it.  Humphrey will visit Austin in January with his teammate, Texas commit Obi Eboh.

Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)

Confidence level: 4 (Last week: 3.5)

Tight End

Irvin Smith – Smith is holding on to A&M by a thread, and if Jake Spavital is canned he will be gone.  Regardless, Smith is building a good relationship

Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas A&M)

Confidence level: 3 (Last week: 1)

Jamal Pettigrew – The LSU commit flirted with Texas a lot this season, and I think he really loves Charlie Strong and what the Longhorns can offer. That said, outside of guys like Shiro Davis it’s very difficult to pull Louisiana kids away from LSU.

Prediction: LSU (Last week: LSU)

Confidence level: 4.5 (Last week: 4.5)

Offensive Line

Jean Delance – Delance released a top 3 of Texas, LSU, and Michigan today.  The out of state schools are making a push but we still believe Texas lands their big line target.

Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)

Confidence level: 3.5 (Last week: 3.5)

JP Urquidez – I don’t know that Texas is seriously involved here.  I’d say we know more after the dead period.

Prediction: Baylor (Last week: Baylor)

Confidence level: 3 (Last week: 2.5)

Zach Shackleford – We were told Shackleford really enjoyed his Kansas State visit.  His bond with that coaching staff is strong and is a potential hurdle for Texas.  Matt Mattox is going to need to put in serious work in January.

Prediction: Kansas State (Last week: Kansas State)

Confidence level: 2 (Last week: 2)

Patrick Hudson – Hudson doesn’t talk much, but there’s a feeling behind the scenes that Hudson is there for the taking.  Get him on campus and go from there.

Prediction: Baylor (Last week: Baylor)

Confidence level: 2 (Last week: 3.5)

Defensive Line

Jordan Elliott – Win the battle for the group of Houston prospects and the battle for Elliott gets easier.

Prediction: Michigan (Last week: Michigan)

Confidence level: 3 (Last week: 3.5)

Kelvin Lucky – The Alabama athlete has been very quiet since his initial offer from Texas happened. Alabama was involved but haven’t come through with an offer yet. If things hold we’d say Texas is sitting in the pole position.

Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)

Confidence level: 2.5 (Last week: 2.5)

Tyrell Chavis – After hearing good things about Texas and the JUCO prospect early on, chatter has all but dropped off. We’d expect things to heat up when recruiting resumes in early January.

Prediction: Auburn (Last week: Auburn)

Confidence level: 3 (Last week: 3)

Stephon Taylor – This one could swing based on the recruitment of D’Andre Christmas-Giles.  If DCG picks TCU then Taylor could be headed to Austin.

Prediction: TCU (Last week: TCU)

Confidence level: 2 (Last week: 3.5)

D’Andre Christmas-Giles – This is another guy that really blew up after Texas offered him and new film emerged. He really loved his visit to Texas this weekend and his de-commitment might show favorable signs there, but based on what we are hearing there are possibly 2 schools in front of the Longhorns.

Prediction: LSU (Last week: LSU)

Confidence level: 2 (Last week: 4)

Marcell Southall – This one has been trending a certain way for weeks now.

Prediction: Oklahoma (Last week: Oklahoma)

Confidence level: 5 (Last week: 5)

Mike Williams – Once again, it will depend on whether Williams gets his acceptance to Stanford but if he doesn’t we believe the Longhorns will benefit.  Williams will visit Texas in January.

Prediction: Stanford (Last week: Stanford)

Confidence level: 3 (Last week 3)

Linebacker

Dontavious Jackson – This feels like the lynch pin for things, but D-Jack is planning on taking this all the way to signing day. Florida and Michigan loom large, and Alabama seems to be making a push. 

Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)

Confidence level: 2.5 (Last week: 2.5)

Jeffrey McCulloch – The problems at A&M are changing things here.  McCulloch really likes Stanford and Notre Dame as well, but I don’t believe he leaves the state at this point.

Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas A&M)

Confidence level: 2.5 (Last week: 1)

Erick Fowler – Where once we strongly considered him a candidate to flip, it seems like those chances are slipping away.

Prediction: LSU (Last week: LSU)

Confidence level: 4 (Last week: 3)

Defensive back

Deontay Anderson – After being one of the last holdouts on the Anderson to Texas train I’ve decided to get off at the next stop. Things could change on his official visit and the race is down to Texas and Ole Miss from what I hear.

Prediction: Ole Miss (Last week: Ole Miss)

Confidence level: 4 (Last week: 4)

Brandon Jones – This will be the signature recruiting win for Jeff Traylor if he can pull it off.  Once again the assist will go to Kevin Sumlin if Jones picks Texas.

Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas A&M)

Confidence level: 2 (Last week: 0.5)

Eric Cuffee – We wrote him off when I was told he silently committed to A&M earlier in the fall. Recently he’s been coming around Austin more and making it known he’s still open.  His official visit went well and Texas appears to be back in the driver seat.

Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)

Confidence level: 3 (Last week: 2)

Chris Brown – The Elsik DB loves Texas, and if they get Dontavious Jackson he’s a shoe in. He might be even if they don’t get Jackson.

Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)

Confidence level: 2.5 (Last week: 2.5)

 

[DBOOK23]

I was teammates with Rambo at Woodrow Wilson and the guy really isn't all that good, he's not fast at all. Also he got into it with our head coach a few times

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Someone talk me off the ledge here, but I wasn't that impressed with Kyle Porter in the state final. Tons of carries and had a pretty decent OL working in front of him. Average explosiveness, IMO. But is someone who can take punishment with so many carries per game.

Lil' Jordan Humphrey is a must get in this class, IMO. So many things you can do with him and with his size/speed, he's a mismatch no matter where you put him.

I'll say it right now, nothing less than Christmas-Giles or an equivalent will this class be viewed as a success. DL is a BIG TIME need and it we don't fill it with quality, we didn't succeed. There needs to be a serious stud in this group.

Nice work, Mike. I like the percentages thing and prediction. Makes it all more interesting.

 

[killrjoe]

Someone talk me off the ledge here, but I wasn't that impressed with Kyle Porter in the state final. Tons of carries and had a pretty decent OL working in front of him. Average explosiveness, IMO. But is someone who can take punishment with so many carries per game.

I was very impressed with Porter. I like him because of his durability. He looks to have pretty quick feet and can make people miss and, while he's not a burner, he's good at running through and shaking off tackles. And one more thing, I wouldn't hesitate to take any kid that can headline at a well coached program like Katy. Did that help?

 

[Coal Harbour]

I was teammates with Rambo at Woodrow Wilson and the guy really isn't all that good, he's not fast at all. Also he got into it with our head coach a few times

Good information, thx.

 

[Coal Harbour]

I was very impressed with Porter. I like him because of his durability. He looks to have pretty quick feet and can make people miss and, while he's not a burner, he's good at running through and shaking off tackles. And one more thing, I wouldn't hesitate to take any kid that can headline at a well coached program like Katy. Did that help?

I'm in the camp with SHA.  I don't see a high ceiling for Porter.  He excels as a power runner, but size doesn't translate with that type of style at the collegiate level.  Porter should get alot of praise for the success of Katy, but believe there are much better options at the position and don't see him challenging Foreman or Warren on the current roster.  Now, I haven't seen alot of Porter catching the football, which may elevate him in the eyes of the UT staff if he has great hands, but he certainly struggles with picking up blitzes, which is a negative.

 

[MBHORNSFAN]

Good report. It is amazing how bad aggie has screwed up.... 

 

[Rotty22]

i also like the prediction point scale.  it will be interesting to revisit those after NSD.  perhaps, create a chart with the predictions over time.  let's see how those predictions hold up.  

 

[Mike Roach]

i also like the prediction point scale. it will be interesting to revisit those after NSD. perhaps, create a chart with the predictions over time. let's see how those predictions hold up.

Nobody holds me accountable except my wife

 

[BudreauReye]

Nobody holds me accountable except my wife

Actually, Rotty22 won't own up to this, but your wife is the one who put him up to that post!  Anything to hold you "ACCOUNTABLE" !  Nudge!  Nudge!  Wink!  Wink! 

 

[Eastexhorn]

Texas needs 3 or 4 OL,2 DTs 3 or 4 LBs and 1 or 2 safetys. Till these are filled any other is a waste of a spot IMO.

 

[Daniel Seahorn]

Someone talk me off the ledge here, but I wasn't that impressed with Kyle Porter in the state final. Tons of carries and had a pretty decent OL working in front of him. Average explosiveness, IMO. But is someone who can take punishment with so many carries per game.

Lil' Jordan Humphrey is a must get in this class, IMO. So many things you can do with him and with his size/speed, he's a mismatch no matter where you put him.

I'll say it right now, nothing less than Christmas-Giles or an equivalent will this class be viewed as a success. DL is a BIG TIME need and it we don't fill it with quality, we didn't succeed. There needs to be a serious stud in this group.

Nice work, Mike. I like the percentages thing and prediction. Makes it all more interesting.

I'm right there with you on Porter. I was much more impressed by him earlier on his time at Katy than I was when o got to watch him live this year. Was a volume back against LT with a few nice runs mixed in. Some say he was playing hurt, so maybe that played a factor. I am skittish of Katy RBs in general given their history of disappearing at the D1 level and there have been some really good ones that have come out of there.