echeese
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We have another poster who is supposed to do a rolling 2 year review of the classes and he does good work.. . so until then, here's my view from the Cheap Seats .. . . . .
Charlie F Strong sent a message. . . .a BIG AZZED MESSAGE . .. . . waggies. . . .you swag copter has failed. . . BigXII. . .stand the bleep by. . . .
there's a new sheriff in town and his name is Charlie Strong.
After worries he'd whiff on the Top 10, that he was a "average" recruiter and more of the usual OB chicken little dances, we saw CFS drinking some serious coffee.. . .coffee is for closers and TEXAS/CFS finished by landing 4 of the LSR Top 15 compared to 2 for Aggie. Oops. . . .mayday mayday mayday, swagcopter going down in flames. All part of the wildest roller coaster ride of recruiting season I can remember. . .bigger and wilder than Simms/Redding.
It started when CFS flipped Malik Jefferson, the bell cow of the class. MJ is simply a defensive version of Vince Young, uber talented but more importantly, a leader on and off the field. Riverboat gambler continued when he risked a pat hand (Zack Gentry) to pursue Kyler Murray and damned near pulled that off but ended with a "consolation" prize of Kai Locksley and Matthew Merrick at QB.
In one amazing final 45 days of recruiting season, CFS went from Aggy being the front runner to shoving them to the back seat and turning the great Aggy run into another one hit/one year wonder.
KM's flirting with TEXAS along with MJ gave CFS the recruiting credibility that Redding and Simms gave Mack back in the day. CFS would also flip several players on signing day. It was the wildest recruiting ride in over a decade and OBs were left looking for oxygen and nitroglycerin pills. . . .#letsride is NOT for the faint of heart.
A quick reminder, you recruit for the future. So listening to the D/FW talking heads (who clearly don't know CFB well) it was funny to hear them say "oh but none of this matter cuz Baylor and TCU dominate the conference". . . . .it's about the Jimmy's and Joe's not the X's and O's. #31 does not equal Top 15. . . .and don't look now but the Land Thieves seemed to have gotten their act together too. They landed another Top 15 class. Shoe is about to turn in the BigXII. . .not in 2015. . remember what I said about the future . ..but you bears and horny frogs enjoy it while you can.
And while the class is built for the future, make no mistake, we'll see 8-10 of this year's class in the 2 deep this year, wouldn't be shocked to see 3 True Freshman start at LB and 2 in the Secondary. Let's break it down and I'll offer my thoughts on the ranking of each group from strongest to. . .well not weak, not one position group was a whiff/fail but let's go with not as strong:
Linebacker
I'd argue the #1 LB group in the nation. We landed quality and quantity. Don't be shocked if we roll out 3 True Freshman starters vs ND. We also did best at the 2 positions we needed help the most, LB & DB
Malik Jefferson, LSR #1 in state, Anthony Wheeler #12 LSR and Cecil Cherry.
Townsend will grow into the position and Hager. . . well he's Hagar, he's no 2 star
Defensive Back
Holton Hill #6 LSR and Kris Boyd #9 LSR will step onto campus and battle for starting jobs immediately but certainly will be fixtures in the 2 deep this fall. We might even see a 3rd DB contribute, I'll bet Elliott today. Gotta say, this is a STUDLY group of DBs. James Locke was another of our signing day shockers as the long time Oregon commit decided to stay home to play for the good guys. One of our Florida 4 we thought would follow Irvin to Auburn but he choose to stick with is original commit giving TEXAS 5 REALLY good DBs. . .and we needed 4-5 and 2-3 that could play right away.
DBU BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quarterback
The wildest ride of any position group. TEXAS opened recruiting early with a verbal from 4 star Zach Gentry, a 6'7" QB who gained 1000 yards on the ground running what likely will be TEXAS' 2015 offense then they picked up an athletic project QB in Merrick from tiny Cistertian Prep. Very quietly behind the scense, CFS was working on his long time friend (and Merrick's QB coach) Kevin Murray who's son was the shining star of the Aggy class. Come Jan, son Kyler shocked the Texas recruiting landscape by visiting TEXAS and basically causing the aggroids to flip out. In the end, he would stick with the dead dog school but not before Gentry moved onto Michigan and new coach Jim Harbaugh. But CFS wasn't done and managed to land the committment of a player he'd recruited for a long time but everyone thought was FSU bound in Kai Locksley.
Starts getting tougher from here, next 3 are pretty close
Running Back
Chris Warren is the big dawg of the RB class, a big back (220) with good speed and great vision. He plays in 2015. Kirk Johnson and Tristen Houston are no slouches though I think with Grey, Catalon and Foremen, both likely shirt in 2015. Still, future is bright for TEXAS RBs
Offensive Line
This or WR next is a coin flip but listing OL because the need was higher and we landed more prospects including 1 who should play right away in JUCO Brandon Hodges. In fact don't be shocked if Hodges isn't a starter vs ND. Now the class includes futures stars with Vahe & Conner Williams. . .these kids are studs. After a redshirt year, you potentially have a pair of 3-4 year starters. Rounding out the class are 3 more "project" types but the upside on Major and Thomas is very good.
Wide Receiver
A de-commit who recommitted and a kid who committed to UCLA had a change of heart and returned to the good guys on NSD added to TEXAS' signing day drama. TEXAS landed 3 players, MJ's teammate McNeil claims he was promised he'd start vs ND so let's peg him into the starting line up. Johnson is a tall lanky red zone threat who bring basketball skills to the table and Ryan Newsome (our NSD flip) bring speed and elusiveness to the slot receiver spot.
Tight End
There was good news and there was bad news. CFS tapped into the Florida market to land a top flight (4 Star) big body (6'5" 225 with room to grow) pass catcher. The bad news, he's a grade risk so we'll hold our breath till he arrives but if he gets here in August, he likely steps into the 2 deep day 1.
Defensive Line
Somebody had to be ranked last and you could flip this with TE easily. And to be clear, being last does not mean it's bad. The 3 players TEXAS inked are really good. The problem is 2 fold. 1st we needed 1-2 more and 2nd good isn't great. We lack a true game changer Vasser is a top flight JUCO and projects to be heavily in the 2 deep if not starting this Sept vs ND. He is already on campus.
CFS also landed or flip a bunch of this class from prior commitments. . of course he lost a few too. . .
Malik (Aggy)
Cherry (Tenn)
Hagar (Baylor)
Lodge (Oregon)
Newsome (UCLA)
Johnson (signed with Ga but went prep)
Locksley (FSU)
I'm sure I missed a couple. . . .but 2 guys flipping to us on NSD plus Kai on sunday/monday. . .one heck of a finish. And this class has everything, play makers on offense and defense, great leaders and a vision into how tireless CFS and staff were on the recruiting trail.
Charlie F Strong sent a message. . . .a BIG AZZED MESSAGE . .. . . waggies. . . .you swag copter has failed. . . BigXII. . .stand the bleep by. . . .
there's a new sheriff in town and his name is Charlie Strong.
After worries he'd whiff on the Top 10, that he was a "average" recruiter and more of the usual OB chicken little dances, we saw CFS drinking some serious coffee.. . .coffee is for closers and TEXAS/CFS finished by landing 4 of the LSR Top 15 compared to 2 for Aggie. Oops. . . .mayday mayday mayday, swagcopter going down in flames. All part of the wildest roller coaster ride of recruiting season I can remember. . .bigger and wilder than Simms/Redding.
It started when CFS flipped Malik Jefferson, the bell cow of the class. MJ is simply a defensive version of Vince Young, uber talented but more importantly, a leader on and off the field. Riverboat gambler continued when he risked a pat hand (Zack Gentry) to pursue Kyler Murray and damned near pulled that off but ended with a "consolation" prize of Kai Locksley and Matthew Merrick at QB.
In one amazing final 45 days of recruiting season, CFS went from Aggy being the front runner to shoving them to the back seat and turning the great Aggy run into another one hit/one year wonder.
KM's flirting with TEXAS along with MJ gave CFS the recruiting credibility that Redding and Simms gave Mack back in the day. CFS would also flip several players on signing day. It was the wildest recruiting ride in over a decade and OBs were left looking for oxygen and nitroglycerin pills. . . .#letsride is NOT for the faint of heart.
A quick reminder, you recruit for the future. So listening to the D/FW talking heads (who clearly don't know CFB well) it was funny to hear them say "oh but none of this matter cuz Baylor and TCU dominate the conference". . . . .it's about the Jimmy's and Joe's not the X's and O's. #31 does not equal Top 15. . . .and don't look now but the Land Thieves seemed to have gotten their act together too. They landed another Top 15 class. Shoe is about to turn in the BigXII. . .not in 2015. . remember what I said about the future . ..but you bears and horny frogs enjoy it while you can.
And while the class is built for the future, make no mistake, we'll see 8-10 of this year's class in the 2 deep this year, wouldn't be shocked to see 3 True Freshman start at LB and 2 in the Secondary. Let's break it down and I'll offer my thoughts on the ranking of each group from strongest to. . .well not weak, not one position group was a whiff/fail but let's go with not as strong:
Linebacker
I'd argue the #1 LB group in the nation. We landed quality and quantity. Don't be shocked if we roll out 3 True Freshman starters vs ND. We also did best at the 2 positions we needed help the most, LB & DB
Malik Jefferson, LSR #1 in state, Anthony Wheeler #12 LSR and Cecil Cherry.
Townsend will grow into the position and Hager. . . well he's Hagar, he's no 2 star
Defensive Back
Holton Hill #6 LSR and Kris Boyd #9 LSR will step onto campus and battle for starting jobs immediately but certainly will be fixtures in the 2 deep this fall. We might even see a 3rd DB contribute, I'll bet Elliott today. Gotta say, this is a STUDLY group of DBs. James Locke was another of our signing day shockers as the long time Oregon commit decided to stay home to play for the good guys. One of our Florida 4 we thought would follow Irvin to Auburn but he choose to stick with is original commit giving TEXAS 5 REALLY good DBs. . .and we needed 4-5 and 2-3 that could play right away.
DBU BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quarterback
The wildest ride of any position group. TEXAS opened recruiting early with a verbal from 4 star Zach Gentry, a 6'7" QB who gained 1000 yards on the ground running what likely will be TEXAS' 2015 offense then they picked up an athletic project QB in Merrick from tiny Cistertian Prep. Very quietly behind the scense, CFS was working on his long time friend (and Merrick's QB coach) Kevin Murray who's son was the shining star of the Aggy class. Come Jan, son Kyler shocked the Texas recruiting landscape by visiting TEXAS and basically causing the aggroids to flip out. In the end, he would stick with the dead dog school but not before Gentry moved onto Michigan and new coach Jim Harbaugh. But CFS wasn't done and managed to land the committment of a player he'd recruited for a long time but everyone thought was FSU bound in Kai Locksley.
Starts getting tougher from here, next 3 are pretty close
Running Back
Chris Warren is the big dawg of the RB class, a big back (220) with good speed and great vision. He plays in 2015. Kirk Johnson and Tristen Houston are no slouches though I think with Grey, Catalon and Foremen, both likely shirt in 2015. Still, future is bright for TEXAS RBs
Offensive Line
This or WR next is a coin flip but listing OL because the need was higher and we landed more prospects including 1 who should play right away in JUCO Brandon Hodges. In fact don't be shocked if Hodges isn't a starter vs ND. Now the class includes futures stars with Vahe & Conner Williams. . .these kids are studs. After a redshirt year, you potentially have a pair of 3-4 year starters. Rounding out the class are 3 more "project" types but the upside on Major and Thomas is very good.
Wide Receiver
A de-commit who recommitted and a kid who committed to UCLA had a change of heart and returned to the good guys on NSD added to TEXAS' signing day drama. TEXAS landed 3 players, MJ's teammate McNeil claims he was promised he'd start vs ND so let's peg him into the starting line up. Johnson is a tall lanky red zone threat who bring basketball skills to the table and Ryan Newsome (our NSD flip) bring speed and elusiveness to the slot receiver spot.
Tight End
There was good news and there was bad news. CFS tapped into the Florida market to land a top flight (4 Star) big body (6'5" 225 with room to grow) pass catcher. The bad news, he's a grade risk so we'll hold our breath till he arrives but if he gets here in August, he likely steps into the 2 deep day 1.
Defensive Line
Somebody had to be ranked last and you could flip this with TE easily. And to be clear, being last does not mean it's bad. The 3 players TEXAS inked are really good. The problem is 2 fold. 1st we needed 1-2 more and 2nd good isn't great. We lack a true game changer Vasser is a top flight JUCO and projects to be heavily in the 2 deep if not starting this Sept vs ND. He is already on campus.
CFS also landed or flip a bunch of this class from prior commitments. . of course he lost a few too. . .
Malik (Aggy)
Cherry (Tenn)
Hagar (Baylor)
Lodge (Oregon)
Newsome (UCLA)
Johnson (signed with Ga but went prep)
Locksley (FSU)
I'm sure I missed a couple. . . .but 2 guys flipping to us on NSD plus Kai on sunday/monday. . .one heck of a finish. And this class has everything, play makers on offense and defense, great leaders and a vision into how tireless CFS and staff were on the recruiting trail.
