Commitment focus: Chris Warren (By: Mike Roach)

[HornSports Staff]

submitted on Today, 11:01 AM in Recruiting By Mike Roach
 
With Malcolm Brown graduating and Johnathan Gray entering his final season, Texas needed players at the running back position. Enter Rockwall (TX) runner Chris Warren who made a signing day decision to take his talents to Austin, Texas. Warren, long rumored as a Longhorns lean, affirmed those thoughts by choosing Texas over finalists Texas Tech, Washington, and Oklahoma State.

The U.S. Army All-American and son of former Cowboy Chris Warren, Sr. has been chased by most of the big programs in the nation, and the fact that he once had Stanford in his top group lets you know how good of a student Warren is. Warren joins Kirk Johnson and Tristian Houston in the Longhorn running back class. This class of three will help replenish the ranks in the backfield.


Film Analysis


Warren has a big frame at 6’2, 223pounds with the powerful legs and narrow hips that build a natural runner. Warren is a classic one cut back who sees the hole and explodes up field quickly. While Warren isn’t a blazer by any means he actually has above average speed for a player his size.

A good comparison is former Longhorn Cedric Benson. Warren relishes contact and gains tough yards between the tackles, but also has no problem cutting outside and making extra yards with his speed. Warren shows the ability to break tackles and has a nice stiff arm, although he does tend to run a bit high which is hard to control for a guy with his height.

Warren also played defensive end so he doesn’t mind contact. In his clips on defense, Warren exhibits good upper body strength and feet. Warren also could work on his patience just a bit, but those things will come once he’s playing at a higher level.

Warren displays natural athleticism on film as well as when I saw him live at the Army Bowl. That trait makes him a threat in the passing game.

Final Verdict

Warren has the experience and production necessary that translates to success at the next level. The offensive style at Texas is perfect for his skills and he has a college ready body already. Warren should be able to contribute right away and his ceiling is that of an all-conference performer and future NFL player.

 

[BevoBlake]

It will be interesting to see how we use Warren. I'm fairly certain it will be in tandem with a speedier back. Warren is a work horse. Really looking forward to seeing him do his thing and prove all of those who claimed he's injury-prone, wrong.

 

[doc longhorn]

IT is of the opinion this kid will be a starter by game day.  Do you agree?

 

[Mike Roach]

It's going to be hard to top Gray IMO, and Catalon had good bowl workouts.  But Warren can contribute from day 1 and he made sure to tell me at the Army All-American Bowl that he feels he can fit in any offense.

 

[doc longhorn]

His Hudl looks good, but I am really leery of a kid that decides his school by a coin flip.  I'm probably way off base on this.

 

[Mike Roach]

That was odd to say the least Doc

 

[Matt Cotcher]

His Hudl looks good, but I am really leery of a kid that decides his school by a coin flip.  I'm probably way off base on this.

Plenty of folks out there that believe the coin flip & purple/gold balloons were just part of a show. People close to Warren are saying it was Texas all the way.

 

[doc longhorn]

That was odd to say the least Doc

I'm on record as saying that I want a kid to come to Texas because he loves the school the most.  What's odd about that?

A coin flip seems pretty impartial to me.  I say this because there is a HUGE difference between Texas and Washington.

 

[Mike Roach]

Doc - I meant the coin flip was odd, as was the fact he stated that it was actually a deciding factor.  But from talking to him at the Army game I think he's a good solid kid with a great head on his shoulders.

 

[primal defense]

I found the coin flip shocking if it was true. I heard a talking head on ESPN saying that for most of these recruits this is second most important decision in their life, besides who they marry.

I hope it was for show, otherwise Chris may have seen No Country For Old Men too much or he likes Two-Face from Batman.

Coin flips should be used to decide if you should kill someone not which school you should go to.

I figure we will use Chris next year like we used Ricky Williams as a freshman in 1995. Ricky shared carries that year with junior Shon Mitchell. Priest Holmes would have been in the mix but he was injured for the year. Hopefully, we can have a three man rotation of Grey, Catalon, and Warren.

 

[doc longhorn]

Doc - I meant the coin flip was odd, as was the fact he stated that it was actually a deciding factor.  But from talking to him at the Army game I think he's a good solid kid with a great head on his shoulders.

LOL!  I TOTALLY mis-read your comment.  My bad.

 

[The Bry-Man81]

Plenty of folks out there that believe the coin flip & purple/gold balloons were just part of a show. People close to Warren are saying it was Texas all the way.

I prefer to believe that God loves UT and made the coin land heads.