OL Alex Anderson Commits

[Lukus Alderman]

To Texas, per J. Suchomel of orangebloods.

 

[utisdabomb12]

Hook'em

 

[Joe's Generic Horn]

Great pickup. Apparently from his photo, he's a fan of the shocker. But turn again , who isn't ?

 

[beevomav]

Nice..

 

[monarch]

...vero possumus yes we can...

 

[Santiam]

Rivals lists him as a 3* but Wickline regularly turns 3*'s into NFL draft picks. Great pickup.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Lots of bigger name schools were after him in the last few weeks - Florida, Florida St, Bama - hard to figure how an OL with such a mean streak, excellent size and agility can be rated so low.

Big pick up for Texas. Now we need Poona to come on down. Things are looking good for us on Olaka I hear.

 

[RunningHorn]

I like this from ESPN.

Toughness

This guy is a tough customer who works hard to finish blocks; his persistent, nasty effort is what we like to see when evaluating offensive linemen.

 

[pringlelake]

Lots of bigger name schools were after him in the last few weeks - Florida, Florida St, Bama - hard to figure how an OL with such a mean streak, excellent size and agility can be rated so low.

Big pick up for Texas. Now we need Poona to come on down. Things are looking good for us on Olaka I hear.

Obviously good news on getting Anderson but I'm equally happy to hear that our chances of holding Olaka are starting to look good. I consider Olaka a mini-test of this staff's recruiting abilities....not a full blown test...but if we hold Olaka..I'm going to feel much better about the future.

 

[3xhorndad]

I like this from ESPN.
Toughness

This guy is a tough customer who works hard to finish blocks; his persistent, nasty effort is what we like to see when evaluating offensive linemen.

Great pickiup....I don't care what the star rating is....Wickline will coach him up....

I love it when a plan starts to come together...

 

[utisdabomb12]

Alaka picked Texas because of "Academics and football". I don't think football is the only thing factoring into his decision, he's a very good student from what I hear. Apparently Texas has a visit with him at his school sometime this week (and may set up a visit for his family to come meet the coaches). Alaka may go to A&M, but I don't think it's anywhere from a done deal like Aggies think it is.

 

[Lord Vader]

Anderson and Hammad could be an elite combo in the future. Those guys will rip someones head off and **** down their necks. This is outstanding.

 

[aowells]

I just realized I'm completely sold on Wickline. When he got a guy he really wanted I was excited before I even looked at the kid.

Good get!

 

[setxhornfan]

I could do without Poona. He is slow off the line and some reports have him at only 5'10". Ben Alexander type.

 

[Coal Harbour]

It is noteworthy that the last time Wickline received a commitment from a 4* OL out of HS was back in 2009 when Owasso OL Brandon Webb commited to the Cowboys. Wickline has a reputation for developing talent up front and will also realize he will become a much better recruiter now that he is on the UT staff. That last comment is in reference to what Charlie Strong said regarding recruiting rankings and how a 3* turns into a 4* overnight when he commits to certain schools.

I like that the coaching staff cashed in on the relationship Wickline and Anderson had during his recruitment. The relationship couldn't withstand the thought of Anderson spending the next 4-5 years in Stillwater, but Austin, that is a different story. The list of schools which offered Anderson is better than many of the OSU OL commits in recent years, so hopefully, that indicates the built in advantages of UT.

Anderson fits the mold Wickline has recruited in the past and I feel the only reason Anderson sits at 3* is that he is classified as an OG and didn't test out very well in the strength categories. With Pat Moorer in place and Wickline's ability to coach, Anderson may be a mainstay up front once his strength is at a collegiate level.

Hook em.

 

[bbdude]

Wickline is definitely doin' work. Anderson is a big grab.

 

[Juan]

Lets get 5 of him.

 

[seahawkhorn]

Congrats, Alex!

 

[Juan]

Here is a piece on Anderson --

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/colleges/texas/post/_/id/21178/three-star-og-anderson-flips-to-texas

“I visited Arizona State, and the campus was outstanding. I really loved it and wanted to be there, but I had to see the reality of it,” Anderson said. “My family really couldn’t afford [visiting], and I didn’t feel too much at home. So that’s why I had to go in a different direction. I just really wanted to be close to home.”
* * *

“When Coach Strong and Coach Wickline came in, they threw me an offer the first day they were there,” Anderson said.

Landing Anderson was crucial for a Texas class that has only one other lineman, four-star center Terrell Cuney (Jasper, Texas/Jasper).

Both of Texas’ starting offensive guards, Trey Hopkins and Mason Walters, are graduating. There’s opportunity to play right away, and Anderson likes his chances.

“I’m coming in to play, and they don’t have much depth and are in a predicament,” he said. “I’ll come in and be a high-impact player right off the bat.”

He never would’ve guessed a few weeks ago that he’d end up at Texas, that’s for sure. When Wickline joined the Longhorns, Anderson knew he had to reconsider things and take a visit. He likes Wickline’s intensity, and he was wowed by the impression Strong made during the official visit.

“He’s a disciplined coach,” Anderson said. “He’s not going to expect nothing but greatness from you. I like that. He wants you to be the best, and he’ll push you to be the best. That’s a program I want to be a part of. I feel like the old Texas is about to be back in effect.”