Sam Ehlinger update

[Mike Roach]

Posted this on Burnt Ends but I'll do a new thread for it.

Ehlinger has always been very accommodating and open with me so I'm not going to push on him today. I'll give him some time to cool off and catch up with him later in the week.

A couple of thoughts from me here.

1) Why would you invite him to campus just to not offer? - on one hand you risk something like this, on the other he does live close to campus and maybe the staff feels they owe him a face to face. The dangerous part is the reality is the perception of a 16 year old. Texas needs to do a little damage control probably, but Sam is a level headed and composed kid and I think he will cool off.

2) what is the plan at QB? - seems simple, it's Shawn Robinson right now. He is the only QB in 17 they would take a commitment from. With 3 incoming quarterbacks in this class there is probably only room for one spot here. At some point you have to start watching your numbers at the position. With a year and half until 2017 signing day I don't think it's unreasonable to say we are going after this guy until he tells us no. Unfortunately recruiting is a game where you have to say "We like you a lot, but you are behind this guy".

3) I think Ehlinger has the chance to be a stud at the next level. The QB talent in state is stacked, but Ehlinger was a pretty clear #2 to me. If Robinson doesn't work out I think you could make a run at Ehlinger and recruit Mascorro as an athlete.

4) I don't foresee this having long term consequences and the outrage is probably a bit high at this point from fans

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Nice work, Mike - thanks for the update and thoughts.

I know you chatted with him briefly. I think it's a good decision to give him some space/time.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

I've seen Robinson up close and personal, so it's no surprise that UT is gunning for him as our lone 2017 QB signee.

I'm sure Watson & Strong were honest with Ehlinger. You're Plan B, son. They had the same conversation with Merrick, that's why he's greyshirting this year.

 

[bcherry168]

Robinson has made it pretty clear, I understand, that he does not want to be a running QB in college. So we are going to change our offense just for him? What if he announces on NSD that he is going to Michigan (or other)?

I was not there, and rely on the reports here and elsewhere, but I think a big mistake was made.

Hopefully, the kid will be forgiving.

 

[utisdabomb12]

 What if he announces on NSD that he is going to Michigan (or other)?

You grab another QB like Mascorro or Avery Davis. I'm not sure Ehlinger is even the #2 option right now. 

If it's a "big mistake" to tell a kid they aren't the priority right now and need to prove their worth, our society has become much softer than I ever expected. Somewhere Bear Bryant is rolling in his grave. 

 

[Mike Roach]

Robinson has made it pretty clear, I understand, that he does not want to be a running QB in college. So we are going to change our offense just for him? What if he announces on NSD that he is going to Michigan (or other)?

I was not there, and rely on the reports here and elsewhere, but I think a big mistake was made.

Hopefully, the kid will be forgiving.

There's a lot going around about Robinson and it's not all true.  I know Robinson has said he wants to play in an offense that readies him for the NFL, but he's also favoring TCU and Baylor as in state options at this point.  I think he likes Texas, I know his dad likes Charlie, and Robinson is a big fan of Watson.  I also think they could sell Robinson on the Teddy Bridgewater plan, but he wants to see what they are all about on the field.  He's close with Heard so that development will probably make a big impact on Robinson.  We are still 1.5 years out from signing day for these guys so at this point I don't think it's a bad idea to shoot for your number 1.  Ehlinger said to get back to him in a day or two and maybe we can connect more dots then.

 

[utisdabomb12]

  We are still 1.5 years out from signing day for these guys so at this point I don't think it's a bad idea to shoot for your number 1. 

Which is a pretty big point. A lot of development can happen in almost 2 years. Another reason why I'm not big on throwing a bunch of JR offers out to begin with. 

 

[utisdabomb12]

FWIW

Higdon: Listen, I get what you are saying but Sam wanted to come back to Texas today. Texas DID NOT call and invite him to come up today. He was just at Texas....Sam wanted to visit today and so Texas said sure come on over...they watched some film today....Texas did not simply invite Sam to come visit today so they could say we are not offering you at this time....that is not what went down...

 

[utisdabomb12]

More from Higdon: 

"Sam himself told me the visit was good, he was not offered BUT he really impressed Coach Watson with his knowledge of reading defenses...all positives imo."

 

[utisdabomb12]

From the OB guy that's apparently his "uncle" and started this meltdown: 

"Hey guys, Sam's doing fine. As it turns out, he's not quite as mad as it originally seemed. More disappointed than anything. He said he had a good day with Watson and really impressed him with his knowledge of the game. He said that Strong cleared the air on a few things later on and he wants to offer Sam in late July. The offer is still coming. I get the feeling Sam will take the process in stride now. We can back off the ledge."

 

[HornSports Staff]

Please do NOT copy/paste premium material from other sites. Feel free to summarize and provide a link.

 

[streettopeschel]

From the OB guy that's apparently his "uncle" and started this meltdown: 

"Hey guys, Sam's doing fine. As it turns out, he's not quite as mad as it originally seemed. More disappointed than anything. He said he had a good day with Watson and really impressed him with his knowledge of the game. He said that Strong cleared the air on a few things later on and he wants to offer Sam in late July. The offer is still coming. I get the feeling Sam will take the process in stride now. We can back off the ledge."

Dear God...now we have helicopter uncles. Pardon me unc if i was never on the ledge about a kid who hasn't started two-a-days for his JUNIOR year.

 

[utisdabomb12]

Dear God...now we have helicopter uncles. Pardon me unc if i was never on the ledge about a kid who hasn't started two-a-days for his JUNIOR year.

Doubtful it's even his uncle, which is what I told people on shaggy. From my time on these boards my guess is this is some acquaintance that really has no clue what's going on. Maybe it really is his uncle, I'll be happy to be proven wrong. 

Pretty funny that his narrative changed right after Higdon/Hornsports/others put out their updates though. Seems like someone is just repeating the narratives on other boards and acting like he's in the know.

Pretty much summarizes the entire situation. The meltdown started from some random poster that might be his "uncle". 

 

[streettopeschel]

Doubtful it's even his uncle, which is what I told people on shaggy. From my time on these boards my guess is this is some acquaintance that really has no clue what's going on. Maybe it really is his uncle, I'll be happy to be proven wrong. 

Pretty funny that his narrative changed right after Higdon/Hornsports/others put out their updates though. Seems like someone is just repeating the narratives on other boards and acting like he's in the know.

Pretty much summarizes the entire situation. The meltdown started from some random poster that might be his "uncle". 

on OB that's known as a Mr Cosell.

 

[Mike Roach]

So it looks like in the end cooler heads prevailed...

 

[utisdabomb12]

So it looks like in the end cooler heads prevailed...

I don't think there was much of anything to begin with. Kid was disappointed he didn't get an offer, that's probably the extent of the entire story. Your initial quote told me all I needed to know, "didn't get what I want but I still have time". If he was really pissed he wouldn't care about getting a Texas offer in the future. 

 

[utisdabomb12]

FYI Ehlinger just spoke with Bucky and Erin on the Horn 104.9. 

Ehlinger said he spent 4.5 hours on campus and really liked the staff. He also said he's taking his recruitment day to day.

 

[Mike Roach]

I will say when I first spoke to him he seemed pretty down.

 

[utisdabomb12]

I will say when I first spoke to him he seemed pretty down.

Can't blame him, kid probably wanted an offer. As long as he's willing to fight for the offer that's all that matters.