Carlton: In recruiting frenzy unlike any other, Texas gets exactly what it needed
AUSTIN -- The Texas football program needed what happened Wednesday.
So did coach Charlie Strong after back-to-back losing seasons. And judging from social media, so did a large number of Longhorn fans desperately hoping for good recruiting news.
By the end of a frenzied national signing day for Texas unlike any in recent memory, the Longhorns had put together the No. 11 class in the 247Sports team composite. The actual ranking wasn't special by school standards. Texas was regularly in the top 10 during the Mack Brown era. Strong's class last season was ranked 10th before defections and academics took a toll.
It was the dramatic way Texas put it together. The Longhorns entered Wednesday ranked 25th before making a move as a dominos began to fall. When the final national letter of intent was signed, Texas had won seven high-stakes battles for uncommitted recruits.
Among them: Three consensus top 100 recruits in Nacogdoches safety Brandon Jones, Manor outside linebacker/defensive end Erick Fowler and Houston Davis outside linebacker Jeffrey McCulloch.
Texas emerged from a three-way recruiting battle with Texas A&M and Baylor for Jones, flipped Fowler from LSU and outlasted A&M, Stanford and Notre Dame for McCulloch. All filled Strong's checklist for defensive help.
"We needed some positive vibes just because the way we ended the season and didn't play well," Strong said. "There was so much negative energy around the program. You try to dispel it ... Just looking at the national exposure, the way it just took off.
"Everybody kept saying, 'What's happening in Austin, look what's happening in Austin.'"
Despite wins over Baylor and Big 12 champ Oklahoma, Texas has finished 5-7 and failed to reach a bowl. Strong had overhauled his offense staff after the season, bringing in new coordinator Sterlin Gilbert. The inevitable quarterback question surfaced about the unsettled position with Strong acknowledging that Arlington Lamar recruit Shane Buechele "will have the chance to compete" this spring.
Texas had just 12 commitments in mid-January as Baylor and TCU racked up impressive classes after already passing the Longhorns on the field the past couple of seasons.
The momentum began early with Duncanville defensive tackle Marcel Southall and Euless Trinity defensive tackle Chris Daniels signing with Texas. Each had strongly considered Oklahoma, making the recruiting win sweeter.
"All I've got to say is that if you don't want to go to Texas, don't let [strong] get on your couch because that man is very persuasive," Daniels said. "He's like an uncle to me. Uncle Charlie, for real."
Tom Luginbill, ESPN's national scouting director, also noted the stretch drive.
"What Texas was hoping to happen, is starting to happen," Luginbill said. "It is about closing down the stretch."
Strong downplayed his contribution, praising his players for selling the program. Texas linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator Brian Jean-Mary referred to sophomore linebacker Malik Jefferson as the "mayor of Austin."
But Strong set the tone with his strategy and bonding with recruits. He went back for seconds on pancakes while visiting Fowler's house and showed his knowledge of TV westerns chatting with the grandmother of defensive tackle Jordon Elliott. His daughter, Hope, even gave him pointers on how to Dab after an awkward moment with Daniels in recruiting.
While some schools bask in their commitments, Strong didn't pressure recruits for a decision and even told them not to announce their decisions. He feared other schools would immediately target them with negative recruiting.
"After the season we had, I didn't want them attacking us," Strong said.
It all paid off. Of the 32 recruits who took official visits, 24 committed, a high batting average.
"It was a great day today. A great finish," Strong said. "This was a big step forward for our program.
"The drama today, I liked it. We needed everyone's attention on our program."
http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/texaslonghorns/2016/02/03/carlton-recruiting-frenzy-unlike-texas-gets-exactly-needed
