The HornSports Top 50 for 2016

[HornSports Staff]

submitted on Today, 10:06 AM in Recruiting By Horn Sports   

 @hornsports
 
For the Head Coach of a college football team, recruiting never ends. On Wednesday, Charlie Strong spent a day finalizing the Longhorns' 2015 class of prep stars, but in recruiting, Wednesday is ancient history.

For recruiting fans, it's time once again to start learning about new recruits that will dominate story lines for the next year. With that in mind, the 2016 class of prospects has a much different composition than 2015, with less top-end star power at the skill positions but more depth overall.

2016 looks like the year of the safety, with three prospects ranking in the top ten of in-state talent. The offensive line is also represented at the top of the class with two thoroughbred five star players, but OL lacks the depth of players compared to safety.

Perhaps the deepest position overall is defensive line which is loaded at both at tackle and end. Several outside linebackers also profile as pass rushers giving that position extra punch. If not defensive line, the most depth is at the wide receiver position where several difference makers are spread throughout the state.

Of course everyone wants to know about quarterbacks, and while there are several interesting prospects there are few elite signal callers at this point. Some of the state's best quarterbacks are true athletes - depending on their desire to remain under center, there are several that could play other positions at the college level.

To get recruiting fans up to speed on the best players in Texas, HornSports presents the Top 50 for 2016. This list will certainly evolve throughout this cycle, but here on the first day of the new recruiting year, it's time to put the first stake in the ground. 

 

[doc longhorn]

I've got to hand it to you - you guys are doing the work.

I don't even know what our needs are for next year.  But I know we need to take DT's and all the OL players we can.

 

[Mike Garland]

Crootin' never sleeps.

 

[Davharjac]

Can we skip ahead to 2017 and get Shawn Robinson, that kid looks like a beast.

Edit: Also I like Jalen Hurts most of all the in state Qbs

Tristan Wallace is a heck of an ath, wonder if he stick at Qb, and w tech for that matter. 

 

[BevoBlake]

I would be shocked. And I do mean shocked, if Brandon Jones ends up anywhere outside of Austin next year. I just have a feeling on this one. Buechele will be the kid to watch at QB this year, in my opinion. Considered an OU lean at this point but with the change to a spread offense, I think Watson stands a chance. Hopefully we show some interest. 

A big notable name on that list Michael Irvin's son, Jr. We missed on Michael's nephew this year. My gut tells me he follows in dad's footsteps at Miami. He could also want to play with his cousin, Tim. I'm interested to see how this plays out. I don't see us doing much in the receiver department next year outside of the commits we already have. 

#7 is the must get next year, as far as I'm concerned. If we could get him, along with Jones, Texas has a solid Defense for the next 3-4 years at the very least.

 

[Mike Roach]

If you're interested in skipping to 2017 just know that Garland and I are working on an early 2017 watch list right now.  No idea when it will be finished as we are just getting acquainted with names, but yes I'm a big Shawn Robinson fan. 

To give you guys an idea here, Garland and I each come up with our top 50 and then average the scores together to make the final rankings.  At that point we will debate and lobby for a few players here and there.  We will probably update this again sometime after the camp circuits in the spring and summer. 

I hope those feelings on Jones are right, that kid is a stud.  Any of the top 3 guys could be #1 and while Little is a monster, Hudson has the most upside of the two.  That kid just moves so well.  It's a deep year for receiver talent as well, and I think Buechele is the guy Texas will target.  I also think Hurts is the top guy in the state, and am a big fan of Dillon Sterling-Cole after seeing him at Elite 11 last year.

 

[Juan]

Crootin' never sleeps.

aggy is supposed to get a 2016 this week

 

[BevoBlake]

Good info, Roach. Any chance Kaegun Williams will be on that 2017 list? The kid looks like a legitimate APB. I saw him play twice last year and the kid has incredible poise and play-making ability. He bailed Stidham out a few times.

 

[Mike Roach]

Williams is on the early draft.  We haven't finished everything but I'd expect him to stay on.

 

[shotime73]

im curious as to which prospects that strong have some legitmate huge shot at getting ?? im not really familiar with some of the prospects except Brandon Jones and Braylon Jones

 

[Mike Garland]

aggy is supposed to get a 2016 this week

Maybe. Solid player. Doesn't hold a Texas offer.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

im curious as to which prospects that strong have some legitmate huge shot at getting ?

The Texas staff did an excellent job with 2016 kids throughout the Fall. If you go back and look at who came to games, those are the kids that will be invited to Junior Days and camps.

 

[Mike Garland]

^^^ Agree.

Wouldn't be surprised to see a few commits during junior day.

Strong and co are starting to grow on kids.

 

[shotime73]

The Texas staff did an excellent job with 2016 kids throughout the Fall. If you go back and look at who came to games, those are the kids that will be invited to Junior Days and camps.

now matt i got news for you lol ask me if i remembered who came to those games and who got invites. I can guarantee you that I got one track mind and was so in tune  with the 2015 recruiting season it made my head spin lol :wacko:

 

[TXHorns99]

Don't like seeing so many of the top 50 committed to Baylor, but I have faith in CFS to flip a few of these kids to the good guys before NSD 2016!

 

[swaha]

^^^ Agree.

Wouldn't be surprised to see a few commits during junior day.

Strong and co are starting to grow on kids.

It is obvious that the kids respond to Strong.  Last nght on LH Extra, Strong talked about Cherry sending him videos of his workouts.  Strong said Cherry loves to be called Cecil "The Diesel".  

He is a player's coach that the kids respect and like but also have a sense of fear about him.  I think that is a good thing to have and will pay huge dividends going forward.

 

[texasdalton]

Gotta love Cecil the diesels attitude. It's great to know that his work ethic is just as strong.

 

[Agmaniacmike]

Solid list. King and Lark both committed to TCU recently I believe.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Two that I think you rated too low: Tristen Wallace of DeSoto and Kam Martin.

Wallace needs to be one of the QBs we take next year. Kid just makes play after play.

Martin, IMO, is the best back in the state although I really like the kid from Katy, too.

Excellent job. I think you should pin the top 50 for a few weeks at least.