HornSports Staff
HornSports.com
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in Recruiting By Horn Sports
Recruits visiting Austin this weekend:
OFFENSE
Soso Jamabo, RB, Plano West – Due to prior engagements, the number 9 ranked player in the state according to the Hornsports Top 50 moved his visit up to mid-week. Moving it rather than cancelling it shows legitimate interest and is a good sign for the Longhorns. All signs point to this one coming down to Texas and UCLA. Jamabo does have a close relationship with Kyler Murray so his recruitment will be interesting to watch as an indicator of Murray’s interest level.
Tristian Houston, RB, North Shore – Provides much needed depth at a position that produces wear and tear, and has been solid to Texas for a while now. Houston entertained the idea of taking other visits after committing to Texas, but has been locked in for the past few months.
Mathew Merrick, QB, Dallas Cistercian Prep – What’s not to like about Merrick? He truly loves the University of Texas and is more than happy to take a grey-shirt. Merrick also has a close relationship with Kevin Murray who is his personal quarterback coach. If things don’t work out in the current quarterback recruiting gamble, Merrick could be upgraded to a full scholarship this year.
Kai Locksley, QB/ATH, Baltimore Gilman School – With the quarterback situation in limbo and recruitment of future QB’s being anyone’s guess, Locksley’s visit looms large. Charlie Strong and staff will have to sell him on the possibility of early playing time in order to get him to flip from Florida State. Locksley is a raw but talented athlete who would thrive in a spread or read option offense.
Dominique Reed, WR, Coffeyville C.C. – Thank you Jay Norvell. Reed’s decision will come down to Texas, Arkansas and maybe Oklahoma. Getting Reed, a seasoned WR, on campus is big news. Reed is a big-bodied receiver with quick strike ability that could provide instant offense the moment he steps on campus.
DEFENSE
Du’Vonta Lampkin, DT, Cy Falls – The Red River Rivalry isn’t just limited to the football field – it’s also a fixture on the recruiting scene. Lampkin committed to Texas in late July but recently Oklahoma has made inroads. Early playing time will win the battle for the number 47 player in the Hornsports Top 50. Lampkin also has a good relationship with Daylon Mack and could do some recruiting this weekend. The staff is really working to lock him down because depth is needed at the d-tackle position.
Daylon Mack, DT, Gladewater – The #1 prospect on the Hornsports Top 50 made a late decision to cancel his Auburn official visit and make the trip to Austin. Mack grew up a Texas fan but hasn’t been on campus under the new coaching staff. This is an interesting development with the Murray news swirling around and Malik Jefferson already enrolled at UT. There had to be some reason Mack decided to come to Austin out of the blue – trying to divine his logic is a guessing game though as his public statements have been wide-ranging throughout his recruitment.
Charles Omenihu, DE, Rowlett – Not just a solid defensive end, Omenihu is also a solid recruiter. He’ll play a key role this weekend, as he tries to convince other visitors to join him in the Fall. Omenihu is rated number 49 in the Hornsports Top 50 and his ranking in other lists has been on the rise due to a solid senior campaign.
Anthony Wheeler, LB, Dallas Skyline – The number 20 player in the Hornsports Top 50 has only one official visit scheduled and that’s to Texas. Wheeler’s solid commitment to the Longhorns could also influence high school teammate Carlos Strickland. Emphasis on ‘could’.
Cameron Townsend, LB, Missouri City Ridge Point – By most fans, Texas is considered DBU, but that moniker could very well change to LBU, given the LB’s Charlie Strong and Brian Jean-Mary are adding to the roster. Townsend committed back in October and has been all Texas since. Number 39 in Hornsports Top 50.
Breckyn Hager, LB, Austin Westlake – Think Bill Bates on this one. Hager doesn’t have the flash that other linebackers committed to Texas possess, but make no mistake, that’s not a bad thing. Hager is the type of player that will do his job and never think twice about it – a perfect fit for Strong and Bedford. Flipped to Texas from Baylor back in late-September and hasn’t looked back since.
Jamile Johnson, DB, South Oak Cliff – Another September flip for Texas. Johnson decommitted from North Carolina and committed to Texas shortly after. Another player in the Hornsports Top 50, Johnson has been locked into Texas since his commitment and participated in the Semper Fi Bowl. Johnson is a physical but versatile defensive back that can play corner on the boundary, in the slot, or at safety.
Deandre Baker, DB, Miami Northwestern - Committed to Georgia in June, and took his official visit to Athens in November. Strong ‘s effort in Florida clearly got Baker thinking. Getting a kid from South Beach to take an official visit is big. Flipping a kid from the SEC after a 6-7 record would be even bigger.
Expectations for the weekend:
Like last weekend, this is a big weekend for recruiting. Last night Charlie Strong mentioned the possibility of only 4 or 5 spots left in this class. With the current quarterback situation, it would seem like one of those spots would be saved for Locksley, but, that is anyone’s guess. The staff will have to walk a bit of a tight rope here, because it’s clear they prefer Murray but you’d like to have Locksley on standby if that doesn’t come through.
Strong also said “You look at young men now, a commitment is nothing but a reservation." Spending time reassuring current commits will and should be the top priority this weekend.
The momentum in the recruiting game this past month or so has been as high as it’s been in recent memory. Keeping it there is key.
As referenced above, Daylon Mack decided last minute to visit Austin on the heels of the Kyler Murray rumors. Whereas right now it might be Murray causing some of these guys to take visits, it could flip around if one or two were to pull the trigger on a commitment. If Kyler Murray sees Mack and Jamabo in Austin along with Malik Jefferson it could seal the deal in what would be the wildest recruiting story in recent memory
The under the radar story is Deandre Baker’s visit. Baker really likes Texas according to rumors from south Florida. Texas has need at the defensive back position, and although the coaching staff is in a good place with Holton Hill and Kris Boyd, they need to continue recruiting through the end of the cycle. With Davante Davis likely to flip to Auburn scholarship numbers and the need for defensive backs could both be on the rise in short order.
Dominique Reed is a player that could swing towards Texas after this weekend. The big junior college receiver has a great relationship with new Texas coach Jay Norvell, and spoke about an interest in Texas after they indicated they would open the offense up.
Right now the coaching staff is in a rhythm, and it’s important to capitalize on that rhythm and energy to keep putting in the great work they have over the course of this recruiting class. The finish line is in reach, but there are still a few more miles to go.
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