Shane Buechele took an early plunge and committed to the Longhorns in February. Beuchele’s pledge adds needed talent to the quarterback position, but Charlie Strong must wait for almost a year before inking the Arlington Lamar signal caller. Beuchele’s commitment also fueled speculation about Matt Merrick, the timing of him being added to the roster, and how many quarterbacks the Longhorns should carry for optimal roster balance.
Generally thought of as the top signal caller in Texas, Buechele has taken on a leadership role for the incoming recruiting class. We caught up with Lamar’s trigger man following a strong performance at The Opening regional camp in Arlington at Beuchele’s high school.
In addition to Buechele, Lamar has a plethora of talent including wide receiver Kofi Boateng, and offensive lineman Chris Owens. Texas recently extended an offer to Owens, and Buechele has been doing his part to make sure the Longhorns are in good position with his teammate.
When asked if he was trying to recruit Owens to the 40 Acres, Beuchele said, “Definitely.†He continued, “He’s one of my best friends and I’m definitely trying to get him there.â€
Buechele was lauded for his natural leadership skills on the field at the camp. That trait was apparent with other players gravitating to him throughout the day. One key to being approachable was the way he stayed relaxed throughout the camp but fired up his intensity when needed on the field.
Showing an earnest interest in the program, Buechele braved winter conditions to make it to Austin for the February junior day. That extra effort undoubtedly was noticed and helped separate Beuchele from some of the athletes Texas was considering at quarterback in 2016.
Now that he’s committed, Beuchele is excited to return to Austin for another visit, “I’m going to make it down for the spring game. I have baseball so it’s pretty hard with my schedule.â€
Buechele is solid with his commitment to Texas. When asked if he had any message for the Longhorn fanbase he simply said, “Hook ‘Em.â€
