https://www.hornsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/mmh_lg.jpg
I’m ready for football.
I realize it’s only May. But with the Texas baseball program in the trash can of all dumpster fires, football is right around the corner.
Recruiting combines, college camps, and 7-on-7 is a wonderful teaser until two-a-days in August. Â This weekend, I got my football fix. It stoked a fire that is my pigskin passion. I also got wind of a few interesting tidbits about the Texas football program heading into 2013. A QB situation could be brewing, and it involves everyone in some fashion. Let’s get started.
My boy, Wes Crochet, a HornSports contributor and UTSA writer shared a recruiting tidbit that got me digging. San Antonio Central HS QB, Jeremy Jones met with UT off-coordinator Major Applewhite last week. Jones is a 2014 dual-threat prospect who has suddenly popped up on the Longhorns’ radar.
Now, that sounds odd considering Texas has a pledge from one of the top 5 QB’s in the nation, Denton Guyer’s Jerrod Heard, No 7 on the HornSports 50 for 2014 Recruit rankings. So naturally, that got me thinking. Why is UT looking for two signal-callers when they already have five in the fold ?? Here’s why.
An unconfirmed source tells me UT senior, Case McCoy is taking a 10-week mission trip and when he returns in late August, he’ll no longer be a member of the Longhorns program. He also says Connor Brewer has spoken to the coaching staff about a transfer (which has been expected). With RS-fresh Jalen Overstreet, of Tatum, likely moving to the defensive side of the ball at Safety, that leaves David Ash (junior) and Tyrone Swoopes (freshman). That’s it.
Mack Brown is surely trying to avoid the same pitfall that engulfed the team in 2006. That year, Colt McCoy started as a RS-fresh and Jevan Sneed was the backup. Sneed promptly asked for a transfer (landed at Ole Miss) shortly after the Texas A&M game, knowing he’d play behind McCoy for four years if he didn’t. Well, when Vince Young entered the NFL draft and Ryan Perriloux spurned the Horns on signing day for LSU, that left two walk-ons. Mack had to play the 2006 Alamo Bowl with a banged up QB and two walk-on’s behind him. That’s not good.
Enter Jones. He”l likely get an offer soon from the staff, and it won’t be his first. Jones has been offered by Rutgers and Rice and has strong interest from Texas A&M, Baylor, and others per Wes Crochet.
I applaud Mack for making sure the cupboard is full when he departs (probably after 2014 season). It also assures Swoopes will be the backup in ’13 and won’t wear the dreaded redshirt.
Sunday, I worked the ETSN Recruiting Combine in Tyler, TX and got the opportunity to work with Texas linebacker, Dalton Santos. It was an invitation only camp, pitting the top 100 high school prospects in East Texas against each other in an NFL combine style event, followed by one-on-one instructional work.
Santos attended for many reasons, mainly to see his little brother, Wyatt, compete but also to help Bobby Stroupe and APEC host the competition. Wyatt, a junior-to-be offensive guard from Van, easily stood out as one of the top prospects in the state of Texas. The 6-foot-3, 320 lb. beast, benched a combine-high 225 pounds 24 times. He also held his own against the likes of Daylon Mack (Gladewater’s 2015 #1 overall player in TX) and Jacob Bragg (Nacogdoches’ 2014 top 10 interior lineman stud) in the 1-on-1 drills.
Don’t be surprised if Wyatt Santos pops up on the Longhorns’ radar soon and an offer comes within the next six months.
(HornSports editor Justin Wells and Texas’ LB Dalton Santos, courtesy of Justin Wells)
Out of the 100 kids that participated, there were a few that have interest from Texas and a few with Longhorn offers.
Gladewater’s Mack was the most recognizable. The 6-2 1/2 295 lb. man-child has eight offers (Texas, A&M, and Alabama to name a few).  Whitehouse 2015 safety, Justin Dunning to a visit to Austin last month and an offer is around the corner for the 6-foot-5, 205 lb prospect, who ran a 4.41 40-yd dash and had a 41-inch vertical. Baylor-commit Davion Hall, WR/S  from Liberty Eylau, boasts a Texas offer and was offered by Alabama last week. Center’s Johnny Shaw committed to TCU this weekend, and he attended as well. Other players that stood out include:
Kade Clayton, WR, Tyler Grace — 6’1″, 180 lb ATH, 4.399 40-yd dash. (Texas State offer)
Ja’Mychal Hasty, RB, Longview — 5’8″ 180 lb (Texas Tech offer, A&M lean)
Blake Lynch, QB, Troup — 6’3″, 192 lb. (strong interest from Baylor)
Jacob Bragg, OL, Nacogdoches — Â (Lousiaina Tech and Kansas offers, took Texas visit)
Bobby Wells, OL, Quitman — 6’3″, 295 lb. (Has LSU and SMU Junior Day invites)
Blake Bogenschtuz, QB, Carthage — 6’0″, 175 lb. (Has North Texas and ULM interest)
The Texas Softball team ran through their NCAA regional in Austin this weekend without breaking a sweat. The Lady Longhorns destroyed the competition culminating in a 6-0 victory over SEC foe South Carolina. They advance to the Super Regional next weekend in Austin for the eighth time in program history and first sweep since 2006.
Quote of the Week: “ There’s only one Texas.” – Dalton Santos, Texas sophomore LB and Van native, on playing for his in-state school
Tweet of the Week:Â
Time to show out.
— Wyatt Santos (@wyattsantos78) May 19, 2013
