The past week went a long way to clear up the picture for a number of recruits on the Texas board. We removed several prospects from the board that are no longer in the picture for the Longhorns and now enter the last week of heavy recruiting before final decisions are made in the class of 2016.
In this week’s edition of our Signing Day Forecast we give you our take on the crystal ball to track the top targets remaining on the Texas board. We give you a look at how these recruitments are trending and give you our prediction and a confidence rating based on a scale of 0-5.
Running Backs
Kyle Porter – Porter just had an official visit to Austin, and while he keeps things pretty quiet the word circulating is that TCU actually holds the edge here. We still think Texas can close, but they might be content to skip running backs if Porter chooses Fort Worth.
Prediction: TCU (Last week: Texas)
Confidence level: 3.5 (Last week 3.5)
Wide Receiver
Lil’Jordan Humphrey – We’ve heard very good things coming out of the weekend and we’d be surprised if LJH didn’t announce to Texas. He visited Wisconsin this past weekend, and might visit Tech next week but Texas is way out in front.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)
Confidence level: 5 (Last week: 5)
Tight End
Irvin Smith – Smith was spinning to the public that he was firm in his commitment, but behind the scenes he was setting up the switch. Word surfaced early last week that it would go down and we played the waiting game. It happened on Thursday, and we are told Texas is the odds on favorite.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)
Confidence level: 5(Last week: 2)
Offensive Line
Patrick Hudson – Hudson had a great official visit, and Texas gave him a lot to think about, but the big man has a high comfort level with Art Briles and Waco which should keep him there.
Prediction: Baylor (Last week: Baylor)
Confidence level: 4 (Last week: 3)
Defensive Line
Jordan Elliott – Elliott made it to Austin this weekend, and we were told if that happened, then things would flip in this recruitment. It’s not over until it’s over with Elliott, but things are looking good for Texas to land Elliott.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Michigan)
Confidence level: 4 (Last week: 4.5)
Chris Daniels – Amazingly we heard wonderful things about Daniels this week, and while we thought he’d head back to Oklahoma or maybe A&M, it appears Texas leads here as well. He will visit College Station next week, which could change things, but for right now we like how things are trending.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Oklahoma)
Confidence Level: 4 (Last week: 2.5)
Stephon Taylor – Taylor enjoyed his visit to Florida State, but not as well as he enjoyed his one to Austin. As incredible as it may seem, Texas is now set up to land a strong defensive tackle class.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)
Confidence level: 4 (Last week: 3.5)
D’Andre Christmas-Giles – DCG is fresh from his A&M visit, and while he enjoyed himself, we were told he reached out to Texas afterwards to indicate his interest in coming to Austin. We were also told this happened after the LSU visit. DCG is a bit of an unknown but things look great here.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: LSU)
Confidence level: 4 (Last week: 0.5)
Marcell Southall – We think Southall wants Oklahoma and we think Texas will be fine to take the haul they are trying to line up
Prediction: Oklahoma (Last week: Oklahoma)
Confidence level: 3.5 (Last week: 3.5)
Mark Jackson – Jackson and his family enjoyed their time in Austin and Texas improved their position, but we still feel like they are running third. The Aggies feel that Jackson is still theirs after his initial wavering and his official visit to College Station this week was encouraging for them. Oklahoma has the chance to turn things around here, but we feel he will stick with the Ags.
Prediction: Texas A&M (Last week: Oklahoma)
Confidence level: 1.5 (Last week: 2)
Linebacker
Dontavious Jackson – After appearing to be out of the race for Jackson, Texas circled back and now have the top inside backer in the state coming for an unofficial this week. We think Texas has the Houston group wrapped up which should bring them Jackson.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Florida State)
Confidence level: 4 (Last week: 2.5)
Jeffrey McCulloch – Even after a “perfect†official visit to A&M this week, we are told by sources on both the Texas and A&M side that the Longhorns are way out in front to land “The Sharkâ€.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)
Confidence level: 4.5 (Last week: 4.5)
Erick Fowler – As we’ve been saying this will come down to the end. His visit to LSU went well, and the story remains the same, which is 50/50 coming into in homes.
Prediction: LSU (Last week: LSU)
Confidence level: 0.5 (Last week: 0.5)
Defensive Back
Deontay Anderson – Texas still trails Ole Miss, but Anderson was handled perfectly in Austin. We still think Ole Miss, but Texas has a chance.
Prediction: Ole Miss (Last week: Ole Miss)
Confidence level: 2.5 (Last week: 2.5)
Brandon Jones – Jones loved his official, and while he was very quiet on campus several folks told us Texas made a big impression. It’s not done yet, and he still may visit A&M unofficially but Charlie has a chance to close this with a big in-home.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)
Confidence level: 3.5 (Last week: 3.5)
Eric Cuffee – Cuffee had his offer pulled at Arkansas after he was revealed to be recruiting for Texas. We think we know where this is going.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)
Confidence level: 5 (Last week:5)
Chris Brown – Per his periscope account, it looked like Brown enjoyed himself. As we said about D-Jack, we think Brown is in with the rest of the Houston group.
Prediction: Texas (Last week: Texas)
Confidence level: 3 (Last week: 0.5)
