Texas Football Recruiting: Tracking 2012 National Signing Day Targets

2012 is another typical year for the Texas Longhorns.

Most of their recruits made verbal commitments several months ago, and they are once again in position to finish with one of the best-rated classes in the country.

With signing day quickly approaching on Wednesday, the Longhorns though are still in the hunt for some of the best players available, who could put the cherry on top of the cake if they could find a way to sign them.

Here is a look at all of the players the Longhorns are considering signing and where they are verbally committed to play or who they are considering signing with if they are still undecided.

Dorial Green-Beckham, Wide Receiver, Hillcrest HS, Springfield, Mo.

Rated the No. 1 recruit in the nation by Scout, Beckham has the physique and talent to make an immediate impact wherever he decides to play college football.

The 6'6", 220 lb. wide receiver from Springfield, Mo. has a towering presence on the field that makes it intimidating for any defensive player to line up against him.

Beckham had 6,353 yards receiving and caught 75 touchdowns in his four years at Hillcrest High School, breaking many state and national records along the way. 

Committed to Missouri on 2/1

Bryce Cottrell, Linebacker, Plano West HS, Plano, Tex.

Cottrell is a defensive-oriented player out of Plano, Tex. who can play either linebacker or defensive end.

Although he is only rated as a three-star recruit and ranked the 42nd best defensive end in the country by Scout, Cotrell drew a lot of attention his senior year, recording 80 tackles and almost doubling all of his stats from his junior year.

Since Manny Diaz's aggressive style requires blitz packages from all over the field, it's likely that Texas would want him to be a defensive end that could rush off the edges. 

The position Cottrell wants to play in college could very well decide where he ends up.

Committed to Texas 1/30

Dalton Santos, Linebacker, Van High School, Van, Tex.

Listed as the fifth best inside linebacker in the country by Scout, Santos is a 6'2", 240 lb. player who does a good job of getting a jump on the ball.

Santos is known for his aggressiveness and is particularly good at playing run defense.

He grew up a Longhorns fan, and although it was pretty late in the recruiting cycle, Texas finally gave him an offer to play there.

He now has a tough decision to make between TCU and Texas.

Verbally committed to Texas

Daje Johnson, Athlete, Hendrickson HS, Pflugerville, Tex.

Having played at running back, wide receiver and cornerback, Johnson is a very versatile athlete that can change the flow of a game.

Given Johnson's blistering speed, the Longhorns are likely to utilize him on the offensive side of the ball, where he can make plays in the open field. 

Johnson was primarily used on offense by Hendrickson High School during his senior year, where he rushed for over 2,000 yards while catching 28 passes for almost 500 yards. 

He is ranked as the 16th best athlete available by Rivals.

Verbally Committed to Texas

Caleb Bluiett, Defensive End, West Brook HS, Beaumont, Tex.

Bluiett is a scrappy, 6'3", 235 lb. weakside defensive end who will always lay it all out on the field for you.

With his wide frame, he has a lot of room to bulk up and pack on a lot more force to his already-intimidating presence on the field.

Given his athleticism and size, Bluiett has even been projected by some to have the capability to play TE in college, but I think Texas will go with a more experienced player to play that spot.

I project that Bluiett will be a defensive end for Texas after redshirting for a year.

He is ranked as the No. 40 defensive end in the country by Rivals.

Verbally Committed to Texas 

Paul Boyette Jr., Defensive Tackle, Humble HS, Humble, Tex.

At 6'4", 280 lbs., Boyette Jr. is the type of strong, versatile player that is going to be hard for any offensive lineman to contain.

Given his size and athleticism, he is someone that will likely demand double-teams to prevent him from getting to the quarterback.

Boyette Jr. is a 4-star recruit that should be able to learn quickly from the experienced defensive tackles on the team and make a big impact for the Longhorns in the future.

He is ranked the No. 16 defensive tackle in the country by Scout.

Verbally Committed to Texas

Adrian Colbert, Athlete, Mineral Wells HS, Mineral Wells, Tex.

Originally planning on being a track star in college, Colbert decided to go with football instead after drawing interest from many schools during his senior year.

He is a hard-hitting speedster that won the 3A state championship in track in 2011.

Although he played on both sides of the ball at Mineral Wells High School, after being recruited primarily by Duane Akina, Colbert will probably be slotted as a safety at Texas.

He is ranked as the No. 11 safety in the country by Scout.

Verbally Committed to Texas 

Timothy Cole, Linebacker, Brenham HS, Brenham, Tex.

Lacking the size of a conventional linebacker as a result of being only 215 lbs., Cole brings a different, unique set of abilities to Austin.

He has the aggressiveness and athleticism to fit well into a blitz-happy defensive scheme, but considering the depth at the lineman position, the Longhorns should have at least a year or two to figure out what they want to do with Cole.

Cole will likely get some playing time on special teams, and he will have to gain some size and experience and compete hard to prove that he has what it takes to be a starter on a very talented defensive unit.

He is ranked the No. 14 outside linebacker in the country by Scout.

Verbally Committed to Texas 

Alex De La Torre, Linebacker, Ryan HS, Denton, Tex.

De La Torre is another linebacker who doesn't have the size and speed typically required to be successful at such a position in college, but he makes up for it with his intangibles and dedication to improvement.

He is typically all over the field and was in on a lot of plays last year, recording 156 tackles last season. 

At only 6'0", 220 lbs., De La Torre has to put on some muscle and gain some experience if he truly wants to play on the defensive front for the Longhorns.

This is another situation where Texas has the luxury of letting De La Torre watch and observe for a year, and De La Torre will likely get some playing time on special teams before they decide if he has what it takes to be an effective force on the defensive end. 

He is ranked as the No. 16 middle linebacker in the country by Scout.

Verbally Committed to Texas

Bryson Echols, Defensive Back, DeSoto HS, DeSoto, Tex.

Echols is one of the best cornerbacks available and is the type of player who is ready to make a big impact at the collegiate level.

He is known to be a very effective player in pass coverage and does a good job of breaking up passes and making quick tackles.

Echols has been compared to former Longhorn Rob Babers, who was very mentally strong and rarely gave up a big passing play.

He is ranked as the No. 9 cornerback in the country by Scout.

Verbally Committed to Texas

Kennedy Estelle, Offensive Lineman, Dawson HS, Pearland, Tex.

Estelle is the type of big, strong player the Longhorns need on their offensive front if they want to pave the way for an effective running game in the future.

At 6'7", 300 lbs., Estelle is an elite lineman that the Longhorns can depend on to block for the likes of elite running backs such as Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray.

His big wingspan allows him to be a great blocker in running situations, but it also leaves open the possibility of him being a pass protection specialist as well.

Estelle is ranked as the No. 7 offensive tackle in the country by Scout.

Verbally Committed to Texas

Peter Jinkens, Linebacker, Skyline HS, Dallas, Tex.

Jinkens is an outside linebacker that displays a lot of athleticism and can make big hits.

Having played running back and on special teams coverage also, Jinkens is multifacted, and this should go a long way in helping his growth in Austin.

Like many of the other linebackers in this class, Jinkens is going to have a year or two to put on some more mass and learn the ropes of the Longhorns defense before he steps into a steady role. 

He is ranked as the No. 12 linebacker in the country by Scout.

Verbally Committed to Texas

Cayleb Jones, Wide Receiver, Austin High School, Austin, Tex.

Jones is a local Austin product that should add some much-needed firepower to an offense that struggled last season.

Though he doesn't have the physique or speed of a player like Dorial Green-Beckham, Jones is known to be a deep threat and uses his hands and body to make some fascinating catchs.

In his senior season, he made 75 catches for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns.

He is ranked as the No. 5 wide receiver in the country by Rivals.

Verbally Committed to Texas

Nick Jordan , Kicker, Coppell HS, Coppell, Tex.

With the departure of Justin Tucker, the Longhorns need to a find a reliable kicker to take over the role.

Jordan will come to campus and compete for playing time against William Russ, the only other scholarship kicker on the Longhorns roster, and walk-on Ben Pruitt.

Jordan was a three-year starter at Coppell High School who connected on six of eight field goals during his senior season, the longest of which was just over 40 yards. 

He is ranked as the No. 12 kicker in the country by Scout.

Verbally Committed To Texas 

Marcus Johnson, Wide Receiver, Clear Springs HS, League City, Tex.

Johnson is the other star wide receiver in the Longhorns' recruiting class.

Texas didn't make him an offer until he had a sensational senior season, in which he caught 63 passes for 1,169 yards and 11 touchdowns while also rushing for 352 yards.

He has quick speed and is known for being able to shake off defenders to gain more positive yards.

The Longhorns will likely use him most effectively on jet sweeps and screen plays.

Johnson is ranked as the No. 25 wide receiver in the country by Scout.

Verbally Committed to Texas 

Alex Norman, Defensive Tackle, Bishop Dunne HS, Dallas, Tex.

Known as an explosive player that is quick to the point of attack, Norman is a good addition to an already strong defensive unit.

At 280 lbs., he doesn't have an incredibly intimidating look to him, but he is a very physical player who plays well in the trenches. 

He is a relatively quick for his size and can serve as a good pass rusher.

Norman is ranked the No. 41 defensive tackle in the country by Scout.

Verbally Committed to Texas

Hassan Ridgeway, Defensive End, Mansfield HS, Mansfield, Tex.

Baring comparisons to Alex Okafor, Ridgeway should be another valuable pass rusher to a blitz-happy Longhorns defensive scheme.

He already has ridiculous size and strength for his age, and the scary thing is that he still has room to grow and add muscle.

Ridgway is an SEC-type player that has a lot of football IQ, aggressiveness and hunger to get to the ball, which is exactly the type of player that Manny Diaz would want on his defense.

He is ranked the No. 36 defensive end in the country by Scout.

Verbally Committed to Texas

Curtis Riser, Offensive Guard, DeSoto HS, DeSoto, Tex.

Riser is the second player for Texas out of powerhouse football program DeSoto High School, joining Bryson Echols in the 2012 recruiting class.

Although Riser spent most of his time playing lineman in high school, Texas will likely use him as a guard in college.

Riser simply doesn't seem to have the size and power to ward off other tacklers, and considering the importance of the lineman position for the style of offense the Longhorns run, they are better off using someone else at that spot.

He is ranked as the No. 4 offensive guard in the country by Rivals.

Verbally Committed to Texas 

Kendall Sanders, Athlete, Athens HS, Athens, Tex.

Rated as one of the top 10 prospects in Texas, Sanders is another playmaker that can add some firepower to the Longhorns offense in the future.

He played many positions in high school—including running back, wide receiver, defensive back and even quarterback—but given their need for talent on offense, the Longhorns are likely to use him as another player in wide receiver sets.

Sanders is a very versatile and explosive player who can make defenders miss and gain a lot of extra yards in the open field. 

He is ranked as the No. 17 cornerback in the country by Scout.

Verbally Committed to Texas

Orlando Thomas , Athlete, Copperas Cove HS, Copperas, Tex.

Thomas is yet another multi-facted player who played many different positions in high school because of his vast skill sets.

Given his body control and ability to change directions quickly even after exploding off the ball, Thomas is probably best suited to play cornerback in the future for the Longhorns.

He will have a lot of learning to do since he didn't play on the defensive end as much in high school, but Texas certainly has the personel in place to help him make the transition.

He is ranked as the No. 21 cornerback in the country by Scout.

Verbally Committed to Texas

Camrhon Hughes, Offensive Lineman, Harker Heights HS, Harker Heights, Tex.

Hughes has the quick feet as well as ankle and hip flexibility to contribute on the offensive line, but not until well into the future.

He has shown the ability to be a good blocker, but at only 280 lbs., Hughes is like many other players who still have to gain a lot of weight and muscle if they want to be an effective force in college.

He is another player that the Longhorns are happy to have as part of their recruiting class, but I wouldn't expect him to be a part of the rotation for at least another couple of seasons.

Hughes is ranked the No. 10 offensive tackle in the country by Scout.

Verbally Committed to Texas

Kevin Vaccaro, Defensive Back, Brownwood HS, Brownwood, Tex.

Vaccaro is not a 4 or 5-star prospect player, but the Longhorns still see the hard-hitting player out of Brownswood, Tex. being able to contribute to the team in the future.

As the brother of current star defensive back Kenny Vaccaro, Kevin certainly has the genes to be successful.

He is likely to be a safety at Texas, but given his lack of height and speed, Vaccaro still has a lot of work to do to prove he deserves playing time. 

Vaccaro is ranked as the No. 136 cornerback in the country by Scout.

Verbally Committed to Texas

Connor Brewer, Quarterback, Chaparral HS, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Brewer might be the quarterback of the future for the Longhorns, and he may play a significant role even quicker than he thinks.

With the lackluster performances of both David Ash and Case McCoy last year, Brewer will immediately step in and compete for the starting role.

He is the No. 3 quarterback prospect in the nation and put up stellar numbers during his four years at Chaparral High School, throwing for 7,574 yards and an Arizona school record 100 touchdowns while only being picked off 17 times.

Brewer is ranked the No. 11 quarterback in the country by Scout.

Signed with Texas 

Jalen Overstreet , Quarterback, Tatum HS, Tatum, Tex.

Overstreet is the other quarterback in the Longhorns' recruiting class.

Compared to Brewer, Overstreet is a much more versatile player who brings a dual-threat attack to the 40 Acres.

He does a good job of reading defenses and doesn't cave in under pressure, but Overstreet still has a lot of work to do on his delivery and being able to throw the ball down field more effectively. 

Overstreet is ranked the No. 44 quarterback in the country by Rivals.

Verbally Committed to Texas 

Donald Hawkins, Offensive Lineman, Northwest Mississippi CC, Senatoba, Miss.

It's not often that Texas recruits community college players, but this year, Hawkins is one of two junior college players that they have in their recruiting class.

The 6'5," 320 lb. Hawkins has the physique and athleticism to compete for playing time immediately, and he should be able to add some experience to a relatively young offensive line. 

Hawkins is the 15th-rated junior college player in the country.

He is ranked as the No. 15 junior college prospect in the country by Rivals.

Signed with Texas 

Brandon Moore, Defensive Tackle, East Mississippi CC, Scooba, Miss.

Moore is the other junior college player that is part of the 2012 Longhorns' recruiting class.

In a group that is loaded with defensive tackles, the 6'7", 330 lb. Moore actually brings some unique experiences to the 40 Acres, having played at Alabama prior to transferring to East Mississippi Community College. 

Having won a national title with the Crimson Tide and an NJCAA national championship, Moore is an aggressive player that should be able to contribute a lot of the Longhorns next season.

He had 38 tackles, three sacks and nine quarterback hurries last year.

Moore is ranked as the No. 1 junior college defensive tackle by Rivals.

Signed with Texas

Malcom Brown, Defensive Tackle, Brenham HS, Brenham, Tex.

Malcolm Brown is once again one of the Longhorns' top recruiting targets, although this time, it's as a powerful defensive tackle out of Brenham, Tex.

Rated the top defensive tackle in the country, Brown's lightning quick speed, coupled with his physique, makes him a matchup nightmare for anybody.

Brown should get plenty of playing time early on in his Texas career, and he is the type of player whose name you will be hearing both locally and nationally for many years to come.

He is ranked as the No. 1 defensive tackle in the country by Scout.

Verbally Committed to Texas 

Johnathan Gray, Running Back, Aledo HS, Aledo, TX

I saved the best for last.

Highly touted as one of the best high school running backs of all-time and ranked as the No. 2 running back in the country by Scout, the two-time National Gatorade Player of the Year is the prize of the Longhorns' 2012 recruiting class.

Gray rushed for 10,908 yards and scored a record-breaking 205 touchdowns while leading Aledo High School to three straight state titles. 

Committed to Texas since April 2011, Gray has not even remotely reneged on his intent to be a Longhorn next season, so Texas fans can look forward to watching him play for many years to come.

Verbally Committed to Texas