Texas Football Recruiting: Everything You Need to Know for National Signing Day

The Texas Longhorns have only been off the field for two weeks, but the offseason has already been a whirlwind full of new coaches and new potential recruits. Head coach Charlie Strong is working tirelessly to form his new staff in Austin, and with National Signing Day right around the corner, Strong could not complete his staff soon enough.

Texas has lost three verbal commits over the last two weeks—defensive tackle's Trey Lealaimatafao, Courtney Garnett and Zaycoven Henderson—but has managed to gain interest from former Louisville defensive tackle commit Poona Ford.

Here's a look at the current situation that the Longhorns will face on National Signing Day.

Top Remaining Targets

4-star defensive end Solomon Thomas

Top schools: Arkansas, Ohio State, Stanford, Texas and UCLA

Rankings: No. 3 defensive end; No. 4 in Texas; No. 31 National

Coppell defensive end Solomon Thomas has stayed mum about the school he will commit to, but recently told Rivals.com Texas is among his Top-5 schools. The 6'3", 263-pound defensive end liked the Strong hire and plans to visit Texas in the near future. 

"I will be going back to Texas to meet the new coaching staff," Thomas said (per Dallas Morning News). "I like Charlie Strong a lot. I think he is a great coach."

Thomas would be a solid addition to the 2014 recruiting class, which currently has one defensive end verbal commit, Jake McMillon.

4-star safety Edwin Freeman

Top schools: Texas and Texas A&M

Rankings: No. 12 safety; No. 15 in Texas; No. 134 National

Bowie safety Edwin Freeman recently said he wanted to wait on who the Longhorns have hired before he makes his college choice, according to Orangebloods.com. Texas currently has two safety commits in the 2014 class, John Bonney and Jason Hall. With Adrian Phillips graduating from Texas, the Longhorns will be looking to fill the void at safety, and that could possibly be done by Freeman. 

Player information provided by Rivals.com.

Current Commits

Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

Otaro Alaka	210-lb LB	Cypress Falls High	Houston, TX
Andrew Beck	230-lb LB	Plant High	Tampa, FL
Roderick Bernard	175-lb WR	Sharpstown High	Houston, TX
John Bonney	183-lb DB	Lamar High	Houston, TX
Donald Catalon	200-lb RB	Eisenhower High	Houston, TX
Terrell Cuney	260-lb OL	Jasper High	Jasper, TX
Armanti Foreman	174-lb WR	Texas City High	Texas City, TX
D'Onta Foreman	198-lb ATH	Texas City High	Texas City, TX
Garrett Gray	205-lb WR	Marble Falls High	Marble Falls, TX
Jason Hall	190-lb DB	South Grand Prairie High	Grand Prairie, TX

Cameron Hampton	201-lb LB	Carter High	Dallas, TX
Jerrod Heard	193-lb QB	Guyer High	Denton, TX
Lorenzo Joe	192-lb WR	Abilene Cooper High	Abilene, TX
Dorian Leonard	200-lb WR	Longview High	Longview, TX
Jake McMillon	240-lb DE	Abilene High	Abilene, TX
Emanuel Porter	189-lb WR	Lincoln High	Dallas, TX
Derick Roberson	225-lb DE	Brennan High	San Antonio, TX
Jermaine Roberts	170-lb DB	St. Augustine High	New Orleans, LA
Kevin Shorter	188-lb RB	Newton High	Newton, TX
Sione Teuhema	215-lb DE	Keller High	Keller, TX

Blake Whiteley

240-lb TE

Arizona Western C.C.

Yuma, AZ

Player information provided by Rivals.com.

Players Who Could Contribute as Freshmen

4-star quarterback Jerrod Heard

Finding a viable quarterback option has been a struggle for Texas since Colt McCoy left in 2009. Since McCoy's departure, the Longhorns have started three different quarterbacks and had two QBs transfer and make an impact at different Division I football programs. Following the 2012 season, Texas appeared to have David Ash ready to take the reigns for the Longhorns, but when Ash went down with a head injury in Week 2 of the 2013 season, the future looked dull for the Texas QBs. 

Ash is expected to return to the team in time for spring football, but it's difficult to expect much from anyone who suffers recurring concussion symptoms for an entire football season. If Ash does not look like the same QB in the spring, Jerrod Heard could compete for the role once he arrives in Austin in the summer.

4-star wide receiver Armanti Foreman

Texas wide receivers did not receive very much recognition in 2013 due to the run heavy offensive attack. But the Longhorns will lose standout wide receiver Mike Davis, which will open the doors for a youngster to get some playing time. Texas City wide receiver Armanti Foreman could very well be that youngster.

Foreman racked up 1,479 all purpose yards in his senior season at Texas City High School, according to Maxpreps.com. The 6-foot receiver has the speed and talent to make an immediate impact for the Longhorns.

Storylines to Watch

Erich Schlegel/Getty Images

As cliche as it may sound, all eyes are upon Texas leading up to National Signing Day, and the reason why is simple. Anything is possible when there is a head coaching change. When the change occurs at one of the most polarizing college football programs in the country, storylines are published at tenfold.

One of the more significant storylines to watch will be if the new coaching staff can secure the current 2014 commitment list and replace any potential decommitments with players of similar strengths.

The eyes of Texas and college football are upon Charlie Strong.

Fun Facts

Did you know ...

If defensive end Solomon Thomas could have any super-human power, he would like to be The Hulk?

Armanti and D'Onta Foreman are fraternal twins?

Tight end Blake Whiteley, Charlie Strong's first verbal commit at Texas, is from Canada?

Jerrod Heard was a ball boy for Guyer high school in seventh grade?

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first hand.

Follow Taylor on Twitter: @Taylor_Gaspar