Texas' Charlie Strong Proving He Can Recruit and Keep Elite Talent in State

Charlie Strong sent a message to rivals in the Lone Star State and beyond Friday morning, securing commitments from two of Texas' finest 2015 talents. The first-year Longhorns coach reeled in top-rated linebacker Malik Jefferson and 4-star teammate DeAndre McNeal during an announcement ceremony at Poteet High School, per ESPN's Damon Sayles:

Less than 48 hours after Texas A&M landed 5-star Arizona wide receiver Christian Kirk, the Aggies appeared on the verge of challenging Alabama for the nation's No. 1 recruiting class. However, coach Kevin Sumlin needed to seal the deal with the defensive duo, who were both projected to head to College Station in 247Sports' Crystal Ball forecast.

Instead, Strong pumped the brakes on Sumlin's expanding bandwagon and served notice that his squad still carries clout:

Texas has reached outside state borders for a few key pledges this year—namely New Mexico quarterback Zach Gentry and Florida linebacker Cecil Cherry—but the foundation for any program rebound in Austin will be built with recruiting efforts on home turf. The Longhorns took a significant stride in that regard Friday.

Jefferson, a 5-star defender with dozens of offers, focused on Texas, Texas A&M and UCLA for his final decision. He was recently given the high school Butkus Award, which is annually bestowed upon the nation’s top linebacker.

The 6'2.5", 215-pound playmaker clocked a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash this summer at The Opening, providing evidence of his freakish athleticism. Jefferson is capable of chasing down even the most mobile quarterbacks and contributes in downfield pass coverage.

He's further along as a downhill run-stuffer at this stage, but his versatility sets him apart from the pack in 2015 linebacker rankings. Jefferson should immediately vie for a role in Texas' defense as an early enrollee and gives Strong a stud who can eventually take on leadership duties at the heart of a reconstructed Longhorns attack. 

McNeal, a 6'2", 228-pound prospect, drew collegiate interest as a jack-of-all-trades. Given his size and quickness, potential roles at receiver, tight end and linebacker have been mentioned during the recruitment process.

He is likely to land on defense in Austin, reuniting with Jefferson. 

McNeal can develop into a disruptive edge defender and provides Texas with another game-changing option in the linebacker corps. Aside from Texas A&M, he considered Alabama and UCLA, among others.

Texas may have gained an edge due to the Aggies' lack of a defensive coordinator. Texas A&M dismissed Kevin Snyder in November and remains in search of a replacement.

Meanwhile, the Longhorns defense is led by Vance Bedford, who followed Strong from Louisville. Jefferson carries plenty of respect for the veteran defensive coordinator, he told Ryan Autullo of the Austin American-Statesman.

"He’s strict. He’s like that mean godfather you have in your life. Not a bad thing," Jefferson said. "He’s a good coach."

Bedford and Strong surely celebrated in some fashion Friday morning, exchanging a sign of the horns hand gesture at the very least. These pledges are arguably the biggest success so far for a new regime facing plenty of pressure to improve things in a hurry.

With Jefferson and McNeal now on board, Texas can turn its attention toward other in-state standouts. Expect Strong and company to press hard chasing the likes of cornerback Kendall Sheffield, receiver Ryan Newsome and running back Chris Warren as national signing day nears.

The class currently includes 22 commits, climbing to 14th overall in 247Sports' composite rankings.

Momentum has turned at Texas with a pair of pivotal pledges. If Strong can string together a few more recruiting victories in the coming weeks, it bodes well for his development as the Longhorns leader.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.