Texas Football: 2015 Recruits Who Will Make an Early Impact

The Texas Longhorns have been on a roll over the past month, reeling in 11 more recruits to become one of the nation's top 10 classes for 2015.

With national signing day right around the corner, the Longhorns have hauled in an impressive 11 recruits. The surge began with the unexpected commitment of 5-star linebacker Malik Jefferson and has now extended to a sweep of the "Florida Five" that Charlie Strong and his staff completed over the weekend. 

Led by Jefferson and six other early enrollees, several of those recruits are now ready to step into immediate roles for the 2015 team.

With as many as 10 starters leaving the program, their success will help Strong with the long-awaited turnaround of this team.

LB Malik Jefferson

A rare talent with college-ready size and athleticism, Malik Jefferson is a no-brainer to get some early playing time as a freshman.

An early enrollee, Jefferson is a godsend for a Longhorn team losing both Jordan Hicks and Steve Edmond to graduation. Losing Hicks obviously hurts more because he's an NFL-level talent, but Edmond filled his role well enough that he too will be sorely missed.

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Texas coach Charlie Strong compares landing Poteet LB Malik Jefferson to the importance of Florida landing Tim Tebow.

— Brian Davis (@BDavisAAS) December 27, 2014"

Jefferson is more Hicks than Edmond, possessing the speed to play in space along with the strength to handle himself at the point of attack, as noted by SB Nation's Wescott Eberts. 

There will be an adjustment period, but Jefferson gets a full offseason to learn from a defensive staff that turned Texas into the Big 12's best defense in just one season. It won't take long to turn Jefferson's physical gifts into one of the nation's scariest defenders.

OT Brandon Hodges

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Hodges should quickly unseat Hutchins (right), who has had a rough transition into one of football's toughest positions.

The Longhorns are dangerously thin at left tackle, starting former defensive tackle Marcus Hutchins at the spot as a result of Kennedy Estelle's dismissal.

Junior college transfer Brandon Hodges should help fix that in 2015.

Unlike Hutchins, and really anyone on the current Texas roster, Hodges is an experienced and natural left tackle, as you can see in a video from Scout.com. It's limited, but there's enough to suggest that the 6'5", 295-pound early enrollee will be able to hold his own with some coaching from Joe Wickline.

If not Hodges, the Horns may have to see what freshman Ronnie Major can do.

DE Quincy Vasser

Another early enrollee, junior college defensive end Quincy Vasser looks destined to take over for Cedric Reed on the strong side.

A former Georgia commit, 247Sports rates Vasser as an above-average prospect in every category the service evaluated. At 6'4" and 260 pounds, his biggest contribution will come against the run, and he's explosive enough to pick up a few sacks as well.

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Quincy Vasser = great pick up. Likely a better fit in 3-3-5 looks than Ced. Quick off the ball, good pursuit and motor. Will add weight.

@EricNahlin, 3 Dec 2014

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That's exactly what Texas needs, as players like Shiro Davis were passed up by redshirt freshman Naashon Hughes in 2014. Hughes will stick at the Fox position as long as he can hold off Derick Roberson, but the Horns had no options on the opposite side.

Now they have one, and he's good enough to crack the first team during spring ball.

OL Patrick Vahe

Interior offensive lineman Patrick Vahe is a Tasmanian devil. A 6'4", 300-pound Tasmanian devil who will start as a freshman in 2015.

Aside from Kent Perkins and probably Taylor Doyle, the entire offensive line is on notice this offseason. The Longhorns averaged just 3.8 yards per carry last season, "highlighted" by a two-yard showing against Arkansas. 

Depending on where, or if, Texas likes Doyle, Vahe could easily step right into a starting role at center or left guard. He's mobile, powerful and knows how to find an advantage over his man, as noted by Eberts.

The Longhorns just don't have three linemen more talented than this guy.

ATH Tim Irvin

The first member of the "Florida Five" to make the list is fiery athlete Tim Irvin, who projects to take over the role vacated by another Longhorn who played bigger than his size.

Even though he's well under six feet tall, Irvin's athleticism jumps off the tape. He's exceptionally quick, which he shows off on the offensive side of the ball, and he has no qualms about laying the wood on defense.

Both of those skills will translate well to the nickel role, which is open now that Quandre Diggs and Mykkele Thompson have graduated. In Charlie Strong's 3-3-5 defense, this is a spot that is asked to come down against the run, blitz and cover downfield.

As we saw with Diggs, Texas' incoming freshman has the footwork and physicality to handle such a wide range of responsibilities. As another talented early enrollee, Irvin gets the whole offseason to prove he's ready for them.

TE Devonaire Clarington

247Sports

Long and fast by almost any standard, Clarington will be a matchup nightmare at Texas.

As with quarterback and running back, getting excited about a pass-catching tight end at Texas has been a total exercise in futility for some time. 

At the very least, Devonaire Clarington will get a chance to end that streak.

Listed at 6'5" and 238 pounds by 247Sports, the nation's No. 4 tight end looks closer to the 224-pound mark that Rivals.com has him listed at. Even so, the tape (courtesy of Hudl) shows a dynamic receiver who's too big and fast for whoever is covering him, something the Longhorns have lacked since the days of Jermichael Finley.

Clarington gives Shawn Watson and his eventual quarterback both a downfield threat and a safety valve over the middle. He may not ever be a great inline blocker, but his current skill set is too dynamic to keep off the field.

Honorable Mentions

CB Davante Davis

At 6'3" and 200 pounds, the top corner of Texas' class may end up moving over to safety before long. The Longhorns have plenty of talent to sort through there, whereas cornerback has at least one opening. In truth, uncommitted recruits Kris Boyd and Holton Hill are the two names to watch for 2015.

WR John Burt

Listed as a soft commit, Burt has been in danger of jumping ship for quite some time. He has yet to pull the trigger, which should give the Longhorns some confidence that they can hang on to one of the nation's top outside receivers. The recent recruiting success can only help their chances of hanging on to this first-year starter.

ILB Cecil Cherry, ATH DeAndre McNeal, OLB Cameron Hampton, OLB Anthony Wheeler

We just have to see how these four projected linebackers shake out during the summer, because they each have the potential to break into the rotation. Cherry is the lone inside prospect, and McNeal could just as easily end up on the offensive side of the ball.

Unless otherwise noted, all rankings, stats and information courtesy of TexasSports.com and 247Sports.com.