Texas Recruiting News: Longhorns Looking for a Few Good Men

In the spirit of “YOU WANT ANSWERS?!!” we’ll start with the news on Malcolm Brown’s impromptu unofficial visit to Austin, which was originally reported by Recruitocosm just after the San Antonio Express-News posted it on their website.  

Malcolm Brown rolled up to the 40 with family in tow to get a vibe for the campus as a student and not the rock star treatment of one of the top two or three running backs in the nation. An admirable sentiment to be sure. But this isn’t Mack Brown’s first courtship and considering unofficial visits are like hitting green on a roulette table, Mack wanted to get the most bang for his buck.

With 7-on-7 workouts rescheduled, the staff had a few key players on hand to meet Brown and his family as our student-athletes are often the best salesmen and recruiters the program has—particularly the ones that have bought into the program enough to sacrifice their summer nights to prepare for the season.

Guys like Garret Gilbert, Jordan Hicks, Jackson Jeffcoat, the Achos, the Browns, Aaron Williams, etc. are even better recruiters than Mack Brown in this situation, because the Brown family was looking to drill down and truly get a feel for what’s in store for Malcolm when he’s on campus.

While the Brown family was drilling down, it appears that it’s the Longhorns who’ve struck oil. The rumor we have heard is that Brown told the staff he’s coming and it could be a matter of weeks if not days before he makes it official. After that, it’s up to the Longhorns to show some semblance of a between-the-tackles running game to keep the Browns happy. But for now, it looks like the blue chip running back drought is over for Texas.

While the news on Brown is great, the Jermauria Rasco news seems to be less so. In talking to a guy who’d know, the talented defensive end prospect out of Shreveport Evangel has grown concerned with the Longhorn depth chart.

“With guys like Jeffcoat, Wilson, Reed, and some of the bigger linebackers that can drop down to defensive end, Rasco is worried it would take him three years or so to see significant snaps,” our source said.

Why are depth charts suddenly a concern?

“It’s not coming from the Alabama people that’s for sure,” he explained.

“Bama has a chance to land two higher rated defensive ends and they tipped their hand about how they truly feel about Jermauria by playing him off the LOS during their camp. They wanted to show him they could get him snaps early regardless of how many D ends they had. Of course that backfired because Rasco was injured and the move ended up pissing him off.”

He added, “LSU offers Rasco a chance to play right away, and Coach Miles is going to do and say everything possible to land a talent like Rasco.”

Perhaps Phillip Geiggar can diffuse the situation with a couple well placed comments planted by Muschamp. Comments that make mention of Joseph Barksdale and Russell Sheppard and the pitch Miles used on them.

In any case, the Horns certainly have some work to do.

Predictions On How the Horns Close

Malcolm Brown
Odds of Committing 100 percent up 1% percent from last week 

Yes, we’re that good. We told you Brown was done deal at every turn. I wish we would have had a blog when we predicted the Jeffcoat, Hicks, Westerman, and Turner commitments before anyone else. Kudos to Sailor Ripley for coming down to Rucker park and pulling me out of retirement.

But now the Brown recruitment really gets interesting. We have to validate what we’ve been selling Pappa Brown. You coffee-is-for-closers guys know all about service after the sale. The product happens to be our running game.

Just give me between 4-5 yards per carry vs. UCLA, OU, and Nebraska and Brown will sign. No jet sweeps or reverses please. Coach Saban may be as ethical as Colonel Nathan Gessep, but he’s an X’s and O’s wizard who will point out any running game issues we have. And he has Pappa Brown’s ear.

Jermauria Rasco
Odds of committing: 50 percent down from 60 percent.

Texas needs to counter punch the depth chart question with combination of innovation and manhood challenging. Something along the lines of:

“Look, we plan on playing the best players and playing them in waves. You’ll get snaps. Unless of course you don’t think you can compete with a bunch of kids we recruited who were ranked lower than you by the services. Tell us now so we can give your ship to a placekicker.”

I think Rasco comes around because Texas can sell him on being the only pure defensive end they’re taking in this class since Reed is likely going to grow out of the position at some point.

Aaron Green
Odds of Committing: 20 percent, down from 40 percent last week 

With the impending commitment of Malcolm Brown and the hyper-interest the Texas staff has in 2012 super prospect Jonathan Gray, the odds of a Green commitment are becoming more of a pipe dream. The staff loves Green’s specialty skills but with the numbers as tight as they are, it would be tough to justify taking three running backs in this class. Especially if Seferian-Jenkins and Rasco decide to come.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins
Odds of Committing: Still 95 percent

ASJ has basically recruited the Longhorns and the Longhorns reciprocated only after they figured the talented tight end from the state of Washington was completely serious about the 40 Acres and not the Yellow Rose. It would be a huge coup to grab the best tight end in the nation, along with the best O-lineman, arguably the best running back, and the best one or two defensive tackles.

Anthony Wallace
Odds of Committing 10 percent down from 50 percent

The odds are down from last week mostly because there’s a feeling with my sources that the staff has moved on for some reason and it doesn’t seem to have much to do with ability.

“The numbers are super tight already, and you’d hate to take a guy who’s not going to be an every down player. Wallace is a first and second down player especially in our league. He’s a very good one, but we feel like our resources are better spent on every down guys even if they’re a tick less talented," one source told us.

Another source I talked with, more of regional guy, claims that some schools have even backed off Wallace for some reason.

“If he’s not going to Texas then you would think other schools beside Oklahoma would step up and throw their hat in the ring but that hasn’t happened. Even A&M seems to have backed off. Perhaps he’s a silent to Oklahoma or perhaps he waiting for a re-offer from UT, but it doesn’t seem like he’s a priority for the Ags. I haven’t heard any off the field rumors like grades or the sort, so who knows. It’s strange.”

David Jenkins
Odds of Committing 25 percent

Jenkins is every bit the cornerback prospect that was Charles Jackson, if not better. He’s faster than Jackson and he has a much better frame to fill out into a more physical player. Jenkins currently holds a conditional offer from the Texas staff if the numbers work out. It also helps that he plays a position of need for the Longhorns.

If there’s some attrition on the 85 man roster in the coming months or if the 2011 class doesn’t fill up like the coaches think, Jenkins might be fully offered. The coaches are certainly going to watch the talented DB this season and seal the deal if and when the time is right.

2012 Prospects to Watch

DE Mario Edwards, Denton Ryan

He’s only been playing football for a couple of years so he has a lot of upside. Very good strength and athletic enough to also play receiver for Prosper. Listed anywhere from 6’2” and 6’5”, but it’s always a good rule of thumb to trust the shorter. Better than any DE in this year’s class. Transferred to Denton Ryan where he’ll get better coaching and playing time against better competition. Ryan head coach Joey Florence is a Mack Brown guy.

S LaDarrell McNeil, Dallas Smith

This dude’s a witch. Four year starter at safety. The film below is from his freshman year. What stands out to me is his ability to mix it up despite being a bit undersized. Remember what Royal said about pups that bite?

Young Pup.

OL Curtis Riser, DeSoto

He’s better than Marcus Hutchins and Evan Washington although Washington might have a higher ceiling. Texas will be in the mix, and we’ll stay in the mix with any Desoto player as long as Claude Mathis is the head man there: quality guy, loves Mack.

RB Jonathan Gray, Aledo

Son of former Tech great James Gray. He reportedly likes Texas, and his dad likes OU. Does he like Texas enough to follow Malcolm Brown?

WR Thomas Johnson, Dallas Skyline

Transferred to ridiculously talented Skyline in the spring after playing QB for some private school in Arlington. Smart move. He’ll make the move to receiver for Skyline this fall. May have more big time offers than any junior to be in the state.

LB Derek David, Rockdale

Committed to Tech. Muschamp supposedly told the Rockdale coaches that David is the best linebacker he’s ever seen at that age. There are questions about his grades that Tech fans will say is nothing but sour grapes. Has a brother currently at Blinn who has already committed to Tech as well. Rule of thumb in sports, if you have two first names you better be a BAMF.

DT Malcolm Brown, Brenham

Better than anyone in the state not named Desmond Jackson. We always have a shot at a Brenham kid. So does A&M and increasingly so does Tech.

QB Matt Davis, Klein Forest

A dual threat quarterback from the Houston area. Guess who he idolizes? Yeah, so did Russell Shephard. Get ready for much gnashing of the teeth. Alabama has already offered.

CB Justin Thomas, West Orange Stark

Perhaps a bit of a homer pick, but Stark puts out athletes on par with anyone in the state. He’s Earl’s cousin/brother/son so Texas will of course get a look, and he’s holding offers from most of the Big 12 South. Ran a 21.76 200m at the state meet and also ran on both of WOS’s gold medal sprint relays.

From the FanTake blog: Recruitocosm

Follow on Twitter: @Recruitocosm