Texas Longhorns 2011 Football Recruiting: Top Targets & Instant Impact Freshman

Texas' 2011 recruiting class might be the best group of talent coach Mack Brown has ever assembled. Considering how well he's recruited over the years, it really says a lot. 

With seven 5-star commitments and top-rated talent at practically every position, the Longhorns should expect a shot in the arm after a down-year as an incredibly highly-regarded group of players join the roster in 2011. 

Scarily enough, there's still a little space to continue to add talent. 

Here's our take on who the top 10 instant impact freshman will be from Texas' 2011 class as well as the Longhorns' top remaining recruiting targets. 

Texas' Current 2011 Recruiting Class

5-star commitments: Seven
4-star commitments: Nine
3-star commitments: Seven

By now, most college football fans who follow recruiting are well aware of the situation in Austin. The Longhorns' 2011 class is simply stacked with talent on both sides of the ball.

Their seven 5-star commitments are as many as Alabama, Ohio State and Oklahoma together. 

With top rated running back Malcolm Brown and top 10 talent at offensive guard, offensive tackle, defensive tackle, defensive end, linebacker, cornerback and safety, there's no doubt Texas stands alone at the top of the rankings. 

Now whether everyone sticks around after the Longhorns' disappointing 2010 season is a different story. 

No. 10 Instant Impact Freshman: Sheroid Evans, S

Evans is one of the top track stars in the country and has incredible speed on the football field. He tackles well and has the length and speed to play either corner or safety.

Evans isn't afraid of contact, but his frame won't hold up to his playing style unless he gets bigger.

Still, there aren't many prospects out there with his level of natural ability when it comes to coverage skills and lateral movement.

Evans will have a hard time cracking the lineup too often at safety, but where he'll really excel is on special teams, where he could quickly develop into one of the kick coverage unit's top performers. 

No. 9 Instant Impact Freshman: Desmond Jackson, DT

He does a great job of penetrating the offensive line and consistently finds his way into the backfield to blow up run plays or force quarterbacks out of the pocket if he can't sack them himself.

A high effort, great motor player, Jackson is relentless in pursuit and never gives up on a play. At 6'1" and 280 pounds, he'll chase ball carriers 10 or 20 yards down the field without skipping a beat.

Texas' defensive line is a crowded place, but the Longhorns rotate a lot of bodies in and out and that should give a Jackson a chance to showcase his skills at the very least in spot-up duty. 

No. 8 Instant Impact Freshman: Sedrick Flowers, OG

One thing immediately stands out about Flowers the moment you see him in drills or on the field.

He is almost unnaturally strong and super athletic for his size.

He's so quick off the ball and has one of the best initial bursts in the country. He hits his man square in the chest on first impact and drives him into the ground.

Texas' offense simply wasn't good this season, ranking 50th in passing yards, 66th in rushing yards and 87th in points scored. The Longhorns need talent everywhere, and the offensive line's suspect play will give Flowers a chance to compete immediately against a young group of interior lineman. 

No. 7 Instant Impact Freshman: Steve Edmond, MLB

Edmond is a tackling machine who exploded for 184 tackles his junior year, with 34 of them coming for a loss.

He dominates all over the field, and at his size, 6'3", 225 lbs, he can play inside or outside linebacker and potentially could bulk up a bit to play end.

There are very few prospects as physically ready as Edmond, and probably no one in the nation who can tackle with as much consistency.

Linebacker is probably the most stacked position on the team for the Longhorns, though, and Edmond will have to scratch and crawl to earn his minutes. He'll definitely get the chance to shine on special teams, but it could be awhile before he sees extended minutes on defense. 

No. 7 Instant Impact Freshman: Josh Turner, CB

Turner is another great addition to the Longhorns' secondary. He's a great all-around corner with a great pair of hands and solid football instinct.

He is the No. 2 CB on Rivals and the No. 4 CB on Scout. He and Leroy Scott should form a dominating tag team on the outside, and really, it's hard to decide who's the better of the two. 

With Curtis Brown and Chykie Brown graduating and Aaron Williams potentially leaving early for the NFL draft, there will be a void at cornerback, and both Turner and fellow 5-star recruit Leroy Scott will have the chance to potentially earn starting roles. 

No. 5 Instant Impact Freshman: Jaxon Shipley, WR

The younger brother of former Longhorn Jordan Shipley, Jaxton will be following in his brother's footsteps and might prove to be even better at Texas in a couple years' time. The steam has started to pick up for Shipley, as he's now considered a top 10 receiver.

He's been getting a lot of praise based on his exceptional hands and body control. He runs polished, professional routes and is ready to play immediately.

All he really needs to do is bulk up and get stronger so college defenders won't out-muscle him. Give him an offseason workout program and then watch him reap the rewards. 

Shipley plays so similar to his brother and comes in so polished for a program that's looking for talent to step up at receiver. He has the chance to establish himself as one of the team's top three or four receivers right from day one. 

No. 4 Instant Impact Freshman: Garrett Greenlea, OT

The second of the Longhorns' 5-star haul along the offensive line, Greenlea has got a ton of upside and a great natural frame for the position.

There's little doubt he'll quickly excel at the next level. 

He's a near-perfect fit for the mold of offensive tackle coaches are looking for. He's tall, lean, athletic, has a great frame and wingspan, moves his feet well, is quick off the ball and can block anyone from a defensive tackle to a blitzing defensive back.

As we mentioned with Sedrick Flowers, Texas' offensive line is a young work in progress and everyone will have their chance to stake a claim. 

No. 3 Instant Impact Freshman: Leroy Scott, CB

He's one of those rare players who's looked like a man among boys since he was freshman in high school. At 5'10" and 190 pounds, he's a very physical player who tackles well and is always on the lookout to land a big hit.

His coverage skills are probably the top in the country. He glues himself to his receiver and has great instincts when it comes to jumping in front of his man and making a play for the ball.

With three of the team's top cornerbacks likely on the way out, 5-star talents like Scott and Josh Turner could push the rest of the current roster for playing time in a hurry. 

No. 2 Instant Impact Freshman: Christian Westerman, OT

At 6'5", 285 pounds, Westerman is projected to be a star at either a guard or right tackle at the next level. 

He's a very strong blocker and moves his feet as well as anyone in the country.

But the fact that he never played left tackle in high school probably means it just doesn't suit his skill-set.

He overpowers defenders with quick hits and a very low stance. But the way he's able to move suggests he'd be very successful as a pulling guard. 

If you had to pick any offensive lineman to step up and instantly deliver, it's Westerman. He's got the talent and versatility to play both tackle and guard positions and will be at the top of the pecking order for incoming lineman. 

No. 1 Instant Impact Freshman: Malcolm Brown, RB

Brown is the premiere rusher of the class and a near-ideal prospect for the position. He's a powerful rusher that will put his shoulder down and punish defenders, wearing them down as the game goes on.

He won't wow you with his speed, but as a downhill rusher, he's about as impressive as they come. Brown explodes into defenders, has great vision, subtle but quick movements, and breaks tackles at an eye-popping rate. 

With the way Texas' running backs struggled this season, a player of Brown's caliber doesn't just have a shot at being the top instant impact freshman on the team; he has the chance to be the top instant impact freshman in the country. He's going to be the starting running back by opening day. 

No. 1 Target: Jermauria Rasco, DE

Rasco has improved tremendously every year, and that's something to take note of when looking at a prospect. He's an elite defensive end with a very high ceiling, and he's only getting better as he ages.

He's got great instincts and discipline, but his technique and movements are still on the raw side. If he can learn to add some weapons to his arsenal and get off the ball quicker, he could end up being the best defensive end in the class.

Rasco has been quiet on his recruitment, but most observers give in-state LSU the slight advantage over a field that includes Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Texas, UCLA and Cal.

Is There Anyone Else Out There?

With Texas at 23 commitments and having only two scholarships left to offer, it might simply come down to Jermauria Rasco or nothing. 

The Longhorns have received commitments from 21 of their top 25 targets, with Isaiah Crowell, George Farmer and Ladarius Brown the only remaining 4- and 5-star prospects Texas has shown any considerable interest in. 

None of those three are looking at Texas, though, having already eliminated it from contention. 

That leaves Rasco as the sole target still out there for the school that's put together a class that's currently the far-and-away top ranked class in the nation.