2016 Incomers – New Meat Menu

[Godz40acres]

Tope Imade ... Bowie (Arlington, TX)
-horn ... OG ... 6-4.5/317​

Tope Imade (pronounced TOH-pay ih-MAHD-eh) is a raw but powerful prospect who looks to make an impact in the next couple of years.

Per 247:

Tope Imade looks rather innocuous off the field. Perhaps it’s the smile he often sports. Maybe it’s his overall friendly demeanor.

“People do have a different perception of me off the field because I’m nice,” Imade said. “But when I’m on the field, I’m going to punish somebody. I’m going to pancake somebody.”

[M]ore than once an opponent came up to Imade after the game to say they weren’t expecting to be put into the ground so many times in one game.

A natural guard, Imade is a traditional road grader. He is big, physical and enjoys lining up and running the ball. Texas will go quick in its new offense, but the ground game will still be a foundational piece for the attack.

“Running the ball and punching dudes (is my strength),” Imade said. “The fact that our new offense is a lot of running the ball and going quick, it’s going to be a perfect fit for me.”

Imade admits there are a few areas where his game needs plenty of work. Specifically, Imade is working to improve his speed, quickness and his pad level.

Matt Mattox recruited Imade back when he worked at Tulsa. And while he didn’t sign [him], Mattox often discussed technique with Imade during his recruitment. Specifically, the pair often talked about flexibility.

“He would help me all the time before I committed to Texas,” Imade said.

[W]ith a summer of good work he hopes to compete for a starting spot on the interior next season.

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Per BON:

It may take some time, but [Tope Imade] has a chance to become a road-grading presence in the middle of the Longhorns line.

Imade... already has a relationship with new offensive line coach Matt Mattox, who recruited Imade while at Tulsa and spent a lot of time discussing the importance of improving his flexibility.

Imade has a lot of room for growth with his technique, especially his punch. So while he's most comfortable operating in the running game right now and racking up those pancakes, he doesn't show a tremendous amount of natural ability shooting his hands.

The Bowie product is also working to make sure that he keeps his pad level low, an area where improved flexibility would help him. Likewise, Improving his lateral movement is extremely important if he wants to become a pulling guard capable of consistently acquiring defenders at the second level.

However, Imade is a big presence on the interior of the line and possesses a lot of natural strength.

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Per 247:

A 515-pound deadlift speaks to the raw power Tope Imade possesses. Observing him during Arlington Bowie’s game against Buechele and Arlington Lamar, I saw a prospect who can have that strength translate to the field.

He could potentially compete for a starting job in 2017 with a year to work. There’s no need to rush him, and in due time he should be able to contribute in a big way.

 

[Godz40acres]

Brandon Jones ... Nacogdoches (Nacogdoches, TX)
-horn ... S ... 6/195​

One of my must-haves in the 2016 class (along with eerbody else), Brandon Jones decided for Texas the night before NSD. The nation's #1 safety (247/IT) boasts both brains and brawn which could allow him to supplant Dylan Haines sometime during the coming season.

Per 247:

Horns247: How did you decide on Texas at the end of the process?

Jones: I cut it down to my final three of Texas, Texas A&M and Baylor. I don’t know, I just turned my phone off the night before and me and my mom actually talked just me and her about what I should do. I came to the conclusion that night about Texas, and I thought it was the best fit for me.

Horns247: What was it about Charlie Strong that drew you to Texas?

Jones: The way he is. He’s energetic, which I like. He’ll interact with anyone from a five-star to a walk-on. He talks to everybody. He wants what’s best for you on and off the field. He really wants you to be a better man, which really stuck out to me and my mom. Because football can end at any time, and he’ll help me be the best man I can be.

Horns247: Does the amount of freshman who played last year give you confidence you’ll get to play if you earn it?

Jones: It does, it gives me a lot of confidence. It helps me realize that the coaches aren’t all talk. There are a lot of college coaches who promise a lot of things that don’t end up happening, but obviously if I put in the work like Malik (Jefferson) did, I can get playing time down there.

Horns247: What player do you mold your game after?

Jones: I’d say Earl Thomas. I’ve been compared to him a little bit, and before I committed I talked to him on the phone and we texted a lot. He’s not the biggest safety, like I am height wise, and he’s DBU as well like I am at Texas. He’s just that dynamic player on the field. He’s the best safety in the NFL.

Horns247: How well do you know new defensive backs coach Clay Jennings?

Jones: We’re real close. He recruited me at Arkansas. I’m not glad Coach (Chris) Vaughn left, but I’m glad if anybody got that position it’s Coach Jennings.”

Horns247: What do you consider to be the biggest strength of your game?

Jones: To me, probably would be my speed and how I react to the ball on breaks. For weakness, I’m not too sure.”

Horns247: Will this be the class that helps take Texas back to what it was in years past?

Jones: “I really think so. We have the class above us that was really good and that played so many freshmen. They didn’t win as much as they should have with the freshman getting a lot of playing time under their belt. But in the next two years or so we should be freaking amazing (laughs).

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Per IT:

Brandon Jones is a purely dominant athlete who projects all over the secondary and is the type of player that can shrink a field back down even when the offense is spreading the defense out wide. Perhaps his most exceptional skill is dropping down in run support, fighting through the wash, and running through ball carriers. Because he’s so big, powerful, and fantastic at tackling, he’d be best utilized as a strong safety who spends most of his time hovering just outside the box and running free to the football.

Didn’t matter where he was lined up this year, he made plays. He can really run and shows great range on defense, and is capable of laying the wood and also knows how to put his chest on a ball carrier and wrap him up, which is a bit of a lost art these days.

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Per 247:

Whether it’s fair or not, everybody is going to try to compare Brandon Jones to Earl Thomas. Where the comparison has merit is that Jones will do the things off of the field in a similar manner to Thomas in terms of preparation and film study.

As far as on the field, Jones (6-0, 195) isn’t a huge safety, but athletically and from a speed perspective he’s tremendous, bringing those elements to the table in a manner that neither of Texas’ two starting safeties currently possess.

 

[Godz40acres]

Jeffrey McCulloch ... Aldine Davis (Houston, TX)
-horn ... OLB ... 6-2/234​

"A shark’s jaws are like a precision machine. They can unhinge while attacking, allowing the shark to extend its reach. This even creates a partial vacuum to suck in prey – few things can escape a shark's bite."

Meet Jeffrey "The Shark" McCulloch. Human? Maybe.

Per 247:

Draped in white with swatches of blue dripping off the sleeves, the hunter stalked his prey. Lined up on the right side of the line, the white streak, highlighted by a blue helmet, blew past his blocker and chased the quarterback from behind.

The signal caller rolled right, but it didn’t matter, Jeffrey McCulloch had his target in sight.

Spinning to throw, the quarterback found himself clenched in the jaws of a great white shark.


That play midway through McCulloch’s junior year, replayed again and again during an Aldine Davis film session, is how McCulloch’s nickname “The Shark” originated.

“The hit made everyone say he is a shark. He’s a man hunter,” said Aldine Davis head coach James Showers. “He owned it.”

The following spring and summer McCulloch transformed into one of the nation’s elite recruits, jumping into the Top 100 of the 247Sports Composite Ranking. At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, McCulloch is a superior athlete who, in his words, “attacks the game.”

But what separates the outside linebacker from other players with similar physical abilities is his intellect. Much like the beast that inspired his nickname, McCulloch is a thinker. An honor student with a 3.95 GPA, McCulloch views the game at a different speed.

“The thing that helped Jeffrey is he’s so smart,” Showers said. “To an average football player it’s coming fast, but Jeffrey can process it a lot faster so it slows down for him.”

That combination of quick thinking and superior physical attributes is a big reason the Longhorn coaches have mentioned McCulloch as a candidate to play immediately as a freshman. It helps that McCulloch, playing at weak-side linebacker, will be featured in the same way he was utilized in high school.

“Jeffrey is going to be the smartest one in the room, the best player on the field,” Showers said. “He’s very competitive. If he’s not winning, he’s going to find a way to win.”

McCulloch will hunt, and he won’t settle for anything less than swallowing every goal.

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Per BON:

The Shark and the Predator. On the surface, Texas Longhorns signee Jeffrey McCulloch and sophomore linebacker Malik Jefferson both have phenomenal nicknames. Both are edge-rushing terrors most comfortable coming downhill and getting after quarterbacks and ball carriers.

Dig a little bit deeper, however, and more parallels become apparent -- both are highly intelligent, extremely mature, and focused on academics.

Playing a position that requires fast processing speed to identify and diagnose plays, especially in deciphering between running plays that require downhill effort and passing plays that require coverages drops, McCulloch's intelligence benefits him on the football field. And his consistent effort level is reflective of his studiousness in the classroom.

The Shark has the necessary athleticism – his 4.76/40 at The Opening Finals isn't mind-blowing, but he did run a 4.2 shuttle and posted a 35-inch vertical leap, highly impressive results for a player of his size. And the good news is that he already understands how to use his hands and possesses more than adequate functional strength.

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Per 247:

A Houston-based trainer who put [McCulloch] through a workout posted a video of the Under Armour All-America defender in action:



Texas defensive coordinator Vance Bedford said during spring practice that McCulloch is one of the true freshmen the Longhorns are counting on to play around 20 snaps per game right off the bat defensively. That might not sound like a heavy workload, but last year’s defense faced an average of 80.4 snaps per game.

McCulloch can play multiple linebacker spots, as can reigning Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year Malik Jefferson and fellow incoming freshman Erick Fowler.

 

[Godz40acres]

Denzel Okafor ... Lewisville (Lewisville, TX)
-horn ... OG ... 6-4/295​

With a reach that would make Mr. Fantastic jealous, Okafor saw his star(s) rise during his senior season. But, Texas was where he wanted to shine, so he committed in mid-November and never blinked.

Per 247:

Denzel Okafor’s wingspan, usually reserved for elite basketball players, is the main reason why head coach Charlie Strong and offensive line coach Matt Mattox will place Okafor at right tackle.

Many projected Okafor as a guard throughout the recruiting process, but the Longhorn coaches don’t want to waste Okafor’s length inside. Despite being “only 6-foot-4” as Okafor puts it, the Lewisville product will continue to play tackle as he has throughout his career.

“Coach said I’m too long to just waste the extension of my arms,” Okafor said. “I can use my wingspan on the edge at tackle, which is why I think I’d be better at tackle than at guard.”

While it’s not expected Okafor will need to start, he will likely have the opportunity to play.

Okafor, like a lot of linemen coming from high school, said his biggest strength is his run blocking.

“I opened a lot of holes in high school,” Okafor said. It’s always come easy to me.”

But he’s also aware of his current limitations. Okafor will need to become a pass-blocking expert at right tackle, and he knows there are a few aspects of his game he’ll need to improve to get the most out of his length.

“I really need to work on staying square to the defender and kicking back a lot more,” Okafor said. “My speed of kicking back isn’t at a college level, I would say.”

His wingspan, though, is at a professional level.

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Per BC:

Okafor is slotted for guard and it's probably his best position, but I think he's the rare athlete who could play every position on the offensive line. He has a big wingspan, good lateral movement, exhibits good effort and the athleticism to operate in space. Plenty of OL can generate an initial punch, but they slide off of the defender, overextend, or won't finish. Or they're content to screen the defender and call a tie victory.

Not Okafor. He's humiliating defenders like an Iverson crossover. Okafor's film shows an OL who stalks, locks and repeatedly finishes.

From a developmental perspective, he's going to have to get his pads down when battling interior DL, but that's a standard... adjustment all HS OL not named Dan Neil are tasked with.

I really, really like Okafor and consider him one of the best prospects in the entire class regardless of position. He's in the Connor Williams mold with respect to athleticism, motor and physicality and I like the upgrade in energy, aggression and dynamism that he brings.

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Per 247:

Denzel Okafor isn’t the most celebrated recruit in Texas’ 2016 class, but he might be my favorite on the offensive side of the ball. It’s always good to go watch a recruit play in person and come away feeling like he’s much better than you expected, which is exactly what happened when I watched Okafor as a senior.

The 6-foot-4, 295-pound, four-star prospect is blessed with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, plus-athleticism, tremendous feet and the best ability of any of the offensive line signees to create a push. Combine those tools with the fact that he’s sharp kid, and I think Okafor comes in and helps the Longhorns right away. He has a chance to be a multi-year starter.

 

[Godz40acres]

Kyle Porter ... Katy (Katy, TX)
-horn ... RB ... 5-11/208​

Per IT:

[Kyle] Porter is... a downhill runner who makes good reads and explosive cuts in a wide variety of different schemes. You want a guy who can hit the cutback? His jump step and acceleration are outstanding. Want the guy who can bounce a run outside and win the edge? He can do that as well. Porter is as close to a sure thing to be a 1k yard back as you can find in the HS ranks. What’s more, he’s also a good route runner who can play on 3rd down, which can be devastating in the veer and shoot offense where picking up the RB out of the backfield is often the last thing on the minds of defenders.

He gets north and south in a hurry, hits the hole decisively, and while he isn’t the shiftiest back, he shows he can make guys miss at close range. He finishes runs and he also doesn’t shy away from contact, which I am always a fan of.

The in-state crop of running backs is down in 2016, but that doesn’t mean Porter’s not legit. He actually fits what Strong wants in a running back; big, powerful, makes first man miss, and stays quiet off the field. In that regard, he’s perfect for UT.

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Per BC:

Porter impressed the [Longhorn] coaches with his no-nonsense attitude on the field as much as off of it and a RB who works his tail off, hits the hole hard and takes his craft seriously is welcome on any roster.

The big question with Porter is whether the Katy product is...well...a Katy product.

Porter played behind a fantastic OL in a well-coached high school juggernaut that executes the running game at a NFL level of sophistication. That sophistication rubbed off on Porter's economic running style and his ability to read blocking, but what happens when the reading material gets harder? What's attributable to Porter and what's attributable to Katy's system? Porter can burst immediately off of a quick cut but has very average speed and he's not necessarily always doing work after contact.

That could change as he fills out his frame to 215.

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Per IT:

Texas’ new system has been proven to be equally adept at generating consistent gains with a sturdy, hard-running back or with a burner that can be loosed into space.

Kyle Porter is the sole take here and he’s a good one who has experience running a variety of power schemes at Katy and very little interest in the normal drama or attention that comes from playing football (doesn’t even have a Twitter account). His tape reveals an exciting ability to make reads and threaten multiple creases before making LBs wrong for their choices with jump cuts and hard running through the hole.

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Per G40A:

Kyle Porter always had talent – he just didn't know how to harness and hone it to become one of the nation's top running backs. So, he sought counsel from someone he trusted above all others... the Honorary Mayor of his hometown, Katy, Texas.

"Uncle Dion," as Porter calls him, helped the struggling athlete find his focussnesses and taught him to focus on only one focal point at a time.

Instantly, Porter's game – and life – changed. He was not only ready to become a star; he was ready to become a Longhorn!

 

[Dionysus]

“Porter and Roach are definitely in BEAST MODE already” ...

 

[Godz40acres]

Malcolm Roach ... Madison Prep Academy (Baton Rouge, LA)
-horn ... DE ... 6-3/255​

Remember as a kid when you were minding your own business and suddenly you heard yourself scream and your arm was throbbing and there was a big red spot where your ninja big brother had pasted you with a "frog" shot? You know, not a regular fist punch; but the one where he protruded his middle finger knuckle about ¾ of an inch?

Remember how you beat the crap out of him for it... in your mind... because that's all you could do?

Meet Texas' new big brother, Malcolm Roach.

Per 247:

Malcolm Roach knew his production and numbers necessitated extra attention, but he didn’t exactly know how to feel about it. After all, he liked to get tackles, but when teams ran away from him it made it nearly impossible.

Many Division 1 players were dominant at the high school level, but some of Roach’s numbers are particularly notable. His junior season, along with the 134 tackles, Roach had 20 sacks, nine pass breakups, seven forced fumbles and three defensive touchdowns. Those numbers didn’t change much as a senior when he totaled 143 tackles, 14.5 sacks and two interceptions.

Teams might have planned around Roach, but a switch to outside linebacker during some games made it impossible for opponents to avoid the 6-foot-3, 255-pound football magnet.

“They started to try and run away from me and double me,” Roach said. “That’s when I got more outside linebacker, and that freed me up to make more tackles.”

He’ll have the opportunity to continue to pile up tackles at Texas, where Roach expects to play Fox end. Roach said he feels his experience playing both outside linebacker and defensive end is a boon to his potential at Fox.

Like playing the Fox end, football is a natural fit for Roach. After all, it’s the family game.

His dad, Mike, is the head coach at Madison Prep, while his uncle, Tyrone, played for the Buffalo Bills. His brother played cornerback at Grambling, while his grandfather, Albert Ventress, was a famous Baton Rouge high school coach. Even Roach’s mom played quarterback under her dad.

“My family always says the cream rises to the top, and the best talent is shown on the football field.”

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Per 247:

Roach is so physically raw that his body could take him to a number of different positions once Pat Moorer gets his hands on him.

He could be a Fox, a strong end, play the 4i or possibly slide down to tackle with a frame that could carry 280 pounds or more in time. A year in the weight room might do him wonders, but he’s bringing a ton of athleticism, position versatility and upside to the defensive line nevertheless, all of which are traits Strong and the staff value.

 

[Godz40acres]

Marcel Southall ... Duncanville (Duncanville, TX)
-horn ... DT ... 6-2/285​

In last year's 'crootin' cycle, Southall went from zero-zip-nada-nil stars to as high as 4 by Scout. Such a meteoric rise in such a short time gave him the nickname, "Meteor Man."

Okay, I just made that name up. But, Southall has enough speed and burst that, if he develops as expected, he could be our next Malc Brown.

Per 247:

Marcel Southall had no plans to play high-level college football following his junior season at Duncanville High School. He didn’t hold any high-major offers, and the 6-foot-2, 285-pound lineman wasn’t expecting any to come his way.

Seven years after his dad made him start playing football, Southall continued to play because he enjoyed the game.

“In the spring nobody really knew about me, so I wasn’t thinking too much about college football,” Southall said.

Duncanville head coach Reginald Samples arrived from Skyline in April of 2015, and one of the first things he noticed when he viewed tape of his team was Southall. A big, strong and fast defensive tackle – ideal in Samples’ words – Samples wondered why the defensive tackle didn’t hold any offers.

Samples made a simple adjustment to Southall’s tape; he added plays where Southall chased the ball down with his speed instead of just rushing the passer. Schools flooded to campus a few weeks later to watch Southall practice.

In the less than a month after Samples adjusted Southall’s tape, the big defensive tackle had notched offers from Texas, Baylor, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Florida, Alabama and many other schools.

If so many top programs felt Southall could to perform on the next level, Southall figured he had the ability to do so.

“I felt like I had way more potential than I ever showed. (The offers) pushed me to play harder.”

A defensive tackle with the ability to play both inside and out – Southall feels he’s best as a 3-technique DT – Southall said the Longhorns had everything he was looking for.

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Per Scout:

Southall is a strong, sure tackler who can deliver a big blow thanks to short-area explosion that is noticeably better than most players of his size and position. Southall's transition to college should not be as difficult as many players because of his high school career spent in Texas' Class 6A, the state's largest classification, and particularly the district in which he played just south of Dallas, a league known as one of the very best in the Lone Star State.

Southall flashes a good rip move in pass-rushing situations and possesses the size and athleticism to become a good interior pocket-collapser in college. He's better at the end of the play than the beginning of the play, run or pass. Improved consistency and get-off will help Southall develop that part of his game and his overall performance.

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Per 247:

There are some of my colleagues within the industry who feel there’s legitimate NFL potential inside of Marcel Southall. [He] is a plus athlete in the trenches who knows how to win in a phone booth.

Like a lot of defensive tackles who have to transition to the next level, the knock I hear on Southall is he needs to develop a motor and learn technique. Thankfully for Texas, those are the kinds of things this staff prides itself on being able to get out of their players.

 

[Godz40acres]

And now for the final recruit in the stellar University of Texas Football 2016 class....

 

[Godz40acres]

Gerald Wilbon ... Destrehan (Destrehan, LA)
-horn ... DT ... 6-2/327
​

This was definitely not planned; Wilbon's posting here just happened to fall on Father's Day. See below.

Per 247:

“It was just me and my mom.”

When Wilbon was five his father was arrested and later incarcerated for his role in an armed robbery.

Rather than letting his father’s situation define him, Wilbon chose to go down a different path, becoming driven to make the most of his gifts.

Wilbon’s mother, Roxanne, a registered nurse, worked mostly 12-hour night shifts, which left Wilbon and his sister home alone. Roxanne did everything she could to make right by her children as a single mother.

“I respect her for everything she does,” Wilbon said. “She works hard.”

Wilbon has always made a conscious effort to live life the right way, developing character along the way, which he learned from his grandparents, that help define him.

“Going into high school I realized I just couldn’t get into things I shouldn’t get into,” Wilbon said. “I didn’t want to cause any more problems than we already had.”

Wilbon's mother is his inspiration and his grandfather took on the role of being the positive male role model in his life. The family did their best to raise Wilbon on his journey to becoming a man, but football helped mold him.

Wilbon always had the size and athleticism needed to succeed on the field. Blessed with great natural tools, his perseverance and the hard work he watched his mother put forth are what got him to Texas.

Wilbon never thought he’d have the opportunity to play at Texas. An LSU fan who said he grew out of his love for the Bayou Bengals due to feeling like Baton Rouge wasn’t the right place for him, Wilbon fell in love with Austin and the Longhorns when defensive line coach Brick Haley started recruiting him.

It was during the trip to Austin last summer when Wilbon got a face-to-face meeting with Charlie Strong and got the head coach’s recruiting pitch firsthand.

“He told me basically that Texas was a family, they’ll take care of me,” Wilbon said. “My mom likes coach Strong a lot because she realizes the type of man he is.”

Wilbon enters the Texas program as the lowest-rated signee among the five defensive tackles the Longhorns took in the 2016 cycle, but don’t let the ranking fool you. The challenge of pushing for playing time and moving ahead of some talented interior defenders is something Wilbon is prepared to meet with the kind of fury and force that allowed him to squat over 600 pounds in high school.

The improved lateral mobility he displayed as a senior is what will have him knocking on the door for meaningful snaps. Wilbon’s skills could allow him to be an immediate contributor to a Longhorn defense that bases out of a nickel look and prefers to mix between even and odd fronts to keep offenses uncomfortable.

Wilbon showed the feet and explosiveness off of the ball that could lend themselves to doing more than playing over the ball down the road. [H]e’s strong enough to be able to absorb blocks and not get driven back to the second level of the defense.

Confident in what he can do on the football field, Wilbon is comfortable with the person he’s become as he prepares to begin the next chapter of his life.

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Per BON:

Once a popular candidate to move to the offensive line, Wilbon showed tremendous improvement in his senior film that somehow never translated to a boost in the recruiting rankings -- by the end of the process, he was merely a mid three-star prospect.

Throw in the fact that Wilbon held fewer than 15 offers, three from Power 5 schools, and did not see a single SEC school enter his recruitment at any point in the process, and it was easy to overlook him.

Texas is sorely lacking in pure physical power in the middle and no other member of the defensive tackle class provides as much physical power as Wilbon.

At 6'2 and 327 pounds, it's not just his mass that makes him so special. Look at his lower body -- there's the power there that Ridgeway provided, but note as well that Wilbon has much more ideal size than Jackson or another undersized defensive tackle like Poona Ford. The Louisiana product possesses none of the physical disadvantages that Jackson faced as a Longhorns and Ford will continue to face over his final two seasons.

Even though Wilbon doesn't have the same natural leverage that [Desmond] Jackson had, his greatest attribute on tape may be his ability to fire low off the ball, a significant complaint with just about every defensive tackle coming out of high school ever. In addition, some improvement in technique, especially with his hands, showcases a learning curve that headed in the right direction.

So, he's just a gap-plugging run stuffer? Not exactly. While Wilbon may rank last among the defensive tackles in this signing class when comparing first steps, his quickness is good for a player of his size.

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Per IT:

Thick and barrel-chested, Wilbon is a cask filled with MANSTRENF. Physically we know he’s ready because of his highly advanced functional power. An easy case can be made for him to be in the top 10 biggest contributors. If he becomes the early surprise of the class it wouldn’t be a shocker.

Along with the strength he was apparently born with, Wilbon’s quickness and agility improved drastically from his junior to senior year. I suspect we have a hard worker on our hands here.

 

[Godz40acres]

2016 Recruiting Class Evaluation
QB​

Strong is always content to let the player development simmer in the pot before dipping in the ladle, but QB is one position where he's comfortable making an early commitment to his meal. Shane Buechele earned his place in the 2016 class before his junior season when he outperformed his same age peers and the 2015 QB prospects at the Longhorn Under The Lights event, showing accuracy, a coachable nature, excellent feet and top notch leadership skills.

These same traits drew him raves at the Elite 11 camp where Trent Dilfer attempted to legally adopt him after he showed the ability to digest a playbook in an evening of study. Coaches like mature, smart QBs with a feel for the game, even when they're not 6-5, 230.

Buechele's strengths are... good mobility, natural mechanics that allow him to release the ball accurately on the move, and an ability to make the consistent throws and pre-snap reads that move the chains. Shane is very athletic if one defines it as the ability to acquire and deploy new physical skills quickly, rather than just explosive display. Physical intelligence. He's the irritating guy who can pick up a new sport in a day and a half while the rest of us look like Belgians trying to throw a baseball.

You can make a pretty solid argument that the Longhorns landed the best QB in the state who possesses every intangible that coaches want in their on-field leader.

[BC article]

 

[Godz40acres]

2016 Recruiting Class Evaluation
WR (Part 1)​

This wide receiver group runs an interesting gamut of body types, skill sets and upside. Texas needs legitimate outside receivers and more playmakers after the catch and the staff found some interesting solutions.

Collin Johnson – I've watched enough high school film to grow accustomed to seeing big fast guys. I'm used to seeing big bodied receivers go Moses Malone on 5-8 cornerbacks. But I take notice when a big athletic receiver exhibits some of the unheralded soft skills and more subtle athletic qualities that separate the college elite from high school stars. That's Johnson.

The Californian legacy... has enough on sophomore and junior film to convince me that he's one of the best receiving prospects in the country. Johnson has enough long speed to eat up cushion and possesses elite hands and catch radius. He's a prototypical outside wide receiver and does his best work down the field turning 50/50 jump balls into 90/10 propositions. His body control is exceptional and he dominates red zone opportunities.

Lil'Jordan Humphrey – Humphrey may look like a rough physical comp to Big'Collin Johnson, but his skill set is entirely different, doing much of his damage with the ball in his hands after the catch. Lil'Jordan is uniquely fluid for a 6-4 athlete and while his straight line speed and explosiveness aren't exceptional attributes, his shiftiness, acceleration and ability to cut on the go can be jaw-dropping. [H]is senior tape revealed that he'd taken significant strides as a pass catcher, he demonstrated good physicality and aggression and he gained good weight in his lower body.

His route running can be...interesting? - but that can be coached up. Humphrey has a role as a big receiver who can do work after the catch in the screen, slant and stop game. But he'll be a limited, if exciting, one trick pony against better competition until he can develop a more comprehensive set of receiving skills. Similarly, if Humphrey can put on another 25 pounds of good weight, he could be a real problem inside as a flexed tight end.

[BC article]

 

[Godz40acres]

2016 Recruiting Class Evaluation
WR (Part 2)​

Devin Duvernay – Let's be clear about Duvernay's [speed] level: he ran a 10.27 100 meters at the 6A Texas State Championships. He not only won the event and was the fastest kid in the entire state (which was a loaded field....the slowest kid knocked out a 10.52), but that time made him the 3rd fastest schoolboy sprinter in the nation. Unsurprisingly, he has also knocked off a laser timed 4.32 40 and vertical jumped 38 inches. I'm going to speculate that he might have some fast twitch muscle fibers. A respectable 4.2 shuttle run also suggest he's not just a straight liner.

In any other country, Duvernay wouldn't be headed to a Texas dorm room preparing for two-a-days...he'd be living in an Olympic training center.

Duvernay can change direction with the swiftness of a poorly-polling politician, and he also boasts the long speed to outrun angles along with a sufficiently sturdy base (5'11", 195) to power through the arm tackles and thigh slaps that used to waylay JGray and then immediately get back up to gear.

He can do plenty of Game One business on simple bubble/tunnel screens and RPOs, adding some extra incentive for teams to keep defenders aligned in his neighborhood and a step or two farther from Downhill D'Onta and the run game.

He's also shown the ability to throw that full-speed KD Cannon hip flip to the post that can freeze and then burn a safety who's isolated in space. And when Texas is rolling out three- and four-wideout sets with punishers like John Burt and Collin Johnson on the outside, Big XII safeties are going to be isolated in unforgiving space like a post-Nostromo Ellen Ripley.

[BC articles 1 and 2]

 

[Godz40acres]

2016 Recruiting Class Evaluation
WR (Part 3)​

Davion Curtis – I'm now well accustomed to Strong's senior season risers, their commitments inevitability followed by Mack Brown era-trained fans grousing about rankings, then followed by that player's ascension up those rankings as their abilities become obvious to even the dimmest evaluator (see Andrew Fitzgerald, D'Andre Christmas-Giles, Denzel Okafor, etc.).

Curtis didn't see that late rankings bump from three star status, but not for lack of production at Temple. Curtis caught 44 balls for 987 yards and 11 touchdowns (22.4 yards per catch) as a senior operating in an offense very similar to Sterlin Gilbert's. The former Georgia commitment has football speed (Longhorn coaches clocked him at a 4.4 40) and it doesn't take many film reels to get that across. It's more or less the same highlight on repeat.

Curtis looks like he'll carry 190+ in college easily, shows some ability after the catch... and great first step acceleration..., but it's tough to get a read on a speed-based player lined up outside running go routes and deep posts when he'll do his best work complementing outside receivers at the college level. There his success will be heavily predicated on consistency, short area quickness, creating after the catch, hands and route running.

Reggie Hemphill-Mapps – Hemphill-Mapps committed to Texas his sophomore year of high school, but Strong and his staff rescinded those early offers in order to re-evaluate some very questionable prospects. Strong was widely criticized at the time, but in retrospect, the decision was proven correct. Hemphill-Mapps earned back his scholarship as a junior and it's a tribute to his character and his desire to be a Longhorn that he bore no ill will towards the new staff.

RHM isn't particularly explosive, but he's very smooth, long-limbed, has good hands and runs clean routes. While he wasn't featured in a precise offense that allowed him to showcase his best attributes, his lack of production or value-add on special teams suggests that his best upside will be as a chain moving possession receiver.

[BC article]

 

[Joe Fan]

IMO, what sets Giles apart is his first step.
That gives him a chance to be special
Very glad he is safely in

 

[Godz40acres]

Devin Duvernay ... Sachse (Sachse, TX)
-horn ... WR ... 5-11/195​

Apologies for this late addition to the thread, but he was, after all, a late addition to the team.

Devin Duvernay's commitment moves Texas' 2016 recruiting class from #11 to #9 in the nation.

Rivals.com analysis:

 

[Godz40acres]

2016 Recruiting Class Evaluation
TE​

Peyton Aucoin is a blocking tight end whose upside will be determined by how determined he is to hit the weight room and layer size and strength on to a big frame. He's still growing into his body and I believe his best realization as a TE will be around 270, but his best realization as an overall player could very well be as a 300 pound offensive tackle. Aucoin is a role player - he's at Texas to block people.

Aucoin uses his size and athleticism to good advantage against smaller opponents - stalking and overwhelming them in space and driving people on down blocks. I think he's some time away from being able to handle Emmanuel Ogbah on an outside zone run.

I think he should drive his weight upwards and see what happens.

[BC article]

 

[Godz40acres]

2016 Recruiting Class Evaluation
OL​

I think this could be the most underrated position group in the class.

"College ready" isn't defined by virtue of the fact that a prospect weighs the same as a starting NFL linemen. Several women at the local Cracker Barrel share the same qualifier. Adding weight and strength to large, genetically gifted young men isn't very hard, but great feet, a natural anchor, wingspan, competitive motor and coordinated explosiveness aren't as trainable. I really like the potential of the youngsters after a strong 2015 haul.

Denzel Okafor – Okafor was lightly regarded by recruiting services well into his senior year (one had him as a two star) but senior film and the elevated interest from major programs eventually saw him upgraded to a national level recruit. Okafor is the rare athlete who could play every position on the offensive line. He has a big wingspan, good lateral movement, exhibits good effort and the athleticism to operate in space.

From a developmental perspective, he's going to have to get his pads down when battling interior DL. I consider him one of the best prospects in the entire class regardless of position.

Jean Delance – Delance [is] the prototypical athletic OT. Flat belly, long arms, room to carry 310 and maintain athleticism and the physical characteristics required to match the edge-rushing freaks he'll be tasked with neutralizing. Delance's upside will be almost solely determined by skill acquisition and refinement.

Right now he's a giant Great Dane puppy winning at the dog park with strength and size. Some of his big man habits are things Mattox will work to correct.

Once he engrains proper habits and stops thinking, he'll operate at a speed that matches his athletic ability. He'll be an interesting test of Mattox's ability to teach and develop a raw athlete with a NFL body.

Zach Shackelford – Watching Shack play and then seeing his unassuming picture out of pads is a little like taking off Jason's mask in Friday the 13th and revealing Ned Flanders. I love his attitude and unfiltered aggression. Apparently, Bill Snyder did too as the Purple Wizard left his lair to actually visit Shackelford for a home recruiting visit - an honor he last reserved for Red Grange.

Shackelford has a great natural anchor. That's a diplomatic way of saying he has the posterior chain of a rhino. He has a naturally low weight distribution and he can fix himself in a spot or root out others from theirs.

The Shack Attack seems to take special joy in driving defenders into the ground and concludes all of his pancakes with a 300 pound topping. That nasty attitude has been sorely lacking on the Texas OL for too long.

Tope Imade – The 320 pounder is the biggest of the 2016 OL recruits and certainly looks the part. Despite his mass, Tope has pretty light feet and that combination suggests that he'll have little trouble holding his ground inside and forming a strong interior wall for pass protection.

Imade isn't all that explosive at the point of attack, but he's so massive and his feet are so active that he grinds defenders down just by putting his weight on them and keeping it on them. As he gets stronger, he'll have a chance to add a strong initial punch. A great big raw ball of clay looking to be molded.

[BC article]

 

[Dionysus]

Maybe some good crootin’ news this weekend...? 2016 class could use a couple more big dawgs.

 

[moondog_LFZ]

Texas adds four-star OT, former Baylor signee JP Urquidez
http://texas.247sports.com/Article/...s-four-star-OT-former-Baylor-signee--45950669

 

[Dionysus]

 

[mchammer]

Class now has 5 OL. Six would be sick.

 

[Godz40acres]

JP Urquidez ... Copperas Cove (Copperas Cove, TX)
-horn ... OT ... 6-6/300​

“I always cheered for [Texas] growing up and it’s hard to say no to my childhood favorite.” – JP Urquidez (Dec 14, 2015)

Though he appeared to be a big Texas lean, JP said "no" to the 'Horns and "yes" to the Bares in June of 2015. Yesterday, he jumped Bailor and joined the Good Guys in the wake of the tragic, nasty, and completely avoidable crap which is still circling the toilet bowl in Waco.

Urquidez's commitment moves Texas' 2016 recruiting class from #9 to #8 in the nation. This after Devin Duvernay moving us from #11 to #9.

Per TFB:

JP is a tall, very large, and athletic young man and fits the bill for what offensive line coach Matt Mattox is looking for in a guard-tackle prospect. He appears ‘nasty’ as well.

JP’s stance and footwork appear to be good, not to mention his hands. Also, he possesses strong hips and good trunk strength. What I liked the most was his ability to drive block and move defensive linemen well off the line of scrimmage, which is why I think JP will best be utilized as a guard at the next level. Whatever happens, Texas receives the services of a major talent on the offensive line!

-------

Per IT:

Urquidez has the quickness and frame to be a left tackle for Texas, and if given time to continue to fill out and add strength he would thrive with Matt Mattox where he could use his footwork to set up defenders before latching on and controlling them. It’s not clear if he’ll become a mauler at the point of attack but he’s very capable of getting movement on double teams and staying in front of edge players.

Urquidez has drawn mixed reviews but I think he’ll be really good once he learns some technique and adds some strength because all of the tools are there. Sometimes he shows really quick feet, other times he gets guys thanks to his reach and then relies on that rather than finishing blocks with his feet. Sometimes he shows real aggressiveness and power, other times he lacks punch. I think he could be a lead tackle in the system with some time and confidence-building work in practice and in the weight room.

As is, I see him as a guy that needs at least 2-3 years of molding before I am giving him reps in the 2-deep.

The big nasty has the frame (6-foot-6) for tackle, but size (305 pounds) and mentality for guard.

 

[Godz40acres]

Donovan Duvernay ... Sachse (Sachse, TX)
-horn ... CB/WR ... 5-9/177​

Donavan joins brother Devin in their exodus from Bailor.

Per IT:

Donovan Duvernay… has real quickness and receiving ability so if he learns to run routes better than anyone else he has a chance to find the field. You also wonder if he might have upside on defense.

The more I watch the kid, the more I like him and think you can find a way to factor him to your football team. Now whether you are going to keep him at receiver where most of his tape features him at or at defensive back where you have to go back to his junior tape to see him at is another story. On the offensive side he makes a good amount of plays and seems to have a knack for getting himself open. He’s a potential utility guy that can be used in a variety of ways on offense and could even be showcased as a returner.

He projects at WR or DB. The 3-star from Sachse enjoyed a great season in his senior campaign in which he had 520 yards receiving on 38 catches, eight scores, plus 192 yards on the ground, one TD in his senior year.

-------

Per TFB:

Donovan possesses very good body control, has some ‘wiggle’ or the ability to evade defenders in tight spaces. He also appears strong for his size. Donovan understands leverage, as it relates to the passing game. He also sits well in zone coverage, finding voided spaces, a quality that isn’t as easy as it sounds. Lastly, he has good hands and plays hard.

Donovan… does possess legitimate division 1 level traits. Where he finds himself in 3 to 4 years remains unseen, but hard work can elevate many seemingly ‘ordinary’ athletes.

 

[Godz40acres]

2016 Recruiting Class Evaluation
DB​

Despite a promising 2015 haul, there's still a talent, experience and depth deficit in the Longhorn secondary. In 2016, Texas signed the best defensive back in the state and complemented him with a pair of versatile athletes that will help to fill any holes from the 2015 rebuild.

Brandon Jones – There's really no weakness in Brandon's game. He appears to have the complete package. Lateral range, the ability to change levels, good tackling, coverage skills, and the ability to make something happen with the ball in his hands. This is the do-everything safety that Charlie Strong and Vance Bedford have been waiting on.

One of my favorite aspects of Brandon's game is that he has the quickness and instincts to provide meaningful run support from passing game depth and the lateral ability to get outside the hash in a hurry. He also has the recovery ability to show an extra man in the box, force a play call change and then drop back off.

Eric Cuffee – Cuffee's most unique characteristics are his combination of quickness, size, flippy hips and a real knack for playing press man coverage. He's good at mirroring and I like how he sets himself up to make a play from the trail position. His ability to move fluidly and change directions is more important. Ideally, he's a cornerback or nickel.

Get him up to 195, refine the toolkit, offer him a little safety help over the top and let him mug some wide receivers.

Chris Brown – Chris Brown is multifaceted and capable of filling a lot of depth holes, but he distinguishes himself most by his work ethic and by having a major chip on his shoulder. Brown is a good hitter who plays the game with anticipation and passion. He's very opportunistic and heady.

While I think Brown could certainly play cornerback or nickel in a zone heavy defense, I think his strengths guide him to safety at Texas.

[BC article]

 

[Godz40acres]

Urquidez and Duvernay updated above.

 

[p_town_horn]

I can't help but think that with the Predator, the Shark, and Fowler (he needs a nickname ASAP) as end rushers, opposing QBs are going to want the ball out of their hands very quickly the next few years.

 

[mchammer]

Why does everyone believe Fowler is a QB rusher par excellence? Just curious.

 

[BevoJoe]

Why does everyone believe Fowler is a QB rusher par excellence? Just curious.

Looking at his film, he appears to have the physical attributes to develop into a solid pass rush guy. Let's hope his development at the college level proves it out.

 

[mchammer]

Looking at his film, he appears to have the physical attributes to develop into a solid pass rush guy. Let's hope his development at the college level proves it out.

Seems like typical pre-season hype without any more grounding than the next player.