Otaro Alaka

[Handler XIII]

Looks like he's taking an official visit to A&M, hopefully Strong doesn't go 0-2 against Sumlin. Hopefully, Strong starts tomorrow off with a blitz off of A&M's committed list.

 

[LonghornCatholic]

I think defenders are also very much interested in the type of offense we run.
With no OC yet, don't expect any huge commits. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[Dirty Martin]

You would think they might be more interested in what type of defense we will be playing. It would really be strange if our decommits were on the defensive side after hiring a defensive-minded coach and having a good staff in place on that side of the ball.

 

[dalhorn1]

this is baffling. for all of the woes that we had on defense this season, there's not many that would've taken aggy defense over ours. good grief, their d sucked crap through a straw the whole season, and they didn't have nearly the injuries that we did. imagine how poor their d would have been if they had to face more potent offenses

 

[notanative]

Maybe it's dawned on them that you don't have to sit in the first two rows if all your classes are online.

 

[PropositionJoe]

for all of the good things mike sherman did, he deserves a ton of blame for a lack of defensive depth.

 

[gahornphan]

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[ReaganHorn]

Strong is 0-2? Who was the first?

 

[ronich]

The Link

 

[Third Coast]

So, it was the aggy commitment list Dave Bowman saw in the monolith when he said, "My God—it's full of stars!".

 

[jayakris]

From that article (though it is from 9 days back) - he said,

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[HornSwoggler]

Whoa, slow down, don't give up on Alaka yet. He is taking a couple visits after apparently making a decision based on what is best for him at this time. Why shouldn't he do that? There has been a complete turnover in the coaching staff except for Chambers. Any recruit ought to do the same. And as was mentioned, that comment came over a week ago. At the time, the new coaches had not been able to visit him to discuss things in person. Maybe Strong's style of D along with how Jean-Mary coaches don't suit Alaka. Better to know that now and look at some alternatives.

In the end, he may decide joining the Horns is the best thing for him. I hope that is the case.

 

[OldHippie]

I agree with Hornswoggler.

Some predicted a win at home by the favored Aggies in the last meeting of the UT/A&M series, and we know how that turned out. You might want to wait and see how this one turns out before assuming an Aggie win.

I think Edwin Freeman makes it 1-1 now in the Strong/Sumlin recruiting wars.

 

[jmtamu]

Sumlin and the Ags told Freeman they were moving on about a month ago.

I have no idea what Alaka is going to do.

 

[ViperHorn]

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[Dirty Martin]

So basically after Freeman wouldn't commit to the ags Sumlib told him they would move on.

Seems logical, but hardly a recruiting victory. Most coaches move on when a kid says he is not going to commit. Obviously he was just waiting for an offer from Texas. It certainly wasn't a matter of Sumlin not wanting Freeman.

 

[hornpharmd]

we have a new freakn' head coach and new coordinators at just about every position. I do not nlame any of these guys for wanting to reconsider their options.

 

[jayakris]

There is nothing wrong in looking at other places when the coaches change. My complaint about him was only at the impatient statement he made some 10-12 days back before we even had coaching staff in place that he 'looked at the defensive scheme and other places fit him better". I just don't like guys who talk crap like that. Just be straight and say that he will wait to hear form the new coaches at the place he said he is committed to, but that he would be looking around meanwhile.

Okay, anyway, it seems he didn't commit to aggy during the visit this weekend. May be he figured out that we didn't just hire Bobby Jack Wright or Manny Diaz to run our defense.

On the other hand, may be he talked ambiguously and was misquoted in what I quoted above. All he meant was probably that he looked at defensive schemes at other places and found some to fit him, while he was waiting for information on Texas' plans. If so, I'm totally cool with him.

 

[jmtamu]

It sounds like several are you are hedging your emotions so you can say "F that guy" if he leaves, but "glad we were able to hold this important guy" if he stays.

I get it, but kind of funny. I still have no idea what he is going to do. Total tossup between A&M and Texas at this point I think.

 

[dillohorn]

Why is aggy here?

 

[jayakris]

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[madcow]

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[Vol Horn 4 Life]

I find it interesting that he's visiting LSU but according to Rivals he doesn't have an offer.

 

[jayakris]

I believe Charlie met Oataro first today, followed by Sumlin, at school. There's some news this morning that he *might* make another visit (unofficial) to Texas this weekend. He still has not decommitted from us, though nobody considers him committed either.

Apparently tonight, Sumlin has an in-home visit with him, followed immediately by Charlie. I guess a full court press is on, by us and aggy. At least Charlie has the final visit at home. We may have a better idea by tonight, I guess.

 

[jmtamu]

Seems like a total tossup. It doesn't seem like either fanbase has a clue what this guy is going to do.

 

[Hu_Fan]

Otaro Alaka -- @OtaroAlaka
Been a long day but good home visits with coach Strong and Coach Sumlin

Instagram:The Link

 

[jayakris]

Coach Strong just looks so relaxed and to be having fun in all these recruiting pictures. He is putting in real hard work too (as is his staff, seeing all the traveling and visits they all are doing).

Charlie may be the coolest and friendliest looking 'drill-sargeant' coach ever! Can't think of any other coach with such a tough-as-nails-on-discipline reputation, who also has such an infectious smile like him!

The pictures do make me think that the odds may have flipped from 45-55 between us and aggy to 55-45 in our favor as of now

... Means nothing of course!

 

[wadster]

He looks more comfortable with coach Strong. That and a quarter still won't get you a cup of coffee, but he's got a big smile in the last pic and looks kind of reserved with Sumlin.

 

[caryhorn]

Hey wadster, I'll grasp that straw with you. He really does look more relaxed with Coach Strong, and I'm saying right now that Alaka is a Horn!!

 

[jayakris]

FWIW, it seems he has dropped the plans for another visit to Texas this weekend. But that may be because of weather more than anything else. He just met our coaches yesterday and spent enough time to know of their plans. He had already officially visited UT anyway; so may have decided to not brave the cold for another trip to Austin, that's all.