jayakris
2,500+ Posts
4-star national top-250 WR Ryan Newsome (5-8, 170) is set to announce at 3 pm today, on his choice between UCLA and Texas.
There was a report this week from a UCLA reporter (who admitted that he knows Ryan is the nice boy kind who praises the school whose reporter he is talking to) that he really like UCLA. He also said good things about Texas but seemed to have a bit more leaning towards UCLA. One reason was that Ryan felt that Texas backed off of him for about 3 weeks since late december, while Mora was callinng almist every day and the UCLA players like #1 QB recruit in the nation Josh Rosen had been in touch with him. But he said he understood that Texas was waiting to hire a new WR coach, which may have been why. And we now know that Ryan was excited that we got Norvell who had been recruiting him for OU who was in his final 4 with us, UCLA, and Tennessee. But he said if that was all there was he would have committed to Texas already (he was pretty close till late December when UCLA started their push). Meaning, he felt that he was not the biggest priority for us for a while at least, and wanted to see what we were thinking. Anyway, I am not sure of the exact timing of this UCLA guys interview, but we have been recruiting him hard this week, since Norvell joined (Norvell did an in-home too). Hopefully we have cleared the air on why we cooled a bit.
In reality, I think having FS Tim Irvin in the fold for kick returns as a smaller playmaker, tall receiver Gilbert Johnson committing, and having taller receiver Carlos Strickland joining the WR list (with tall receiver Burt still uncertain), we were out of spots earlier. Sseeing one more decommit possibility (DB Davante Davis) we have some more spots now. And Carlos Strickland is now all but committed to UCLA. Hopefully Jay explained everything and Ryan Newsome knows that he is our priority recruit as the small playmaker guy in the team for Kick returns, and really the only speedy slot receiver we are taking. I have seen some opinions that he was the very best kick returner in Texas this year and may be the best in even a couple of years. That may be a bit of exaggeration but there's no doubt that he is seriously good in kick returns. Tony Jones II, in my opinion. I want him badly!
The other thing Ryan Newsome said is that his parents are seriously in favor of him staying in Texas. The distance is an issue for them. Newsome is a good kid, and has been fairly honest about everything. He has told multiple reporters that he is seriously torn between the two places. He may be 60-40 leaning to UCLA, with his parents 60-40 in our favor.
Then we had the whole Kyler Murray confusion over the last two days. There was a report late last night that Ryan Newsome had postponed the 3 pm press conference at his school (apparently to have an in-home with Charlie next week, which may only be a guess by somebody). That may mean that he was getting ready to pick UCLA and the Kyler news had some impact. Anyway, he announced later this morning that the 3 pm press conference is still on. Read it all for whatever it's worth.
I am still feeling only a 40% chance for him to pick us, though it might have been 45-35-20 for Texas-Tenn-UCLA a month ago, Then he dropped Tennessee and probably went to 40-60 for us and UCLA. Just my hunch feelings as of last night. Just that, right this morning, there are reports that we my have pulled ahead of UCLA once again, based on what UCLA guys are feeling! Who knows...
Everything is in flux now, but would be good to get a commit this afternoon at 3 pm.
[Meanwhile, topnotch 4-star JUCO tall-receiver has also become serious this week. Somebody Jay Norvell was recruiting for OU. But let's first see what Newsome says today!]
There was a report this week from a UCLA reporter (who admitted that he knows Ryan is the nice boy kind who praises the school whose reporter he is talking to) that he really like UCLA. He also said good things about Texas but seemed to have a bit more leaning towards UCLA. One reason was that Ryan felt that Texas backed off of him for about 3 weeks since late december, while Mora was callinng almist every day and the UCLA players like #1 QB recruit in the nation Josh Rosen had been in touch with him. But he said he understood that Texas was waiting to hire a new WR coach, which may have been why. And we now know that Ryan was excited that we got Norvell who had been recruiting him for OU who was in his final 4 with us, UCLA, and Tennessee. But he said if that was all there was he would have committed to Texas already (he was pretty close till late December when UCLA started their push). Meaning, he felt that he was not the biggest priority for us for a while at least, and wanted to see what we were thinking. Anyway, I am not sure of the exact timing of this UCLA guys interview, but we have been recruiting him hard this week, since Norvell joined (Norvell did an in-home too). Hopefully we have cleared the air on why we cooled a bit.
In reality, I think having FS Tim Irvin in the fold for kick returns as a smaller playmaker, tall receiver Gilbert Johnson committing, and having taller receiver Carlos Strickland joining the WR list (with tall receiver Burt still uncertain), we were out of spots earlier. Sseeing one more decommit possibility (DB Davante Davis) we have some more spots now. And Carlos Strickland is now all but committed to UCLA. Hopefully Jay explained everything and Ryan Newsome knows that he is our priority recruit as the small playmaker guy in the team for Kick returns, and really the only speedy slot receiver we are taking. I have seen some opinions that he was the very best kick returner in Texas this year and may be the best in even a couple of years. That may be a bit of exaggeration but there's no doubt that he is seriously good in kick returns. Tony Jones II, in my opinion. I want him badly!
The other thing Ryan Newsome said is that his parents are seriously in favor of him staying in Texas. The distance is an issue for them. Newsome is a good kid, and has been fairly honest about everything. He has told multiple reporters that he is seriously torn between the two places. He may be 60-40 leaning to UCLA, with his parents 60-40 in our favor.
Then we had the whole Kyler Murray confusion over the last two days. There was a report late last night that Ryan Newsome had postponed the 3 pm press conference at his school (apparently to have an in-home with Charlie next week, which may only be a guess by somebody). That may mean that he was getting ready to pick UCLA and the Kyler news had some impact. Anyway, he announced later this morning that the 3 pm press conference is still on. Read it all for whatever it's worth.
I am still feeling only a 40% chance for him to pick us, though it might have been 45-35-20 for Texas-Tenn-UCLA a month ago, Then he dropped Tennessee and probably went to 40-60 for us and UCLA. Just my hunch feelings as of last night. Just that, right this morning, there are reports that we my have pulled ahead of UCLA once again, based on what UCLA guys are feeling! Who knows...
Everything is in flux now, but would be good to get a commit this afternoon at 3 pm.
[Meanwhile, topnotch 4-star JUCO tall-receiver has also become serious this week. Somebody Jay Norvell was recruiting for OU. But let's first see what Newsome says today!]
