University of Texas Recruiting

[wadc45]

Well, this past weekend's Junior Day netted the Longhorns another 6 early verbals. That's after their junior day two weeks ago netted them 5 early verbals and they had one last week as well. All told, the Longhorns are already at 13 verbals...all but one (AZ QB Connor Brewer, their first verbal for '12) being from in-state.

 

[AuTX Buckeye]

Well, this past weekend's Junior Day netted the Longhorns another 6 early verbals. That's after their junior day two weeks ago netted them 5 early verbals and they had one last week as well. All told, the Longhorns are already at 13 verbals...all but one (AZ QB Connor Brewer, their first verbal for '12) being from in-state.

This will be interesting to watch, longhorns always seem to have room for 20-22 people, they currently only have 14 seniors on the roster, similar situation to us

 

[GeorgiaBuck2]

Can't believe we didn't land any verbals this weekend.

 

[matcar]

Can't believe we didn't land any verbals this weekend.

Anyone in particular you were expecting?

 

[pnuts34]

Can't believe we didn't land any verbals this weekend.

Why are you surprised by that?
I'm not even worried in the least to be honest. Kids will commit when they're good and ready

 

[jlb1705]

Well, this past weekend's Junior Day netted the Longhorns another 6 early verbals. That's after their junior day two weeks ago netted them 5 early verbals and they had one last week as well. All told, the Longhorns are already at 13 verbals...all but one (AZ QB Connor Brewer, their first verbal for '12) being from in-state.

How many offers do they usually put out there at this stage? I know Texas usually wraps up the bulk of their classes early and that seems to have served them well in the past. Are they selective with their offers like Ohio State, or do the carpetbomb the 4 & 5-star recruits in-state and tell 'em it's first come, first served?

 

[beserkr29]

How many offers do they usually put out there at this stage? I know Texas usually wraps up the bulk of their classes early and that seems to have served them well in the past. Are they selective with their offers like Ohio State, or do the carpetbomb the 4 & 5-star recruits in-state and tell 'em it's first come, first served?

Texas does an all or nothing campaign with nearly all of its recruits on Junior Day, especially the in-state ones that are already in awe of the program. After touring the facilities and hearing the pitch, the recruits are taken to a room with Mack and told that "you've got an offer on the table. You can take it now and play for UT, or you can walk out and be replaced by any number of candidates who would love to be in your position. Choose." Not exact quotations, but that's the gist. And, because Texas is a top tier program, the recruits overwhelmingly choose to commit. Aside from recruits from out of state that don't really have the ability to get to Austin a lot, Texas' class fills up very quickly. Just how the 'Horns do things. They won a title with it, but they also finished out of the bowls last year. Up to you to decide which approach you prefer.

 

[wadc45]

What's interesting is how little backlash there is from this approach. You figure there would be a couple of guys who would come out of that junior day saying "they wanted me to commit and I wasn't ready to and so they said they are going to offer someone else"...or something to that effect.

 

[beserkr29]

There's a little, but Texas is the biggest program in the state. A little like Nebraska, except that the Aggies and Horned Frogs are also present to provide competition. Texas is where the best want to be, so very few are going to say no to that. Add the fact that UT is probably pretty close to home and it seems like the perfect setup to most of the kids that the coaching staff will bring in to play there. It's hard to say "no" to. You've got a sure scholarship offer on one hand, and the unknown in a place that's further from home than UT. The happy far outweigh the disgruntled.

 

[Hodgepodge]

What's interesting is how little backlash there is from this approach. You figure there would be a couple of guys who would come out of that junior day saying "they wanted me to commit and I wasn't ready to and so they said they are going to offer someone else"...or something to that effect.

Not only that, but it is really rare to hear about a Texas commit reneging on his verbal.

 

[Cincinnatibuck]

Not only that, but it is really rare to hear about a Texas commit reneging on his verbal.

Probably would not be allowed back in the city limits of their home town. You don't get to leave the Panthers to go play at Dillon East without consequences.

 

[jlb1705]

How many offers do they usually put out there at this stage? I know Texas usually wraps up the bulk of their classes early and that seems to have served them well in the past. Are they selective with their offers like Ohio State, or do the carpetbomb the 4 & 5-star recruits in-state and tell 'em it's first come, first served?

Texas does an all or nothing campaign with nearly all of its recruits on Junior Day, especially the in-state ones that are already in awe of the program. After touring the facilities and hearing the pitch, the recruits are taken to a room with Mack and told that "you've got an offer on the table. You can take it now and play for UT, or you can walk out and be replaced by any number of candidates who would love to be in your position. Choose." Not exact quotations, but that's the gist. And, because Texas is a top tier program, the recruits overwhelmingly choose to commit. Aside from recruits from out of state that don't really have the ability to get to Austin a lot, Texas' class fills up very quickly. Just how the 'Horns do things. They won a title with it, but they also finished out of the bowls last year. Up to you to decide which approach you prefer.

Seems to me like you could let a large number of second-tier targets jump to the front of the line by taking this approach.

Honestly, I'd be scared by a Texas program that took a more nuanced approach to recruiting than this.

 

[buckeyescott11]

Interesting that A&M has 15 verbals already. They're giving Tejas a run for their money. The question is, are A&M's verbals the same quality that Tejas' usually are?

 

[Roll Red Roll]

I've always been impressed with the classes Texas brings in year after year.

 

[AuTX Buckeye]

Seems to me like you could let a large number of second-tier targets jump to the front of the line by taking this approach.

Honestly, I'd be scared by a Texas program that took a more nuanced approach to recruiting than this.

If you follow rankings then this isn't the case, if you follow production of their classes this is the case. IMHO they tend of offer guys what would fall all over themselves to get an offer from Texas, guys they could probably wait until the end of signing period and still get to sign.

They were talking about it today on the radio, they don't pull this stunt (not mentioning the here's your offer take it or leave it but it was implied) with national level recruits, just the lower tier guys that they like. As they put it, guys who will recruit the other guys to Texas. Oh course everyone they picked up is definitely a top 100 guy nationwide (see my first statement production vs ranking). Also with under old Mack, recruiting went something like this, if they were only planning on taking one guy at a position, they told that guy they wouldn't recruit anyone behind them and they would be the only one, doing this after junior year can get you in trouble. see Chris Whaley vs Christine Michael of 09, whaley was a big (6'3 230) RB that was their "not gonna recruit anyone behind you" after his junior year. Senior year, he kinda blew up a little (weight) while Michael blew up the charts... Michael never got a UT offer.

I'm surprised Mack has let any of this stuff slip out, he's gone to defcon 5, no open spring practices, hell i don't even think the parents of the kids got practice schedules. Shaping up for another fun year of high expectations with mediocre results (typical Mack).