December 26,2001
First off I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and all the joy that goes with a truly special time.I have received some emails lately blasting me about only covering UT recruiting news and I ignore the rest of the in state programs.....hello !! Its probably because UT is making the most noise right now and today the decibel rating just increased with the news of Lancaster's Larry Dibbles committing to the Horns over arch rival Oklahoma.LD is ranked #2 on the TPS60 and now completes the best D-line class in the country bar none.UT fans can also chalk up another head to head win vs.OU and one can only wonder if Mack Brown does indeed "Get what he wants" as many like to put it.On a down note UT lost QB Billy Don Malone(#56 TPS60) of Paris Lamar who was one of the Horns summer commits who now looks to be headed to Tulane where his brother Gary was recently offered.I watched BDM play two times this year and I just can't tell you enough how much I liked this kid and his overall feel for the game.I have talked to his mother and grandmother both of whom were just as friendly as you could get.I really hope it all works with the Malone's regardless of their final destination and at this point the Green Wave has the inside track.
Although I have not seen confirmation Texas Tech looks to have landed two gems from the Louisiana football factory of Shreveport Evangel as well as one of Texas' best RB's in Vincent Meeks of Rockwall who was once pledged to West Virginia.Tech scored big with WR Thomas Bachman of Evangel as this kid is a true playmaker and is ready for the college game.Playing with a future Heisman candidate in John David Booty has prepared him for a passing offense that current Red Raiders QB Klif Kingsbury operates and in MHO Bachman will be an impact player for Coach Mike Leach.Tech also scored big at least potential wise with DL Reggie Banks who was once considered a soft commit to Arkansas.Banks is 6'4" 260 with 4.8 speed so his athleticism could be a force out in Lubbock.Landing Banks gives Tech two head to head wins with a SEC school as they also landed ATH Micah Sweats (#48 TPS60) of Jersey Village who was offered as well by the Razorbacks.Sweats was I believe the Greater Houston POY and although small in stature makes plays.He is a LB in DB's body but a playmaker like him will placed somewhere to utilize his great football skills.
December 19,2001
As I mentioned at the end of the last report I spoke with LB Josh Miller of Warrensburg,Ill(Latham) and he gave me an update on a few things left out of his report by Rivals100 earlier today. He spoke very highly of LSU,Texas,and Missouri and if all works out would like to attend one of those schools.The Missouri DC was at his school today and he said he enjoyed the visit a lot and the idea of early PT and solid academics at Mizzou are something he has his eyes on.Josh carries a 3.2 GPA/18 ACT so he is ready for the next step.Josh is also being recruited by Ron Turner of Illinois and has talked to Texas DC Carl Reese about a visit in January and is looking forward to it.Again although his parents prefer he go to Illinois or Michigan State he would like to attend school further away if all works out which of course is all pending on scholarship offers.Josh has been offered by several other programs such as Western Illinois,Eastern Illinois,and Western Kentucky.Here are the vitals on a solid D-1 prospect who feels and I agree will receive some offers from the big boys soon:
Size:6'2" 235
Speed:4.8
Bench:365 including 185x28 and 225x19 at the Decatur Summer Camp
Squat:475
Jersey:#34
Shuttle time:4.29
Stats:Has started since his Freshman season at which time he played DE until his Soph.year and then switched to MLB and racked up 153 tackles his Jr.campaign.and in a injury plagued Sr.year had 57 stops in just three games.Sounds like another Zach Thomas to me but even taller and Josh prides himself on being a sideline to sideline playmaker.
December 19,2001
Well to say the recruiting scene is getting hot is an understatement and at this time no other program is hotter than the Texas Longhorns.Critics come out in full force of the Mack Brown regime and much of it is deserved but no one I repeat no one can dispute their ability to recruit big time athletes.Much credit has to go to this staff for efforts to identify specific targets and land them regardless of depth at that particular position or the negative recruiting used by other rival programs.UT's biggest recruiting need for the '02 class is DL and LB and its safe to say mission is accomplished with players like DL Larry Dibbles #2 TPS60 and OL Justin Blalock #8 TPS60 still being targeted.If Texas lands these two mega recruits it will give Texas hands down the top class in the country barring any more unforseen decommits.
In the last two days UT has landed the states top two RB prospects and two of the top three DL prospects in my opinion.Rodrique Wright of Alief Hastings and Marco Martin of Mesquite(ranked #3 and #4 TPS60)are both run 300+ run stuffers who said no to some serious programs such as Texas A/M,FSU,OU,Tennessee,and LSU.These kids will join an already stellar group of D-lineman that include Lyle Seindlein,Chase Pittman,and Tully Janzen.UT also stocked up on ballcarriers landing the #12 and #15 on the TPS60 Selvin Young of Jersey Village and Albert Hardy of Galena Park.I think Hardy might be moved to fullback but either way these are some talented ballcarriers coming to the 40 Acres in 2002.UT landing Hardy was no surprise as he has been a lean for some time now but reeling in Young over OU was a huge surprise to most folks.Young looked to be a lock to go out of state but will now contend for PT behind freshman phenom Cedric Benson.The Horns landing Selvin Young and Rod Wright really hurt OU more than they will admit.Thats all for now..its chow time boys !!! I will update later tonight about a out of state kid that Rivals100 had a quick update on today,Josh Miller of Illinois.I spoke with him earlier tonight and had an excellent conversation with him.
September 21,2001
Many rumors are floating that some of the Aggie verbals are thinking of jumping ship but I don't see it happening at least not to the extreme as being mentioned.Massive O-lineman Cody Douglas of LaMarque was one of the Ags first verbals for 2002 is scheduled to visit Michigan next weekend and this is not good news for the Ag faithful.But no need for all out panic either.Folks have to consider the temptations of a visit to other areas of the this great nation are hard to turn down and I think this may be the case with Douglas as well.The LaMarque connection to College Station is very strong with Alan Waddell and many ex Cougar players so if Douglas ends up a Wolverine or even a Sooner I would be very surprised.
The key recruit the Ags will be hard pressed to hold on is their top target and most high profile that being all everything QB Reggie McNeal of Lufkin.If A/M falters to a 7-4 or 6-5 type season don't think McNeal won't have second thoughts about his program destination.That destination my friends will be Arkansas in my opinion.RM has attended their summer camp the last couple of years and was their top recruiting target and with their lackluster QB play early PT is the selling point.Living here in Texarkana the kids really are sold on the Hawgs for whatever reason that might be and if you live out here(deep East Texas) you can relate to what I am saying.Arkansas has a great fan base but has one of the most classless coaches in the nation in Houston Nutt who is downright goofy.I will have no problem admitting I was wrong if McNeal stays in state but again I think he ends up a Hawg. STAY and PLAY Texas Recruits !!!
September 13,2001
Where do I start after all that has happened to our great nation? I just can't describe how down and just plain pissed off I am right now.Sept.11 will be a day that I will never forget and I can only hope the parties responsible for the cowardly acts are caught and punished.I am not a religious person in most regards but I have prayed a lot in the last two days for the folks affiliated with this tragedy.Keep the faith that they find more survivors.
I never posted about Texas verbal commit Billy Don Malone of Paris North Lamar.I went to Atlanta two weeks ago and watched him against the always quick Rabbits defense.BDM has a lot of skills and its easy to see why Texas offered him after he attended their camp.I went expecting to see a cannon for an arm but I was actually more impressed with his overall ability,especially his escapability and running skills.BDM was running for his life all game but again he showed an ability to buy time and had a very quick release with more than adequate arm strength.Malone was probably 6'2" 185 and run in the 4.6's and will be a nice addition to the Horns program.
There have been some big names committing recently and none have been bigger than LB Garnet Smith of Arlington Lamar (#17 on the TPS60)who after actually verballing to Oklahoma a few days ago switched his pledge to Texas.This is a huge land for Texas in that Texas needs big time LB's to replace the five they will lose off this years team and also the obvious: They won't have to face him in the future.I have said it and I will say it again that although Oklahoma is the defending National Champions they will not raid this state like the 70's and 80's as all inroads to recruits will go through Austin and College Station.Smith definitely fits the bill of the backers Coach Mack Brown is bringing in with 4.5 speed and solid size(6'3" 220) and is also an excellent student.Landing stud LB Derrick Johnson may have opened the flood gates with Smith and possibly Aaron Harris of North Mesquite to follow.
Texas A/M also took a big step in solidifying their special teams by getting a huge verbal from maybe the nations top kicker in Todd Pegram of Plano West.A/M needs help at the position and Pegram will bring it sportsfans.Pegram has expressed interest in Notre Dame who offered but jumped on the Aggies offer once made.I have read where if Texas offered he could possibly decommit but with the emergence of Fr.Dusty Mangum I don't see it happening.In fact look for Mangum to get the ship that Matt McFadden was on.Anyone who thinks the Ags are not going to be a force in recruiting on an annual basis are sadly mistaken.I think OC Dino Babers is an excellent recruiter who will keep the Ags in position to land many blue chip athletes now and in the future.Thats it for now and be safe.
August 29,2001
If the story is true then the Sooners of Oklahoma have received a verbal from one of the states finest in Michael Hawkins of Carrolton R.L.Turner."Hawk" is in my opinion the states finest pure cover corner and is rated #6 on the 2002 TPS60 and his verbal is just another painful reminder the kind of impact that Coach Bob Stoops and his Sooner program are having with Lone Star talent.The sad thing is he ain't through yet not by a long shot.Hawkins never really considered any other programs and looked to be OU bound from jump street although he did give Colorado a sniff.Of the in-state programs only Texas was ever even mentioned by him.Landing Hawkins the Sooners will now set their sights on another of the nations finest cover corners in Jenks'Jason Carter and although Tennessee leads I bet he ends up in Norman and this would give the Sooners two of the nations best at their position.This battle will be fun to watch.
August 28,2001
With most programs getting started this weekend maybe the verbals will pick up as well in the next few weeks as many top prospects are wanting to attend games before making a decision on their school of choice.
One big time recruit,WR Marquis Johnson of Champagne,Illinois should be making a decision soon and many Longhorn fans may be very happy.MJ has been stated recently that the Spartans of MSU are in the picture but Texas looks to be in the drivers seat at this stage.Johnson will visit Texas sometime in September and if he commits will really push a fairly solid 2002 Texas class on up the rankings.MJ is ranked by most services as a national top 3 wideout.