National Signing Day: Grading The 2011 Texas Longhorns Recruiting Class

Nice writeup, whoever you are.

HE LIVES

Great writeup. I am excited about Desmond Jackson. I think he could be an early contributor. Any reason you didn’t include him on your earlier contributor list. Or do you think he will just need a year to become a serious player.

Nice writeup.

On Marcus Hutchins, given that size is one of his question marks, that he apparently is fleet afoot/basketball/quidditch player, and given the propensity of Harsin/BSU to use multiple TE/H Backs – is it possible he sees snaps at that spot…effectively becoming the anti-Austin Sefarian Jenkins?

And yes, I’m aware that jumping into the TE pit at Texas is akin to being Spinal Tap Drummer, or more recently geeky, Defense Against the Dark Arts Instructor at Hogwarts, and am thus inviting his imminent doom by even posing the question.

the thing that i cannot get out of my system, the thing that irks me way beyond all others right now is that after westerman committed and all seemed to be saying ‘no mo oh els’, i was screaming for us to get another one if we could get a really good one. the punk feeling the people who laughed off my opinion is really pissing me off.

even had we kept westerman, i still wanted one more. we would have been one injury, one homesickness, one ncaa act of petulance from where we are right now.

Excited about the signees …
AND about a Scipio sighting!

Can a Clipper Cooper report be far behind?

http://barkingcarnival.fantake.com/2008/02/07/my-thoughts-on-our-class/

I went back and reviewed your 2008 class comments. They hold up pretty well three years later. Not a great class, not a bad one, B+ was probably right. You pegged about 80% of the busts and about 80% of the stars. Well done.

i find it hard to believe that greenlea will contribute early being less than a year away from a torn ACL when camp opens.

OL is desparately thin, and the only prospect ready to contribute is an interior prospect (albeit a great one).

cochran is a year in the weightroom away from being a contributor, greenlea is a question mark with the injury and the other two are hopes and prayers.

“The success of this class will be heavily predicated on finding appropriate positions for multifaceted players capable of playing multiple positions.”

Scip’s been out brushing up on his million-dollar words for the last few months

Nice to see Scipio pop his head out from his underground bunker. Did he see his shadow?

What are the chances that UT finally opens the door to some JUCOs at need positions, DE/OL?

Seems like this would be the year to do it. New faces on campus. New attitudes. And a serious need for a couple of warm bodies at DE/OL now.

BTW – imagine where we’d be if Mack hadn’t been talked into go after Greenlea. He’s the anchor of the OL class at this point.

Sucks that we gave up so early on Hegarty. Complacency IMO.

The fat lazy recruiting of Mack, Mac and Greg is coming back to haunt us

Welcome back, ST. Good class. Lot of talent at need positions. It occurred to me: When was the last time Mack landed a player the last day or two of the process? Can’t recall any; Jeffcoat and Hicks were five days pre-signing day last winter. We always fall back in the team rankings because we get all our commits early, while Auburn, FSU, Clemson, USC haul in 4- and 5-star players the last day or two. I’d guess our retention rate is higher.

My top 10 (in order): 1. Edmond; 2. Brown; 3. Diggs; 4. Jackson; 5. Shipley; 6. Greenlea; 7. Evans; 8. Turner; 9. Cochran; 10. McFarland/Reed . . . Ash and Bergeron will help . . . Moss will contribute but won’t be a star . . . Hutchins intrigues me . . . Likely misses: Russell, Doyle, Scott, Onyegbule.

hey hold up pretty well three years later. Not a great class, not a bad one, B+ was probably right.

That’s a pretty generous curve.

Scipio,

If you get a chance, can you talk about how this class fits with last year’s? Looks like we’re still a little light on the OL but you have to like the potential of these two classes.

Welcome back from sabbatical! I think you’ll only go as far as your O-line takes you next year. You’ll need some of last year’s guys to step up on the DL and have good luck with the injury bug. You’ll see if your new OL coach can earn his keep this year.

When you have to go to the 18th man in a class before you start asking questions, you’re in good shape.

I agree that depth is the strength of this class. Not many (if any) superstars, but top to bottom depth like this will win a lot of games.

Yay! My blogger crush is back!

Overall really happy with the class. I thought Mack’s comments today about the recruits working to hold the class together as well was interesting. Gonna have some guys come in with major motivation.

I’ll be really interested to see how the new staff approaches the 2012 class.

I just saw a chupacabra

What’s up, skank?

With the disaster that was our WR corp last season I would add Shipley to the early contributor list.

My, aren’t we spoiled? And recruits helping to hold a class together spells leadership to me, that is impressive!

The next topic is Development 101. Have you heard of that? If our new staff develops this talent (and the talent already on hand) at 125% of last year’s staff, we will be improved immeasurably.

Sometimes I think that many of you have no comprehension or appreciation of the effort recruiting requires. The word ‘ungrateful’ comes to mind.

See ’ya.

You’re alive. Look forward to your objectivity. Care to comment other classes of UT rivals as the Sooner and A&M sites on the network has abdicated their responsibilities?

From everything I’ve read about Diaz and his preferred style/sytem, Desmond Jackson has the potential to be a star. He might be my favorite D recruit of this class. 2 years in a proper S&C program and he has the potential to be scary attacking a gap.

Finding and/or developing OL and DL, and QB’s keeps teams at the top.
How a Texas is so thin at really all 3 but the first 2 is appalling and crippling.

Remind me again about our former HCIW and the depth issues at DT and DE?
I know the story at OL. Elite players didn’t want to max out in their freshman years
and then play reach around for 3 more.

Was it 2 years ago we laughed at OU’s OL depth?

I’m glad to call it an A class. I don’t think another B+ class will help us beat OU or aggy next year.

Mack telling Chip Brown to basically go fuck himself immediately made this rank as the best press conference of all time.

He sounds like red ass Mack from 2007 as well. Taylor Bible sir, you better find a gym or enjoy Sam Houston State in 2011.

nice cut and paste job from sbnation. easy to turn out, i can see yer busy…

will wait for the spring ball preview, but am earnestly interested in yer thoughts on the staff changes, Scip. Diaz and Wylie in particular.

nice to have you back sir, if only you stay. talk hoops dude.

Every year we take a couple of guys on OL that need a few years in the weight room and then they disappear, presumably eaten by Mad Dog.

We badly need some of those guys to reappear this spring and fall. Mark Buchanan?

YAAAWWWWN!!!

 Y’all y’all had the so-called No. 3 rated classes in ‘06 and ’07. How’d those guys work out for ya this year?

Oh….that’s right: Losing record, no bowl game’ Million dollar FHC/DC heads to SEC….. Yeah, Mack remains “Mr. February” and not much else unless he steals a gem , All-World QB and I didn’t see one on yer list!

^ His sheep must not be putting out.

Is this BC or MySpace?

Can someone please take and hide the Y key from Earl’s keyboard before he breaks it off himself and starts dowling for a GED?

and the aggy class is ranked where?

“doweling”. Sorry. Whoever placed the w and e keys together should be taken out and shot.

What the Ag posted hurts because it’s true. Our 2006 and 2007 classes were ranked high (#5), and have proven to be very over-rated. The few difference makers from that group were primarily on defense. The best offensive player from those two years was Jamarcus Webb, and he transfered to WTAMU.

We had a few years of coaches mailing it in scouting and recruiting, and it was worst on the offensive side.

Of course, “Earl T” will never admit the truth that those over-rated recruits had as many Top 5 finishes as the entire history of TAMU football.

Taylor, It’s signing day and that brings out all kinds. Fran had higher rated classes but it was all smoke and mirrors. Bumped up by 4 stars who never made it in, or whose talent level was dubious. As long as Mack is at Texas he’s going to sign highly rated classes. I think I counted you had 16 of Liucci’s top 44 in the state this year. I think the new coaches you’ve hired will turn things around but it may take some time to see the results. On the flip side, Sherman & crew are much better talent evaluators than Fran. I think we should be close to having a top 10 class next year if we continue on our current pace.

Earl T – I’d avoid trying to compare a recruiting class that featured All Americans like Kindle and Houston with your own from that year, who’s biggest sta was your backup QB who spent his crowning senior season under the wheels of your team bus.

I consider HIM …

Earl T has it all figured out. Highly ranked recruiting classes are bad.

I bet Sherman didn’t offer any of our highly ranked recruits this year because he is a better talent evaluator who recognized they’re all going to be busts. I also bet your 2006 class racked up more wins than ours over the course of their careers.

Lastly, I bet irony isn’t Earl’s strong suit.

Scipi:

Given the impressive 2008 recruiting review that TaylorTRoom linked I believe mack should consider giving you a real J O B.

You must get tired of every coed at the local watering hole giving you a sneer usually reserved for journalists and liberal arts graduates (read coffee baristas) when you state your profession.

“Uh I’m a blogger, its short for web log. It’s called barking carnival. You know pretty girls make the football good. . . Hey uh nice meeting you . . . call me?”

Desmond Jackson is a kid that is going to come into Austin in much better shape physically than what we saw with Bible, Cotton, and Dorsey last year.

Saw Jackson at the gym a few weekends back and the kid is stout. Looks short from a distance because how damn wide his shoulders are, but when you get close he is a legit 6’1", wide chest and has some thick legs. Kid looks solid and you don’t have to worry about the effort he gives on the field.

Reading the 2008 article makes me pissed that we haven’t used Hales at all since he came to town. Hopefully the Harsinwhite brain trust can divine how to use some of his peculiar (not really) skill set.

I REALLY like about a dozen of our kids.

Unlike some recruits, Bergeron was better his senior year than his junior year. He is very quick, and fast enough. I actually expect him to shock the hell out of us. I wish he enrolled early.

My top recruits:
1. Desmond Jackson
2. Steve Edmond
3. Jaxson Shipley
4. Garrett Greenlea
5. Joe Bergeron

Thank GOD we decided to take Greenlea.

The Ags making fun of our rankings is fucking stupid. Yes, they have won 3 of 5, but they have to HATE our staff makeover. The old staff made their limited success possible. Their overall accomplishments are a MOTHERFUCKING JOKE compared to ours the last 4 years.

This is the Ag recruit I dislike them getting the most. Shaun Ward from Florida. Why the hell did he choose them? I don’t like the thought of him being developed into an outside rusher in their 3-4 the next 4 years like Von Miller.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/recruiting-football/Shaun-Ward-Highlights-1-286239;_ylt=AtpVKM5BreOZf45P.zA3eLvvt5B4

I still can’t get over the decision to take two OL in 2010. That is going to sting for years. Our only hpe was to grab a couple guys in the 2011 class that could contribute in 2011 and really come on by 2012. Westerman was one and we let him get away.

We did not address our immediate needs well. TE? Macfarland can’t pull us out of our doldrums there. Not next year that’s for sure. He’s a project there. DT ready to play well next year? No, a couple decent prospects, but no one that’s helping next year.

Average at QB. Malcolm Brown isn’t going to seize teh RB spot next year either. He has “god” not great written all over him. DE? didn’t really get a war daddy there either. LB was very good and DBs were pretty good.

My Grade: B

what i want to know is what were the rankings of the classes that boise used to stiff ou in that bowl game. we’ve got one of the main architects of that game and a heck of a staff on both sides of the line to augment him, including a hard-nosed s&c guy for a change.

not to mention all manner of fans of other teams posing. we’re getting somebody riled.

Nice to see you back, Scip.

This group deserves an A only if you’re talking about individual talent, but it underwhelms in addressing need. Need is at offensive tackle and defensive end, and I don’t see this class filling either. Greenlea could be a stud, but he’s coming off a knee injury; tough to predict when he contributes. Cochran’s nothing special and Cedric Reed is overrated.

That said, the top end of this class is enough to get excited about. Edmond is a fucking animal, full stop, and Diggs is right behind him. I just scrolled up and I see both of them at the top of your list, so on this we agree.

“Whoever placed the w and e keys together should be taken out and shot.”

That’d be Christopher Sholes, who came up with that particular QWERTY arrangement so that you couldn’t type too fast and jam up the letter hammers on his typewriter.

You’d be shooting a pretty sorry looking cadaver.

I did find it amusing the the line all day on ESPN was how great a job Texas did of “holding the class together” and “no major defections.” Haha, yeah except for that one. “Other than that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?”

I’m glad everyone has this class all figured out. I think I’ll sit back and watch them grow while thanking my lucky stars that i got to witness the biggest house cleaning ever exhibited by a head coach a U.T. and we still get to keep all our recruits except for one. Pretty remarkable. Coach ’em up boys!

Scipio – good to see you back. I take it that your annual search for a new Laotian house-boy was successful.

What’s your take on the impact of Bennie Wylie on the current roster & newcomers? My sense is that the full impact won’t take place in 2011, but we will see a noticable difference in performance.

We must go gangbusters in 2012. Top 6-10 will not work on a consistent basis hear but is fine if stagered between nationally top rated classes.

@EDSP

“Likely misses: Russell, Doyle, Scott, Onyegbule.”

If Onyegbule puts in the work he will not be a miss by any stretch – he has all the talent and physical attributes in the world – he just has to decide how hard he wants to work. To this point, he has been so physically superior to his peers and competitors he hasn’t had to bust his ass. That will, obviously, have to change. The good news is, he appears to be working hard so far this spring to show up this summer in great shape.

2011 Depth Chart

FB Roberson OR Bergeron

JS tweeted you had a boxing accident Whatever. Hope that cauliflower has calmed down. Was it an OSHA claim?

Anyway, this group will have benefits that the previous 5 did not have. Mainly a unified staff that is hungry to prove itself. The impressionable will be impressioned.

Good take, btw. Welcome back to the interweb.

The old axiom says that the game is won or lost in the trenches. I am sorry to say it, but we are weak in the trenches (which take more time than other positions to rebuild). Please, please, please look at some JUCO linemen.

JS meant a boxing day accident, those after Christmas sales can get rough.

I very much appreciate the analysis of the Barkers and regular posters on this site. One of the things that makes it so good here, makes the barking good, is the restraint from sunshine pumping. As all swords are double edged in metaphor land, will say the other edge of the sword here is sometimes an attachment to pessimism. Not the Chicken Little type, but the pessimism of the cool thinker accustomed to controlling emotion.

Thankfully, I am not so restrained by intellectual endowment. In my opinion, even with an average class, we might expect big improvements in team performance next year if:

On defense, we get better safety play through coaching or personnel upgrades and have players (DTs!) on campus get in shape to actually play their positions.

and

On offense, we actually get an offense (coaching) which would lead to an identity (coaching & recruiting) which would also impact players that are already on campus (T. Allen and Blaine Irby among others).

A lot of this is coaching and conditioning which are issues that have been specifically addressed. A lot of our problems last year were between the ears and a matter of inspiration which are also coaching issues.

If we actually do have a new staff of hungry, talented, young guys champing at the bit to be part of getting us back up top in short order, I think that is more than half the battle. Another wave of top recruits, even if the do not immediately meet current needs, is another element to set fire to the seemingly moribund program.

My expectation is for very good things. For the season, I think it may be something like we expected in August, 2010. A 2-3 loss team building toward something great the next season.

Coaching and conditioning need not take years.

Nickel Rover sez: they disappear, presumably eaten by Mad Dog.

There is an alternative explanation. Perhaps they were captured by the gravitational attraction and are simply trapped in a fold (or a crack).

Tex Long FTW.

I suppose there is an element of perspective here. Early recruiting sometimes results in taking players who peak as juniors. It also probably saved our asses as we were busy going 5-7 this year. It’s much easier to hold a top 5 class together while losing than it is to put one together.

With that said, it’s tough to project some of these guys. My usual expectations for development are based on observations of the GD/McWhorter/Mad Dog era. Hard to know how a guy like Wylie should shift the projected development curve.

In general, this is a great class. You can argue about some of the decisions (Brown over Green/Williams, Doyle/Hutchins/Scott, no Hegarty offer), but I think there’s a rationale for all of the decisions that were made. Now it’s time to develop these guys into better athletes who can execute our schemes (nice to be able to say that about both sides of the ball).

I give it a A-/B+ without Westerman who we really needed and without Williams who’s the best back in the state and more explosive than Brown.

Scipio, your voice was missed during all the coaching change madness. Any chance of getting a few paragraphs of your thoughts on how things went down and the new hires?

I can’t begin to say how great it has been to have stumbled across the blogosphere and onto BC. The 49th State may be a far piece from the 40 acres, but the thoughtful comments (usually) posted here are much appreciated.

As for the matter at hand . . .

It’s easy to analyze and over analyze what this recruiting crop will/won’t/should/could do. My own take is pretty straightforward: Coach ’em up.

These new recruits are most assuredly NOT the dregs. If the coaches don’t maximize the talent available, find new coaches that can. Hopefully, we’ve done that.

Hook ’em.

Mysterious Package – you are steadily rising to heights of annoyance not yet reached by NASA. We can’t compete here with steady top 6-10 ranked recruiting classes? Really? If anything, the statistical error lumps spots 3-5 together, etc. Calm. Down.

Skip-e-Oh Tax is bak! Can I haz roundball?

Bergeron is looking like a real find, beating up on those Canucks and all. This Spring is going to be wildly interesting.

Seriously, I think this is a great class for UT-Austin. I’m dead certain y’all make it back to a bowl game next season with this group.

With names like Quandre, Sheroid, and Mykkele, Texas is poised to win many US National Spelling Bee’s.

Is it true that Scipio didn’t author this post? Why use his handle?

LA Horn -
 
I wrote it. Good God. Some of you people need to pull yourselves together. I got an eye injury and then spent a bunch of time overseeing the integration of two large blog networks. No need for the sewing circles to run amok. The notion that anyone cares or fills in the gap with something nefarious is hilarious to me. I’ve temporarily deprived you of some above average sports writing – it will all be OK. I’m not your boyfriend, for God’s sake.
 
And scagnetti, I created this template and sent to it to SB Nation for them to use so they could have a standardized format for breaking down signing day classes. It’s mine. You have it reversed.
 
Thanks to all for the well wishes and I’m glad that I can spend some of my time writing again in addition to my other SB Nation tasks.

Yeah, and that dude that killed Rebecca Schaeffer wasn’t her boyfriend. Watch out Scip, LA (WestHollywood)Horn has been tracking you far and wide.

I wrote it.

Why are you so desperate to convince us that you didn’t burn out on writing and, flush with Spanish gold acquired from the SBNation buy-out, abandon the Longhorn Internets in a childish fit of self-indulgence, only to be replaced by a shadowy cadre of disaffected rival Barkers who, while despising everything you stand for and vomiting uncontrollably at the sheer thought of your odious being, have begun covertly posting under your handle in an audacious attempt to preserve the myth that Scipio Tex is still posting and thus prevent the otherwise-imminent collapse of the leech-of-a-blog that so greedily devours their creative toils and pays them nothing in return?

The answer to the above riddle, of course, is that you are a fake Scipio Tex. The real Scipio Tex has nothing to hide, and thus no reason to disingenuously deny the accuracy of the above recitation of facts.

Please call me Scipi-faux Tex.