After signing 4 out of state recruits in 2012, Texas is still looking for their first in the 2013 class. That's largely a function of in-state talent addressing needs and a smaller class size, but we're legitimately in on 3 major talents right now - all defensive backs - one from the West, two from the heart of SEC country.

My basic tenets for OOS recruiting:

• Talent in Texas is consistently good, but not consistent by position. Best TE in the state is a meaningless assignation if the TE crop stinks. Recruit OOS to fill needs when in-state doesn't meet absolute standards; even it offends Texas high school coaches or makes you rack up some frequent flier miles
• Tie goes to the Texas kid, but there aren't that many ties
• It's always easier to recruit West than East
• Aggressively pursue elite players with a legitimate interest in Texas even if means they may say no and harm the scholarships offered vs. accepted metrics that Mack Brown cherishes. He still quotes his "hit" rate every signing day like clockwork
• In Mack's defense, crop dusting scholarship offers indiscriminately commoditizes your brand - find 6-12 guys and focus

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I'm excited about this commit as I've been extremely high on Davis since seeing his film a few months ago.

My take:

Davis relishes contact and he's explosive as hell. He hasn't learned the finer points of technique, but that's why Akina makes the big bucks. Davis was recently clocked at a 10.45 100 meters and dropped a 4.36 40 (Mad Dog timed) at a Texas camp. When I see elite track speed show up in pads paired with aggression and quickness on a 6 foot frame, I'm wondering how anyone could have him ranked below the Top 10 players in the state. In fact, if I have any criticism of Davis, it's that he loves contact so much, he can't resist late shots on receivers after dominating them at the LOS.

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These dudes know how to market.

One of the good guys was recently invited to The Opening.

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via a.espncdn.com

Your man John Kocurek has already told you why Tyrone Swoopes is the best QB prospect in the state of Texas. Now ESPN's Horns Nation has some video for you after the jump.

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Good recruiter.

Jake Raulerson is a coach's wet dream. You watch the tape and you say "yep, that's how you play football. Keep doing that. OK, see you later." You don't need to wear yourself out yelling, or get on his case, because wanting to crush anything you put in front of him is in his DNA already. Nobody needs to motivate a lion to maul an antelope.

He was identified early as a must have, not only by Texas but by 40 or so other schools, and treated as such. He's clearly a very talented prospect, but is he in the same stratosphere as the Cameron Hughes and Kent Perkins type player?

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Both 2013 recruits were offered at the Spring game. They're generally well-regarded: Hookem 247 ranks Smith 31st in the state; Davis a puzzling 57th; Rivals has Davis at 14th in the state; Smith 23rd - and boast excellent offer lists, but based on my very incomplete viewing, I love Antwuan Davis and like Maurice Smith.

First, Maurice Smith.

Sorry, not that Maurice Smith. Though I'd like to have him.

I was looking for this guy:

Good frame, willing tackler, long arms, adept at rerouting receivers in press man and instinctive when the ball is in the air. His hands are good enough to get him play on offense. However, I don't see great speed or elite quickness. At least not in pads. Do you? However his performance at a recent combine disagrees with that assessment and earned him an invitation to the The Opening event. Am I getting thrown off by a long strider?

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The Dallas Nike Football Training Camp just went down and there were several 2013 Longhorn recruits in attendance. Including this guy:

via media.scout.com

Quick notes and then some video breakdowns:

• Longhorn commit Tyrone Swoopes was named QB MVP and and received an invitation to the Elite 11 Camp. Word is that he showed quite a bit of improvement from the Elite 11 Camp and measured out at 6-4.5, 224
• Highly sought after DE recruit Torrodney Prevot was selected as DL MVP and also made Scipio's All-Name Team. But there's always an uncle...
• 2013 prospect Ra'shaad Samples of Dallas Skyline was injured during drills, but had already turned some heads with his quickness and hands
• Here's one ESPN recruiting writer's take on the All-Camp Team, featuring Longhorn commits Jake Raulerson, Jake Oliver, A'Shawn Robinson

Make the jump....

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There are three kinds of OL you can recruit:

- Giant bowling balls

- Savvy technicians

- Terrible

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