2013 Texas Longhorns Football Recruiting: Breaking Down CBs Antwuan Davis and Maurice Smith

by Scipio Tex on Apr 3, 2026 2:37 AM CDT in Recruiting

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?

Contrast with Antwuan Davis:

First play tells you what you need to know and you'll get a better look at it on Hudl. 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.

So why the possible divergence on Davis? One possible reason is that he lost most of his junior season to a stress fracture in his back. Clearly, everyone wants to see if he can play football with the same abandon in his senior season and if this will be a recurring issue, but spondylolysis doesn't need to be a deal breaker with our training and medical resources.

With Georgia safety Vonn Bell and Florida's Marcell Harris offered and Arizona's Cole Luke not, it looks like 2013 Texas DB recruiting is coming into focus. We'll take three and close shop.

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Comments

We need at least

one safety, IMO. Who do you think that will be or do we convert one of the three we’re taking?

by boorad on Apr 3, 2026 3:07 AM CDT reply actions

Bell and Harris are definitely safeties.

Davis and Smith might be possible conversions, but they’re clearly being recruited corner first. Our staff doesn’t seem to be in love with the in-state safety prospects like Miles and Baltimore.

by Scipio Tex on Apr 3, 2026 3:20 AM CDT up reply actions

Miles didn't make the spring game

and I think he is in danger of falling off the radar — an offer certainly doesn’t look likely for him at this point.

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by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Apr 3, 2026 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions

There are those

who think that he’ll wind up at OLB at the next level. We seem to be in oretty good shape at that position, so that may have something to do with it.

by boorad on Apr 3, 2026 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions

I think it's definitely possible.

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by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Apr 3, 2026 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Cole Luke

Any story on why Cole wasnt offered. Seemed odd to have the guy come all the way out here and then offer 2 guys in your backyard. I can not imagine the kid being to happy about how this went down. Any chance you have some insight

by codaxx on Apr 3, 2026 7:17 AM CDT reply actions

Perhaps a

you will have an offer after you take a week to think about committing scenario again? I thought everyone from JD1 left without an offer then later had “time released” offers after spending a week at home.

Of course the question becomes why do this to Cole and not Maurice or Antwuan, but the latter two have been to campus previously whereas this is Cole’s first trip.

Regardless, they are all great prospects and getting 3 of any of them would be phenomenal.

Su’a Cravens, lifelong OU fan, is an interesting player to say the least. Watching his highlights reminds me of incoming recruit Peter Jinkens of Skyline. They are almost identical in size and their highlights are so similar that I thought I had accidentally clicked on Jinkens highlight tape on YouTube.

by Heisman 98 on Apr 3, 2026 8:43 AM CDT up reply actions

I'll take Cravens

His RB highlights show a dimension that Jinkens doesn’t possess.

by Scipio Tex on Apr 3, 2026 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Better coverage skills

I would take Cravens in a half second for sure. I think his speed is clearly superior to Peter’s but I really like Jinkens more at LB, Cravens anywhere from OLB to big corner. Sucks he’s a lifelong Sooner fan.

by Heisman 98 on Apr 3, 2026 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Sucks he’s a lifelong Sooner fan.

for him.

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by Sailor Ripley on Apr 3, 2026 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions

I thought that Cravens was a USC fan

by cade21 on Apr 3, 2026 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Nice Maurice Smith tribute

I still remember watchign his methodical defeat of a much bigger, stronger, far more roided Mark “The Hammer” Coleman that one year where he basically did the Ali-Foreman type thing for a few rounds, took a few lumps on the ground, waited for him to get tired, then kicked his ass. One of the great, underappreciated tactical moments in the history of the sport.

For some reason I liked MMA much better when it was on VHS and featured mustachioed/mulleted gents in gi’s

by Dreadful on Apr 3, 2026 8:38 AM CDT reply actions

I remember it like it was yesterday

Not quite Tyson-Douglas, but one of the bigger upsets I’ve ever seen in person. Coleman was perceived as unbeatable.

by Scipio Tex on Apr 3, 2026 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions

JERRY BOHLANDER

BOH-LANDUHHHHHH

by mattw on Apr 3, 2026 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions

For some reason I liked MMA much better when it was on VHS and featured mustachioed/mulleted gents in gi’s

There was certainly more color and the newness of it was fascinating - like you were watching the birth of something we’d never seen before. Not to mention it ending long debates and shutting down entire schools of martial arts while springing up others overnight. The champions of 15+ years ago would struggle to win a match against today’s quality journeymen. Insane evolutionary pace.

by Scipio Tex on Apr 3, 2026 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Exponentially enlarge the viewing audience and the prize money

…and the participant pool will develop in tandem. Much harder for Rickson Gracie to go 400-0 while armbarring Jaguars for kicks on weekends these days.

by Dreadful on Apr 3, 2026 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions

What I see...

Smith - He’s definitely selling the right asset in his video with “effort.” That’s one thing you can’t coach. He will, however, need to be coached up on coverage. Playing safety in high school may hurt him as a corner in college. While his eyes wander as a safety in coverage and it allows him to make plays, it will hurt him as a corner and it’s evident he’ll need to work on that if he wants to stay there. I don’t see elite receiver here but he could likely do some things as a return man. Safety would be my projection at this point for a primary position.

Davis - Physical. Eye discipline is far above average for his age. In man coverage he has no clue the offense is running the ball which is exactly what you’re looking for. It doesn’t hurt that when he does notice the run he sheds blocks as good as any player for his age. I like this kid at corner. When a DB comes into college with great eyes, feet, and physicality there are no limits.

Crazy how much you pick up in a few minutes of film.

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by Drew Kelson on Apr 3, 2026 8:42 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs

Thanks Drew.

Agree with all you wrote. Davis really seems to embrace the physical aspect of the game in all phases. Pair that with elite athletic ability and he’s tough to pass up. Hard for me to imagine that there are services who don’t view him as an upper echelon player.

by Scipio Tex on Apr 3, 2026 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions

With Smith,

his quickness and overall speed were the main reason I was skeptical about him as a cornerback.

As for Davis, the back injury seems like the only thing that has dropped him, as all the physical attributes are there for him in spades. Having seen him in person, it’s impressive the speed he has to burn that allows him to sit in a receiver’s hip pocket down the field with ease.

I would say I prefer Davis and have no real clue as to why 247 has him so low right now.

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by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Apr 3, 2026 9:24 AM CDT reply actions

I thought you mildly preferred Smith

Or did you have an epiphany?

by Scipio Tex on Apr 3, 2026 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Definitely do go back and forth.

Smith’s ability to play cornerback gave him a little surge with me, but then I changed my mind again when I was reminded by this post about my old concerns regarding his speed and maybe in part because Davis is a guy I’ve liked for quite a while now.

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by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Apr 3, 2026 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions

I saw Davis at the Regional Track meet when he was a soph at Del Valle.

What impressed me the most about him was not his speed (This state has plenty of guys who can run their asses off.), but the build for a young guy.

You find more sprinters who are built like a Vietnamese prostitute than a football player especially young sprinters.

I have always felt to be a top 10 recruit you needed to at least good in the things you can’t coach or develop and above average in a few of them in relation to their position. For example, the one thing the leapt out at me about Gray is his vision. His size is good for a running back, speed is good, quickness is good, the but the anticipation and vision are way off the charts.

I have never gotten too excited about things that can be taught (i.e. technically sound) because I have this screwy idea it is the job of the staff to not only recruit the kid, but also develop the talent.

Using that metric, Davis has good size for the position and as Drew pointed out above average to elite in some very important areas.

by davey o'brien on Apr 3, 2026 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Laos, dude.

It’s BC.

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by Sailor Ripley on Apr 3, 2026 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Wouldn't it be Laotian?

by davey o'brien on Apr 3, 2026 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Not if you are naming the source.

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by Sailor Ripley on Apr 3, 2026 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions

do you guys think

that this is a pure eval take or some sort of vibe they have re: luke? i don’t see luke being significantly better than either of these guys. he looks faster than smith? maybe i’m missing something else on the tape or maybe he’s revered as a sexier player because he’s an OOS guy? do you think they just went with these 2 guys b/c their friends and they’d like to wrap it up w/ them cause they’re as good (as luke) and easier to get?

by mattw on Apr 3, 2026 12:08 PM CDT reply actions

I'm scratching my head on Luke, too

There are plenty of things that could have soured it, not all having to do with pure ability.

by Scipio Tex on Apr 3, 2026 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Not sure what is throwing you off about Smith.

I’ve liked him as a corner since the first time I saw him, and couldn’t understand why some seemed to think he couldn’t play there. Difference of opinion happens all the time though. I see elements of Nathan Vasher and Cedric Griffin, and figure Akina can work with that.

Maurice Smith Video

Then to make my review of Davis a little screwier, Drew is talking up his man coverage while I think he’s a natural in zone. I guess there’s a chance the lack of football games has me hallucinating, but hopefully we’re both on target.

by Saul! on Apr 4, 2025 8:24 AM CDT reply actions

Pads.

In pads. And I can’t imagine a player less like Nathan Vasher, who was basically one giant fast twitch muscle and a human ball of acceleration.

by Scipio Tex on Apr 4, 2025 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Ha!

Well, that was certainly part of why I didn’t say out and out clone.

Vasher and Griffin both had the capability to play corner or safety, played receiver and defensive back in HS, and I liked their instincts playing the ball. Vasher played quicker and had better ball skills in terms of securing interceptions. Griffin was pretty good about separating defender from ball while on the 40 (games against Ohio St & USC come to mind) even though he wasn’t an interception machine.

I think Smith is somewhere between those two in eventual athletic ability and size, and that his current state has been good enough to secure offers from LSU, Alabama, Nebraska, etc. Now that Texas has offered, I see that as one more stamp of approval from a good staff that this young man has a bright future in a secondary.

I agree with a lot of your takes in write-ups, but individuals are bound to see things differently from time to time. Certain memories of other players pop up in my mind when watching players. If you don’t see it the same way, you don’t see it. No big deal.

by Saul! on Apr 4, 2025 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

Mazel!

by Scipio Tex on Apr 4, 2025 10:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Selfishly

I’d like Smith, being that he’s from my alma mater and all. Seeing Smith and Evans lockdown one side of the field would warm my heart. Kind of like the USC Ting brothers, only they wouldn’t suck.

I’m not the person to do the analysis, but I wonder if Davis follows the career arc of AJ White and Leroy Scott. Identified as the top DB in the state early, tails off by senior year.

Really curious why Texas appears to have soured on Luke.

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by jc25 on Apr 4, 2025 8:38 AM CDT reply actions