Texas Football Recruiting: Meet The New Boss, Same As The Old Boss

Mack Brown, once crowned Coach February for reinventing the college football recruiting landscape with his now-legendary "Junior Days," is back with more recruiting parlor tricks. Facing a Brave New World where the recruiting cycle just starts earlier and earlier, the Texas Longhorns coaching staff shocked the college football nation with a bold, exciting move.

Brown's once-innovative strategy of offering top prospects the February after their junior seasons was quickly becoming a "John the Savage"-ignoramus way of doing business. Internet message boards mocked the "approved for an offer" Longhorn meme, while Texas A&M's hip, young and new coaching regime has played up the ESS-EEE-SEE angle to gain major traction with top 2014 prospects. Even more brashly, non-Big 12 teams have been reaching their grubby little paws into the Lone Star state, beyond the usual LSU pilfering. The chief offenders: Nick Saban (Alabama), USC (Lane Kiffin), and Ohio St. (Urban Meyer). That's big boy territory.

Time to strike back? On August 2, 2012, the Longhorns coaching staff did the unexpected. In one fell swoop, Texas reasserted its quite-visible hand of recruiting dominance. The statement: we'll play your game, you rogues. No longer are juniors off-limits to Texas prior to Junior Days. 18 confirmed offers (to date) went out to the class of 2014, resulting in two commitments (the earliest commitments ever in the Mack Brown era) and a whole host of Clay Davis "sheeeeeee-it" reactions from the Longhorn interwebs.

A major recruiting shift, indeed. If you weren't already convinced that the post-MNC period of inertia, complacency and general recruiting laziness is over, this strategic pimp slap has pushed it seven feet under. Mack's message is painfully clear: he won't get fooled again. And yes, he wants your sandwich.

Here's a full list of the outstanding offers. (Special thanks: data sourced from 24/7 Sports).

QUARTERBACK

Name	Position	School (Hometown)	247 Ranking	Height / Weight	Lead Recruiter	Other Offers	Longhorns Status
Jerrod Heard	QB (Dual)	Guyer (Denton, TX)	4* Nat'l: 52 TX: 6 Pos: 2	6' 2.5" 190 lbs	Darrell Wyatt	Baylor LSU Nebraska	In-State Favorite

Recruitment Analysis: In years past, the coaching staff has quickly identified, and subsequently reeled in, its primary QB target. Think Tyrone Swoopes, Connor Brewer, David Ash, etc. In 2014, that target appears to be Jerrod Heard, arguably the best quarterback in the state. The staff favored Heard over Fort Bend Bush's Ronald Monroe. Heard has been by the 40 Acres twice this year already, and it would probably be an upset if the Longhorns don't land him.

RUNNING BACK

Name	Position	School (Hometown)	247 Ranking	Height / Weight	Lead Recruiter	Other Offers	Longhorns Status
Nathan Starks	ATH/RB	Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV)	4* Nat'l: 25 NV: 1 Pos: 2	5' 11" 200 lbs	Darrell Wyatt	Arizona Colorado Duke Nebraska Oklahoma UCLA Utah	Out of State Contender (Oklahoma & USC)
Donald Catalon	RB	Eisenhower (Houston, TX)	4* Nat'l: 95 TX: 12 Pos: 9	5' 11" 190 lbs	Major Applewhite	N/A	Committed (#3)
Daniel Gresham	RB/FB	All Saints Episcopal (Fort Worth, TX)	N/A Nat'l: N/A TX: N/A Pos: N/A	5' 11" 225 lbs	N/A	N/A	In-State Favorite

Recruitment Analysis: Could it be thunder and lightning with Daniel Gresham and Donald Catalon? Catalon, who had been considered a Texas lean, just confirmed his commitment moments ago. Meanwhile, Gresham and his more heralded teammate Demetrius Knox (more on him later) also favor the Horns. Gresham, a big guy, has that Joe Bergeron vibe to him and might not be afraid to play second fiddle in the class to the more heralded Catalon. The home run swing is Nathan Starks, who plays for powerhouse Nevada program Bishop Gorman (alma mater of ex-Sooner DeMarco Murray). He's a nice to have, and his offer continues to prove that the new blood coaching staff is not afraid to go out of state against the big boys.

WIDE RECEIVER

Name	Position	School (Hometown)	247 Ranking	Height / Weight	Lead Recruiter	Other Offers	Longhorns Status
Devante Noil	WR	Edna Karr (New Orleans, LA)	4* Nat'l: 63 LA: 5 Pos: 6	5' 10" 165 lbs	Darrell Wyatt	LSU Alabama Florida	Out of State Contender (LSU)
KD Cannon	WR	Mt. Pleasant (Mt. Pleasant, TX)	4* Nat'l: 76 TX: 10 Pos: 7	6' 0" 158 lbs	Major Applewhite	Baylor Oklahoma Okla St TCU Texas A&M West VA	Co-Favorites (Oklahoma & Okla St)
Lorenzo Joe	WR	Cooper (Abilene, TX)	N/A Nat'l: N/A TX: N/A Pos: N/A	6' 2" 180 lbs	Bo Davis	Texas Tech	Committed (#1)

Recruitment Analysis: Lorenzo Joe opened the floodgates yesterday as commitment number one in the 2014 class. Like current Horns John Harris and Miles Onyegbule, the athletic Joe is expected to line up at QB for his team this year but is being strictly recruited as a wide receiver. While Joe won't be the bell-cow that previous #1's Connor Brewer and Jake Raulerson were, he is still a great addition to the class. With Joe on board, Texas is also looking for a burner. KD Cannon is considered the top WR prospect in-state, as is Devante Noil (nicknamed "Speedy") in Louisiana. Noil joins Starks as one of two early out-of-state offers for Texas. Considered an LSU lean, Noil is a long shot for Texas. But after landing Shiro Davis (Shreveport, LA) in the 2012 class, the Texas staff clearly feels Noil's recruitment is worth the effort.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Name	Position	School (Hometown)	247 Ranking	Height / Weight	Lead Recruiter	Other Offers	Longhorns Status
Demetrius Knox	OT	All Saints Episcopal (Fort Worth, TX)	4* Nat'l: 28 TX: 4 Pos: 5	6' 5" 300 lbs	Darrell Wyatt	Alabama Baylor Michigan Nebraska Ohio St Okla St TCU Texas A&M Texas Tech UCLA	In-State Favorite

Recruitment Analysis: Just one offer went out on O-line in what is considered a down year in-state. Offensive line coach Stacy Searels has wasted little time revamping recruiting efforts on the line, and the sizeable 2012 and 2013 classes can afford a down year in 2014. As evidenced by this year's recruiting efforts, Searels isn't afraid to wait on late blooming targets (think Andrew Billings and Caleb Benenoch). We'll see what happens.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Name	Position	School (Hometown)	247 Ranking	Height / Weight	Lead Recruiter	Other Offers	Longhorns Status
Solomon Thomas	DE (Strong)	Coppell (Coppell, TX)	4* Nat'l: 24 TX: 2 Pos:3	6' 3" 251 lbs	Darrell Wyatt	ND Stanford Texas A&M UCLA	In-State Favorite
Myles Garrett	DE (Weak)	James Martin (Arlington, TX)	N/A Nat'l: N/A TX: N/A Pos: N/A	6' 4" 240 lbs	Bruce Chambers	Arkansas	In-State Favorite
Derick Roberson	DE (Strong)	William Brennan (San Antonio, TX)	N/A Nat'l: N/A TX: N/A Pos: N/A	6' 3.5" 218 lbs	Duane Akina	Texas A&M	Committed (#2)

Recruitment Analysis: Defensive end is one of 2014's in-state "cream of the crop" positions. That's one of the reasons the staff may seem unconcerned about losing out on Daeshon Hall (Washington) and Terrodney Prevot (USC) in the 2013 class. Derick Roberson, commitment #2, is considered raw but highly projectable (think Reggie Wilson). If the Horns are also able to haul in Solomon Thomas and Myles Garrett, the class would be comparable with 2010's haul of Jackson Jeffcoat, Reggie Wilson, and Greg Daniels. Defensive tackle remains a bit of a mystery, with no clear targets as of yet.

LINEBACKER

Name	Position	School (Hometown)	247 Ranking	Height / Weight	Lead Recruiter	Other Offers	Longhorns Status
Hoza Scott	DE (Weak) / LB	La Porte (La Porte, TX)	4* Nat'l: 27 TX: 3 Pos: 1	6' 3" 225 lbs	Major Applewhite	Alabama LSU Texas A&M	Trailer (Texas A&M)

Recruitment: Just one offer went out at linebacker, to high profile recruit Hoza Scott. Just a note: he's listed as a WDE by 247 but considered a linebacker by most analysts. Scott has been very public in his affection for Texas A&M, but an early Longhorns offer could go a long way. Just remember: this time last year, Jake Oliver was an Aggie lock. Oh, and two years ago, so were Malcom Brown and Tim Cole. Dallas Carter's Cameron Hampton was also rumored to be approved for an offer, but there hasn't been any confirmation with him yet.

DEFENSIVE BACK

Name	Position	School (Hometown)	247 Ranking	Height / Weight	Lead Recruiter	Other Offers	Longhorns Status
Ed Paris	S/CB	Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, TX)	5* Nat'l: 24 TX: 1 Pos: 1	6' 1" 190 lbs	N/A	Clemson GA Tech LSU Michigan Nebraska ND Oklahoma Texas A&M UCLA West VA	Heavy Trailer (LSU)
Nick Watkins	CB	Bishop Dunne (Dallas, TX)	4* Nat'l: 36 TX: 5 Pos: 5	6' 0" 180 lbs	Bruce Chambers	Alabama Arkansas Georgia LSU Michigan ND Ohio St Oklahoma Texas A&M	Trailer (Alabama)
Nick Harvey	CB	Lancaster (Lancaster, TX)	4* Nat'l: 65 TX: 8 Pos: 8	5' 9" 175 lbs	Duane Akina	Arkansas Baylor LSU ND Oklahoma Texas A&M Texas Tech Virginia	Trailer (LSU & Texas A&M)
Jamal Adams	S	Hebron (Carrollton, TX)	4* Nat'l: 88 TX: 11 Pos: 7	5' 9" 175 lbs	Duane Akina	Baylor Kentucky ND Nebraska TCU West VA	Co-Favorites (Alabama) w/ Possible Imminent Commitment
Tony Brown	CB	Ozen (Beaumont, TX)	N/A Nat'l: N/A TX: N/A Pos: N/A	6' 0" 185 lbs	Major Applewhite	Alabama Auburn LSU Mich St Miss St ND Nebraska Oklahoma Ohio St TCU Texas A&M Texas Tech UCLA USC West VA	Trailer (LSU/Texas A&M)
Edwin Freeman	S	Bowie (Arlington, TX)	N/A Nat'l: N/A TX: N/A Pos: N/A	6' 1" 200 lbs	Bruce Chambers	Houston Nebraska Texas A&M	Co-Favorites (Texas A&M)

Recruitment: Duane Akina sure does get around, doesn't he? It appears Brown has green-lighted a wide net when it comes to defensive backs. There are a lot of good ones in-state, but this is the position where Texas is heavily considered a trailer with the top in-staters. Five-star stud Ed Paris, originally from Louisiana, is considered an LSU lock, while other prospects like Nick Watkins, Nick Harvey, and Tony Brown have also had one eye on the SEC. Edwin Freeman and Jamal Brown have the Longhorns closer to the top of their lists, but don't expect Akina to give up on the other studs. It behooves them to listen to the Burnt Orange propaganda--Texas is considered DBU, after all.