Inside Texas Inside Scoop - 4/3/15
From: Eric Nahlin
DUKE CATALON ANECDOTE
People tend to sleep on players who redshirt but the freshman is going to try to awaken you from your slumber early next fall. He's creating a bit of a buzz for himself this spring, but the staff has always been high on him. Check this quote from Charlie Strong:
“Duke is more of a slasher who can get outside on the edge and outrun you. He can get behind in pads. He runs over linebackers in tackling drills. He’s not afraid to lower his heard and run you over.”
This reminded me of something a former coach told me last fall, right about the time the pads came on. Said the coach, "Catalon gets his first hand-off and instead of trying to make a move on Malcom Brown, he just ran into him with all he had. The very next play he does the same to Santos. He's fearless with the ball in his hands."
Catalon is a Strong type of player, but he'd rather show you than tell you.
SLICK WILLIE
Remember Will Lyles? Quick refresher: He was a Houston area street agent who propelled many elite recruits to schools he was allied with, namely Oregon and namely not Texas. When JS and I were at Recruitocosm, we did an expose on him that was picked up on the Jason Whitlock show. Lyles was soon out of business and Oregon was eventually told very sternly to not cheat or it would be warned again. Essentially nothing came of it other than Lyles ending up working an honest gig at Specs. Well, it appears he's tired of that existence because he's being spotted left and right at football events.
I don't know his exact business plan yet but he's telling players he still has ties to Oregon, including one high upside prospect who has visited Texas in the past couple of months. He's still using his tried and true method of trying to go through the mother. What a charmer!
As 7-on-7 becomes a traveling circus on par with AAU, Lyles is hitting up those events as well according to someone who has a son who plays. To be clear, I haven't heard of any wrongdoing this go 'round (yet), but when you have his reputation it's very hard to give the benefit of the doubt.
DONTAVIOUS JACKSON
The state's top inside linebacker has visited Austin a bunch the last couple of weeks, even staying the night twice. To say things are looking good on this front is an understatement, but that doesn't mean a commitment is coming soon. The Elsik product told me he'll decide after his senior season so this one has a long way to go.
ON ERIC MONROE
I'm getting very close to pushing my chips to the center of the table on the top defensive back from North Shore. I think UT is in the most favorable position of any school with Baylor probably second. His friendship with Texas basketball commit, Kerwin Roach, is of note.
Monroe visited Texas last week and UT is feeling confident in its chances. Monroe is a Kris Boyd type of player who could play anything in the secondary. Texas will land at least one of the big three in-state defensive backs. Book it!
BEAR OKUDAH
I'm going to type it until 'Bear' replaces 'Jeffrey'. Readers of this site will know I absolutely love the 2017 South Grand Prairie defensive back. I think he'll be a top 50 player in the nation thanks to his combination of size, speed and coordination.
Okudah and I talk pretty frequently. He told me yesterday he plans on visiting Texas "next week." When asked if he talks to former SGP star, Jason Hall, he replied, "all the time!"
I'd offer if I'm Strong. I think that would cement Texas as the easy frontrunner for the big safety.
2015's defensive back class is the type of collection of talent to help restore DBU. You have to keep it going, though. Landing players like Monroe and Okudah is 'more than keeping it going'. Flat studs, and Texas looks good for each.
TEAM INFO
Not much to report that hasn't been said. I'll do your most likely starting 22 at this early juncture.
OFFENSE
QB: Tyrone Swoopes
RB: Johnathan Gray (Catalon will get starter's carries)
X: Dorian Leonard with the slight lead over Lorenzo Joe.
Slot: Jacorey Warrick is making his move. Strong raved about him yesterday. Slippery player. Daje is behind him. Money Foreman will be in the rotation when he's healthy (hamstring).
Z: Marcus Johnson
TE: Andrew Beck
LT: Connor Williams
LG: Sedrick Flowers
C: Taylor Doyle, with Jake Raulerson pushing him.
RG: Kent Perkins
RT: Tristan Nickelson
DEFENSE
Fox: Naashon Hughes
NT: Paul Boyette
3-tech: Hassan Ridgeway
SDE: Shiro Davis
Sam: Malik Jefferson
Mike: Dalton Santos
Will: Peter Jinkens
Nickel: John Bonney
CB: Duke Thomas
CB: Bryson Echols
SS: Jason Hall
FS: Dylan Haines
Look for the staff to find creative usage of Malik Jefferson and keep him on the field as much as possible rather than just pulling him when the team goes to nickel. An example of this would be staying in base and having him cover the slot.
I'm waiting on a couple of more calls. If they come in I'll make separate posts.
From: Justin Wells
Recruiting notes. Here goes....
1. Shaka Effect. Texas signees Kerwin Roach (GP North Shore) and Eric Davis (Saginaw, MI) were paying close attention last night during #ShakaWatch. Around 10:00pm when the news dropped, the two 4-star guards found themselves pledged to another man. Roach was excited.
"I like (Smart) and I would love to play for him," said Roach. "I love getting up and down the court, so (Smart's offense) is going to make me feel comfortable on the floor. Love the defense too. It's the same exact style we ran in high school."
I asked Roach about fellow signee Davis and said they've talked but want to keep their conversations private. I asked Roach if he thought Davis would stick with UT and he said." I think so, he's still committed to UT so we'll see."
Roach agreed that it's hard to not want to play for a guy like Smart. My gut tells me Davis sticks. Preston will have more later in the Scoop.
2. Jeff McCulloch, Parrish Cobb, Sam Ehlinger talk Texas. The state's best LB and one of the more underrated DBs might be visiting Texas this weekend. Also, UT continues to keep close tabs on maybe the best pure passer in the '17 class.
"I might make it down there on Friday," McCulloch said. "Looking forward to getting back." Texas continues to put themselves in a great position with the Shark.
Then the corner from Waco La Vega, Cobb, is also ready to get back to Austin. He'll be in town this weekend.
"I'm going to try to make a practice," said Cobb. "Not sure if I'll be going alone or with my family. Might get a teammate to ride with me." Cobb is the most under-the-radar defensive back in the 2016 class in-state. He turned heads at the Rivals camp last weekend.
As for Austin Westlake's Ehlinger, one of the top signal-callers in the Class of 2017 recently visited UT and, as usual, he's a fan.
"I went to practice a few weeks back," said Ehlinger. "I got to meet all the coaches and talked a lot with Shawn Watson. As far as other schools recruiting me, I'd say Texas, Oklahoma State, Florida, and Missouri recruit me the most as of right now."
Ehlinger performed well at the Opening Regionals: New Orleans and the Rivals camp two weeks ago.
"I had a great time," Ehlinger said. "I got top underclassman at Rivals and the Elite 11/Opening. They only take senior QBs but I would've loved to get invited to the big event. As for now, I'm just working hard and focusing on Westlake football during the Spring."
Ehlinger will likely be the second best QB in Texas for 2017 - behind Denton Guyer's Shawn Robinson. Ehlinger could very well be the best passing prospect in 2016 if he was a year older. He's that's good. He also loves the Longhorns.
This kid can sling it and look forward to following his recruitment. Texas is in great standing here. If they take two in 2017, I'll bet Ehlinger is one of them.
3. Texas offers Glen Logan. The massive DL from Destrehan, LA picked up a UT offer this week. We can thank Brick Haley for that. The new Texas DL coach has plenty of Louisiana ties.
The ginormous lineman from Da Boot has offers from most schools in the south and in the SEC West. He likes that former LSU DL coach Brick Haley is in Austin now. They had built a relationship from Haley's Bayou Bengal days and said that UT having the noted DL taskmaster definitely helps the Longhorns. A visit this summer could happen.
"I'm really considering anyone right now," said Logan. "Texas is a school I'm thinking about."
Texas is taking at least three defensive tackles in this next class and Logan fits the mold. He could also see time at SDE, because he versatile. Just have to get him on campus. Do work, coach Haley.
From: Tim Preston
Bits and pieces of information to run down concerning the new hire of Shaka Smart, so this version of the Hoop Scoop may look a bit disheveled.
*Concerning current Texas players:
· Almost holistically positive, but Isaiah Taylor was described as being “on the fence” about his possible return, even after the Smart announcement.
· No other attrition is expected from current players at this time, but nothing is concrete until after the summer sessions
*Concerning possible staff makeup:
· Lanier expects to be under consideration
· Springmann unsure of whether or not he’ll even get involved
· Talk of Jai Lucas has been all over the place; some chatter that he’s definitely in; some chatter that it hasn’t even been discussed
· Todd Wright is headed to Knoxville
· Chris Ogden is headed to Knoxville
*Concerning how it happened:
· Two sources have told me that Gregg Marshall wasn’t even called
· Smart was the first call from Patterson
· Smart essentially told Texas yes on Tuesday, but Patterson and Smart both wanted to give it time to make sure the relationship was a fit
· Other people seriously approached were Villanova’s Jay Wright, Boston’s Brad Stevens and Virginia’s Tony Bennett
*Concerning current Texas commits:
· Kerwin Roach Jr of North Shore High School is excited; says that “Havoc” is basically the same defense he ran at North Shore
· Eric Davis of Saginaw, MI has been less public but told Roach that he was still committed to Texas
· Of the two, Davis is the one to definitely keep an eye on
*Concerning possible future Texas recruits:
· Smart reached out to a few recruits last night letting them know their VCU offers were also good at Texas
· Dennis Smith Jr (point guard from NC), Bruce Brown (wing guard from VT), and Javin Montgomery-Delaurier (PF from St. Anne's-Belfield School, VA) were offered
· Some expectation that Tevin Mack (4-star shooting guard from SC) and Jordan Murphy (3-star wing from San Antonio) who are both signed at VCU will consider asking for a release from their LOI
· Look for Smart to contact De’Aaron Fox and Jarrett Allen by the end of the weekend
· Fox and Allen are two very important recruits over the next recruiting cycle
well damn
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at the same time:
