Texas Longhorns

Defensive back Kevin Vaccaro (Brownwood, Texas/Brownwood) has sent in his letter of intent to Texas.

Vaccaro (5-foot-9, 175 pounds) is the brother of Longhorns safety Kenny Vaccaro and a three-star recruit. He’s rated 65th among cornerbacks by ESPNU.

He has been committed to the Longhorns since Dec. 11, 2011, and chose Texas over an offer from Louisiana Tech, Nevada, Wake Forest and UT-San Antonio.

Vaccaro is one of three cornerbacks in the 2012 recruiting class along with Bryson Echols (DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto) and athlete Orlando Thomas (Copperas Cove, Texas/Copperas Cove).

Scouts take: Vaccaro is an explosive, hard hitting corner/safety tweener with good coverage ability in the defensive backfield. Has the physicality to be a strong safety in college but he is undersized in both height and bulk. Will compete on the perimeter as a cover corner but may struggle with not having elite speed and fluidity to be a potential lock down prospect. Is quicker than fast and shows an explosive burst to gain proper positioning.

Importance to class: Vaccaro is one of the biggest projects of this class. Texas coaches took a chance on him in part to do right by his brother, but obviously they see potential. Vaccaro is a tweener who’s got upside, sure, but he’ll have to become a strong technician as a defensive back to make up for his size.

How soon he can make an impact? Again, Vaccaro will need some time to develop and UT coaches will have to find a role for him that fits his skill set. But if he plays with the intensity of his brother, he could carve out an impact role on special teams early on.

Defensive end Hassan Ridgeway (Mansfield, Texas/Mansfield) has sent in his letter of intent to Texas.

Ridgeway (6-foot-4, 248 pounds) is a four-star recruit rated as the No. 20 defensive end in the nation and the 33rd-best prospect in the state by ESPNU.

The U.S. Army All-American has been committed to the Longhorns since Feb. 16, 2011, and chose Texas over offers from Texas A&M and TCU.

Ridgeway is one of two defensive ends in UT’s 2012 recruiting class along with Caleb Bluiett (Beaumont, Texas/West Brook). As a senior at Mansfield, Ridgeway recorded 57 tackles and collected 7.5 sacks.

Scouts take: Ridgeway is a kid that gives flashes of being a disruptive and productive defender. He has good size and on film looks like a well put together kid with a frame that could support more good size as he continues to physically develop. He flashes the ability to explode off the ball, but does need to work to be more consistent. He can give flashes of being tough to handle when taking on blockers. Ridgeway can be an active kid that can cause some problems.

Importance to class: Texas appears to be in fairly good shape with its defensive ends, particularly thanks to the rise of Alex Okafor and Jackson Jeffcoat in 2011. Clearly Texas wanted to sign three ends for this class, though -- as evidenced by Longhorns coaches’ last-second pursuit of Bryce Cottrell -- and Ridgeway and Bluiett are important to building depth behind those star veterans.

How soon he can make an impact? The knock on Ridgeway’s game is his consistency, so perhaps he’d be a candidate to redshirt since UT coaches likely won’t need to throw him onto the field this fall.

Wide receiver Kendall Sanders (Athens, Texas/Athens) has sent in his letter of intent to Texas.

Sanders (6-foot, 175 pounds) is a four-star recruit rated as the No. 13 cornerback in the nation by ESPNU. He’s open to playing either receiver or corner in college.

He has been committed to the Longhorns since Dec. 2, 2011, and chose Texas after decommitting from Oklahoma State and receiving offers from Arkansas, Notre Dame, Michigan, Missouri, Ole Miss, Baylor, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and TCU.

Sanders is one of three receivers in this 2012 recruiting class along with Cayleb Jones (Austin, Texas/Stephen F. Austin) and Marcus Johnson (League City, Texas/Clear Springs).

As a senior, the do-everything U.S. Army All-American produced 818 rushing yards, 530 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns.

Scouts take: The thing that stands out is his toughness, Sanders will come up and put a lick on you. He delivers big hits and will support the run from the corner spot. Is a functional and consistent open field tackler. There is upside for him as a press corner once he spends considerable time in the weight room.

Importance: Texas coaches continue to tell Sanders they’ll use him as a wide receiver, and his pledge became even more important when Thomas Johnson decommitted in December. But as his two interceptions at the Army game proved, he could grow to be a talented corner if he’d like. Either way, he’s a difference-maker and was a big get for this class.

Early impact: This all depends on what position Sanders ultimately plays in college. He might have a better shot at getting on the field early as a receiver, but if his early play suggests his time is better spent at corner, he’ll have some talented veterans ahead of him.

Quote: “I feel exited and I’m ready to be a Longhorn. I’m ready to get this done.”

AUSTIN, Texas -- Three-star safety Adrian Colbert (Mineral Wells, Texas/Mineral Wells) has sent in his letter of intent to Texas.

Colbert (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) is the No. 20 safety in the nation and the No. 63 player in Texas, according to ESPNU.

Colbert, who will also run track at Texas, has been committed to Texas since Dec. 11, 2011. A one-time Baylor commitment, he chose the Longhorns over offers from the Bears, Texas A&M and TCU.

Colbert, who will be the first person in his family to go to college, is the only pure safety prospect in this class. But he is one of four defensive back commitments along with Under Armour All-American cornerback Bryson Echols (DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto), cornerback Kevin Vaccaro (Brownwood, Texas/Brownwood) and athlete Orlando Thomas (Copperas Cove, Texas/Copperas Cove), who will likely start his career as a cornerback.

Scouts take: “Colbert excels in all three phases of the game and given his measurables and very good range, most likely will develop into a hybrid type safety prospect. Is an aggressive run stopper as a safety in high school with some cover ability. Overall, Colbert is currently falling under the radar and has a lot of ability to develop into a college safety. A good athlete with the ability to see early playing time at the major college level.”

Importance to class: The Longhorns need help at safety as much or more than any other position on the field with the loss of seniors Blake Gideon and Christian Scott. Colbert is the only true safety in this class and will add instant and much needed depth.

How soon can he make an impact? Texas’ top three candidates at safety are sophomores Mykkele Thompson and Sheroid Evans and junior Adrian Phillips. They all played there in spurts last season, but probably not enough to make Texas coaches feel confident that any single one of them is the front-runner heading into next season. Colbert won’t get to Austin until the fall, so he’ll face an uphill battle from the jump. But depth is such an issue he could work his way into the rotation. He’s a dedicated worker who could be coming off the momentum of another state track title at that time.

Colbert on signing with Texas: “It feels great to officially become a Texas Longhorn because now no one else can get in contact with me or bother me. I just want to better myself as a player and get bigger, faster and stronger. Maybe I can get a chance at that Thorpe Award. I am ready to take on any challenge that college gives me, including playing football and running track.”

AUSTIN, Texas -- Four-star defensive tackle Alex Norman (Dallas, Texas/Bishop Dunne) has sent in his letter of intent to Texas.

Norman (6-foot-3, 280 pounds) is the No. 7 defensive tackle and No. 97 prospect overall in the ESPNU 150.

The Under Armour All-American, has been committed to Texas since Feb. 12, 2011.

Norman, whose grandfather Pettis Norman, played tight end for the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers, is one of four defensive tackle commitments in this class along with Malcom Brown (Brenham, Texas/Brenham), Paul Boyette Jr. (Humble, Texas/Humble) and junior college transfer Brandon Moore (East Mississippi Community College).

Scouts take: “It seems with Norman that when you go against this kid you better have a good pre-game mean and you better buckle your chin strap good and tight because he is going to bring all he has and is going to battle you. He has good size and while his listed weight may not be eye-popping he looks on film to have a fairly thick lower body and he should be able to add some more size with time in a college weight program.”

Importance to class: Norman’s importance to this class might not appear as big due to the commitments of Brown (the No. 2 DT) and Moore (6-foot-7, 335 pounder). But Texas’ defensive tackles are such an important part of what Manny Diaz tries to do defensively that you can never have too many elite tackles, and Norman is one in our opinion.

He entered high school severely overweight but quickly dedicated himself to eating healthier and working out religiously and has dropped 60 pounds to become a top seven tackle in the country.

How soon can he make an impact? The Longhorns are only losing one defensive tackle in Kheeston Randall and have a young stable on returning players ready to make their mark. The presence of Brown and Moore won’t make it any easier for Norman to see the field early, but it’s hard to count this kid out because of his dedication and skill set. Look for Brown and Moore to see time for sure and Norman to push those players and others for his time in 2012.

AUSTIN, Texas - - Five-star running back Johnathan Gray (Aledo, Texas, Aledo) has sent in his letter of intent to Texas.

Gray (5-foot-10, 205 pounds) is the No. 1 running back and No. 2 player in the ESPNU 150, and the highest-rated player in Texas’ class.

He ended his career with 10,908 yards and a national-record 205 touchdowns. Gray, whose father, James Gray, is Texas Tech’s second all-time leading rusher, helped Aledo win three straight Class 4A Division II state titles. He’s also twice been named Mr. Football USA and Gatorade Player of the Year.

Gray has been committed to Texas since April 22, 2011. He chose the Longhorns over offers from Auburn, Arkansas, Colorado, Baylor, Texas A&M, TCU and Texas Tech.

Gray is the only running back committed in this class.

Scouts take: “One of the more productive backs we have seen n recent classes. Gray is a TD machine combining load-back qualities with great top-end speed. Has a supreme blend of size and speed…Has all the physical traits you look for in a college back and should continue that production if he lands in a college system that feeds him the rock in a rock in a downhill scheme and remains healthy.”

Importance to class: Maybe you’ve heard of this guy before. No? Well he finished his career as one of high school football’s all-time great players, set more records than should be allowed and has more awards than Kim Kardashian has magazine covers. He’s the prized recruit of Texas’ class, and one that will add more depth to an already loaded backfield with Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron. Gray was a must-get for Texas, and it got him.

How soon can he make an impact? Right away. Sure Brown and Bergeron have a year under their belts, but there shouldn’t be any reason why someone with Grays abilities doesn’t find his way on the field. He can do it all. The Longhorns need someone to fill Fozzy Whittaker’s role in the wildcat formation and Gray would be a perfect fit. He’s also exceptional at catching the ball out of the backfield.

Gray on signing with Texas: “I definitely can’t wait to get down there and play with all of the commits that have committed for 2012. We are all excited to play. There are high expectations but I think we can live up to them. We are going in with the mindset of getting better, win some national championships and get the program back to where it should be.”

Quarterback Jalen Overstreet (Tatum, Texas/Tatum) has sent in his letter of intent to Texas.

Overstreet (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) is a three-star recruit rated as the No. 43 athlete and the No. 75 prospect in the state of Texas by ESPNU.

He has been committed to the Longhorns since Oct. 31, 2011, and chose Texas over offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Texas Tech.

Overstreet is one of two quarterbacks in this recruiting class along with Connor Brewer (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral). Together, they give the Longhorns four quarterbacks for 2012.

As a senior at Tatum, Overstreet threw for 1,471 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 1,190 yards and 23 more scores. He led Tatum to a 24-4 record as its starter.

Scouts take: This guy is a tough customer; makes good decisions with zone/read play and is very effective running inside or off the edge; displays a tough over the pads slashing style capable of gaining inside yardage. His foot quickness and short burst allow him to break out of the pack, resulting in big gainers. Although Overstreet may need some time and perhaps a redshirt year to polish his skills, once accomplished, we see good upside as his career unfolds. He is physically gifted and more than capable of moving to safety or wide receiver if he does not pan out as a QB.

Importance to class: Critical. Remember, Texas had four quarterbacks when fall camp started in 2011, and two bailed by midseason. UT absolutely needed depth behind David Ash and Case McCoy, and Overstreet immediately becomes the most talented runner of the program’s signal callers.

How soon he can make an impact? He’ll have to be ready to get thrown into the fire. All it takes is an injury or a transfer (or both) for Texas to quickly be in trouble at quarterback. Overstreet should also get a chance to shine in special Wild-formation run packages if he’s willing.

AUSTIN, Texas - - Four-star athlete Daje Johnson (Pflugerville, Texas/Hendrickson) has sent in his letter of intent to Texas.

Johnson (5-foot-9, 180 pounds) switched his commitment from TCU to the Longhorns on Saturday after taking an official visit to Texas. He is the No. 14 athlete and No. 141 player overall in the ESPNU 150.

Johnson, whose father, Clyde, was an all-conference defensive back for Kansas State, gives the Longhorns their sixth commitment from a skilled position player along with QB Connor Brewer (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral), QB Jalen Oversteet (Tatum, Texas/Tatum), WR Cayleb Jones (Austin, Texas/Stephen F. Austin), WR Kendall Sanders (Athens, Texas/Athens) and WR Marcus Johnson (League City, Texas/Clear Springs).

He chose the Longhorns over offers from TCU, Cal, Baylor, Houston, Kansas State and Texas Tech.

Scouts take: “Johnson could be one of the more underrated backs this class has to offer with his terrific blend of speed, agility and explosive second gear he is a homerun threat waiting to happen. He is slightly undersized as far as fulltime backs go, but has a muscular, wiry frame and his build could land him as a cornerback candidate as his skill set is tailor made for the position. If he were employed in the spread with a zone blocking scheme he can really give opposing teams problems. Reminds us a little of LaMichael James.”

Importance to class: The Longhorns didn’t have that jack-of-all-trades player in this class until Johnson came on board. You could argue Orlando Thomas and Jalen Overstreet, but neither of those players are as explosive as he is. He can play a multitude of different positions offensively and even follow in his father’s footsteps and go the defensive route if needed. The D.J. Monroe comparisons are just, but Johnson sees himself more comparable to Fozzy Whittaker.

How soon can he make an impact? Depends. He could have an impact in the return game right away if Texas chooses to use him in that fashion. Then again, the Longhorns could wait a season and use him once D.J. Monroe has exhausted his eligibility. Johnson wants to play right away and was said to have been Texas proved in 2011 that everyone has a shot at playing time.

Johnson on signing with Texas: “When February 1 comes, that will be another great moment,” Johnson said. “I’m signing, and I don’t have to get interrogated anymore.”

Wide receiver Marcus Johnson (League City, Texas/Clear Springs) has sent in his letter of intent to Texas.

Johnson (6-foot-1, 177 pounds) is a three-star recruit rated as the No. 83 receiver and No. 91 among in-state prospects by ESPNU.

He has been committed to the Longhorns since Dec. 4, 2011, and chose Texas after decommitting from Texas Tech and then Texas A&M. He also had offers from Baylor, Arizona, Kansas, Northwestern, West Virginia and Wake Forest, among others.

Johnson is one of three receivers in this recruiting class along with Cayleb Jones (Austin, Texas/Stephen F. Austin) and Kendall Sanders (Athens, Texas/Athens).

As a senior, Johnson caught 66 passes for 1,310 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also ran for 387 yards and a touchdown and returned two kicks for scores.

Scouts take: Johnson is a pretty savvy receiver that can be very difficult to gauge for DBs due to his size and deceptive speed, quickness and sneaky second gear. He has good size and is a good-looking athlete. Has quick feet and coordinated body control. Comes off the ball at about 3/4 speed and will lull defenders to sleep and then show impressive burst and acceleration especially on vertical routes.

Importance to class: It never hurts to take in a speedster and find a way to get him the ball. Marquise Goodwin and D.J. Monroe won’t be in Austin forever, and Johnson reportedly has legit 4.5 40-time speed. He could develop into a weapon on the inside or the outside at receiver.

How soon he can make an impact? Texas has experienced starter coming back in Jaxon Shipley and Mike Davis and might also get Goodwin back, depending on his Olympic plans. Their backups other than Darius White are returning, too, so Johnson will have battle for snaps when fall ball begins.

Quote: “I think he’s the best receiver in the state of Texas. He’s a great athlete, a great kid and better kid than player. I guarantee he’s only going to be in news for positive things. He’s a really hard worker and I won’t bet against him. He’s hungry and very humble, and he can run.” -- Clear Springs coach Clint Hartman

Offensive lineman Kennedy Estelle (Pearland, Texas/Dawson) has sent in his letter of intent to Texas.

Estelle (6-foot-7, 310 pounds) is a four-star recruit rated as the No. 7 offensive tackle in the nation and 58th on the ESPNU 150.

The Under-Armour All-American has been committed to the Longhorns since June 5, 2011, and chose Texas over offers from Alabama, Auburn, Texas A&M, Florida State, Oklahoma State, Notre Dame, USC and Oregon, among others.

Estelle is one of four offensive linemen in this 2012 recruiting class along with Curtis Riser (DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto), Camrhon Hughes (Harker Heights, Texas/Harker Heights) and Northwest Mississippi Community College transfer Donald Hawkins.

Scouts take: Estelle uses his superior size and athleticism to dominate lesser opponents as a run and pass blocker. We see good upper body playing strength but the need to polish both run and pass blocking skills. Definitely has the size and athleticism for the offensive tackle position at the major level of competition. Shows very good flexibility, balance and agility; can play in space and is a devastating second level blocker. We like this guy's aggressive, tough finishing attitude.

Importance to class: Much will be expected of Estelle, fellow Under Armour All-American Riser and Hawkins. All three are high-profile signees who can provide immediate depth and challenge the four returning starters. Texas went out and found some nice additions to a line that will benefit from even more competition.

How soon he can make an impact? The Longhorns will put their five best linemen on the field in 2012. Last year, that meant throwing freshman Josh Cochran and redshirt freshman Dominic Espinosa into the starting lineup. If Estelle makes a strong impression in fall camp, he’ll get a shot to earn some snaps early on.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Four-star cornerback Bryson Echols (DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto) has sent in his letter of intent to Texas.

Echols (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) is the No. 6 cornerback and the No. 79 player overall in the ESPNU 150. His high school teammate, offensive guard Curtis Riser, is also committed to the Longhorns.

Echols, an Under Armour All-American, has been committed to Texas since Feb. 26, 2011. He chose the Longhorns over offers from Arizona, North Texas and Kansas.

He is one of three true defensive back commitments in this class along with Kevin Vaccaro (Brownwood, Texas/Brownwood) and safety Adrian Colbert (Mineral Wells, Texas/Mineral Wells). Athlete Orlando Thomas (Copperas Cove, Texas/Copperas Cove) will likely end up in the secondary as well.

Scouts take: “Echols is a fierce competitor between the white lines and plays the game bigger and faster than his measureables might indicate. Will need added bulk and strength to continue playing with his physical style and to press and reroute bigger college receivers. Size should come and Echols has some intangibles you simply cannot coach. We expect this guy to emerge as one of the upper-tier corners in this class.”

Importance to class: The Longhorns have long prided themselves on being “DBU,” and appear to be in pretty good hands to be able to continue that tradition with young cornerbacks Quandre Diggs, Adrian Phillips and Carrington Byndom. But you can never have too many solid corners in a pass happy league like the Big 12, and Echols is the top corner in Texas.

How soon can he make an impact? This will be an interesting one to watch because of the loss at safety of Blake Gideon and Christian Scott. Not saying that Echols will be a safety. That’s unlikely to happen. But someone needs to fill that hole and it could be Phillips, even out of nickel coverage packages. If that happens than Echols could be in line for playing time. If not, guys like Leroy Scott, Josh Turner and A.J. White could likely see the field before Echols as a cornerback.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Four-star offensive guard Curtis Riser (DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto) has sent in his letter of intent to Texas.

Riser (6-foot-4, 290 pounds) is the No. 6 offensive guard and the No. 78 player overall in the ESPNU 150. His high school teammate, cornerback Bryson Echols, is also committed to the Longhorns.

Riser has been committed to Texas since Feb. 13, 2011. He chose the Longhorns over offers from Notre Dame, LSU, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Baylor, TCU and Texas Tech.

He didn’t allow a sack and recorded 82 pancake blocks on an offense that averaged 451 yards per game in 2011.

Riser is one of four offensive linemen in this class along with fellow Under Armour All-American Kennedy Estelle (Pearland, Texas/Dawson), early enrollee Camrhon Hughes (Harker Heights, Texas/Harker Heights) and junior college transfer Donald Hawkins (Northwest Mississippi Community College).

Scouts take: “Riser is a very strong run blocker both on and off the line of scrimmage; will need to polish aspects of pass protection. However we like the nimble feet he displays. Although Riser does not appear to be an immediate starter and it’s possible he could end up inside at the offensive guard position, we feel his size and playing strength are worth evaluating at the offensive tackle spot.”

Importance to class: There is never a class that doesn’t have the need for offensive linemen. They are just too vital to a team’s success. Riser proved this season to be the best offensive guard prospect in the state, and Texas couldn’t let him go anywhere else. He’s the only one of the Longhorns’ four linemen commitments that projects as a guard, though he has said he wouldn’t mind playing tackle if given the chance.

How soon can he make an impact? Riser doesn’t care who is in front of him. He’s going to give it his all. That’s just who he is. But Texas is only losing one starter off the line in David Snow, and his backup at left guard is Luke Poehlmann, who saw significant minutes is special packages last season. Then there is the addition of junior college transfer Donald Hawkins, who will surely see early playing time. Texas doesn’t bring JUCO players into the mix often, so you’ve got to believe he was brought here for immediate help. So Riser is going to have to beat out several players to crack the rotation. But you can never count him out. Not with his skill set and motivation.

Riser on signing with Texas: “I’m proud to be a Longhorn and ready to get down there and show what I have and win a national championship in these next couple of years. I’m going to go down there and show the coaches what I have. No one wants to sit on the bench, regardless of their age. So I definitely want early playing time. If I don’t succeed with that then I will redshirt and get better. But I definitely want to go down there and, if not start, have early playing time.”

AUSTIN, Texas -- Four-star wide receiver Cayleb Jones (Austin, Texas/Stephen F. Austin) has sent in his letter of intent to Texas.

Jones (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) is the No. 21 receiver and the No. 147 prospect overall in the ESPNU 150. Prior to the latest rankings, Jones was rated as the No. 3 receiver in the country.

Jones, an Under Armour All-American, has been committed to Texas since Feb. 27, 2011. He chose the Longhorns over offers from Auburn, UCLA, Florida, Iowa State, Notre Dame, East Carolina, North Carolina, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Miami, Oregon and Texas Tech.

Jones, whose father, Robert Jones, was a linebacker for multiple teams in the NFL, is one of three receivers in this class along with Kendall Sanders (Athens, Texas/Athens) and Marcus Johnson (League City, Texas/Clear Springs).

Scouts take: “Considering Jones’ size, he is a very gifted overall prospect in terms of athleticism, change-of-direction and speed. He is similar in tools to last year’s Trey Metoyer, who signed with Oklahoma. He is one of the more fluid receivers with size to come out of Texas in recent memory, which is why he is highly coveted, but is not a sudden, explosive player.”

Importance to class: The Longhorns will return their top four pass catchers in Mike Davis, Jaxon Shipley, Marquise Goodwin and D.J. Grant. So the importance of Jones might not seem so great at first. But, because of injury, poor quarterback play or other, none of those receivers really had standout seasons. There wasn’t that one receiver for Texas that had defenses losing sleep at night. But Jones has that ability with his physical presence and mental makeup. He’s been around the game for a long time because of his father, who introduced him to some of the NFL’s all-time great wide receivers specifically so he could shine at this stage of his life. He grew up in the shadows of the university and already has great friendships with several members on the team. Texas couldn’t let one of the nation’s best receivers get out of its own backyard. He was a must get, and they got him.

How soon can he make an impact? Jones will see plenty of playing time as a freshman. It’s just a matter of how soon he’ll see it. Miles Onyegbule was able to see playing time as a freshman last season and Jones appears to be much more polished than Onyegbule was at this stage in their careers. Given how Bryan Harsin likes to shuffle so many players in to the offense, look for Jones to be on the field in some capacity from Day 1.

Jones on signing with Texas: "It means a lot. A lot of people wish they could be a part of Texas and Longhorn Nation. It means a lot to me and a lot to my family and the people I grew up with. I’m excited."

AUSTIN, Texas -- Linebacker Dalton Santos (Van, Texas/Van) has sent in his letter of intent to Texas.

Santos (6-foot-2, 240 pounds) is a four-star recruit rated as the No. 1 inside linebacker in the nation and No. 14 among in-state prospects by ESPNU.

He committed to Texas on Sunday after backing out of a nearly six-month verbal pledge to Tennessee. Santos also considered Oklahoma State -- he was committed to OSU from June until August -- as well as Arkansas and TCU.

Santos is one of four linebackers in this recruiting class along with Peter Jinkens (Dallas/Skyline), Timothy Cole (Brenham, Texas/Brenham) and Alex De La Torre (Denton, Texas/Ryan).

As a senior at Van, the Under Armour All-American recorded 101 tackles (19 for loss), three sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and an interception.

Scouts take: Santos is a dominant run stopper from inside to the edge; his excellent instincts and immediate reactions allow him to create havoc in the backfield. Has the size and athleticism for the inside linebacker position at the major level of competition. This guy is a tough customer; displays very good balance and explosion when tackling; will punish and knock ball carriers back where they came from. This an athlete who brings it all to the field, resulting in momentum changing plays. Santos' size, toughness and intellect could get him early situational playing time on defense as his collegiate career begins.

Importance to class: Texas already had three commits from linebackers when it made a last-second push for Santos. Maybe their interest began when Mario Edwards Jr. said no to UT. More likely, the Longhorns’ need for a top-flight in-state linebacker came from the realization that seniors Keenan Robinson and Emmaunel Acho are gone and leave behind an inexperienced group in much need of playmakers. Either way, flipping Santos was an absolute steal for Texas.

How soon he can make an impact? On Sunday, Santos proudly told HornsNation he’s coming in to take over the starting job at middle linebacker, no matter who stands in his way. Right now, his biggest competitor is sophomore-to-be Steve Edmond. Whether he secures the starting spot in the middle or not, Santos has all the traits of a standout hitman on special teams, a role he could adopt right away this fall.

Quote: “I felt like I had to stay close to home and do what I do right here in the great state of Texas, in front of all my friends and family. … I want to bring a nasty mentality to that Texas defense like it should be. I don’t care who stands in my way, I’m going to do what I have to do.”