DB report: A look at where Texas stands 
May, 13, 2013
May 13
1:00
PM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
The Longhorns scored a huge coup with the commitment of four-star cornerback Jermaine Roberts (New Orleans/Saint Augustine) in April. But he sits alone as the only defensive back verbal pledge for Texas in 2014.
That’s going to change. Question is, when? And, who will join him?
The state of Texas has supplied the Longhorns with an abundance of quality choices to choose from. We take a look at those who have Longhorns offers (as well as one Oklahoman) and update where they stand with their recruitments.
That’s going to change. Question is, when? And, who will join him?
The state of Texas has supplied the Longhorns with an abundance of quality choices to choose from. We take a look at those who have Longhorns offers (as well as one Oklahoman) and update where they stand with their recruitments.
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Burnt Orange Breakdown: Demarco Cobbs
May, 13, 2013
May 13
12:00
PM CT
By
Carter Strickland | ESPN.com
During the summer, HornsNation will analyze each of the scholarship players on the Texas roster -- excluding the Longhorns' 2013 recruiting class -- in our Burnt Orange Breakdown series. Starting with No. 1 Mike Davis, we will go through the roster numerically, finishing with No. 99 Desmond Jackson.
No. 7 Demarco Cobbs
Senior linebacker
No. 7 Demarco Cobbs
Senior linebacker
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HornsNation is breaking down Texas' 2013 football schedule every Monday this summer. This week: The Longhorns' second game of the season vs. the Brigham Young Cougars on Sept. 7.
BYU record in 2012: 8-5
Last meeting against Texas: The Longhorns won 17-16 in DKR in 2011.
Record against Texas: 2-1
Top returners: RB Jamaal Williams, TE Kaneaku Fields, OL Houston Reynolds, OL Manaaki Vaitai, WR Cody Hoffman, DL Eathyn Manumaleuna, WR Ross Apo, LB Kyle Van Noy, LB Spencer Hadley
Key losses: QB Riley Nelson, DE Ziggy Ansah, LB Brandon Ogletree, P Riley Stephenson
Statistical leaders
Rushing: Jamaal Williams (775 yards)
Passing: Taysom Hill (425 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions)
Receiving: Cody Hoffman (1,248 yards)
Tackles: Sorenson (68)
Sacks: Kyle Van Noy (13)
Interceptions: Daniel Sorenson (three)
Did you know: Senior linebacker Kyle Van Noy was the only FBS player to record a stat in every defensive category -- tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, interceptions, pass breakups, quarterback hurries, fumble recoveries, forced fumbles, blocked kicks and touchdowns. Not only that, but Van Noy has recorded a stat in each category for two straight years.
Three things to watch
BYU record in 2012: 8-5
Last meeting against Texas: The Longhorns won 17-16 in DKR in 2011.
Record against Texas: 2-1
Top returners: RB Jamaal Williams, TE Kaneaku Fields, OL Houston Reynolds, OL Manaaki Vaitai, WR Cody Hoffman, DL Eathyn Manumaleuna, WR Ross Apo, LB Kyle Van Noy, LB Spencer Hadley
Key losses: QB Riley Nelson, DE Ziggy Ansah, LB Brandon Ogletree, P Riley Stephenson
Statistical leaders
Rushing: Jamaal Williams (775 yards)
Passing: Taysom Hill (425 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions)
Receiving: Cody Hoffman (1,248 yards)
Tackles: Sorenson (68)
Sacks: Kyle Van Noy (13)
Interceptions: Daniel Sorenson (three)
Did you know: Senior linebacker Kyle Van Noy was the only FBS player to record a stat in every defensive category -- tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, interceptions, pass breakups, quarterback hurries, fumble recoveries, forced fumbles, blocked kicks and touchdowns. Not only that, but Van Noy has recorded a stat in each category for two straight years.
Three things to watch
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AUSTIN, Texas -- Think back to national signing day in February.
As top recruits across the state sat down to sign their letters of intent and secure their futures, Daniel Gresham was sitting in a hallway outside his coach’s office at Fort Worth (Texas) All Saints.
As top recruits across the state sat down to sign their letters of intent and secure their futures, Daniel Gresham was sitting in a hallway outside his coach’s office at Fort Worth (Texas) All Saints.
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FRISCO, Texas -- Soso Jamabo (Plano, Texas/Plano West) would have liked to be a part of this weekend’s Nike EYBL series playing with the Texas Titans. With a sling on his right shoulder, however, the 2015 two-sport star was reduced to watching the Titans on the bench, offering instruction to teammates and being the team’s biggest supporter.
For the rest of the spring and most of the summer, Jamabo’s focus will be on rehabbing after undergoing shoulder surgery on April 30. Jamabo broke some bones and damaged some ligaments in his shoulder during a Texas Class 5A Division-I state quarterfinal playoff. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound athlete is expected to miss 6-10 weeks but is projected to return a couple of weeks before Plano West’s first scrimmage in August.
“It’s early in the process, but it’s going well,” Jamabo said of the rehab process. “I’m just trying to get the shoulder back to usual, if not better. Right now, I’m just doing basic stuff and keep everything as minimal as possible.”
Exactly what kind of football player will Plano West look to see back on the field? Jamabo’s first rush as a varsity player was against Flower Mound (Texas) Marcus on Aug. 31. It went for 12 yards. His second rush: A 75-yard touchdown run.
Since then, Soso has been ... well ... anything but.
Only the shoulder injury managed to slow the electrifying 2015 running back down. He rushed for a team-leading 1,697 yards and 24 touchdowns and also caught 20 passes for 453 yards -- an average of almost 23 yards per catch -- and four touchdowns. On the basketball court, Jamabo averaged 13.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 11 games.
For the rest of the spring and most of the summer, Jamabo’s focus will be on rehabbing after undergoing shoulder surgery on April 30. Jamabo broke some bones and damaged some ligaments in his shoulder during a Texas Class 5A Division-I state quarterfinal playoff. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound athlete is expected to miss 6-10 weeks but is projected to return a couple of weeks before Plano West’s first scrimmage in August.
“It’s early in the process, but it’s going well,” Jamabo said of the rehab process. “I’m just trying to get the shoulder back to usual, if not better. Right now, I’m just doing basic stuff and keep everything as minimal as possible.”
Exactly what kind of football player will Plano West look to see back on the field? Jamabo’s first rush as a varsity player was against Flower Mound (Texas) Marcus on Aug. 31. It went for 12 yards. His second rush: A 75-yard touchdown run.
Since then, Soso has been ... well ... anything but.
Only the shoulder injury managed to slow the electrifying 2015 running back down. He rushed for a team-leading 1,697 yards and 24 touchdowns and also caught 20 passes for 453 yards -- an average of almost 23 yards per catch -- and four touchdowns. On the basketball court, Jamabo averaged 13.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 11 games.
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John Saunder gives his take on Texas, Alabama, LSU, Florida, Florida State and other schools offering eighth-grader Dylan Moses a scholarship.
Dallas DE Evans talks Longhorns offer
May, 11, 2013
May 11
4:18
PM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
To say Victor Evans (Dallas/Skyline) is ecstatic about his new Longhorns offer would be a vast understatement. Words can’t really describe how excited he was to pick up the offer on Friday.
“My head coach is down at Austin for the track meet and he talked to the coaches. They told him I had an offer,” Evans said. “I was pretty much overwhelmed by the whole situation. I still am overwhelmed by the whole situation. I’m blessed to have what I have.”
“My head coach is down at Austin for the track meet and he talked to the coaches. They told him I had an offer,” Evans said. “I was pretty much overwhelmed by the whole situation. I still am overwhelmed by the whole situation. I’m blessed to have what I have.”
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Two weeks after Demetrius Knox decommitted from Texas, his friend and teammate has followed suit.
Four-star running back Daniel Gresham (Fort Worth, Texas/All Saints) has decommitted from Texas. He’d been committed to the Longhorns since August. Gresham confirmed his decision in a text message.
"It just wasn't the right fit for me," Gresham said. "I have many reasons [for decommitting], but I don't want to get into it."
Max Olson/ESPN.comDaniel Gresham is rated the No. 2 fullback in the nation and the No. 30 prospect in the state of Texas.The Longhorns recently offered scholarship to ESPN 150 running back Joe Mixon (Oakley, Calif./Freedom), four-star back Adam Choice (Thomasville, Ga./Thomas County) and Plano (Texas) West standout Auston Anderson.
Texas already has a longtime verbal pledge from Donald Catalon, the Houston Eisenhower back who was one of the first members of the class.
Gresham, the nation’s No. 2 fullback prospect, told HornsNation as recently as last week that he was still solid with Texas.
When he committed to Texas on Aug. 7, Gresham held only one offer. Since then, he’s landed offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, Louisville, Miami, Ole Miss, Ohio State and several others.
Ole Miss and Louisville appear to be the early favorites to land him, and Gresham said Florida State, Alabama, Tennessee and Miami are all on his short list now.
The 5-foot-10, 236-pound prospect was recruited to play a variety of roles in the Texas offense -- not just fullback. He’s seeking a school that will give him a chance to be a featured running back.
The loss of Gresham leaves Texas with 13 commits for its 2014 class.
Inspired by Florida's "#ComePlayWRFortheJoker" campaign, our recruiting writers looked at other ways schools can sell themselves on the trail. Here's a look at recruiting pitches for the Big 12:
Baylor Bears
What they’re selling: The new 45,000-seat, $250-million on-campus stadium that will open in 2014. Recruiting is an arms race, and players like fancy stadiums and locker rooms, and Baylor’s upgrade puts them finally on the same level playing field as everybody else in the Big 12.
What they're missing: Help on defense -- specifically at defensive line and defensive back.
Iowa State Cyclones
What they’re selling: Paul Rhoads. He grew up miles from the campus and has helped turn around Iowa State with a physical and fundamentally sound style of football.
What they're missing: A true home-run threat at receiver.
Kansas Jayhawks
What they’re selling: Charlie Weis. He’s taken risks (juco infusion), repaired relationships with area high school coaches and widened KU’s recruiting pool.
What they're missing: Wins. When you’ve won only one conference game in three years, a little bit of everything is missing.
Kansas State Wildcats
What they’re selling: Bill Synder. The plan has worked for years in Manhattan. K-State doesn’t care how many stars a player has attached to his name, a player only earns an offer from K-State unless Snyder personally signs off on it after a lengthy review. It’s a plan that produced a No. 1 BCS ranking and a Big 12 championship in 2012.
What’s missing: I’ve been told by coaches for years that the most difficult position to recruit is defensive tackle. That’s why you often see even average defensive tackles rack up double-digit offers, and finding good depth at defensive tackle has been very difficult to do at K-State.
Oklahoma Sooners
What they’re selling: Oklahoma is proud of its football tradition, and few schools can match the Sooners’ track record for success, facilities and ability to prepare you for the next level.
What they're missing: A renewed focus on evaluating players. It’s what differentiated Bob Stoops’ staff when they started, and it’s how they found players like Sam Bradford, Josh Heupel, Juaquin Iglesias and Donald Stephenson. All at the time were considered to be three-star recruits but wound up being impact players for the Sooners.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
What they’re selling: Their ability to evaluate and develop offensive talent.
What they're missing: Elite players in the Lone Star State. With the best facilities in the conference, it might be just enough to get kids to visit.
Texas Longhorns
What they’re selling: Few in the nation can offer up the type of atmosphere, fan base, tradition and total student-athlete package like Texas can.
What they're missing: A true a difference-maker at quarterback. The last two Heisman Trophy winners have come from Texas high schools, and the Longhorns didn’t recruit one heavily and recruited the other as an athlete.
TCU Horned Frogs
What they’re selling: The Horned Frogs recruit to their style of smash-mouth play on both sides of the ball and don’t care how many stars a recruit has. It hurts them some in the recruiting rankings, but it helps them win a lot of ball games.
What they're missing: BCS conference depth. Heading into their second season in the Big 12 after a 7-6 season, the biggest thing the Horned Frogs need to do is to build the roster to be able to compete year in and year out in the BCS conference.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
What they’re selling: The Red Raiders went through a transition that brought Kliff Kingsbury to Lubbock, and the early reception has been nothing short of positive.
What they're missing: The Red Raiders have never had issues putting up points on people, but under Tommy Tuberville and Mike Leach there was little defense being played.
West Virginia Mountaineers
What they’re selling: WVU is a force in the Atlantic region, can recruit well in Pennsylvania and is arguably one of the best schools at identifying offensive talent in the JC ranks.
What they're missing: The 2014 class will have to be all about rebuilding in Morgantown, as the needs are mounting while several impact players have moved on.
Baylor Bears
What they’re selling: The new 45,000-seat, $250-million on-campus stadium that will open in 2014. Recruiting is an arms race, and players like fancy stadiums and locker rooms, and Baylor’s upgrade puts them finally on the same level playing field as everybody else in the Big 12.
What they're missing: Help on defense -- specifically at defensive line and defensive back.
Iowa State Cyclones
What they’re selling: Paul Rhoads. He grew up miles from the campus and has helped turn around Iowa State with a physical and fundamentally sound style of football.
What they're missing: A true home-run threat at receiver.
Kansas Jayhawks
What they’re selling: Charlie Weis. He’s taken risks (juco infusion), repaired relationships with area high school coaches and widened KU’s recruiting pool.
What they're missing: Wins. When you’ve won only one conference game in three years, a little bit of everything is missing.
Kansas State Wildcats
What they’re selling: Bill Synder. The plan has worked for years in Manhattan. K-State doesn’t care how many stars a player has attached to his name, a player only earns an offer from K-State unless Snyder personally signs off on it after a lengthy review. It’s a plan that produced a No. 1 BCS ranking and a Big 12 championship in 2012.
What’s missing: I’ve been told by coaches for years that the most difficult position to recruit is defensive tackle. That’s why you often see even average defensive tackles rack up double-digit offers, and finding good depth at defensive tackle has been very difficult to do at K-State.
Oklahoma Sooners
What they’re selling: Oklahoma is proud of its football tradition, and few schools can match the Sooners’ track record for success, facilities and ability to prepare you for the next level.
What they're missing: A renewed focus on evaluating players. It’s what differentiated Bob Stoops’ staff when they started, and it’s how they found players like Sam Bradford, Josh Heupel, Juaquin Iglesias and Donald Stephenson. All at the time were considered to be three-star recruits but wound up being impact players for the Sooners.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
What they’re selling: Their ability to evaluate and develop offensive talent.
What they're missing: Elite players in the Lone Star State. With the best facilities in the conference, it might be just enough to get kids to visit.
Texas Longhorns
What they’re selling: Few in the nation can offer up the type of atmosphere, fan base, tradition and total student-athlete package like Texas can.
What they're missing: A true a difference-maker at quarterback. The last two Heisman Trophy winners have come from Texas high schools, and the Longhorns didn’t recruit one heavily and recruited the other as an athlete.
TCU Horned Frogs
What they’re selling: The Horned Frogs recruit to their style of smash-mouth play on both sides of the ball and don’t care how many stars a recruit has. It hurts them some in the recruiting rankings, but it helps them win a lot of ball games.
What they're missing: BCS conference depth. Heading into their second season in the Big 12 after a 7-6 season, the biggest thing the Horned Frogs need to do is to build the roster to be able to compete year in and year out in the BCS conference.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
What they’re selling: The Red Raiders went through a transition that brought Kliff Kingsbury to Lubbock, and the early reception has been nothing short of positive.
What they're missing: The Red Raiders have never had issues putting up points on people, but under Tommy Tuberville and Mike Leach there was little defense being played.
West Virginia Mountaineers
What they’re selling: WVU is a force in the Atlantic region, can recruit well in Pennsylvania and is arguably one of the best schools at identifying offensive talent in the JC ranks.
What they're missing: The 2014 class will have to be all about rebuilding in Morgantown, as the needs are mounting while several impact players have moved on.
Burnt Orange Breakdown: Connor Brewer
May, 10, 2013
May 10
12:00
PM CT
By
Carter Strickland | ESPN.com
During the summer, HornsNation will analyze each of the scholarship players on the Texas roster -- excluding the Longhorns' 2013 recruiting class -- in our Burnt Orange Breakdown series. Starting with No. 1 Mike Davis, we will go through the roster numerically, finishing with No. 99 Desmond Jackson.
No. 7 Connor Brewer
Freshman quarterback
No. 7 Connor Brewer
Freshman quarterback
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The Heard: UT recruiting news and notes
May, 10, 2013
May 10
9:00
AM CT
By
William Wilkerson and
Max Olson | ESPN.com
Welcome to The Heard, HornsNation’s weekly in-depth look inside the never-ending world of Longhorns recruiting with news, notes and interesting tidbits on the latest happenings around the program. We release this every Friday.
Talk about it in our forum and, if there’s a recruit out there you’d like to hear more from, let us know.
Read The Heard after the jump.
Talk about it in our forum and, if there’s a recruit out there you’d like to hear more from, let us know.
- In this week's edition of The Heard:
- Georgia RB grew up a Longhorns fan
- Texas still possibility for ESPN 150 DT
- Elite JUCO WR likes Longhorns
- Unprecedented offer impresses 2017 ATH
- Freeman firm with top three
- Dallas RB picked up Ohio State offer; wants to hear from UT
- Suitors coming after Cuney
- 2014 OT visiting Friday
Read The Heard after the jump.
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Fret no more Longhorns faithful, Texas has finally offered ESPN 150 athlete Davion Hall (Texarkana, Texas/Liberty-Eylau).
Now the question becomes, can coach Mack Brown and Co. sway him away from his verbal commitment to Baylor?
Now the question becomes, can coach Mack Brown and Co. sway him away from his verbal commitment to Baylor?
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Patrick Vahe (Euless, Texas/Trinity) thought it was a joke at first.
There Vahe was, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound sophomore offensive lineman with tons of untapped talent but possessing zero offers and minimal looks from colleges. Why would the Texas Longhorns be interested in having him become a part of their 2015 class?
There Vahe was, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound sophomore offensive lineman with tons of untapped talent but possessing zero offers and minimal looks from colleges. Why would the Texas Longhorns be interested in having him become a part of their 2015 class?
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Sam Khan talks with Cypress Falls (Houston) outside linebacker Otaro Alaka about Alaka's decision to commit to Texas and his projected role on the Longhorns defense.
Now that spring ball has started, ESPN 150 defensive tackle Gerald Willis III has been inundated with interest from college recruiters visiting New Orleans Edna Karr High School. He expected that.
That’s why, even if he’s comfortable with naming his top four schools, his list remains a fluid one. New schools are working hard to get in the mix, and Willis is ready to hit the road for more visits this summer.
That’s why, even if he’s comfortable with naming his top four schools, his list remains a fluid one. New schools are working hard to get in the mix, and Willis is ready to hit the road for more visits this summer.
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ABOUT HORNSNATION
Sean Adams
Sean Adams has covered the Texas Longhorns and college football for the last 12 years as a writer and radio host. Sean co-hosts "The Big Show" with Erin Hogan each afternoon on ESPN Austin 104.9 The Horn. He lives with his family in Round Rock, Texas. Email him at thisean@gmail.com.
Max Olson
Max Olson joined ESPN in 2012 after covering the University of Nebraska for the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald and high school and college sports for the World-Herald and Rivals.com. Olson is a University of Nebraska graduate and lives in Austin, Texas. Email him at maxolsonespn@gmail.com.
Carter Strickand
Carter Strickland joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the University of Georgia for Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the University of Oklahoma for The (Oklahoma City) Oklahoman and Washington State University for The (Spokane, Wash.) Spokesman-Review. Strickland lives with his wife and family in Austin. Email him at cstrickland70@gmail.com.
William Wilkerson
William Wilkerson joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering high school sports, college sports and the Texas Rangers over four years at the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram. William is a University of Texas graduate and lives in Austin. He can be reached at wilkerson.espn@gmail.com.