Texas Longhorns: Donald Catalon
AUSTIN, Texas -- There was no way Kevin Shorter was going to be a well-kept secret for long.
Especially not after the statistics the Newton (Texas) athlete put up in 2012. His monster junior season has yielded an impressive number of offers this spring. The whole thing is becoming a bit more than he could have imagined.
Especially not after the statistics the Newton (Texas) athlete put up in 2012. His monster junior season has yielded an impressive number of offers this spring. The whole thing is becoming a bit more than he could have imagined.
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AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas A&M was the talk of the state in 2013 with its 32-man recruiting class. Don’t be shocked if Texas comes close to those numbers with its 2014 class.
As always, it’s a matter of math. Texas, by rule, can sign no more than 50 recruits in any two-year period. The Longhorns inked 15 this year, so 35 is the absolute maximum for 2014.
Texas isn’t going for 35 this year. Its 2013 team will feature 15 seniors if Jordan Hicks is granted his medical redshirt. A full class of 25 signees is likely. But don’t rule out the possibility of 30.
As always, it’s a matter of math. Texas, by rule, can sign no more than 50 recruits in any two-year period. The Longhorns inked 15 this year, so 35 is the absolute maximum for 2014.
Texas isn’t going for 35 this year. Its 2013 team will feature 15 seniors if Jordan Hicks is granted his medical redshirt. A full class of 25 signees is likely. But don’t rule out the possibility of 30.
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2014 RB Turner keeping options open 
December, 28, 2012
12/28/12
10:30
AM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
The Longhorns are in good shape at running back in 2014 with the commitments of Donald Catalon and Daniel Gresham. The odds of them taking a third running back in this class could hinge on if they decide to take one in 2013 after the decommitment of Kyle Hicks.
Should Texas seriously go after third back in 2014 it might look the way of Birdville’s Xavier Turner. The soft-spoken, well-mannered Turner rushed 207 times for 1,590 yards and 31 touchdowns, and also caught 22 passes for 349 yards and four scores this season. That’s all while missing three games with an ankle injury early in the season.
For reasons not explainable, Turner hasn’t received any offers yet.
Should Texas seriously go after third back in 2014 it might look the way of Birdville’s Xavier Turner. The soft-spoken, well-mannered Turner rushed 207 times for 1,590 yards and 31 touchdowns, and also caught 22 passes for 349 yards and four scores this season. That’s all while missing three games with an ankle injury early in the season.
For reasons not explainable, Turner hasn’t received any offers yet.
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The Texas high school football season officially came to an end on Saturday. That day proved to be a big one for 2014 quarterback commit Jerrod Heard, but he’s not the only future Longhorn who thrived in 2012.
Receiver commit Jake Oliver delivered another historic season. He finished No. 1 among Class 5A receivers in the DFW area in both receptions and receiving yards, and in doing so set the new state record for career receptions with 308. That’s good for second-best in the national record books, too.
While the season stats of Tyrone Swoopes will earn some scrutiny, there’s no questioning what Heard did in his junior year. The Denton Guyer standout finished with 4,228 total yards of offense and a combined 52 touchdowns (35 rushing).
Receiver commit Jake Oliver delivered another historic season. He finished No. 1 among Class 5A receivers in the DFW area in both receptions and receiving yards, and in doing so set the new state record for career receptions with 308. That’s good for second-best in the national record books, too.
While the season stats of Tyrone Swoopes will earn some scrutiny, there’s no questioning what Heard did in his junior year. The Denton Guyer standout finished with 4,228 total yards of offense and a combined 52 touchdowns (35 rushing).
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The Heard: UT recruiting news and notes
November, 8, 2012
11/08/12
2:00
PM 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’ll release this every Thursday.
Talk about it in our forum and, if there’s a recruit out there you’d like to hear more from, let us know.
Talk about it in our forum and, if there’s a recruit out there you’d like to hear more from, let us know.
- A few things discussed in this week’s edition:
- Should Texas give up on a top receiver target?
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14 for '14: Texas offensive targets (Part 1)
October, 24, 2012
10/24/12
8:00
AM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
AUSTIN, Texas -- In less than four months Signing Day for the class of 2013 will come and go, and the class of 2014 will take center stage in the eyes of football programs and fan bases everywhere.
This year is unique in that many of the Longhorns’ junior targets are already known. For the first time in Mack Brown’s tenure on the 40 Acres, Texas has begun offering juniors before Junior Day in February.
On Monday and Tuesday, we looked at 14 junior offensive prospects that either already have Texas offers or could be in line for one down the road. Here is a look at 7 offensive junior prospects that either already have Texas offers or could be in line for one down the road. Part 2 will be out Thursday:
This year is unique in that many of the Longhorns’ junior targets are already known. For the first time in Mack Brown’s tenure on the 40 Acres, Texas has begun offering juniors before Junior Day in February.
On Monday and Tuesday, we looked at 14 junior offensive prospects that either already have Texas offers or could be in line for one down the road. Here is a look at 7 offensive junior prospects that either already have Texas offers or could be in line for one down the road. Part 2 will be out Thursday:
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Texas commits make ESPN Watch List
September, 27, 2012
9/27/12
2:30
PM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
Future Longhorns and prospects Texas coaches would like to label “future Longhorns” are well represented in the class of 2014 ESPN Watch List, which was released today.
All five of Texas’ 2014 verbal commitments made the cut in RB Donald “Duke” Catalon (Houston/Eisenhower), FB Daniel Gresham (Fort Worth, Texas/All Saints, QB Jerrod Heard (Denton, Texas/Guyer), ATH Lorenzo Joe (Abilene, Texas/Cooper) and DE Derick Roberson (San Antonio, Texas/ Brennan).
They are joined on the list by the other 14 in-state prospects who have been officially offered by Texas, including: S Jamal Adams (Lewisville, Texas/Hebron), WR Nick Alexander (Lancaster, Texas/Lancaster), CB Tony Brown (Beaumont, Texas/Ozen), WR K.D. Cannon (Mount Pleasant, Texas/Mount Pleasant), S Edwin Freeman (Arlington, Texas/Bowie), DE Myles Garrett (Arlington, Texas/Martin), LB Cameron Hampton (Dallas/Carter), ATH Nick Harvey (Lancaster, Texas/Lancaster), OT Demetrius Knox (Fort Worth, Texas/All Saints), CB Ed Paris (Mansfield, Texas/Timberview) ILB Hoza Scott (La Porte, Texas/La Porte), DE Solomon Thomas (Coppell, Texas/Coppell), CB Nick Watkins (Dallas/Bishop Dunne) and ILB Zac Whitley (Galena Park, Texas/North Shore).
All five of Texas’ 2014 verbal commitments made the cut in RB Donald “Duke” Catalon (Houston/Eisenhower), FB Daniel Gresham (Fort Worth, Texas/All Saints, QB Jerrod Heard (Denton, Texas/Guyer), ATH Lorenzo Joe (Abilene, Texas/Cooper) and DE Derick Roberson (San Antonio, Texas/ Brennan).
They are joined on the list by the other 14 in-state prospects who have been officially offered by Texas, including: S Jamal Adams (Lewisville, Texas/Hebron), WR Nick Alexander (Lancaster, Texas/Lancaster), CB Tony Brown (Beaumont, Texas/Ozen), WR K.D. Cannon (Mount Pleasant, Texas/Mount Pleasant), S Edwin Freeman (Arlington, Texas/Bowie), DE Myles Garrett (Arlington, Texas/Martin), LB Cameron Hampton (Dallas/Carter), ATH Nick Harvey (Lancaster, Texas/Lancaster), OT Demetrius Knox (Fort Worth, Texas/All Saints), CB Ed Paris (Mansfield, Texas/Timberview) ILB Hoza Scott (La Porte, Texas/La Porte), DE Solomon Thomas (Coppell, Texas/Coppell), CB Nick Watkins (Dallas/Bishop Dunne) and ILB Zac Whitley (Galena Park, Texas/North Shore).
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Five from Friday: Huhn, James injured
September, 3, 2012
9/03/12
10:30
AM CT
By
William Wilkerson and
Max Olson | ESPN.com
Every week through the football season, HornsNation’s William Wilkerson and Max Olson will break down five things they learned while on the road at Texas high school football games. From the latest on Longhorn commits and offers to game observations to players who caught their attention, they've got you covered. Here’s what they saw this weekend:
William’s game: Cibolo Steele vs. San Antonio Madison
Max’s games: Harker Heights vs. Round Rock Stony Point; DeSoto vs. Arlington Martin
William’s game: Cibolo Steele vs. San Antonio Madison
Max’s games: Harker Heights vs. Round Rock Stony Point; DeSoto vs. Arlington Martin
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HOUSTON -- Donald Catalon is running through drills on a Wednesday morning so humid it'll fog your sunglasses. He doesn’t seem to mind.
The Houston Eisenhower running back might not look like much at first. At 5-foot-10 and 193 pounds, he’s smaller than the 2014 in-state backs who get more hype.
But there’s a reason Texas wanted this kid.
The Houston Eisenhower running back might not look like much at first. At 5-foot-10 and 193 pounds, he’s smaller than the 2014 in-state backs who get more hype.
But there’s a reason Texas wanted this kid.
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RB Duke Catalon commits to Texas
August, 3, 2012
8/03/12
11:05
AM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
His real name is Donald Catalon. But you can call him “Duke.”
For the time being, he also has another moniker: Texas commitment.
The 2014 running back from Houston Eisenhower informed Longhorns coaches Friday morning that he would like to become their latest bit of good news in what has turned into a week full of it.
“I like how Coach [Major] Applewhite really shows you how to run your plays,” he said.
Catalon spoke with head coach Mack Brown, who gave his newest commitment a bit of advice.
"He said that since I have committed now to stay away from others because they are going to be trying to get me and that he wants me to go to games and etcetera," Catalon said.
Catalon was one of the 20-plus juniors that the Longhorns extended official offers to on Thursday.
He is the third addition to Texas’ 2014 class, all of which have come since Thursday afternoon. Wide receiver Lorenzo Joe (Abilene, Texas/Cooper) was the first to pledge in what became a banner day for a program that unexpectedly shift its recruiting philosophy.
Normally the Longhorns wait until after signing day in February and offer prospects at a junior day. But that has changed. HornsNation has confirmed that at least 21 2014 recruits have been officially offered.
Defensive end Derick Roberson (San Antonio/Brennan) joined Joe in committing late Thursday night, and now the Longhorns have added one of the state’s top running backs to their stable.
Catalon, who checks in at 5-foot-10 and 193 pounds, chose the Longhorns over offers from SMU and Texas Tech.
He has already familiarized himself with the campus and the coaching staff by attending both Longhorns camps in June. The first one he attended but only in support of some teammates.
The following week he returned and really made a name for himself.
“After the camp I had talked with Coach Mack Brown and Coach Applewhite in Coach Brown’s office,” Catalon said. “Coach Brown was basically asking me how my grades were and talked about how I looked out there. He liked my speed and my ability to play football.
“It was big for me because they are one of the top schools, and I wasn’t expecting that.”
Catalon saw his role increase dramatically from his 22 carries (for 142 yards) as a freshman to his sophomore season when he carried the ball 165 times for 1,148 yards and six touchdowns.
That 7.0 yards per carry average clearly intrigued Texas enough to give him the opportunity to join a backfield that could be in question by the time he makes it to Austin.
Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron would both be seniors in 2014, and heralded freshman Johnathan Gray will be draft eligible by then.
The Longhorns only have one commitment from a running back in 2013 from Kyle Hicks (Arlington, Texas/Martin).
Now, earlier than ever during Mack Brown’s tenure, Texas has a commitment from a running back before he’s even played a down during his junior season. And Donald couldn’t be happier to be that guy.
Neither could Duke for that matter. You know, that Texas commitment.
For the time being, he also has another moniker: Texas commitment.
[+] Enlarge
Tom Hauck for ESPN.comRunning back Duke Catalon becomes the third commitment to the Longhorns' 2014 recruiting class.
Tom Hauck for ESPN.comRunning back Duke Catalon becomes the third commitment to the Longhorns' 2014 recruiting class.“I like how Coach [Major] Applewhite really shows you how to run your plays,” he said.
Catalon spoke with head coach Mack Brown, who gave his newest commitment a bit of advice.
"He said that since I have committed now to stay away from others because they are going to be trying to get me and that he wants me to go to games and etcetera," Catalon said.
Catalon was one of the 20-plus juniors that the Longhorns extended official offers to on Thursday.
He is the third addition to Texas’ 2014 class, all of which have come since Thursday afternoon. Wide receiver Lorenzo Joe (Abilene, Texas/Cooper) was the first to pledge in what became a banner day for a program that unexpectedly shift its recruiting philosophy.
Normally the Longhorns wait until after signing day in February and offer prospects at a junior day. But that has changed. HornsNation has confirmed that at least 21 2014 recruits have been officially offered.
Defensive end Derick Roberson (San Antonio/Brennan) joined Joe in committing late Thursday night, and now the Longhorns have added one of the state’s top running backs to their stable.
Catalon, who checks in at 5-foot-10 and 193 pounds, chose the Longhorns over offers from SMU and Texas Tech.
He has already familiarized himself with the campus and the coaching staff by attending both Longhorns camps in June. The first one he attended but only in support of some teammates.
The following week he returned and really made a name for himself.
“After the camp I had talked with Coach Mack Brown and Coach Applewhite in Coach Brown’s office,” Catalon said. “Coach Brown was basically asking me how my grades were and talked about how I looked out there. He liked my speed and my ability to play football.
“It was big for me because they are one of the top schools, and I wasn’t expecting that.”
Catalon saw his role increase dramatically from his 22 carries (for 142 yards) as a freshman to his sophomore season when he carried the ball 165 times for 1,148 yards and six touchdowns.
That 7.0 yards per carry average clearly intrigued Texas enough to give him the opportunity to join a backfield that could be in question by the time he makes it to Austin.
Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron would both be seniors in 2014, and heralded freshman Johnathan Gray will be draft eligible by then.
The Longhorns only have one commitment from a running back in 2013 from Kyle Hicks (Arlington, Texas/Martin).
Now, earlier than ever during Mack Brown’s tenure, Texas has a commitment from a running back before he’s even played a down during his junior season. And Donald couldn’t be happier to be that guy.
Neither could Duke for that matter. You know, that Texas commitment.
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.