HOUSTON – All but two of Texas’ 2016 signees are currently on campus going through summer school and team conditioning. The two absentees -- Manor linebacker Erick Fowler and Duncanville defensive tackle Marcel Southall -- still have academic hurdles to clear before arriving on the Forty Acres.

Prior to speaking at a Touchdown Club of Houston luncheon at the JW Marriott on Friday afternoon, Strong addressed the status of both Fowler and Southall with a small group of reporters. The Texas head coach didn’t go into great detail, but he sounded somewhat optimistic about the two talented defenders eventually joining the program.

“They’re still getting their work in,” Strong said. “At some point they’ll make it to campus.”

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Texas has had at least one academic casualty in each of its previous two recruiting classes, although 2014 signee Kevin Shorter would have been placed on a medical hardship upon enrollment. Wide receiver Gilbert Johnson and tight end Devonaire Clarington failed to qualify last year while defensive tackle Du’Vonta Lampkin wound up enrolling at Oklahoma.

Fowler, a U.S. Army All-American and the No. 74 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite rankings, could play any of the linebacker positions in Texas’ defense. Southall would bring much-needed depth to a defensive tackle rotation that is currently comprised of the four true freshmen on campus and three returning scholarship tackles from last season.

Without Fowler and Southall factored in, the Longhorns currently have 81 scholarship athletes in the program.

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