Image of Omar Manning via 247Sports.com

– Kenneth Murray: This past weekend, Texas hosted 2017 LB, Kenneth Murray (Missouri City, TX). Murray holds an offer from Texas as well as other regional schools like Texas A&M and Oklahoma. In fact, Murray visited both Texas and Texas A&M over the weekend.

I caught up with Murray after his trip and he said about the Texas visit, “It was really good…I really enjoyed myself.” In talking about where coach Strong and company see his future in the Texas defense Murray noted, “They haven’t determined that they. They think I’m athletic enough to play all the linebacker positions…it’s just a matter of which one I’m most comfortable at.”

Murray wouldn’t tip his hand as to which visit he preferred between Texas and TAMU, “Both were equal. I talk to coach Chavis (TAMU DC) all the time and basically it’s really the same as Texas. He said that when he gets rare guys with my kind of speed and size and athleticism he puts them where they are most comfortable…”

Coach Strong and coach Bedford are leading the recruiting charge for Murray. In terms of a commitment timeline it sounds like Murray could wrap things up by late summer. He says there are additional schools he’d like to visit like OU and Michigan among others. After his summer visits he says he would like to have a decision. Murray also noted that if he is invited to the All American game he will delay the announcement of his decision until then. However, he said he will silently commit to the school of his choice well before that.

At this point, I don’t have a good sense of which way Murray is leaning. I suspect Murray himself is still pretty up in the air since he has some visits left to take. I will say that on a separate occasion Murray did mention he grew up somewhat of an Oklahoma fan. I think how he feels after his visit to Norman will probably give a strong indication of whether he will stay in state or consider leaving home. – (Super K)

– Devodrick Johnson: Texas will hold their Dallas area satellite camp this Friday and talented Dallas area LB/ATH, Devodrick Johnson tells us he plans on being in attendance. Johnson is an ultra athletic linebacker prospect that picked up a number of offers this spring including one from TAMU. Texas hasn’t pulled the trigger yet however we are told that Texas coaches really like Johnson. The coaches will get a chance to see him live and in-person this Friday. Johnson is hoping for a Texas offer. Johnson’s older brother is a true sophomore cornerback at Oklahoma (Antoine Stephens) however we have been told that Johnson’s family would like to see Devodrick end up at Texas. – (Andrew & Super K)

– Alston Orji: Another talented in-state linebacker expected to attend Friday’s Dallas area satellite camp is 2018 Rockwall prospect, Alston Orji. Orji received offers from a number of schools this spring including Oklahoma, Arkansas, TAMU and others. Orji made the trip down to Austin for the Texas spring game and had a chance to visit with the coaches. An offer was not extended but the family told us they really enjoyed the trip and their time with coaches. It’s clear the Texas offer would be a big one for Alston in his family and they are hoping that happens this weekend. If Texas were to jump into the mix, Stanford may end up being the stiffest competition. Orji is in California this week camping at Stanford. Both parents place a high emphasis on academics and life after football. Texas obviously has a strong pitch in that arena. – (Andrew & Super K)

– Omar Manning: Earlier this week Texas received some not so great wide receiver recruiting news when Tyrell Shavers committed to Alabama. However, there was a positive development at the wide receiber position over the weekend as Lancaster (TX) WR Omar Manning visited Texas. Manning doesn’t take many visits, and wasn’t able to make it to Texas last time he hoped to visit for the spring game so this visit was obviously good news. Texas WR coach Charlie Williams has been working hard in his recruitment of Manning. He stopped by Lancaster HS twice during the spring to see Manning. This was also Manning’s first visit to Texas since the new offensive staff has arrived in Austin.

We hope to get in touch with Manning later this week but in talking to folks around him the visit, not surprisingly, went well. The four schools we have been told Manning is highest on are Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and TCU. Many think TCU is his leader. A source said this seems to be the dominant opinion because, “TCU was always the offer he wanted…even when he was getting other offers he was always wanting that TCU offer”. There are some that believed he would commit to OU or TCU weeks, if not months, ago. So the longer Manning holds off on a decision, the better it will be for Texas’ chances IMO. – (Andrew)

– Saiid Adebo: Another TX prospect who is camping at Stanford this week is 2017 DB, Saiid (Paulson) Adebo (Mansfield, TX). Adebo holds a Texas offer along with a number of other offers from schools like Notre Dame, TCU, Oregon, Arkansas and a host of others.

This visit to Stanford is significant. In talking to folks around Adebo I get the sense this might be a situation similiar to the one we saw with Obi Eboh in the last class. One source said that if Stanford offers Adebo he may commit on the spot. However, I’m told that outside of Stanford Adebo is highest on Texas and Oregon. Adebo took a visit to Texas last month. Prior to his most recent visit Adebo had only been to Texas one time when he was in attendance for game. He did say that he hopes to get back to Texas for a return visit this summer.

Texas’ fate with this talented in-state prospect is probably very much contingent on how things go at Stanford this week. – (Super K)

– Player Note | Denzel Okafor: Outside of Zach Shackelford, if you asked me which freshman OL I would bet on to make an impact at in 2016. I’d tell you Denzel Okafor. Right now Okafor is 6’4 300 pounds and is going to get his first look this summer at right tackle. Okafor could also play guard, a position that former Texas OL coach Joe Wickline liked his upside at. Bottom line is that he can play at either position and that’s what Texas needs as they lack quality depth on the offensive line.

One thing Okafor has that you can’t teach is extremely long arms. In high school, he would use those to his advantage and just lock on the defender and take them down. His long wingspan is a reason I think OL coach Matt Mattox wants to get Okafor a look at OT. I still feel that Jean Delance has more NFL upside in the long run, but I’d still bet on Okafor to make a bigger impact as a true freshman as of today. – (Andrew)

– Offensive Line | My Take: As of today, I would say 4 of the 5 starting OL spots are pretty much locked down. With Connor Williams at at OT, Patrick Vahe at OG, Zach Shackelford at C, and Kent Perkins at either OT or OG. I’m still not sold on JUCO transfer Brandon Hodges just yet at the other guard spot. This past spring Hodges just didn’t have anyone who was going to push him for time on the field. That changes with freshman Tope Imade and the possibility of Denzel Okafor who could also play guard. Additionally, Kent Perkins natural position is guard, but due to lack of options he has played plenty of tackle. So, if Okafor or Delance can take over the right tackle position, they could bump Perkins back in at guard.

Then it all could change if Patrick Hudson ends up at Texas. I personally feel a redshirt year would be best for him (that’s what the Baylor staff planned to do with him in 2016). Obviously with a late enrollment it makes the likelihood of a redshirt even higher. But Hudson is a road grader at guard and is a tough guy to move. There also is the reality that there is a little more room for error at guard especially when you are as athletic as Hudson.

With these young guys coming in there are a few different scenarios on the OL that could play out this fall. – (Andrew)

– UPDATE (1:23 pm): As of late, I’ve had trouble getting much information directly from the Fowler family regarding Erick Fowler’s qualification status. I took that as a sign that the situation may be bleak.

However, I just got off the phone with someone close to the family who said that the family is still optimistic that Erick can meet the qualification requirements. I am also told that the family is expecting his SAT results to come in any day now…possibly today.

I have been told Erick’s GPA and if the number I’m being told is accurate, qualification certainly sounds reasonably achievable as long as he receives even a decent score on the SAT. I should note though that a source at the school mentioned Erick had a number of absences this past year. I cannot say for certain how or if that may affect things, but I would surmise that if he achieves the GPA and test score needed then that would suffice. – (Super K)

– UPDATE (7:31 pm): I just spoke with Erick Fowler. He let me know that he did receive his test scores today. He said he spoke to Texas today and based on those conversations he believes he is “good to go”. Fowler said that all that remains for him to do is to submit his final transcript to UT along with his test score. He noted that after hearing about his scores the Texas coaches were excited and expressed as much to him.

Fowler said he’s hopeful that he will be able to report sometime before the second summer session begins. All this comes straight from Erick so it certainly gives fans reason to feel optimistic. However, I would caution our readers to keep in mind that we have no access to any academic information so we are not able to independently verify anything. Additionally, we all saw what happened last year in the Lampkin situation.

There is reason to be optimistic but I’d save the confetti until the star linebacker is on campus. – (Super K)