Thirsty Thursday | Scorching Hot Summer Run & 2021 Receiver Outlook

– Darius Terrell

Welcome back to another edition of Thirsty Thursdays! As always, I’m here to try to help quench your thirst for Longhorn Football in the drought of the offseason, along with other topics of interest in Longhorn sports this week.

It was only three weeks ago that I wrote the piece focusing on the recruiting momentum of the Texas program and the perception among some that the reigning Sugar Bowl Champions were struggling to put together a quality class in 2020.

What a difference a few weeks can make.

Texas has picked up seven commitments in that timespan. Four quality prospects added their names to the #cloUT2020 class, while three standout members of the class of 2021 also decided they already had their minds made up.

2020 added three playmakers to the Defensive Line that could push for playing time as early as next season. Vernon Broughton, Prince Dorbah, and Van Fillinger are all players with vastly different body types and skillsets, but they also have a few things in common that should excite Texas fans.

All three are explosive athletes compared to the average profile at their positions.

Max week really goin .. 335 HC 505 squat 🐂🤘🏽 pic.twitter.com/Eau0DtADNn — Van Fillinger (@van_filli) July 22, 2019

Here is Fillinger showing off an absurd 335 lb. Hang Clean at 250 lbs and only 16 years of age. Wow. The video only supports what his State Championship Shot Put, 99th percentile SPARQ rating, and Junior season highlights suggest: Fillinger is an athletic freak.

I knew that Broughton had a basketball background, but I admittedly didn’t know that the big fella had game like this. Watch how he EXPLODES to the basket at the :23 second mark. That’s special acceleration and coordination from a kid that young and that big. The sky is truly the limit on what he can be.

Prince Dorbah Hooping!

It’s only one play, but it’s a clear example of Dorbah’s athleticism and explosiveness from a nearly static position. Dorbah isn’t tall (6’2) or overly long, so for him to be able to throw down an alley-oop off of a short gather is very, very impressive. His 30 career sacks over two seasons at Highland Park are a trend that Texas fans (and staff) are hoping translates over to the UT Defense.

The class of 2021 seems to be coming together early and in a hurry. Back-to-back commitments from top national prospects Jalen Milroe and Hayden Conner seems to have created quite the stir in the recruiting landscape for some coveted 2021 in-state prospects.

FB Hightower 2021 Wide Receiver Latrell Neville has narrowed his options down and has been hinting at the likelihood of himself making a decision soon. This will, at a minimum, be Neville’s third visit this spring/summer. Has to be a good sign for the Horns.

As it’s been hinted at a few times already this week by us, Texas is expecting to get some more good news at some point later in the week.

Who is Andrej Karic? (Part II)

Yesterday morning, Texas continued their scorching hot month of July on the recruiting trail, this time picking up a commitment from Carroll HS (Southlake, TX) Offensive Tackle Andrej Karic.

If you haven’t noticed by now, Karic is a man of few words. From what I’ve been able to gather searching internet, NOBODY has been able to get an interview with the kid or been able to get him on the record with his thoughts about the process.

So, I figured I’d do the next best thing to get the scoop on this mystery man that is the newest 2020 Texas commit.

I’m really excited @KaricAndrej joined my Alma mater. Andrej has the quickest feet I have seen, he has superior athleticism, he has the ability to recover if he’s get beat and still be in good position,speed to get to the second level and finish defenders. Good pickup! #Hookem — Donald Hawkins (@That_Boi_Dhawk) July 24, 2019

If the name Donald Hawkins sounds familiar to a few of you guys, it should. Hawkins was one of the first JUCO players signed during the Mack Brown era, playing at Texas during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, starting at Tackle in 24 out of 25 career games. Hawkins has played three NFL seasons for the Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers, and most recently the Kansas City Chiefs.

Hawkins trains Offensive Linemen in the off-season in the Dallas-area and it just so happens that Karic is one of his pupils.

“I’ve been working with him since mid-June. His biggest strengths are his quickness and his athleticism. He has fast feet and can jump on defenders quickly, not giving them a chance to get to their rush moves. He will need to continue to work on his pad level, but he has an amazing work ethic (trains 2-3 times weekly) and is very coachable. He has NFL traits!”

While many, myself included, feel like Karic will need a year or two to develop physically before he’s ready to contribute, Hawkins doesn’t necessarily think that’s the case.

“I think he will be a contestant to walk in and play right away. I like the way that the program is going. I think that Andrej will fit in well.”

That’s high praise from a guy who would know. I think it’s safe to say that Longhorn fans can feel good about the latest addition to the class.

2021 Recruiting Board – Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Over the course of the next two months, I am going to take a position-by-position look at the 2021 class as Texas already has four early commitments and more offers than ever before have been extended at this stage to the younger group.

They’re off to a terrific start with commitments from Skyline WR Quay Davis and Lake Travis TE Lake McRee. Texas will be looking to take 3-4 WRs and 2 TE/H-Backs in this class.

The Early Candidates:

Quay Davis (Dallas, TX) Skyline HS

Ranking: 4-Star, Composite Top 100 Prospect Nationally

Size: 6’1 193

Where Texas stands: Committed to Texas

Highlights:

Latrell Neville (Houston, TX) FB Hightower HS

Ranking: 4-Star, Composite Top 150 Prospect Nationally

Size: 6’4 190

Where Texas stands: Neville has been a regular visitor to campus throughout the spring/summer. He intends to make a decision soon with Texas, LSU, Oklahoma, and Alabama being the frontrunners in his recruitment.

Highlights:

Gary “JoJo” Earle (Aledo, TX) Aledo HS

Ranking: 4-Star, Composite Top 200 Player Nationally

Size: 5’9 170

Where Texas stands: Earle has been active on the camp circuit, but isn’t a big fan of interviews and wasn’t spotted on any campuses this summer. Texas offered him a while ago and he appears to be the school’s top Inside WR target in 2021.

Highlights:

Lake McRee (Austin, TX) Lake Travis HS

Ranking: Composite 3-Star

Size: 6’4 215

Where Texas stands: Committed to Texas

Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2B0DH6

Juan Davis (Fort Worth, TX) Everman HS

Ranking: Composite 3-Star

Size: 6’4 222

Where Texas stands: Davis has three early offers to date: Texas, Baylor, and Southern Miss. From our talks with Davis here at TFB recently, it has been made clear that he intends to make a decision soon. You have to like your odds against the competition at this point if you are Texas.

Highlights:

Other names to watch: WR Emeka Egbuka (Steilacoom, WA), WR Beaux Collins (Bellflower, CA), TE Moliki Matavao (Henderson, NV), TE Sam Hart (Aurora, CO), WR Bryson Green (Allen, TX)

Early Outlook: Texas is already off to a terrific start in 2021 at the WR and TE position. They appear to have identified the guys that they want and are aggressively pursuing them and accepting commitments, which is a big change to the previous philosophy. It’s still extremely early and there are likely to be a few twists and turns in the future, but right now, I have reasons to feel very confident with where the Longhorns stand with every player highlighted above.

Commitment Analysis | 2021 OL Hayden Conner

– Darius Terrell

Another day, another big-time commitment added to the Texas Longhorns commitment list. Taylor HS (Katy, TX) Offensive Lineman Hayden Conner became to 4th commitment in what is already shaping up to be a stellar 2021 recruiting class for Texas. The timing and choice come as a bit of a surprise as many had the talented protector penciled in as a Texas A&M lean.

The hardest choices require the strongest wills! Thank you to everyone that helped me get to this point in my life. #WhosNext #DestinyWillArrive #COMMITTED pic.twitter.com/XKuTozptGi — Hayden Conner (@HaydenConner) July 23, 2019

What is Texas getting in Conner?

Ranking: 153 Nationally, #20 OT, (247), 4-Star, #13 OT, (Rivals), #19 (TX Top 25)

Top Offers: Michigan, Stanford, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, LSU

Size: 6’6 315lbs

Projected College Position: Guard/Right Tackle

Player Comparison: David Yankey (Stanford 2010-2013)

Analysis: Earlier this spring, Conner debuted at #19 overall on my initial Texas Top 25 for 2021.

Here was the initial write –up on him: “A Maxpreps All-American, Conner has been a name that recruiting fans have been hearing about since he and Bryce Foster were Freshmen. Watching Conner on tape, it is evident that he has been coached or trained well technique-wise. He is massive and follows the trend of big guys in this class that aren’t just satisfied with just covering guys up. I think his feet are average, which causes me to view him as more of a mauling Right Tackle or interior prospect, where it won’t matter as much.”

Not a ton has changed since that piece. Conner had a standout summer on the camp circuit, complete with visits to the four schools that he announced as finalists following spring ball (Michigan, Stanford, A&M).

What stands out instantly is his size. Judging from some pictures of him on his social media, Conner has been the biggest kid around his entire life. Once he gets his hands on an opponent at his current level of competition, it is over. He plays with a mean streak and isn’t satisfied until he hears a whistle. Conner is an exceptional student and it translates over to the football field at a position where brains are every bit as crucial as the brawn, with his ability to process information extremely quickly (pre-snap) and communicate at a high level.

Conner has been a nationally-recognized prospect for quite some time and has been a starter on the Katy Taylor Offensive Line since his Freshman season. While he plays Offensive Tackle for his high school and all of the recruiting sites currently have him rated as a Tackle, I have Conner projected to have the most success playing on the interior at the next level. I think that his feet can be a bit heavy at times and it can lead to balance issues when he is left on an island or when he’s playing in space (climbing to the second level). With the options that are available to Texas in the 2021 class at Tackle (Tommy Brockermeyer, Savion Byrd, etc.) I think that Conner will find his home on the interior as a part of a potentially monster OL haul.

Instant Impact Rating: 6

Highlights:

Commitment Analysis | 2020 OL Andrej Karic

– Darius Terrell

The UT commitment train keeps on rolling. After adding two big-time additions to the 2021 class earlier in the week, Texas got their “Hump Day” started off in a big way, securing a commitment from Southlake Carroll 2020 Offensive Lineman Andrej Karic. Karic becomes the 11th member of the #cloUT2020 recruiting class.

What is Texas getting in Karic?

Ranking: Composite 3-Star #43 OT Nationally (247), #48 OT Nationally (Rivals), #71 OT Nationally (ESPN)

Top Offers: Auburn, Nebraska, TCU, Oregon, Arkansas

Size: 6’5 255lbs

Projected College Position: Offensive Tackle

Player Comparison: Samuel Cosmi (Texas 2017-)

Analysis: Back on June 6th, I featured Karic in one of my Thirsty Thursday pieces after Texas made the move to extend him an offer a few days prior. Here is what his coaches had to say about him: “Big frame, 6’5-6’6 with good feet. He has the type of frame that coaches are looking for in Offensive Tackle recruits at this level. He works super hard. He’s a great kid with a mean streak that is second to none out on the field. It’s insane.”

Karic is originally from Bosnia, which means that he is still relatively new to the game. On tape, he has received some good coaching and displays some very nice hand placement on initial contact while keeping a solid base. His athleticism and feet allow him to engage defenders in space and he has the quickness to kick-slide and mirror in pass protection.

The only glaring weakness in his game is strength and mass, which is the last thing that college coaches have to worry about with Offensive Line prospects. Karic will have the time to add as much weight as Yancy McKnight and company see fit. He has an opportunity to have a similar type of development trajectory as two other guys who came in with his physical profile: Samuel Cosmi and Connor Williams. The best part about it is, he will likely have more time and won’t be forced into action out of necessity like those two guys were.

Karic is an extremely high-upside piece that the Longhorns just added to their 2020 OL puzzle.

Instant Impact Rating: 3

Highlights:

Juan Davis Talks Texas at Prime 21

– CJ Vogel

One of the most talked about 2021 targets on Texas boards across the internet is Everman TE Juan Davis.

The recruitment of the 6-foot, 4-inch tight end has been gaining steam in the direction of the Texas Longhorns, but while things are looking great for the fans of the team in Austin, it’s still early in his recruitment.

Davis has been on the staff’s radar for a couple of months now and was last in Austin for the Texas Heat Wave before the dead period.

“So far in my recruiting process, the only that really showed me interest has been Texas,” said Davis following the Prime 21 camp on Saturday.

While Texas has caught some heat by fans and supporters for being tardy to many recruitments over the past months, the staff has really jumped ahead of regional rivals in Davis’ recruitment so far. And because of that, Davis and the Texas staff has been able to form a very strong bond early on.

“Coach (Tom) Herman loves me,” said Davis. “Me and Coach (Derek) Warehime are really tight. Like real, real tight.”

The staff being able to capitalize on Davis’ Heat Wave experience, which he called “fabulous,” has been imperative in gaining an edge in his recruitment.

At the Prime camp, Davis was a matchup nightmare for opposing corners and linebackers. For a kid slated to become a tight end at the next level, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him move out to a wide out spot similar to that of Malcolm Epps during the spring.

For a kid that big, the fluidity and agility is quite impressive. At the camp, Davis was running whip routes better than most slot WR during the 7-on-7 period.

Texas fans should certainly feel good about the direction this recruitment is headed. Texas is high atop the list for Davis at the Prime 21 camp and sits in a great spot if a decision were to come soon.

Update | Texas Offers 2020 DB Jerrin Thompson

– The Football Brainiacs

Texas extended an offer to 2020 safety Jerrin Thompson (Lufkin, TX) earlier this week…

ITS A BLESSING to receive an offer from THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS !!🔶#HookEm #ThisIsTexas 🔶 pic.twitter.com/7azvjQDr9P — BUGG (@bugg_24) July 23, 2019

Thompson let both Super K and Andrew know that he is planning on heading to campus either this coming Monday or Tuesday.

Thompson has taken official visits to Arkansas, TCU, and Oklahoma State and Super K asked him if things went well, would he consider shutting his recruitment down and Jerrin did not rule it out, saying ‘We’ll see’.

K has seen him in person and said ‘He is super violent and plays downhill’.

It wasn’t a huge surprise to see the Longhorns extend a new safety offer after missing on CE King (TX) Bryson Washington, Salpointe Catholic (AZ) Lathan Ranson, and with Alabama trending for Shadow Creek (TX) Xavion Alford.

-Super K, Andrew, and Charlie

4-Star WR Javian Hester | Return Visit to Texas

– Super K

Earlier this week, I checked in with 2020 WR, Javian Hester (Tulsa, OK) to see where things stand with his recruitment.

Hester said that he plans on making a return trip to Austin this weekend.

I asked him about his timeline and whether he would be committing this summer to which he said, “No. I want to but I also want to take my officials, first”.

In terms of the official visits he’d like to take he mentioned, “Texas, Missouri, Michigan” but added “I don’t have any set up yet though.

As noted above, Hester would like to take his officials but indicated that he’s a bit torn on wanting to announce his decision this summer.

So, is there any chance he commit’s to Texas this weekend?

“I don’t plan on it but if I do, don’t be surprised”.

Weekend Visitor List

– CJ Vogel

The dead period has been full of excitement for Texas fans, especially on the 2021 front, and it’s time to capitalize on the momentum once again this weekend when Texas hosts an impressive group of prospects for the annual Stars at Night event.

As we know, the 2021 class has added Jalen Milroe and Hayden Conner in the past week and sit in phenomenal spots for Juan Davis and Brandon Campbell, both of whom will be on campus this weekend.

2020 Recruits

Vernon Broughton (DL) – Cy Ridge HS

Hudson Card (QB) – Lake Travis HS

Jaylen Garth (OL) – Port Neches-Grove

Alfred Collins (DL) – Cedar Creek HS

LV Bunkley-Shelton (WR) – Gardena, CA

JJ Hester (WR) – Tulsa, OK

Courtland Ford (OL) – Cedar Hill HS

2021 Recruits

Lake McRee (TE) — Lake Travis HS

Jalen Milroe (QB) — Katy Tompkins HS (New Addition)

Hayden Conner (OL) — Katy Taylor HS (New Addition)

Brandon Campbell (RB) – Pearland HS

Billy Bowman (ATH) – Denton Ryan HS

Juan Davis (TE) – Everman HS

JD Coffey (S) – Kennedale HS

Ishmael Ibraheem (CB) – Kimball HS

Latrell Neville (WR) – Hightower HS

Derrick Harris Jr. (OLB) — New Caney HS

JoJo Earle (WR) – Aledo HS

2022 Recruits

Jordan Crook (ATH) – Bishop Dunne HS

Derrick Johnson (S) – Lake Travis HS (New addition)

We’ll continue to update this list as we hear of guys making it in.