Texas made recruiting history in an inauspicious fashion during the 2017 cycle. One year later, after a full season under Tom Herman, the Longhorns did so in a much different way.

With the signing of Anthony Cook on Wednesday afternoon during the Early Signing Period, the Longhorns officially inked seven of the state’s Top 10 players in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. That smashes Texas’ previous high of five in 2011 and 2012 – the 247Sports Composite's origin dates to 2011. Using 247Sports’ backdated rankings that start in 2000, the 2018 class is still Texas’ best effort in the Lone Star State. Texas, even during Mack Brown’s peak, never signed more than six of the state’s Top 10 players.

Perhaps most notably to the Longhorns' future, they inked more of the state’s Top 10 this year than they had the previous four years combined. Under Charlie Strong – and in last year’s abbreviated period under Herman – Texas signed just six of the top 40 available players in the state.

Herman bested that total in just a single cycle in his first full year as head coach

And the Longhorns aren’t even done. With all of this movement coming during the Early Signing Period, there’s still time for Texas to potentially add more. As it currently stands, the Longhorns are the only team to have inked a top 10 player in the Lone Star state with Jaylen Waddle, Leon O'Neal Jr. and Joshua Moore remaining uncommitted.

Texas’ 2018 class currently ranks third nationally. If that holds, it’d be the team’s best recruiting finish since 2012.

Longhorns' In-State Top 10 Players by Year: 2018 (7), 2017 (0), 2016 (3), 2015 (1), 2014 (2), 2013 (2), 2012 (5), 2011 (5), 2010 (6), 2009 (5), 2008 (2), 2007 (5), 2006 (4), 2005 (2), 2004 (3), 2003 (3), 2002 (5), 2001 (4), 2000 (5)

This movement is all the more impressive considering the Longhorns finished just 6-6 in the regular season. Strong also had recruiting success despite a suspect record, but he also never came close to a top 5 class. Herman, in just one year, has managed to elevate Texas to a national recruiting threat once again.

He’s also helped close Texas’ borders.

Last year, just two of the state’s top 10 players signed with an in-state school – Anthony Hines (Texas A&M) and Jack Anderson (Texas Tech). Actually, only four of Texas’ top 20 players signed with a Lone Star State institution.

That didn’t happen this year, and that’s a credit to Herman.

With Texas A&M hiring Jimbo Fisher and TCU and Baylor both recruiting at a top 25 level, the state of Texas is more crowded than ever with star recruiters. But if this year is any indication, the Longhorns will have no problem drawing top talent under Herman.

Last year didn’t go great for the Longhorns on the trail. They didn't sign a Top 10 player in the state for the first time ever, and their class ranking (26th) is the program's worst ever in 247Sports history.

But make no mistake – Herman made a statement in 2018. And, because of the new calendar, he’s not even done yet.