Cali In-Person | Recruiting Notebook

– Super K

***Let’s start with 5-star linebacker, Justin Flowe. I can first hand vouch for the force that Flowe can generate.

Probably not the best idea to be looking down into my camera in this situation!

I got tackled by Justin Flowe (@justin_flowe) 😂



5-star rating is well deserved! pic.twitter.com/mbBE153IKa — Super K (@SuperK_TFB) February 10, 2019

On a more serious note, Flowe really was incredible. He’s the perfect build for a linebacker. Not too much leg and not too much torso. Balanced build. A muscular 225 lbs. Great sense of space, knowing exactly how close to a ball carrier he should be.

Elite.

And he is headed to Texas for a visit in March. He didn’t have the exact date on him but says the visit is set up for sometime next month.

5-star 2020 LB Justin Flowe & his brother 2021 LB, Jonathan Flowe are planning on taking an unofficial visit to #HookEm in March. pic.twitter.com/Bl1DFwWBm5 — Super K (@SuperK_TFB) February 10, 2019

***5-star CA WR, Johnny Wilson (Calabasas) is a big young man. How big? This is him standing next to 6’2 Elias Ricks…

First time I saw him come off the line, I was shocked to see someone that big come off so hard. He ate up a ton of a ground and when he stopped to turn, sunk his hips perfectly. Also, has extremely soft hands and can snag a bullet out of his break.

He put up nice SPARQ numbers as well.

More good news here for Texas, Johnny says he plans on taking an unofficial visit to Texas in March.

***2020 CA 5-star DB and LSU commit, Elias Ricks (Mater Dei) also had a great camp. He’s huge, long, athletic, competitive and he’s well coached. Didn’t shy away from any competition and I love that about him. In fact, the camp was over and he basically argued to let him take a rep against 5-star WR, Johnny Wilson.

Ricks is a solid commit to LSU. His mother’s family is originally from Texas and his father’s family is originally from Louisiana.

Having said that, with an early commitment, Ricks hasn’t yet seen many schools. So, he plans on taking official visits.

According to his father, Ricks is going to take official visits this spring and is trying to get out to LSU, Alabama, Ohio State, USC and said the final visit will go to OU or UT.

I asked Elias himself which direction he is leaning for his final OV…OU or UT? After speaking with him, he is leaning a bit more towards taking the visit to OU, but things can change.

***2020 CA CB, Clark Phillips III (La Habra) is so unbelievably explosive and has a steely demeanor.

I can see him playing early. He has a bit of a Trajan Bandy (smaller guy started as a true freshman at Miami) and a bit Javelin Guidry (smaller explosive CB who played in the Austin area and went on to start as a freshman at Utah. Was committed to Herman at Houston).

Clark was offered by Texas, recently. He also, recently, dropped his top 12 and despite Texas not making the cut, Clark told me he will visit Texas. He said that Texas very much still has a chance to win him over. But the offer came around the same time he was ready to drop his list.

Clark said he and coach Naivar communicate a lot and you can tell he likes Naivar.

The plan is to take an unofficial visit out to Texas in the next few weeks. If the visit goes well, I can see the Horns moving way up in this one. He’s going to be looking at Jason Washington’s NFL production, which is stellar and obviously the academics (sharp young man). I don’t see him staying in the state of California, regardless.

Something about this young man tells me Texas will feel like a good fit for him. Great thing about Clark is he is a deadly weapon on the field on both offense and defense.

Not the biggest CB, but you’re missing the point if you’re missing on Clark Phillips III (@ClarkPhillips28).



Acceleration on the turn is unreal. Start/stop is such that he stood in front of a dancing ball carrier & the ball carrier fell down. His character & demeanor are A1! pic.twitter.com/BcAHMqkAaO — Super K (@SuperK_TFB) February 11, 2019

***A guy I also really liked and didn’t even realize Texas is recruiting was, 2020 CA DB/LB, Kourt Williams II (St. JohnBosco)

I noticed this really big guy dressed out in defensive black clothing. Thought to myself, he looks like a well put together linebacker. Then watching him, I was surprised to see how well he moved. He lined up outside against legitimate wide receivers.

I spoke with Kourt and he said that he has been in touch with Coach Orlando but didn’t get the sense that the communication has been frequent. I do think that will change after Texas sees these numbers.

Turns out, despite the rain, he put up some incredible SPARQ numbers.

Yesterday at The LA Opening, 2020 6’1 216 lb, Kourt Williams out of @boscofootball (CA) was in the defensive backs group covering legit WRs.



One of the reasons he can do it despite his size and frame? Check the numbers ⬇️



DB or every down LB. pic.twitter.com/c6EVSjuKE1 — Super K (@SuperK_TFB) February 11, 2019

***2021 QB JakeGarcia (Narbonne HS, CA) visited Texas back in the fall for the West Virginia game. He’s picked up a ton of offers. And though he still doesn’t have a Texas offer, it’s clear he likes the Horns. Even through up the Hook’Em in one of the pictures.

4-star 2021 Cali QB, Jake Garcia (Narbonne) holds offers from USC, Ohio State, Georgia & others…



But he’s sporting the #HookEm jacket out at #TheOpening regional in LA. pic.twitter.com/2SalxtNZv9 — Super K (@SuperK_TFB) February 10, 2019

***Bru McCoy’s transfer/commitment to Texas could pay huge dividends in California. Bru’s father, Horace is a well known, well liked and well-respected gentleman in the area. The family’s heed his counsel and he’s not shy about pushing the Lonngorns out there.

He showed up yesterday to support everyone and hang out. And, he showed up wearing the Texas gear…

Didn’t take long for father of #HookEm WR, Bru McCoy to get comfortable in the burnt orange.



Out here at @TheOpening regional in LA. pic.twitter.com/yj7VSCNrUE — Super K (@SuperK_TFB) February 10, 2019

Early Class of 2020 Storylines

– Andrew King

Texas has signed the #3 recruiting class in the nation for the second straight year. The 2019 class is in the books, so I thought I’d talk about some early storylines in the 2020 class as we enter a new recruiting cycle.

Texas currently holds commitments from three 2020 recruits in Lake Travis (TX) quarterback Hudson Card, O’Connor (TX) offensive lineman Logan Parr, and Prosper (TX) offensive lineman Jake Majors.

1. Could Texas finally sign an elite offensive line class?

Texas has done a good job signing offensive lineman in the past. And Herb Hand signed an elite recruit in Tyler Johnson in 2019, but it’s been a while since the Longhorns have signed an elite group of offensive lineman. Texas already has Parr committed, who’s a top 150 recruit nationally. Current commit Jake Majors and top target Jaylen Garth are two guys who are three-star recruits right now, but I expect that to change.

Then you have Chad Lindberg, who’s the top offensive lineman in Texas, and we feel very good about Texas’ chances with him as of today. Then Damieon George, who’s another four-star offensive tackle that Texas is in the top three for. There’s a long way to go, but Texas is in a position to land an elite type of offensive line class that they haven’t brought to Austin in a long time.

2. Can Texas land one of the elite running backs?

In my opinion, there are three elite running backs in the state of Texas in 2020. North Shore’s Zach Evans, Aledo’s Jase McClellan, and Mesquite Poteet’s Seth McGowan. And so far it looks like Texas is going all-in on the best of the bunch. Zach Evans, who currently sits as the #2 player nationally in 2020.

Evans recruitment is likely to last up until signing day in 2020, and with how Texas has recruited the past two years I think Tom Herman and company are fine with Evans not wanting to make an early decision. This is going to be a battle between Texas, LSU, Alabama, Georgia, and Texas A&M being the main threat to keep Evans in the state.

With McClellan, he made a very early commitment to Oklahoma after his freshman season. But he has been to Texas numerous times since then and the last time was just a few weeks ago. He really liked Texas growing up, and is cousins with former Texas running back Jonathan Gray. At this time, he remains solid with the Sooners, but Texas will continue to recruit him.

McGowan surprised some people and didn’t include Texas in his Top 8 that he released on Tuesday. So we’ll see if Texas continues to push there or lock in on reeling in one of the 5-star’s in Evans and McClellan.

3. How does Texas do with the elite 2020 in-state defensive backs?

Everyone remembers the 2018 defensive back haul Texas signed in 2018. And it was undeniable that it hurt the Longhorns with the elite 2019 defensive backs in the state. With top guys like Lewis Cine, Jeffrey Carter, Demani Richardson, Brian Williams, Erick Young and others heading to schools like Texas A&M, Alabama, and Georgia. Texas did do a good job of getting in with safety Tyler Owens before his meteoric rise after his senior season.

Texas missed on a local top target recently as corner Jaylon Jones committed to Texas A&M. But Texas is in a good spot early for safeties Chris Thompson Jr, Bryson Washington, and Darius Snow. All three are top 150 recruits nationally. Then you could add athlete Ja’Quinden Jackson to the mix, as he could end up at wide receiver or defensive back in college.

And you can’t forget about 5-star corner Kelee Ringo out of Arizona. Who is high on Texas right now, and former Longhorn Bryant Westbrook is his high school position coach.

4. Can Texas go four-for-four with top defensive line targets?

Texas currently has zero defensive linemen committed in 2020, but four of their top targets have been to Austin recently. Defensive end/defensive tackle Vernon Broughton, and fellow defensive ends Alfred Collins, Princely Umanmielen, and Prince Dorbah all have Texas very high on their lists. If Texas can go four-for-four with those guys, it would be a really nice haul for Oscar Giles and company.

5. Could Texas get back in it with 5-star wide receiver Demond Demas?

One of the more dramatic 2020 recruitments so far has been Tomball (TX) 5-star wide receiver Demond Demas. He is currently committed to Texas A&M. He visited Texas a few weeks ago and there were some reports coming out after the visit that he didn’t like some of the shots taken at Texas A&M and the SEC by some Texas players and Matthew McConaughey following their Sugar Bowl win over Georgia.

Now I’ll say this, I don’t expect Demas to end up at Texas at all as of today. But this recruitment could have some twists and turns along the way. And the fact that Texas was able to hang onto offensive tackle Javonne Shepherd, who is one of Demas’ best friends, may be the only thing keeping Texas somewhat in it right now.

Junior Day Negative Recruiting Rumors?

– Super K

With Texas hosting their second junior day this upcoming weekend, I wanted to address a bit of a dust up from the last junior day.

There were some rumors and even reports that one particular recruit was not happy with what he perceived to be negative recruiting from the Longhorns.

I did a little digging on this myself and spoke to some people who were either there or new people there and was told that the coaches didn’t say much of anything about Texas A&M or any other school.

Was told that when Sam Ehlinger spoke he did what you might expect an alpha quarterback to do, he said the SEC is overrated, praised living in Austin and said Texas would beat Texas A&M right now if they played.

Pretty mild for former rivals, if you ask me. But it doesn’t sound like the coaches said anything.

On another note, we are working on the weekend visitor list.