2019 Scholarship Numbers and Early Enrollees

– Will Baizer

With the commitment of Peyton Powell, I’ve seen some questions about class size for the 2019 cycle. Texas right now sits with 20 commits.

The NCAA limit for class size in FBS is 25 players. However, up to five early enrollees are allowed to count toward the previous class.

The NCAA allows FBS schools 85 scholarship players on a roster. By my count, Texas currently sits at 77 scholarship players.

19 count toward 2015

18 count toward 2016

20 count toward 2017

21 count toward 2018.

Texas in the 2018 class had 27 enrollees, lost OG Mikey Grandy, and had nine early enrollees (only five count toward 2017). That means the 2018 class takes up 21 spots (as shown above).

Texas will be losing 17 scholarship players due to graduation.

85 scholarships – (77 scholarships – 17 scholarships) = 27 scholarships.

However, you’re only allowed 25 scholarships. So Texas can fill up the 25 scholarship spots and then have four early enrollees to count towards the 2018 class to fill that up to 25 scholarship spots.

Therefore, Texas’ max class size this year would be 29 with four early enrollees. This gives Texas room for nine more commits.

I went through and asked each commit of the 2019 class so far whether or not they will be enrolling early.

– ILB De’Gabriel Floyd

– WR Jordan Whittington

– DE Peter Mpagi

– TE Jared Wiley

– QB Roschon Johnson

– OLB Marcus Tillman Jr.

As stated above, only four of these guys will count towards the 2018 class.

Where does Texas need the most help in this 2019 class?

Based on scholarship numbers, they desperately need numbers at center, linebacker, defensive line, and probably wide receiver. Each of these spots could use one or two more players in the 2019 class to help out.

Taking a closer look at each of these positions…

Defensive Line and Offensive Line

Texas just lost out on one of their four defensive tackle offers as Rodas Johnson recently chose Wisconsin. DeMarvin Leal is a long shot at this point. Faatui Tuitele is also a long shot here, and will likely not end up a Longhorn. This leaves Texas probably evaluating film after the high school football season ends and offering based off of late evaluations or looking for a JUCO/Grad Transfer quick fix.

That is also how offensive line recruiting will likely shake out. We’re already seeing it with the late evaluation of Isaiah Hofkin who picked up an offer last weekend and the offer sent out to JUCO OT Myron Cunningham. It appears that Herb Hand is a fan of the athletic offensive tackle type body that he can shape into an offensive guard.

Wide Receiver

With the addition of Marcus Washington, I think Texas would still be willing to take one more in this class. They would obviously prefer it be Bru McCoy, but Kennedy Lewis would be a take for them as well.

Linebacker

With the departure of Texas’ two starting LBs, Texas will likely move Jeffrey McCulloch back into that spot. They’ll still want some depth in that position as time goes on.

Texas will still pursue ILB Shammond Cooper out of St. Louis, but it looks like this one will come down to one of three options: late cycle evaluations (i.e. second National Signing Day), JUCO, or graduate transfer.

They are already looking at JUCO OLB Caleb Johnson. Johnson did pick up the Oregon offer, which made life difficult for Texas, but they haven’t moved on just yet meaning they still feel confident.

Sanders, Cain, Hookfin, Warren | Notebook

– Super K

I’m currently in the airport in Florida about to head back to Texas. Below are a few quick notes which Ill expand on in the next day or so.

***Checked in with recent 2019 OT offer, Isaiah Hookfin and he tells me that he has cancelled this weekend’s Arizona State official visit. Hookfin has a few different visits that he is looking at potentially taking but he says right now the Texas official visit is the only one he is certain he will take.

For anyone questioning Hookfin’s size, look at him standing next to high 4-star OT, Tyler Johnson who is listed at 6’5.

***Yesterday, I stopped by IMG Academy in Bradenton (FL) to see Noah Cain and Trey Sanders. Had a chance to speak to both at length.

I spoke with them both separately and it was interesting that both put a big emphasis on Stan Drayton being a really key part of their interest in Texas. Both responses were very much unprompted…

“Coach Drayton that’s one of the best RB coaches I’ve met in my life. I sat in film room with him for 20 minutes & he taught me something I could incorporate in my game right away. If he can do that in 20 minutes imagine what he can do in 3 to 4 years” – Trey Sanders on #HookEm pic.twitter.com/7TM9hT5tRY — Super K (@SuperK_TFB) November 6, 2018

“Ever since coach Drayton and them offered it’s been nothing but love…I can see the progress they’re making most definitely, especially after this visit. The OL they’re going to have in place next season, I can definitely see it”. – Noah Cain on #HookEm pic.twitter.com/YqBXBvsHf3 — Super K (@SuperK_TFB) November 6, 2018

On Sanders, one of the things that really caught my attention in our discussion is that he only has one official that he knows he will take which is the visit to Alabama for the Iron Bowl. He’s already taken the official visit to Texas. The fact that those are the two visits he is/was certain about was telling to me.

With Cain, despite the loss this past weekend, he’s impressed with the direction Texas is going. One of the things with him that caught my attention is that despite having an OV set to Ohio State, he admitted that their current situation with all the issues surrounding Urban Meyer is very much a concern.

Both are announcing on ESPN in December. Again, more on this later.

***Texas needs defensive linemen in a big way. They have an excellent target in 2019 DE, Myron Warren (Many, LA). As I mentioned last week, Warren will visit Texas for the Iowa State game.

The thing we were watching, however, was whether LSU would offer. He was at the LSU vs. Alabama game this past weekend. I checked with him after the visit and he said that LSU did not offer nor did they discuss an offer with him.

As long as LSU doesn’t offer, Texas has a good shot. Though, as I previously noted, his family is originally from the Austin area. So, while LSU would likely be the favorite if they offered, I’m not sure it would be a foregone conclusion.

2020 LB Brennon Scott | Post Visit Update

– Andrew King

A 2020 recruit to keep an eye on moving forward is Bishop Dunne (TX) linebacker Brennon Scott.

He visited Texas over the weekend and really enjoyed his time in Austin. “It was great. I loved the atmosphere inside the stadium,” Scott said. This was his first time at Texas for a game and there was one thing he saw on the field that could see him playing at Texas. “Even though the guys lost they played with heart, they wanted the win. I can see myself playing with guys who got that kind of heart,” Scott said.

Scott holds quite a few big name offers already. From schools like LSU, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and about 15 more. Texas hasn’t extended one yet, but that could change in the future. “They like my game and want to see more film from my junior year. And they wanna make sure I stay in touch with them,” Scott said about what Texas defensive coordinator Todd Orlando is telling him right now.

I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see an offer extended in the future to Scott. Following his visit to Texas, the only other visit he has planned right now is to Baylor on November 24th.

Wide Receivers Coming in & Going out | Lewis, Lil Jordan & More

– Super K

As Charlie mentioned yesterday, 2019 wide receiver, Kennedy Lewis (Melissa, TX) is scheduled to announce his commitment tomorrow and if Texas is in a position to take Lewis, we expect Texas to be the choice.

But can Texas take him?

That’s a question I have yet to received a definitive answer on but it’s sounding like there are some real numbers issues they are contending with that could put Texas in a position to need to delay things.

***First, based on conversations with folks around Lil Jordan Humphrey, I had always believed he would leave after this season. Earlier today, I spoke with someone close to him and it sounds like that is no longer a foregone conclusion. I was told very simply that it will depend on his draft grade. I was also told that the family and people around LJ will sit down and discuss things after the season but that the decision has not been made.

If I’m hearing that then surely the Texas staff also knows that there is still a possibility he will return and if that happens, it will affect their numbers.

***Secondly, there is still uncertainty about whether Collin Johnson will stay or go. Between LJ and Collin, Collin was the one I would’ve assumed would stay. From what I gather the staff doesn’t know what he’s going to do and surmise Collin himself hasn’t made that decision. So again, you have another factor to consider when looking at the wide receiver numbers.

***Bru McCoy. You have to take Bru McCoy regardless. And Texas’ primary competition in this one is a team whose OC was recently stripped of his play calling duties. Things are not stable there at the moment. In other words, Texas has to account for the real possibility that Bru McCoy could occupy a scholarship spot next season.

***And, you still have Elijah Higgins on the board. As Charlie mentioned, we get the sense that Texas probably feels Elijah is headed to Stanford if he gets in. But, an announcement hasn’t happened yet. Also, the latest we heard from Elijah was that he had not gotten word from Stanford yet.

***I do believe that Texas very much likes Kennedy Lewis but I’m really curious to see how this plays out tomorrow (updated below by Charlie) because there are a ton of variables at the moment with both recruits that Texas has been recruiting for much longer than Lewis and players currently on campus. Best case scenario for Texas would have probably been for Lewis to have delayed his commitment timeline a bit so that they can see where things stand with Collin and LJ.

*** While it’s still early, there is a particular wide receiver grad transfer that Texas could be looking at as well. I know the player is interested in Texas and he fits the mold of the kind of guys Texas typically likes. Again, way too early to mention any names but just another piece for the Texas staff to have to work out as they try to ensure they maximize the weapons around Ehlinger for a big run next year.

Kennedy Lewis Will Not Be Announcing Today

– Charlie S

I will not be committing tomorrow sorry for disappointing yall, but i want to make the best decision for me. — Kennedy C Lewis🃏 (@Kennedy_lewis35) November 9, 2018

…that about answers the question as to whether Texas felt they had room for him as we have been saying previously based on very credible information that Texas was going to be the choice.

Expect Texas to focus on Bru McCoy as the final potential wide receiver target in this class (unless Higgins does not get into Stanford) and should he not choose Texas, the wide receiver class very well could already be complete.

Injury Update | Pre-Texas Tech | Hager, Davis, Jones, and Johnson

– Will Baizer

Out for Season

– TE Max Cummins (Surgery)

– WR Josh Moore (Shoulder) Josh Moore has surgery on his shoulder. Done for season.

– OL Patrick Hudson (Medical)

Redshirt Watch?

– RB Kyle Porter (Undisclosed)

Out

– DE Marquez Bimage (Shoulder) Dislocated shoulder vs WVU

Questionable

– DB Brandon Jones (Ankle) Sprained his ankle prior to WVU game. Will be evaluated for Tech game. Is day-to-day.

– WR Collin Johnson (Knee) As we reported earlier, Johnson tweaked his knee in practice and is questionable for Tech.

Probable

– DE Breckyn Hager (Elbow) Dislocated elbow vs WVU. He has been practicing this week and will be cleared pending postpractice examination.

Good to Go

– LB Malcolm Roach (Foot)

– CB Davante Davis (Neck) Sprained neck vs WVU. Tom Herman said he has been practicing all week and will play vs Tech.