Image via Scout.com

– Targets At The Opening: The dead period has begun but The Opening Finals begin today in Oregon and will continue throughout the weekend.

The Opening will consist of a 7on7 tournament, a SPARQ skills challenge (40-yard dash, 20 yard shuttle, vertical jump, and power ball toss), and the Elite 11 Finals. There will be a good number of Texas targets and commits out there this weekend. Below K has offered some quick notes on where things stand with the Texas targets who will be in attendance.

COMMITS

Angleton (TX) S BJ Foster

Steele (TX) S Caden Sterns

Trinity (KY) WR Rondale Moore

TARGETS

Alief Taylor (TX) WR Brennan Eagles – set to decide in July and things are looking good for Texas

Hou. Lamar (TX) WR Al’Vonte Woodard – also set to decide in July and things are looking good for Texas

Hou. Lamar (TX) CB Anthony Cook – Texas is a bit behind here

Hou. Lamar (TX) CB D’Shawn Jamison – Texas is in a good spot here. Jamison’s decision date is a bit up in the air. Based on our recent conversations with him it sounds like he may wait until the season to decide.

Heights (TX) CB Jalen Green – Texas is in a good spot here. This one could happen at any time.

Schertz Clemens (TX) WR Tommy Bush – On his recent visit Texas made a strong impression on Tommy. However, should he choose to commit, Bush may have to wait until Texas gets final word from Eagles and Woodard. It’s a numbers game.

Centennial (CA) QB Tanner McKee

Parkway (LA) WR Terrace Marshall – Likes Texas but LSU is going to be very difficult to beat.

Lutheran North (MO) DE Ronnie Perkins – Is close to Texas LB commit, Ayodele Adeoye. Perkins has yet to visit Texas so until he does it’s tough to know where things stand. Perkins older brother plays at Missouri.

– Cam Rising: Newbury Park (CA) Cam Rising is a huge piece of Tom Herman’s first recruiting class at Texas, and some have asked questions about Rising as USC lost their 5-star QB commit Matt Corral recently. I spoke with Rising’s father and he told me after their visit to Texas for the Heat Wave weekend, they have no other visits planned. Another note on Rising is that he plans to enroll early in December.

So that means both Cam Rising and Casey Thompson plan to enroll early at Texas in December as of today. – (Andrew)

– Luke Ford: Everyone who watched Tom Herman hunt down TEs at the end of the 2017 class for Texas know how important he feels that position is for his team. In the 2018 class, the main guys being talked about are Malcolm Epps, Mustapha Muhammad, and #1 JUCO TE Dominick Wood-Anderson. Another guy to add to the board is Carterville (IL) TE, Luke Ford.

Ford recently decommitted from Arkansas and after he did so offers from Auburn, Texas, Oregon, Baylor, and others came in. He took recent visits to Alabama, LSU, and Auburn. I spoke with Ford earlier this week and he told me he plans to take a few visits in July after the dead period. He says he will visit Texas along with Michigan and Illinois.

Right now Alabama looks like the favorite for him, but we’ll see if Texas can get him on campus and make an impact. Though I’d say the chances are higher for Texas in terms of landing Epps or Anderson over Ford. – (Andrew)

– July Recruiting Event: Former Texas HC Charlie Strong was known for his July “Under The Lights” recruiting event. Tom Herman’s first big recruiting event a few weeks ago was very successful, but it was more of a fun event than anything football related. It sounds like they could be doing a “Friday Night Lights” event that schools like Ohio State, Alabama, Texas A&M, and others have made very successful over the last few years.

July 21st sounds like the date if they do end up holding an event like this. Just something to look out for this summer. – (Andrew)