NATIONAL SIGNING DAY

Herman benefits from his Houston connections as several stars from the area follow him to Austin and give the Longhorns one of the nation’s top-rated recruiting classes.

No stranger to Houston, Tom Herman bringing elite players from that city

The plan was hatched 10 months ago when Tom Herman and the Longhorns staff hosted their first junior day at Texas. Among the dozens of attendees were an elite group of players from the Houston area.

Houston is fond to Herman, who used the #HTownTakeover movement on social media as the head coach of the Houston Cougars to keep the best players in the city.

Now, he needs those same types of players to follow his path to Austin. H-Town to A-Town. The plan was like the one Herman used to land 5-star defensive tackle Ed Oliver from Spring Westfield: Houston is ripe with talent and a program full of the best players from the area should compete at the highest levels. Appeal to their sense of family, city and state pride.

“Once I got to know Coach Herman and Coach ( Jason) Washington more, I knew it was probably going to be the place for me,” said D’Shawn Jamison, the 4-star cornerback from Houston Lamar who signed with Texas on Wednesday. “I got the vibe that they’d take care of me and be real with you. We want to put Texas back on the map with him.”

All Herman needed was a ringleader, and 5-star safety prospect BJ Foster rode in from Angleton to lead the charge.

“It was BJ,” said Houston Heights cornerback Jalen Green when asked who was the first person to get in his ear about the Longhorns. “I wasn’t even at the junior day because I had some-

MIKE CRAVEN / AMERICAN-STATESMAN Houston-area recruits signing with the Longhorns include Houston Heights cornerback Jalen Green (from left), Angleton safety BJ Foster, Houston Lamar wide receiver Al’vonte Woodard and Houston Lamar cornerback D’Shawn Jamison.