Top running back highlights haul.
Robinson expected to battle for starting job as a freshman
AUSTIN — There were no surprises or shocking developments in store for the Longhorns when the early signing period began Wednesday.
All 16 players who had verbally committed through Tuesday faxed in their national letter of intent to Texas, starting with John Tyler defensive back Kitan Crawford and culminating with the signing ceremony of Salpointe Catholic (Ariz.) five-star wunderkind Bijan Robinson, the program’s highest-ranked tailback recruit since Johnathan Gray (2012).
“Fifteen of the 16 are from the state of Texas, which is exciting for us,” third-year coach Tom Herman said Wednesday. “We will probably sign four-ish more in February. We knew, though, that this was going to be a small class, only 10 scholarship seniors, so we knew it would be about quality, not quantity.
“And the really exciting part is eight of the 16 are early enrollees, so we’ll get to start working with those guys in January.”
O’Connor offensive lineman Logan Parr, Alvin Shadow Creek corner Xavion Alford, Houston Cypress Ridge defensive lineman Vernon Broughton, Austin Lake Travis quarterback Hudson Card, Longview defensive lineman Sawyer Goram-Welch, Prosper offensive lineman Jake Majors, Fort Bend Austin wideout Troy Omeire and Lufkin defensive back Jerrin Thompson will graduate early and enroll next month to take part in winter training and spring practice.
But the most-anticipated arrival won’t happen until this summer. Robinson, the program’s lone outof-state 2020 signee, should challenge sophomore Keaontay Ingram,
redshirt freshman Jordan Whittington and true freshman Roschon Johnson (if he doesn’t move back to quarterback) for reps right away.
“There’s not enough adjectives in the book,” Herman said of Arizona’s only two-time player of the year. “He’s a dynamic playmaker, and I know that this phrase gets used quite a bit, that he’s an even better person and young man than he is a player, but that is 100 percent accurate with Bijan.
“The recruiting process was long. We had him targeted very early. I think we only offered early four, maybe five tailbacks in the entire country, and he was one of them. We were on a nationwide search for a tailback, and we found one who’s the perfect fit for us.”
Texas also is bringing in two of the nation’s most athletic, versatile quarterbacks in Card and Duncanville dual threat Ja’Quinden Jackson.
Card complied 2,225 total yards, with 1,137 receiving, 491 rushing and 597 passing as a sophomore before moving to quarterback full-time. Jackson, who’ll miss the Class 6A Division I championship game with a torn ACL, passed for 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns with five interceptions, while rushing for 1,030 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior.
“Our thoughts go out to ( Jackson) and the knee injury he sustained,” Herman said. “But a phenomenal quarterback, very athletic and extremely competitive. He’s a leader amongst leaders.
Herman also praised Card’s leadership and intangibles.
“He’s a competitor, great teammate, great leader,” Herman said. “This is a guy who played exclusively wide receiver as a sophomore and had to be thrust into the state championship game at quarterback and did really well, led his team in that game.
“Just a guy that gets better every time we see him throw, every time we see him play.”
Herman said the team will look to address depth issues at linebacker and on the defensive line in the weeks leading up to February’s official signing day, and it also could be a player in the graduate transfer market. New defensive coordinator Chris Ash will have time to look over the roster and begin recruiting for Texas when he officially joins the team Thursday.
With a few more scholarships left to fill, Texas’ 2020 class ranks No. 1 in the Big 12 and No. 9 in the nation — just head of No. 10 Oklahoma — per the 247Sports composite. If that holds through February, it would mark the Longhorns’ third straight top-10 class, though this year’s 7-5 finish showed Texas needs to better develop
the talent that annually flocks to Austin.
Most importantly for Texas right now is that its class didn’t take a significant hit in the wake of staff firings and reassignments and a largely joyless season. Seven 2020 players did decommit, including the late flip of Temple four-star wideout Quentin Johnston to TCU, but those who faxed in their national letters of intent Wednesday morning seemed unfazed by the turmoil.
“These 16 guys made their decision, stayed with their decision without a coordinator on either side of the ball and at receiver without a position coach,” Herman said. “I think that speaks to the level of trust that they have in me, that we’re going to get this coaching search right, but also in their level of commitment to not just an individual. The few constants we have are myself, (strength coach) Yancy McKnight and this great university in this great city.”