Bobby Burton
Just 48 hours before national signing day, the Longhorns are hoping to add five players to a class that already includes 18 high school prospects and three college transfers.
The players :
RB LJ Johnson - Cy Fair
WR Keithron Lee - Bryan Rudder
OL Austin Uke - Dallas Parish Episcopal
DL David Abiara - Mansfield Legacy
CB Ishmael Ibraheem - Dallas Kimball
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Justin Wells reported late last night that Ishmael Ibraheem, one of the state’s best corner prospects, was now expected to sign his letter of intent on Wednesday.
That decision bolsters a Texas secondary class in serious need at cornerback. The only other corner in the class is Jamier Johnson from California, who many actually peg as more of a safety in new defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski’s scheme.
At 6-1, 175 pounds, Ibraheem is a long-armed corner who is just beginning to tap into enormous potential. If he works hard in Austin, it’s difficult for me to see him not eventually becoming a starter for the Horns.
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The LJ Johnson recruitment saga will likely end on Wednesday.
Johnson is expected to choose either Texas or Texas A&M.
Rumors had Johnson secretly visiting Austin yesterday.
Interestingly, Johnson could have already enrolled at any either school but has chosen not to. So the question now becomes, for whichever school he selects, will he enter immediately or will he wait until summer to enroll?
Given the lack of quality numbers for the Longhorns at running back, Texas would clearly hope he joins the team immediately and participated in spring ball.
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Texas’ recruitment of offensive linemen for the 2021 class was an embarrassment. No other position struck out on so many of its top targets so often. It was truly ugly to watch transpire.
So Austin Uke, a likely tackle, would add a key component to the class. But the Horns have their work cut out for them yet again.
Stanford, among others, is also in pursuit and has built a longer relationship with him.
Texas is not out of the race, but the Horns are definitely fighting to the end. Steve Sarkisian making quick contact with Uke’s private line coach Donald Hawkins (a former Horn) helped matters. So has new line coach Kyle Flood’s pedigree and recruiting.
But will it be enough?
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While the previous Texas staff came up short in many ways, I always felt like the Horns player personnel department did a fine job of identifying players later in the process.
Keithron Lee is a perfect example of that.
Lee, who is already committed to Texas but postponed his signing because of the uncertainty surrounding the coaching situation in December, is set to ink with the Horns Wednesday morning.
He is a twitchy, long-armed, fluid athlete. The Horns recruited him to play receiver, but he’s the type who could easily play on either side of the ball if he so desired.
Lee may not receive the fanfare of other big-name recruits on Wednesday, but I feel like the Texas personnel staff really found something in Lee.
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David Abiara, the 6-4, 248-pound defensive end from Mansfield Legacy, initially committed to Notre Dame.
Texas finished second in that recruitment.
However, Abiara was said to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and had some legal issues. That pushed Notre Dame out of the picture.
However, with those issues now resolved, Abiara has been in close contact with Texas and new DL coach Bo Davis since Davis’ very first day on the job.
It would be a surprise if Abiara opted for another program than Texas on Wednesday. And that’s a good thing for the Horns.
Texas wants Abiara in a big way and he certainly adds another impressive, young DL for Texas.
Interestingly, if Texas had not re-entered the picture for Abiara, he likely would have ended up at Washington, where Kwiatkowski would have been happy to have him. But now it’s more likely the two unite in Austin instead of Seattle.
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One final note:
With almost an entirely new staff in place, do not be surprised if a new prospect emerges or is even signed on Wednesday.
These new coaches could easily circle back to a prospect they liked at their previous school.
There have already been a few names surface, like a running back from the Southeast.