MgoblueAF

January 30th, 2015 at 1:28 AM ^

With Murray's height, I don't think he'll ever play pro ball - still a tough loss for Strong, though. I wonder if he uses the last few days to go for a middling 3-star dual-threat, or someone in more of a Gentry mold

MgoblueAF

January 30th, 2015 at 1:38 AM ^

Also, I meant that he won't play QB at the pro level, but maybe another position. If you look at his pics, 5'10" is generous (which 247 lists him at). Brees and Manziel are listed at 6', and Wilson is at least 5'11" (not that 1-2" is a huge deal, but those guys you mentioned are very rare game changers). I live in Austin, and there's not very much optimism around Merrick, whose best offers were CSU and Nevada

MichiganMan14

January 30th, 2015 at 1:28 AM ^

Texas has been working this angle for a few weeks now. Kai is a great athlete but a pure project at this point.

Mr. Owl

January 30th, 2015 at 1:29 AM ^

That's what happens when you play the field.

If they want to wait a year, the Messiah might  be their salvation...

alum96

January 30th, 2015 at 1:37 AM ^

They have a 3 star committed but seems more pro style.  Going to hurt near term if indeed they wanted to move to more spread style.  Probably all that is left for this class is to try to flip that FSU 3 star.

I get the gamble but if Strong was going to spread Gentry didn't make sense for them in the first place.  Tough one - I actually like Strong as a coach; he seems intent on cleaning up a lot of riff raff left over from the Brown regime.

Not going to wag fingers-  we're coming off a 5-7 year and we've been Texas for 7 years. 

youn2948

January 30th, 2015 at 9:41 AM ^

If he could start and make a good showing of his final year close to his family it would make me very happy.

I know you're being sarcastic but still, would be pretty cool.

One year under Harbaugh and he sweeps in takes control of another school, would be tight.

GoBlueInNYC

January 30th, 2015 at 7:19 AM ^

Gentry doesn't seem like that bad of an option for a spread offense (and when you say "spread," I assume you mean a running QB). He's a giant, but it sounds like one of his strengths is his size/mobility combination.

Interesting to compare Texas's slide into bad/mediocre and Michigan's (Texas's current woes are a good two years younger, starting in 2010 v. 2008); of course, they never had their Denard nor their Sugar Bowl season.

alum96

January 30th, 2015 at 8:20 AM ^

Yes I did a post on this a few months ago but it was comparing ND v UM v TN.  TN and UM have had identical durations (Fulmer and Carr left together) but TN has plummed some deeper lows than even UM.  ND had a much longer walk in the desert which I "ended" with Brian Kelly returning (I think it was 13 years? from memory) while UM/TN is 7.  TX is getting there - but I do think Charlie Strong on paper is the right coach.  And TX defense was good except for 2 games last year - he just lost his QB early and their OL was horrible and away you go - we know all about that here. 

But just looking at the talent they bring in (and USC) there is no way those 2 teams should ever be below 9 wins.  I mean ever. 

Gentry seems like a Cardale Jones type in terms of running.  He will get some yards but that is not going to be his go to thing.  The term spread is really broad - depends on what version he wants to run of it; Oregon's spread is different from OSU's is different from Arizona's etc.  Let's also keep in mind Gentry was running on a bunch of "challenged" football players in New Mexico.  I don't think he would be seen as quite the threat in FL or TX.  I imagine he is a guy who will get out of the pocket on 3rd and 6 and if the pass is not there go and get some yards for you.  I don't see him as a guy running options or anything.

Space Coyote

January 30th, 2015 at 8:45 AM ^

I have a buddy that's a big UT fan, so I hear quite a bit about it. Their OL was 2013 Michigan or 2014 PSU level terrible last year. Starting converted players at LT, young guys, etc. It was a complete mess. It probably won't get a whole lot better this year, but that's really at the core of their offensive problems.

Swoops was still just a Sophomore, though he didn't show a whole lot. They also have Jerrod Heard coming off his RS FR year. Both are capable runners in their own right, but they are young in a new system behind a terrible OL, which is a really difficult mix.

Still, Strong is bringing in some real talent. They'll try to flip Locksley (a project) and they have Merrick, but this setback just makes the rebuilding project a little harder. Murray may have been able to start year one at UT, and would have taken some stress off the OL. I just don't feel too bad for them as they have a pretty good D already and are brining in OLB Malik Jefferson (#10 player in country), OLB Anthony Wheeler (#74), C Vahe (#130), WR Burt (#138), S Elliot (#196), and most likely DT Mack (#14), RB Jamabo (#32), and WR Lodge (#42), and possibly RB Warren (#77), CB Hill (#80), and CB/RB Boyd (#98).

In case you missed that, they are likely to finish their class with 8 top 100 players and 11 top 200 players. I know Texas has always had talent, but I think Strong is a really good coach that had to clean house and was left with an awful OL and a bunch of good athletes that were terribly coached for a long time.

Space Coyote

January 30th, 2015 at 9:29 AM ^

Have Mack going to Texas. I believe Mack was at UT last weekend and signs look like he's going there.

Lodge is most likely Ole Miss, but he did just take an unofficial to UT.

Every single CB since Dec (20-ish) has had Boyd to UT and they are the favorite. A&M hasn't been guessed since July. Texas is 83% crystal ball pick for Hill and that's only gotten stronger lately.

So maybe you have different info than most recruiting analyst, but outside of Lodge it looks like the other three you listed are favorites to land in Austin.

Och3517

January 30th, 2015 at 1:38 AM ^

Easton Bruere. Honestly I would like to see this kid get a offer and since we got Gentry they can have the other New Mexico stud. I still can't believe not even a Wac or Mountain West school has offered this kid, Go get em Texas.

dnak438

January 30th, 2015 at 12:09 PM ^

but the average undergraduate at Texas isn't very good. I haven't taught at Stanford like I did at Texas, but I have to imagine that the overall quality of the undergraduate body is much superior. I was a bit shocked at how poorly prepared the average Texas student was compared to the average student at UM.

FWIW, Forbes ranks UT #13 and US News & World report ranks it #17 among public universities.