National Signing Day was a frenzy of talent, flooding sports media outlets at every moment with notifications of college teams stuffing their rosters with high school and JUCO talents. Coaches woke up in the darkness before dawn, prepping fax machines for incoming letters of intent; student athletes gathered around makeshift tables erected at high school gymnasiums, inking plans for their next four years; journalists scrolled through social media posts, phones buzzing at every move made throughout the day.
Texas college teams fielded large quantities of commits, focusing eternally within the Lone Star State for the next All-American for the program. After releasing a pre-Signing Day power chart, TexasHSFootball has ranked the best of FBS Texas football’s 2017 signing classes:
1. Texas A&M
Number of commits: 27
Texas HS Standouts: Anthony Hines (ILB,Plano East), Hezekiah Jones (WR, Stafford), Derrick Tucker (S, Manvel), Roshauud Paul (QB/WR Bremond)
The Aggies are the undeniable kings of Texas recruiting, enticing prospects with the opportunity to compete in the SEC and participate in bowl games. With a haul of 20 Texas commits, Texas A&M mined for local talent, filling voids at key position and providing depth at others. Expect Hines, Michael Clemons and Jayden Peevy to likely see playing time immediately for a thin defensive unit that lost four starters.
2. TCU
Numbers of commits: 21
Texas HS Standouts: Shawn Robinson (QB, DeSoto), Wes Harris (OG, Aledo), Jalen Reagor (WR, Waxahachie), Omar Manning (WR, Lancaster)
The Horned Frogs had a tumultuous season in 2016, hopping from a team previously slotted in the top-15 on numerous pre-season ranking to turning belly-up near the bottom of the Big 12 standings. Arguably the best player in the UIL State games Shawn Robinson has a chance at taking the reins of an offense that only lost one starter over the offseason. Fellow Texas enrollees Jalen Reagor and Omar Manning could be useful weapons on the outside.
3. Baylor
Number of commits: 27
Texas HS Standouts: Xavier Newman (OG, DeSoto), Charlie Brewer (QB, Lake Travis), Gavin Holmes (WR, Northwest), Timarcus Davis (CB, College Station)
After the Bears were ranked dead last in FBS recruiting with a mere signee, new head coach Matt Rhule brought the program back from being taxidermy on the wall of a Big 12 fanatic. Baylor focused their effort on Texas players, nabbing 20 total. Lake Travis champ Charlie Brewer will serve as backup to Zach Smith, and will likely be Waco’s ball-slinger of the future; DeSoto’s Xavier Newman will carry his experience with the best o-line in Texas to starting in the absence of Kyle Fuller, assisting a front that allowed 26 sacks last season; Jalen Pitre, who was previously alone in the class, will have a shot at starting on a depth chart thin from transfers following Art Briles departure.
4. Texas
Number of commits: 18
Texas HS Standouts: Sam Ehlinger (QB, Austin Westlake), Toneil Carter (RB, Langham Creek), Damion Miller (WR, John Tyler), Taquon Graham (DE, Temple)
With a cumulative 16-21 record over the past three seasons, it was difficult to fathom this year’s Longhorns class to be anything spectacular, with or without coach Charlie Strong at the helm. First year HC Herman recruited the lowest rated group since 1999, but has plenty of talent that can be immediately plugged-and-played next season. Herman promised the 2018 class would be the crown jewel of his burnt orange achievements, a reasonable claim considering UT already has a sturdy roster of mostly sophomores and juniors.
With 17 signees, UT’s class was ranked 26th in the country by 247 Sports and 28th by Scout – lowest since the creation recruiting services. For the first time in two decades, the Longhorns did not nab a top-10 prospect.Most of the players have some potential to make an immediate impact at Darrell K. Royal.
5. UTSA
Number of commits: 26
Texas HS Standouts: Samuel Barnes (CB, Richmond George Ranch), Tay’lor Perry (CB, Crosby), Chance McLeod (TE, Victoria East)
As expected, the C-USA recruiting was absent of anything above a 3-star grading, but No. 70 National rating is the highest in Roadrunners history. UTSA is on the rise, successfully hiring coach Frank Wilson and making their first Bowl game in program history. The official press release claimed 21 highly-decorated student athletes would join the program,
but coach Wilson contested in person that the number was 23; two additional are expected to sign by the end of that week.
The second-year frontman also promised that any rival football team would have to pry local talent from the claws of the Runners – a competitive claim that years ago would have been laughed out of the room, but is now a valid promise.
6. Houston
Number of commits: 19
Texas HS Standouts: Noah Jones (DE, Lancaster), Dennis Bardwell (OT, Hargrave)
This class saw numerous commits jumped ship following the departure of coach Tom Herman. Houston is just a year removed from the best class in school history. First year coach Major Applewhite’s group is definitely considered a transition year, only attaining eight student athletes from Herman’s recruitment and losing three highly-touted targets to Texas- 11 total.
7. Texas Tech
Number of commits: 19
Texas HS Standouts: Jack Anderson (OG, Frisco), Xavier Martin (QB, Cibolo Steele), Will Farrar (OG, Fort Bend Travis)
The Red Raiders have needs at all areas of the field and no position was more dire than on the defense, where they lost six starters and gave up 43.5 points per game – worst in the FBS. Tech addressed this in their 2017 talent search, signing 10 defensive recruits in the backfield; however, the line was not addressed, only nabbing one player.
8. Texas State
Number of commits: 25
Texas HS Standouts: Kieston Roach (CB, Galena Park North Shore), Jaylin Nelson (ATH, Duncanville), Jaylin Gipson (QB, Mexia)
The Bobcats were one of the worst teams in the FBS, but rebounded this offseason with the best signing class in their conference. Coach Withers first official signing class accumulated 11 three-star recruits and Mississippi transfer Damien Williams – next year’s presumed starter. The poor roster of last year’s 2-10 squad was hindered by undersized players and lack of speed; this year’s class should rectify those flaws.
9. SMU
Number of commits: 18
Texas HS Standouts: Alan Ali (OT, Keller Timber Creek), Judah Bell (WR, Tyler Bishop Gorman), Kayden Howerton (OC, Katy)
Under coach Chad Morris reign, the Mustangs have never signed a recruit outside of Texas, totaling 63 student athletes. A stagnating offense filled needs in both offensive line and quarterback -a positive step forward, albeit with a small Dallas class.
10. North Texas
Number of commits: 18
Texas HS Standouts: Tre Siggers (WR, Duncanville), Jaelon Darden (WR, Aldine Eisenhower), Cameron Johnson (CB, Houston Heights)
Coach Seth Littrell’s first season with the Mean Green was a success, making a bowl on the merits of academic achievement. This year’s class is heavy on offensive lineman and receivers, essential in the UNT spread scheme that is thin after losing three receivers last season. Due to lack of depth, freshman will not likely redshirt, and will be plugged-and-played in accordance to the team’s needs.
11. Rice
Number of commits: 17
Texas HS Standouts: Miklo Smalls (Plano East, ATH), George Nyakwol (Aldine Eisenhower, CB), Kenneth Orji (Fort Bend Elkins, DE)
Rice head coach David Bailiff is in the hot seat after a losing season, making this year’s Owls squad that much more important to his job security. There are a trio of three-star commits, but the talent lacks outside of this haul, ranking second worst in C-USA – a tragedy considering Rice had the best conference class throughout the season, before it was cannibalizes by fellow Power Five programs.
12. UTEP
Number of commits: 19
Texas HS Standouts: Josh Fields (RB, El Paso Americas), Alex Fernandes (QB, Austin Vandegrift), Kobie Herring (LB, Refugio)
The Miners only got one three-star athlete to sign letters of intent; the rest of the class are two-star or below. With only 12 scholarships available, a team has to work with what they have, but the UTEP class ranks at the bottom of C-USA.
