<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>ESPN 300 LB Otaro Alaka has committed to Texas A&M. It’s official.</p>— Max Olson (@max_olson) <a href="https://twitter.com/max_olson/statuses/427605430584348672">January 27, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I'd like to thank Coach Strong and UT for the offer but Ive decided to decommit from the university of Texas and commit to Texas A&M! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23gigem&src=hash">#gigem</a></p>— Otaro Alaka™ (@OtaroAlaka) <a href="https://twitter.com/OtaroAlaka/statuses/427605338255130624">January 27, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Not hard to picture A&M as the top dog in Texas as far as recruiting goes as long as Sumlin is there.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/OtaroAlaka">@OtaroAlaka</a> congrats bro welcome aboard let's go win this Natty! </p>— Nick Harvey (@_IMakePlays11) <a href="https://twitter.com/_IMakePlays11/statuses/427622147368812545">January 27, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Didn't think he'd flip and this is only a tweet, but it's a little reassuring.
I'll be the first to admit that college football has constant change and team's go in and out of the limelight, but it is nice to be an Ag right now. Alaka committing is huge deal along side Harvey seeming to keep his commitment. As I say this, I am far from forgetting that we sucked through out most of the 2000s and that Texas dominated. I am also not forgetting that we haven't won anything of importance in the past few years... but the tea leaves look nice. That being said, it is nice to see that the state of Texas is coming down to A&M and Texas rather than OU. According to the Luicci 44 (OMG bias!!!), OU has one top 44 player in the state. Such a nice change.
No surprise about Alaka but it still sucks. Hard to put it on Strong. Might have de-commited either way. He just has to prove he isn't a small conference wannabe. Sumlin had to do the same thing coming from UH. People now see him as a legit national title contender coach and the recruits believe him. All the BS about Strong selling himself on what he did at Louisville needs to stop. No one cares about what happened in Kentucky. He won't matter until he proves he can be a coaching powerhouse in Texas in a bigger conference.
Strong is a badass coach. But nobody wants to play for a hardass. They want to Tweet and drink and get chicks not read books.
People will play for hardass winning coaches - see Saban, Carroll, etc... Strong will need to prove he can win before Texas sees a meaningful boost in recruiting. Assuming Ash is good to go, the talent in Austin is sufficient to win 10 games next season, in which case I don't think recruiting will be an issue. A win in October in the Cotton Bowl would also go a long way in getting things back on track. I'm optimistic, but #@$% that's a long ways away.
Not 2014 but... <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>BREAKING: 2015 OL Aaron Garza has officially decommitted from the Longhorns. More @ <a href="http://t.co/hErcnOBWUv">http://t.co/hErcnOBWUv</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ut&src=hash">#ut</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23hookem&src=hash">#hookem</a></p>— Blake Munroe (@247Blake) <a href="https://twitter.com/247Blake/statuses/427892225234571264">January 27, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> http://t.co/ZUSqY9mlOJ A consensus three-star prospect, Garza is rated as the No. 40 offensive guard nationally, the No. 86 player in the state of Texas, and the No. 669 player nationally in the 247Sports Composite rankings. He holds offers from Auburn, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, and USC, with the Tigers perhaps making a move in Garza's recruitment, as the first 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction has now come in for Auburn following the Sherman product's decommitment. ... "I talked to (Joe) Wickline. He's just kind of saying that he doesn't know where my offer stands right now, if they're going to honor it," Garza said.
It's also hard when boosters and fans proliferate momentum to everyone about Nick Saban. Charlie strong is a major reality check.
Basically UT told him that they don't know if they want him anymore... and that means he is decommitting? I don't know much about college recruiting, but it would appear that UT is telling him he may not have a spot anymore...
Lets the kids save face. These are 16-17 year olds after all, no need to publicly embarrass them after going back on your schools word to honor their commitment. Texas is trying to poach Kolin Hill from ND. Really hope we can hang on to him, thought he was really underrated.
