40 Acres Sports

Texas football commit James Kirkendoll wins basketball All-Star MVP. WR/DB may try to walk onto basketball team.

paidContent.org is reporting that Yahoo may be about to acquire Rivals.com for up to $100 million. The guys running Orangebloods.com are saying it’s not a done deal yet, but it certainly looks like its just a matter of getting the final dollar amount ironed out between the two companies.

You’re reading it here first: Yahoo is close to making its biggest sports acquisition after, well, the Broadcast.com deal: the college sports network Rivals.com, paidContent.org has learned. The price could reach around $100 million, which some we’ve spoken to say is overpriced, and that’s why the traditional sports media buyers are sitting out on this one. One exec involved in online sports acquisitions told us $50-75 million would be more realistic given a model that can—and has been—replicated and described the reaction to what Rivals was asking—$100 million—as “sticker shock.”

For comparison, FIM paid $60 million for Scout Media in September 2005.

The new acquisition would be a boost to Yahoo Sports, which has been looking for ways to catch up to the juggernaut of ESPN.com and the surge from FoxSports.com. It has an already-existing deal with Rivals.com for sharing sports content; Rivals also supplies content to USAToday.com, AOL Sports, SportingNews.com, MSNBC.com and SI.com.

Rivals is an incredible network of websites for college sports fans, and an Orangebloods membership is a must have for any hardcore Longhorn fan. They’ve got great writers at both the national and school level and their recruiting coverage is second to none. It’s probably the best ten bucks I spend every month. Hopefully Yahoo is simply looking to improve their college sports coverage and won’t be changing too much with the sites.

Texas commit D.J. Monroe is Houston Chronicle athlete of the week. The corner ran a blazing 10.5 100-meter dash.

Some impressive video of possible future Longhorn receiver [tag]DeSean Hales[/tag]:

DeSean is a running back/wide receiver for Klein Oak High School and the number four overall prospect in the state of Texas. Texas (finally) offered DeSean when he came to Austin for an unofficial visit last weekend. Hales is down to Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech with the Horns and Sooners believed to be out in front. Wherever he ends up, the kid could be extremely dangerous in the kick return game and as a slot receiver. Just a remarkable athlete and you have to find a way to get the ball in his hands.

Apparently new Texas QB commit [tag]Riley Dodge[/tag] doesn’t just rely on his athleticism or arm strength to win football games, he’s got a secret weapon. And since it helped him out in the state title game, Riley figured he’d use it in his everyday life:

Watch the video on this post if you don’t know the back story. (via)

Texas picked up commitments number thirteen and fourteen for 2008 on Saturday as running back [tag]Tre Newton[/tag] and quarterback/athlete Riley Dodge told Mack Brown they’d be Longhorns. Both players of course have pretty good football bloodlines, Riley is the son of former Longhorn QB and current North Texas coach Todd Dodge and Tre is the son of former Dallas Cowboy Nate Newton. Neither player has ever lost a high school football game.

Newton is a big time running back who has great speed and size, lots of natural ability and big upside as well. Dodge is an athletic QB but might be more likely to end up as either a wide receiver or defensive back as a Longhorn. Both players are on schedule to graduate in December and be on campus in the spring. Video of each is posted below.

Tre Newton’s incredible 74-yard touchdown against Austin Westlake:

Riley Dodge leaves it all on the field in the same game:

Big Red Network is rating Big 12 teams’ recruiting classes and gives Texas high praise.

Name: [tag]Ian Harris[/tag]
Position: Tight end
Ranking:

Hometown: San Antonio, TX
School: Churchill
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 217 lbs

Background

One of the last additions to the 2007 Longhorns recruiting class, Ian Harris is a tight end with a lot of upside. Harris was committed to the Missouri Tigers until January when the Horns went after him hard to replace the decommitted Zack Pianalto (those Springdale guys are really good with that whole commitment thing). Harris is one of three tight ends in this class.

Harris was a U.S. Army All-American and was even named a team captain by his coaches for the game. He was All-District as a sophomore, junior, and a senior and had 19 receptions for 283 yards and four TD’s as one of quarterback Nick Fanuzzi’s favorite targets. Has good upside but will need time to develop and hit the weight room to get bigger.

Immediate Impact

Almost certainly headed for a redshirt season, it is unlikely Harris will contribute on the field for the Longhorns in 2007. He’ll have a year to get acclimated to college life and academics, while gaining the strength and size he’ll need to be a Big 12 tight end.

Future

With the talent the Longhorns have at tight end Harris will not be counted on for big contributions right away. He’ll have a chance to redshirt, then contribute as a second or third tight end behind budding superstar Jermichael Finley. Has great hands and could become great pass catching threat and safety valve for Texas QB’s after Finley is gone. Also a chance he could end up at defensive end if he keeps growing or if the tight end position becomes overcrowded.

Name: [tag]John Chiles[/tag]
Position: Quarterback/Wide Receiver
Ranking:

Hometown: Mansfield, TX
School: Summit
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 195 lbs

Background

Rivals stole John Chiles’ fifth star right after the U.S. Army All-American Bowl when he was injured and at a position he hadn’t played in a year. Scout still has him up there at the top where he belongs. Lightning quick athlete who was recruited as quarterback but could play there or at wide receiver for the Horns, but he the football needs to be in his hands as often as possible

Chiles spent his sophomore and junior seasons at wide receiver for Carrollton Ranchview. As a junior he had 694 yards receiving, tacked on 491 yards on the ground, and had 17 total touchdowns. Senior year as a QB he had 900 yards and 12 TD’s passing and another 700 rushing.

Immediate Impact

John Chiles is certainly not going to be the Longhorns starting quarterback this season but that’s not going to stop him from seeing snaps there this season. Texas fans will be clamoring from day one for Chiles to play a little receiver and to line up at QB in a special package designed for his incredible skills. Chiles and Jamaal Charles in the backfield together running the zone read and the option could be special. Put him in the slot and get him the ball on hitches and reverses. Mix in a reverse pass just to mess with opposing defenses.

Future

The sky’s the limit for Chiles. He’ll start his career at Texas as a quarterback spending enough time practicing as a receiver to get him on the field as early as possible. He’ll get every opportunity to take over at QB after Colt McCoy leaves but even if he fails he’s got a hell of a fall back plan. No way of knowing where he ends up but he’s going to make an impact for the Horns somewhere before he leaves.

Name: [tag]Brandon Collins[/tag]
Position: Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
Ranking:

Hometown: Brenham, TX
School: Brenham
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 167 lbs

Background

Although Brandon Collins isn’t all that highly rated in his position, he was still the 31st ranked player in the State of Texas according to Rivals.com. Brandon is a great athlete, and was a versatile three-sport letterman named second-team 4A all-state by the Texas Sports Writers Association at wide receiver as a senior. Brandon averaged 19.1 yards per reception and a touchdown every 3.4 receptions for his career. Not too shabby.

An interesting fact: Brandon was the ballboy for Brenham as a sophmore when they won the 4A Division II championship. And guess who was a senior on that team? No other than Limas Sweed.

Immediate Impact

I don’t see Brandon Collins seeing that much action right off the bat as a wide receiver. But I do think it is hard to keep someone this athletic off the field. And with Brandon Collins playing a lot of defensive back in high school, who knows, he might just make it in the secondary.

Future

Collins should be able to help Texas on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Not sure he will be a superstar at Texas, but I do see him contributing some good playing time throughout his career.