40 Acres Sports

TexasPreps has great video of Curtis Brown and G.J. Kinne from this season at Gilmer HS.

Name: [tag]Curtis Brown[/tag]
Position: Defensive Back
Ranking:

Hometown: Gilmer, TX
School: Gilmer
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 174 lbs

Background

Curtis Brown is one of the top defensive backs in the nation, ranked 3rd in his position by Scout.com and number 2 by Rivals. The 6-footer from Gilmer was dynamic with the football in his hands as a high school wide receiver but he will at least start his career at Texas as a cornerback.

At Gilmer Brown was a three-year starter who received district and regional accolades as sophomore and junior and national honors as a senior. Named first team all-state by The Associated Press and the Texas Sports Writers Association his senior season.

Immediate Impact

As a spring enrollee, Curtis is already on campus and is wearing Nathan Vasher’s number 3 jersey. The depth chart at corner is wide open after the departures of Aaron Ross and Tarell Brown and Brown’s early start should allow him a shot to crack at least the two-deep. Could at least make an immediate impact as a kick returner if the coaching staff trusts him back there.

Future

He is Texas’ highest rated defensive back in a long time (since Edorian McCullough who was great on my Xbox but not so much in the classroom) and will be expected to be a three-year starter in the defensive backfield. Great frame and has the athleticism to be shut down corner for the Horns.

Pretty impressive video on Takkle.com of new LB commit Emmanuel Acho.

Just like last year the 2008 recruiting season is just a few weeks old and the Longhorns have already bagged nine of the top recruits in the state.

The headliners of the group are possible 5-star wide receiver Dan Buckner out of Allen and offensive lineman David Snow from Gilmer. Buckner is big (6-foot-5) and fast (4.5 forty), he could be the next number 4 out at wide receiver for the Horns. Some have Buckner rated as the top receiver in the country.

I’m also excited about Justin Tucker, a kicker out of Austin Westlake. Tucker is the nation’s top rated kicker and the Horns didn’t let this one get out of their own backyard (see Mason Crosby). Tucker will be a redshirt freshman when Hunter Lawrence is a senior, meaning we’re actually stacking the roster and won’t have to rely on a true freshman walk-on kicker for once.

2008 Commits

• LB [tag]Emmanuel Acho[/tag] – Dallas
• OL [tag]Mark Buchanan[/tag] – Austin
• WR [tag]Dan Buckner[/tag] – Allen
• ATH [tag]Brock Fitzhenry[/tag] – Giddings
• RB [tag]Jeremy Hills[/tag] – Alief
• DB [tag]DJ Monroe[/tag] – Angleton
• RB [tag]Ryan Roberson [/tag]- Brenham
• OL [tag]David Snow[/tag] – Gilmer
• K [tag]Justin Tucker[/tag] – Austin
• DB [tag]Aaron Williams[/tag] – Round Rock

Update: Added Emmanuel Acho to the list as his commitment became official this morning. The 6-foot-2 linebacker out of Dallas St. Mark’s is of course 2007 signee Sam Acho‘s little brother. Check out some great video highlights of Emmanuel.

Name: [tag]Russell Carter[/tag]
Position: Defensive end
Ranking:

Hometown: Houston, TX
School: Westbury
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 230 lbs

Background

Russell Carter was the coaching staff’s top target at the defensive end position. The young man out of Houston is one of the state’s top defensive linemen. Carter possesses the strength to be a force against the run and the speed and quickness needed to rush the passer. Needs work on his pass rushing technique but is already improving.

Carter’s story got a lot more interesting in the final weeks. He committed to the Longhorns way back last March and seemed very solid the entire time, but rumors started swirling right before signing day that he was looking around. There were rumors from good sources of visits to Arizona and Texas Tech, but Russell and his father denied that they took any final visits. No matter what went down, he’s a Longhorn now.

Immediate Impact

Even with Tim Crowder and Brian Robison off to the NFL defensive end is a position stacked at talent. The two-deep on both the strongside and weakside has talent and youth that Carter will have a tough time finding too much playing time this season. Carter is a player that will hopefully redshirt in 2007 to separate him from the guys in the 2006 class and give him extra time

Future

A year to get stronger, faster, and better is going to be a big help to Carter. Some time on the practice field with defensive ends coach Oscar Giles should is going to help even more. Carter has big time upside. Should be a fantastic run-stopping end and pair nicely with Sam Acho on the other side.

Aggies are recruiting toddlers but Mack Brown is sticking with his policy to not offer sophomores.

[tag]Oklahoma[/tag] recruit Donald Stephenson signed on the dotted line Wednesday like most of the nation’s top prospects, but he didn’t sign with his teammates in front of the local paper’s lone reporter and photographer. And he didn’t fax it in from the coaches’ office or get the school secretary’s help in the front office.

Instead Stephenson faxed in his letter of intent from Office Depot because he’s currently suspended from school. Apparently some “bad luck” made him break into cars and steal an iPod, a purse, and some caramel bars with his friends. He never denies he committed the crime in the article.

To top things off he accepts a favor from the Office Depot clerk because he’s an athlete, a clear violation of NCAA rules:

An Office Depot employee named Jeanne lights up when told she’s faxing copies for Oklahoma’s latest recruit. She doesn’t question why Stephenson’s at her counter at 8:58 a.m. instead of at school.

“Voila! Five pages sent,” Jeanne exclaims, then shows Stephenson the confirmation page. “And the fax is on me. You don’t have to pay for it.”

Stephenson flashes his dimpled smile.

“That’s the least I can do,” Jeanne gushes. “We’ve got a celebrity here!”

Stephenson finishes his eventful day of signing with Oklahoma and NCAA violations by flying through a school zone while driving without a license or proof of insurance. I think there’s an opening at Big Red Sports/Imports in Oklahoma City, sounds like we’ve got a top candidate here.

So, how do you assure a potential recruit (Joe McKnight) that possible sanctions against your school won’t be any issue for the program? Well, obviously you just violate another NCAA rule and call a former player (Reggie Bush) to let him clear everything up.

The story is that #1 high school recruit Joe McKnight made some remarks in a press conference that made it sound like he had a conversation with Reggie Bush regarding previous potential USC NCAA violations. Well, this is definitely against the rules, as the NCAA prohibits former players to contact recruits or their family before signing.

Pete Carroll has of course denied that this conversation ever happened. However, not knowing about Carroll’s denial, McKnight’s high school coach J.T. Curtis told reporters in an interview that “Coach Carroll was talking to Reggie on the speakerphone and Joe was able to listen and hear Reggie Bush’s side of the story.” Hmm…

Now McKnight is saying this:

“I was not on the speakerphone. I never called him and he never called me. I want to make it clear I never spoke to Reggie and he never spoke to me. I just messed it up. I shouldn’t have said it that way [at the news conference].”

All-in all it seems like there is just too much ‘saying one thing only to deny it’ for this not to cause some issues down in Southern Cal. With what has happened with USC in the past though, I can’t say that I am all that surprised.

Source

Name: [tag]Tray Allen[/tag]
Position: Offensive guard
Ranking:

Hometown: Grand Prairie, TX
School: South Grand Prairie
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 305 lbs

Background

Tray Allen is the premier recruit in this class. A dominant offensive lineman in the mold of Justin Blalock and probably the most upside of any lineman signed in the last several years by the Longhorns. Can line up at either offensive tackle or guard but is probably more suited to play inside and that’s where his NFL future likely lies. Great in pass protection and a dominant run blocker. Excellent strength and agility (he’s also a basketball player) and already has solid technique.

Allen is Rivals‘ top overall prospect in Texas and their number two offensive guard. Scout has him as their number six player in the country and the top rated guard. A great kid who is excited to be a Longhorn.

Immediate Impact

Allen has the talent to see the field in 2007 but the offensive line is one of the hardest places for true freshman to make a difference. This past season J’Marcus Webb played in eleven games as a backup tackle but Mack Brown would probably prefer to redshirt all linemen. He’s unlikely to earn a starting spot on the line, but guard depth is lacking and if Allen can beat out Chris Hall or Charlie Tanner he could see playing time.

Future

Should be a three year starter up front. A player to build the offense around. If he fulfills his potential he’s the next great UT All-American and top NFL draft pick. Future anchor in the trenches.

Open Letter From Your Recruit on Signing Day. Funniest thing I have read all week. Not for the easily offended.