Austin American-Statesman from Austin, Texas • C3

Page 3 CM AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 C3 SPORTS LONGHORNS RECRUITING Katy defensive tackle to sign with Horns he blows the staff away in preseason practices. Ojomo becomes another Houston-area prospect to follow coach Tom Herman to Texas. The Longhorns have plundered the area in the 2018 cycle, likely a result of Herman's established relationships from his time as the head coach at Houston. Scheme-wise, Ojomo is a perfect fit for Orlando. He can play multiple positions along the line, and Texas values versatility in its defensive linemen.

Texas closed well at tackle after failing to sign a single prospect during the early signing period. Ojomo would pair well with Coburn. Both are big, hard-nosed players with athleticism and versatility. Yet their skills are different enough that they can eventually play together for Texas. Size, versatility fit coordinator's vision for Texas linemen.

By Mike Craven mcravenstatesman.com An official visit to Texas sealed the deal for Katy defensive tackle Moro Ojomo, who became the Longhorns' 26th commitment for the 2018 recruiting class Tuesday, on the eve of national signing day. Ojomo, who intends to sign on Wednesday, emerged as a top target late in the recruiting cycle after turning in a terrific senior season. The 3-star tackle was named his district's defensive MVP and watched offers roll in starting with Texas on Dec. 6. He took his official visit to Texas on Jan.

26. Ojomo would pair with Spring West-field's Keondre Coburn as UT's only defensive tackles for the cycle if Coburn signs Wednesday. Ojomo is just beginning to scratch the surface as a prospect. The 6-foot-3, 280-pounder is only 16 years old. He's still growing, and that makes his upside appealing.

Ojomo could easily grow an inch or two and add 30-40 pounds before stepping on the field. Ojomo is a three-technique tackle, excelling when he's allowed to battle guards and avoid double teams. He's strong at the point of attack, but his best attribute is his ability to run up and down the line of scrimmage. Ojomo is surprisingly athletic for a prospect his size. He's pegged to play the position that Chris Nelson occupies, with Coburn more of a nose tackle like Poona Ford.

Ojomo can play tackle in a 4-3 or as an end in an odd-man front like the one often employed by UT defensive coordinator Todd Orlando. Add in Ojomo's poten Katy's Moro Ojomo (left), a 3-star prospect, was his district's defensive MVP as a senior. He projects asaredshirtforthe2018 season, ignacio Rodriguez the katy times like to redshirt. If he reaches the field, it'll be on a limited basis to provide depth unless 2018 class. Still, Ojomo is likely a project whom Texas would WHO'STEXASGETTING? The Longhorns' class is 26 players heading into national signing December.

Texas' class is ranked No. 3 nationally by 247Sports' in parentheses reflect recruits'star ratings. tial for growth and he's the type of prospect who could blossom into the steal of the tackles who signed with the Contact Mike Craven at mcravenstatesman.com. day 1 9 of whom signed in composite ratings. Numbers ESPN2).

Louisiana ILB Andrew Parker (9 a.m.) is an Arkansas commit whom Texas is trying to flip. Will Texas land atop-3 class? Probably. It's unlikely that Texas ranked No. 3 heading into Wednesday catches Ohio State or Georgia but it's also unlikely anyone else catches the Horns. That includes Penn State, Alabama or Clemson, though Clemson could make a late run.

UTalso needs to hold on to its committed but unsigned recruits. Who'll win the Big 12? Texas. Oklahoma will come in second. And nationally? Entering Wednesday, it's No. 1 Ohio State, No.

2 Georgia, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Penn State and No. 5 Miami. TEXAS' PAST FIVE CLASSES Year Coach Nation Big 1 2 2013 MackBrown 17th 2nd 2014 Charlie Strong 1 6th 2nd 2015 Charlie Strong 1 Oth 1 st 2016 Charlie Strong 7th 1st 2017 TomHerman 25th 2nd Byron Hobbs (3), Fort Worth Eastern Hills (signed) Cornerbacks (3) Jalen Green (4), Houston Heights (signed) Anthony Cook (4), Houston Lamar (signed) D'shawn Jamison (4), Houston Lamar (signed) Safeties (3) Caden Sterns Steele (signed) BJ Foster (5), Angleton (signed) DeMarvion Overshown (4), Arp (signed) Athletes 1 Michael Williams (3), Baton Rouge (La.) Dunham (committed) SPECIALTEAMS Kickers 1 Cameron Dicker, Lake Travis (signed) Punters 1 Ryan Bujcevski (3), ProKick Australia (signed) SIGNING DAY STORYLINES Whom does UT still want? The big get would be Conroe Oak Ridge DL Joseph Ossai (1 1 a.m.).SchertzClemens WRTommy Bush will choose Texas or Baylor (11:15, Raf iti Ghirmai of Frisco Wakeland was one of four offensive Longhorns in December, mikecravenamerican-statesman OFFENSE Quarterbacks 2 Cameron Rising (4), Newbury Park, Calif, (signed) Casey Thompson (4), Newcastle, Okla.

(signed) Running backs (1 Keaontay Ingram (4), Carthage (committed) Wide receivers (3 Brennan Eagles (4), Alief Taylor (signed) AI'vonteWoodard (4), Houston Lamar (signed) Joshua Moore (4), Yoakum (committed) Tight ends(l Malcolm Epps (4), Spring Dekaney (signed) Offensive tackles 5 Junior Angilau (4), Salt Lake City East (signed) Reese Moore (4), Seminole (signed) Rafiti Ghirmai (4), Frisco Wakeland (signed) MikeyGrandy (3), College of San Mateo (signed) Christian Jones (3), Houston Cypress Woods (committed) Offensive guards None Centers None DEFENSE Defensive ends 1 Daniel Carson (3), Independence (Mo.) Chrisman (committed) Defensive tackles 2 Keondre Coburn (4), Spring Westfield (committed) Moro Ojomo (3), Katy (committed) Inside linebackers 1 AyodeleAdeoye (4), Houston Lamar (signed) Outside linebackers 1 Angleton safety BJ Foster is among several elite prospects the Longhorns have signed for thei secondary, mike craven American-statesman eeify times yaw need it. Enjoy more access to your kitchen with custom pull-out shelves for your existing cabinets. Recruiting continued from CI field's Keondre Coburn, the nation's llth-ranked defensive tackle, makes it official. Coburn committed to UT last August but did not sign in December. He's been more guarded and took an official visit to Miami.

But with senior Poona Ford leaving, there's a wide-open space in the middle of the Texas defensive line. In both cases, Longhorns coaches were content to wait. Frankly, they had no choice. "We're never going to offer a kid and tell him he can't say yes," UT coach Tom Herman said in December. "If we offer you a scholarship at the University of Texas, you have the right to say the word yes before we even finish the sentence." The Horns were chasing other last-minute additions.

Linebacker Andrew Parker was committed to Arkansas but visited UT last weekend. Defensive lineman Joseph Ossai may ultimately decide between Texas and Moro Ojomo, a 16-year-old defensive tackle from Katy, got a flurry of late offers, including one from Alabama. He turns 17 in August. He said Tuesday evening he would sign with Texas. "Texas is going to ultimately, I think, determine who's going to be the No.

1 class," ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill said. "Let's just say if Texas were to land half, or maybe more than half of the guys left on their board to fill some of those slots, they're the one team that I think could make the surprising big leap from No. 3 to No. 1. "But I do think, if that doesn't happen, if everything doesn't go perfectly for Texas, Ohio State and Georgia would be the two teams jockeying for No.

1," Luginbill added. If nothing else, Herman has given Texas a tremendous lift on the recruiting trail heading into his second season. Former coach Char- 'Texas is going to ultimately, I think, determine who's going to be the No. 1 Tom Luginbill ESPN recruiting analyst lie Strong, who was hired a month before signing day in 2014, had to cobble together a class that ranked 17th nationally. He had to fight off whispers that he "couldn't connect" with the Texas high school coaches.

The next year, the Longhorns' class ranked 10th. It was full of future starters. Herman's first class last season ranked 25th overall, according to the 247Sports composite. That was partly due to the Horns' having three straight losing seasons. Herman pieced together the class as best he could but started working immediately on 2018 recruits.

Whether the Longhorns finish first, second or third on Wednesday, it will mark a tremendous jump and fuel the notion that UT is headed in the right direction. Herman's first season ended with a victory over Missouri in the Texas Bowl. Texas finished 7-6 for its first winning season since 2013. This class has the potential to become one of the best defensive groups in UT history. It's chock full of elite secondary players, led by 5-star safeties Caden Sterns and BJ Foster.

Cornerbacks Jalen Green and Anthony Cook also could compete for playing time early. Overall, the Longhorns could sign 11 of the state's top 15 players, if Coburn jumps on board. Only three of those are pledged to new Texas coach Jimbo Fisher. When Herman arrived at UT, he said he couldn't believe how many of the state's elite players were leaving the state. They weren't goingto UT, Texas Tech or TCU.

They were leaving the state altogether. This year, Herman's is getting a heap of Texans to wear burnt orange. "They didn't have too many players going to Texas," Ingram said. "But we all see what the situation is, and you can tell that we're all on the same page. If not, we'd all be somewhere else.

Hopefully we can get something clicking." Contact Brian Davis at 512-445-3957. Twitter: BDavisAAS Shelf EVERYTHING WITHIN REACH" 'Limit one offer per household. Applies to purchases of 5 or more Classic or Designer Glide-Out" shelves. Expires 3312018. Lifetime warranty valid for Classic or Designer Solutions..