Signing Day Flips Bolster Strong’s First Full Recruiting Class | Horns Illustrated

With National Signing Day behind them, coaches can sit back for a moment and assess the success of their recruiting efforts.

While addressing the media Wednesday afternoon, Texas coach Charlie Strong said the mentality his staff brings to recruiting – especially when going after high-profile recruits who wait until the last minute – must be an unwillingness to take no for an answer.

“Until the paperwork comes in,” he said.

That attitude paid off big for Texas.  [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]Strong felt good heading into the week that his class would rank as one of the best in the Big XII, if not the country. As the final days unfolded, despite three coveted prospects signing elsewhere, Longhorns coaches and fans can call the recruiting season a success thanks in large part to recruits who came on board later in the process.

NSD week, if you will, began Monday with 4-star quarterback Kai Locksley’s announcement via Twitter that he flipped his commitment from Florida State to Texas. As Katherine Dunn reported for the Baltimore Sun, Locksley said Texas’ promise to give him a chance to challenge for the starting quarterback job as a freshman swayed his decision.

Locksley’s commitment gave Texas a much-needed quarterback in the fold prior to signing day after Kyler Murray honored his commitment to Texas A&M and Zach Gentry flipped to Michigan.

After a quiet Tuesday, Texas got more good news beginning early Wednesday morning, flipping two players committed elsewhere, including one who hadn’t given Texas much public thought. P.J. Locke, a 3-star safety from Beaumont, had been committed to Oregon. Even as late as Monday evening, Locke affirmed his commitment to the Ducks, according to the Beaumont Enterprise. But Texas made a late push, and when Locke made his announcement at 9 a.m., he didn’t say Oregon, as Jason Selby reported for fishduck.com.

As signing day progressed, Texas continued to get good news that filled some key areas.

A 4-star receiver/returner Ryan Newsome of Aledo capped a roller-coaster week that saw him reverse fields twice, finally committing to the Longhorns after committing to UCLA, reports the Dallas Morning News. Like it or not, Strong detailed Newsome’s decision-making week Wednesday afternoon in his press conference (scroll to the 7:35 mark).

The last bit of big, though not unexpected news, came when 4-star Rockwall running back Chris Warren gave the Longhorns a high-profile running back, committing to Texas over Washington, as Daniel Seahorn reported for Sports Illustrated. The only drama came whenWarren appeared to make his choice after a coin flip. His high school coach denied the flip made the decision.

Texas already had commitments from running backs 3-stars Kirk Johnson and Tristian Houston but still wanted a big name back. Warren, rated sixth nationally among running backs, fits the bill at 6-foot-2, 239 pounds with the ability to break tackles and break away.

The rest of signing day went according to plan. Texas didn’t land 5-star running back Soso Jamabo (UCLA), 5-star defensive tackle Daylon Mack (Texas A&M) or 5-star receiver DaMarckus Lodge (Ole Miss). Still, Strong’s staff’s work to compile the 28-player class is a testament to the tenacity the coach hopes his team displays on the field as soon as possible, according to the Dallas Morning News.

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