Strong’s ‘never-say-die’ attitude pushes Texas to Big 12’s top-ranked recruiting class

By Steve Habel/Senior Editor

AUSTIN – If there’s one thing that’s become readily obvious about the first 14 months of Charlie Strong’s coaching regime at the University of Texas it’s that he is tenacious and unwavering in his attempt to bring the pride (and some victories) back to Longhorns football.

The most recent exhibition of that dogged attitude was produced Wednesday with the signing of Texas’ Class of 2015, 28 members strong (pun acknowledged) and hungry to heed their coach’s call to success and for renewed attitude on the 40 Acres.

The collective group was ranked [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]as high as the eighth in the country (by ESPN) and as low as 12th (Rivals.com). Strong praised not only his coaching staff, but also the current players and the campus community for helping produce what is considered one of the top recruiting classes in the nation.

“Our guys did a great job of selling this program, of just getting them out, getting them around town, letting them see the city,” Strong said. “On Saturdays some of our professors here gave up their day to come out and talk about academics and just really talk up this program. Everyone joined in knowing what we had to get accomplished during the recruiting season.”

It’s clear that with this class, stocked with blue-chip players and one of the nation’s most sought-after linebackers, the Longhorns have the talent to make strides back into the consciousness of college football.

The Longhorns stayed within the state of Texas for 18 recruits and had five from the state of Florida. There was also one each from California, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi and New York.

“We know this – the state of Texas will always be our home ground,” Strong said. “We will always build it from this state. We will always know this, I don’t mind going outside the state to get in a battle. That’s what recruiting is all about. We knew we were not going to back down.”

Nine players who were committed to other schools earlier in the recruiting process changed their minds and ultimately signed with Texas. Six of those players decided to come to the 40 Acres in the last week before signing day, a stout indication of Strong’s “never-quit” mentality toward recruiting. From 2006-’11, former Texas coach Mack Brown and his staff persuaded only four players to switch as Brown vocally railed against that tack in recruiting.

Offensive line (six), defensive back (five) and linebacker (five) were positions that will have the most incoming players. Texas also signed three wide receivers, three running backs, three defensive linemen and one tight end, one quarterback and a player considered at athlete.

Six of the players – including 5-star linebacker Malik Jefferson from Mesquite Poteet – have already enrolled in classes and will participate in spring drills for the Longhorns.

With the loss of 11 offensive and defensive starters from last season’s team, Texas was looking for players who can come in and potentially make an immediate impact. Wednesday’s successful recruiting haul should be considered a major step toward that goal.

This was Strong’s second signing class at Texas but the first that really carried his fingerprint.

“You look at the second year as being the foundation class for you,” Strong said. “We got some outstanding players. Our coaching staff took it personal because some people said they couldn’t recruit and they were losing all these guys. Remember, signing day is the first Wednesday in February. It’s good early to get momentum, but you have to sustain it, you have to carry it late.”

Strong said he delivered a simple message to the players he recruited.

“When I go into a house, I talk about our mission,” he said. “Our mission, No. 1, is to see the young man graduate. No. 2, we need to go win football games. I told them the standard here is never to go lose seven games. The third thing is about making them a better person.

“I talk about the core values all the time because I know that’s how a lot of them are raised,” Strong added. “I tell them that they have a chance to walk into the best program in the country, but to put their handprint on it and watch it change and be a part of that change.”

Now comes the really hard part – getting the players to come together as a cohesive team and to play with the passion and determination that Strong and his staff (and the Longhorns’ fans) demand. That mission will begin with spring drills in March.

[/s2If] [s2If !current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)] [article-offer] [/s2If]