https://theathletic.com/2707348/202...nvading-the-state/?source=user_shared_article
Article was posted on OB. Takes are in their infancy. Worth your time. Especially if you're a night pooper. Lengthy, this'n is.
Recruiting in Texas is just different. Everyone in the state will make sure that’s known. (Texas isn’t recognized for its modesty, after all.)
Texas’ 12 FBS programs are the most of any state. Nearly every Division I college football program recruits Texas in some form, but each region is different. What works in Houston might not work in West Texas. There are tens of thousands of players across more than 1,400 high schools, so college programs must be strategic. Every year, Texas is at or near the top of the list in producing college and NFL players.
The state is also unique for its power structure. The Texas High School Football Coaches Association is an influential and important group in Texas recruiting that has taken measures to make sure high school coaches remain the point of contact in players’ recruitments.
The state has also seen all kinds of change in recent years. More top high school players are leaving. Many of its Power 5 programs are in a downswing, and the University of Texas has yet another new head coach. Texas A&M’s move to the SEC forever changed the state’s recruiting landscape.
So what is recruiting in Texas really like? The Athletic spoke with a diverse group of 20 high school coaches spanning multiple regions of the state: Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, East Texas, Central Texas, South Texas and West Texas.
Here’s a rundown of the panelists, who were granted anonymity so they could speak candidly:
Coach 1: Head coach in the Houston area (10-plus years experience coaching in Texas)
Coach 2: Head coach in West Texas (15 years)
Coach 3: Head coach in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (20-plus years)
Coach 4: Head coach in East Texas (10-plus years)
Coach 5: Head coach in Central Texas (20-plus years)
Coach 6: Head coach in South Texas (15-plus years)
Coach 7: Head coach in the Houston area (15-plus years)
Coach 8: Head coach in Central Texas (30-plus years)
Coach 9: Head coach in East Texas (20-plus years)
Coach 10: Assistant coach in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (five-plus years)
Coach 11: Head coach in South Texas (20 years)
Coach 12: Head coach in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (10-plus years)
Coach 13: Offensive coordinator in the Houston area (10-plus years)
Coach 14: Head coach in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (20-plus years)
Coach 15: Assistant coach in the Houston area (15-plus years)
Coach 16: Head coach in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (20-plus years)
Coach 17: Head coach in the Houston area (30-plus years)
Coach 18: Former assistant coach in South Texas (five years)
Coach 19: Head coach in the Houston area (25-plus years)
Coach 20: Head coach in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (25-plus years)
Coach 3: I don’t think it’s been very good. Since Gilbert has been there, I think it’s been good. I’ve spoken to Gilbert more than I’ve spoken with any coach on that staff. I’ve only talked to Sark one time. I’ve talked to (special teams coordinator Jeff) Banks one time (since his arrival from Alabama). I called Banks recently about one of my kids, and he called me right back. That’s the fastest I’ve ever seen him call me back. I think they kind of know, and some things got back to them, that they’re not recruiting (my school) like they should be. … I talk to Alabama coaches more than I talk to Texas coaches. Over the last four months, I’ve talked to Nick Saban way more than I’ve talked to Sark. That’s no joke. … But Gilbert has done a great job there.
Coach 4: The big difference is Chris Gilbert. We’ve gotten real close over the years. My relationship with the University of Texas is a little bit different now than it has been in the past. I’ve had probably three conversations with (Sark) now, probably the most conversations I have with any head coach there besides Charlie Strong.
Coach 8: They’ve been very thorough. I’ve been very, very impressed with how professional they’ve been. Coach Sarkisian has reached out to me before anything happened with our players.
Coach 9: The biggest difference is their straight line recruiting. They contact the head coach instead of using some other source. I’ve got some personal relationships with guys on that staff, and it’s been nothing but upfront 100 percent from the day he got the job. The guy called me the day of the national championship game and introduced himself. It tells me a lot about him. He understands the importance of recruiting Texas and doing it right.
Coach 12: They’ve done a great job. They have some real dudes there. I have a strong relationship with Jeff Banks. Sark’s a guy that can really relate with kids and coaches.
Coach 14: He’s all over Twitter, they’ve got a really good presence and voice on there. Chris Gilbert, I know him and feel like we have a way to talk to Texas now. When Tom Herman was there, it was more standoffish. I don’t know Sarkisian personally, but he’s been everywhere.
Coach 16: Hustle. Straight hustle. Very impressive. Came in, got red hot in a hurry and stayed that way.
Coach 19: I haven’t heard much. I’ve only heard from one coach and that was in regards to one of my players who was there. That’s the only dialogue I’ve had with anybody from the new staff at Texas.
Coach 2: (One of) the first things Jimbo ever did was meet with a 7-on-7 coach (in December 2017), so that kinda bothered a few people. But when he came by our school, he was nice, he was cool. He didn’t have that arrogance to him that he was too good for us. He was fine.
Coach 3: Top-notch. They’re going to know everything about the kids. … Great line of communication. … I feel very comfortable with the A&M staff. I can pick up the phone right now and they’re going to get back with me ASAP. They have walked out of (staff) meetings to talk to me.
Coach 9: I know he had the hiccup the first month on the job, but he figured out the lay of the land and the importance of Texas high school coaches. Jimbo and his staff are doing an excellent job. They’re doing things differently, they’re doing new things like changing the photo shoots for recruits and being open to all that.
Coach 10: They’re still trying to recruit more nationally. To be honest, they’ve been hard to get a hold of. They haven’t been as solid on the communication aspect as you’d like.
Can Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M become the first Texas program to take part in the College Football Playoff in 2021? (Joel Auerbach / Getty Images)
Coach 12: (Offensive coordinator and former longtime North Texas head coach) Darrell Dickey is a guy I’ve stayed in touch with for a long time. They do their homework. They dive deep into a kid and what he’s about as a football player. They do a great job of finding out if a kid really loves football, or if he’s about everything else. “Is this kid gonna last for us? Is he ate up with the game of football?”
Coach 14: He’s done a great job recruiting the state, bringing guys like Darrell Dickey, who have a lot of respect. He’s done a good job but they always feel like they’re in the shadow. Even though they’re in the SEC, it always seems like they’re kind of hidden. I think their attention is more on Houston than North Texas.
Coach 17: I have mixed feelings, because in the initial go, they were tied to Fast Houston 7-on-7 and all of that, but I think they have improved the relationship each year with the high school coaches by reaching out to them and talking to them. (Defensive coordinator Mike) Elko has our area, so he’s made sure to be in contact, even through COVID.
Coach 19: Phenomenal. They’ve been doing a great job of getting guys and creating a big buzz of trying to build a national power.
Coach 20: They’ve done a really good job of recruiting Texas and trying to really hone in on Houston, which is their closest big city. They’re attacking the DFW area too, East Texas. There’s enough talent in this great state to win it all if we can keep them home, whether it’s A&M or Texas or whoever.
Coach 3: How responsive they are. With A&M, it doesn’t feel like I’m being used. It doesn’t feel like, “Well, I’m only talking to them through the recruiting process and when we get our kid, we’re done talking to them.” There’s nothing like that. It’s a relationship.
Coach 4: Texas has always been open with us and East Texas. It all started when Charlie Strong hired (former Gilmer High coach) Jeff Traylor. That opened up the door. As far as Texas, recruiting East Texas, unless you were a big-time recruit, they really didn’t come down this way to try to find out what we really had. Now they have Chris Gilbert who can get into every high school in the state of Texas, that has changed. I’ve always been connected to Texas coaches, had a real good connection with the A&M coaches when (Kevin) Sumlin was there. It really just depends on the people that are there and how personable they are.
Coach 6: When assistants roll over a bunch, you develop some inconsistency in relationships. I think Texas A&M has probably done a little bit better job of keeping the staff together. That’s helped them.
Coach 16: (Texas A&M defensive ends coach) Terry (Price) is aces. I can’t speak for everybody, but a phone call from Terry Price may be more about barbecue or an onside kick than recruiting. He’s the guy that keeps that going in the right direction. As far as a full-blown staff effort to recruit elite talent, it’s not close, Texas is way ahead of them.
Coach 2: Texas Tech. … I know they haven’t gotten the results that they’d like to get, but they’ve done a pretty solid job.
Coach 3: Baylor. (Outside linebackers coach) Joey McGuire gets it because he used to be a Texas high school coach. And Rice. Mike Bloomgren and his assistants do a fantastic job. I’ve been really impressed with Rice.
Coach 4: Hands down, I have to say right now it’s UTSA. … Wherever Jeff (Traylor) has been, he’s always been connected to the high school coaches, because he was a high school coach himself. …When you can relate to every coach in this state, you’ve got an opportunity to get their kids.
Coach 6: TCU and SMU do a great job of recruiting our area. There’s definitely been a consistent relationship with those guys.
Coach 7: Baylor has done a great job. … It helps to have McGuire, (associate athletic director of football relations David) Wetzel and (quarterbacks coach Shawn) Bell. They get it. They’re not too far removed (from being Texas high school coaches).
Coach 9: TCU would be atop my list. They evaluate kids. They don’t look at stars. They signed players from our school in the past who weren’t highly rated and made the NFL because they got developed. Nobody beats Gary Patterson when it comes to that.
Coach 13: You don’t have to worry about TCU coming back and saying, “Oh, we’re going in a different direction.” If they offered you, they want you until they fill up. They don’t over-offer.
Coach 16: The Joey McGuire factor at Baylor and (special teams coordinator) Kenny Perry factor at SMU. The guys that are former high school coaches in this state, they kill it. UTSA is doing a great job (under head coach) Jeff Traylor.
Coach 19: UTSA and Houston with their sincere interest and aggressiveness. UH is not hesitating on offering guys they’re interested in and neither is UTSA.
Coach 20: Texas Tech has done a really good job … reaching out and being informative.
Coach 2: I dislike most of them because the majority of those guys are users. But I will say (Matt) Wells at Texas Tech is pretty genuine. When I got a new job, he was one of the first people that called me, like 7 a.m. He’s had an open door for me.
Coach 3: By far, Jimbo Fisher. I think Jimbo does an outstanding job when it comes to recruiting and getting to know the kids.
Coach 4: Jeff Traylor, because I have a good relationship with him. Besides him, probably Matt Wells. I got to know him when he was at Utah State.
Coach 7: Coach Wells at Texas Tech. He’ll shoot me straight, and I think he’s trying to do things the right way. He feels like a really genuine guy.
Coach 8: (SMU coach) Sonny Dykes. We have a longstanding relationship. He’s honest. His dealings with our players have been very forthcoming.
Coach 9: Gary Patterson is hard to beat. He’s been there 20-something years, done it right, had highs and lows. His staff, how they’ve treated kids, they’re at the top of my list.
Gary Patterson is entering his 21st season as TCU’s head coach. (Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images)
Coach 10: Sonny Dykes. It always comes back to the relationship piece. He’s probably the one I feel the most comfortable with.
Coach 11: Jeff Traylor. He’s one of us. And he knows how to build relationships.
Coach 13: Gary Patterson is a straight shooter, I think he’s honest and I think his staff echoes his sentiments. There’s no sugarcoating and beating around the bush.
Coach 14: Dave Aranda. I’ve been to Baylor practices, there’s a connection with David Wetzel. He’s been very forthcoming. The second would be David Bailiff at (Texas A&M) Commerce.
Coach 15: Jimbo. We have a long history, and I respect him. We’ve built that relationship over the years.
Coach 16: Sonny (Dykes). Followed closely by (North Texas coach) Seth Littrell. They’re genuine. Sonny is a real guy.
Coach 19: Gary Patterson. He takes time out to sit back and talk, not just football, but as a person. He’s talked to me several times just in the middle of the street. I’ve had some head coaches at some Texas schools that I’ve tried to meet ‘em, and they just kept walking. I’d say Patterson, I trust the most, and Jimbo Fisher a close second.
Coach 20: Matt Wells at Texas Tech. I think he’s genuine. I think he really is trying to build something there and not looking for a stepping stone. I know his back’s against the wall and all that. … He’s having to do more of a quick fix with portal and juco guys because he is on the hot seat, but I like him a lot.
Coach 3: Gary Patterson. I’ve had my kids come back and tell me the things that Gary Patterson has said about (my school) and our kids. I’ve heard more bad than good from my players that have gone there.
Coach 4: Probably (Houston coach Dana) Holgorsen. I don’t like all the decisions he’s been making with the kids in Texas. I don’t agree with the situation with (quarterback) D’Eriq King and how he handled that. … The wide receiver coach he had (Tyron Carrier), coached him, brought him from West Virginia, had a great relationship with every kid, but he let him go. I don’t agree with letting good coaches go when they’re not causing any ruckus.
Coach 7: I’d probably say Sark, because I don’t know him. I know all the others, but I don’t know him yet.
Coach 8: Jimbo Fisher. He hasn’t really communicated with us.
Coach 10: Jimbo Fisher. There’s no relationship there, and I don’t know that they’re worried about building those relationships unless you have a dude they want.
Coach 13: I would’ve said (Tom) Herman before he got fired. Recruiting with Herman was just a show. He wanted to keep ‘em, hoard ‘em and keep you from playing against him and then make you sit out a year when you got ready to leave.
Coach 15: Dana Holgorsen. You just don’t really see him. We’ve had guys that get recruited by everybody else but don’t have a UH offer. You’re like, “How in the world?”
Coach 17: I have a lot of questions about both (Sarkisian) and (Fisher). Those two seem like they’re above the high school coaches.
Coach 19: The guy at Texas State (Jake Spavital). I look at how many guys they’ve taken out of the portal, they didn’t recruit any high school kids. It’s hard to get them to respond when you’re trying to (inform them about) a kid that has some offers that may be interested in them. You send ‘em text messages about a kid, and the only response you’ll get is a, “Thank you.”
Coach 20: Jimbo. I don’t think he’s a relationship guy at all. … He’s more of a hot shot. I don’t trust him at all. I don’t think he’s real, and I don’t think he’s honest.
Coach 2: It matters a lot because the SEC is putting people in the NFL. Those kids are looking on draft day and seeing what conferences are putting kids in the league.
Coach 5: Completely. Most of the time, our kids tend to choose the bigger splash offer instead of what could be a better fit for them. Anybody that’s a good player coming up that says, “If I get this Group of 5 offer, I’m gonna be so fired up,” I can’t remember a kid saying that. But Group of 5 sends people to the NFL every year. Same with FCS. We want to make sure we’re not in the dream-crushing business, but I don’t want to pass up opportunities because if you get an offer for an FBS or FCS school and you blow them off, there’s no guarantee a bigger school is going to offer.
Coach 7: It’s huge, and I think that’s why A&M has swung the pendulum, because of the perceived power of the SEC. Who wouldn’t want to play in the SEC?
Coach 8: Minimal. I don’t think that conversation ever came up with our players who are committed.
Coach 10: With them expanding the College Football Playoff, this is going to be the class that benefits from that. The Group of 5 schools will now have a chance to get some of these kids because they’ll have a chance to win their conference and play in the Playoff when it gets expanded.
Coach 2: Texas A&M going to the SEC has made the nation smaller. LSU started hitting pretty hard, Alabama started hitting harder. Guys have always gone out of state but it seemed like when (A&M to the SEC) happened, the floodgates opened. And people are hiring guys with Texas ties.
Coach 3: It’s about who’s putting the most guys in the NFL.
Coach 4: This is going to sound crazy, but I’m going to tell you one reason — besides Alabama, they’re the exception — but it’s uniforms. I’m telling you. Kids love the different combination of uniforms. Now don’t get me wrong, they want to win and have an opportunity to play in the NFL, but … that’s one thing that always comes up, the combination of uniforms.
Coach 6: Kids are looking at the Playoff system and there aren’t any Texas schools in it. They’re looking at national championship opportunities and NFL opportunities. I think it’s going to continue to happen until we get some guys in the College Football Playoff.
Coach 8: Because the University of Texas hasn’t been winning the way it should be. When the flagship is down, they start crossing the borders.
Coach 10: Texas schools for the most part do not do a great job of getting on Texas kids early. They feel like they always have a chance at them because they’re in-state and there’s such a pride in Texas. “We could offer him, but he’s a Texas kid and he’ll want to go to a Texas school, so let’s hold off and let’s start working on these out-of-state kids more.”
Coach 17: Kids want to play for a national championship and the in-state schools haven’t done that. Texas was the last one, but they’ve made multiple coaching changes since they were at that level. Jimbo Fisher may be turning the corner based on how they played this past year.
Coach 18: You look at the NFL Draft, they had 30-plus Texas high school kids get drafted. Of that 30-plus, more than 50 percent went out of state. I think the Texas market is saturated. There’s so much talent in Texas. They’re going to go to the state schools first. When those spots fill up, they’ll trickle out of state.
Coach 19: A lot of out-of-state schools don’t hesitate to offer. After seven, eight, nine, 10 schools have offered, then some of these Texas schools come and offer. By then, to a young man or a coach, it’s like, “I told you about this kid well before these out-of-state coaches, but you’re showing interest after these out-of-state schools did.”
Coach 2: Right now it’s Kansas. (Wide receivers coach) Emmett Jones is the real deal.
Coach 3: Alabama does a hell of a job. There was a stretch where I was talking to Nick Saban at least once a week or once every other week. I think Ohio State does a heck of a job. Missouri does a great job with (running backs coach Curtis) Luper there. Oregon does a tremendous job, too. (Mario) Cristobal is one of the nicest coaches I’ve met in my entire life. He does a fantastic job of getting guys on campus and opening the door to high school coaches.
Coach 6: (Minnesota tight ends coach) Clay Patterson, who was a (junior college) coach in Texas, does a good job of recruiting Texas. Ohio State is obviously stealing players left and right out of Texas. Shane Beamer, I know he’s at (South Carolina) now, but he was a hell of a recruiter here in Texas (while he was at Oklahoma), him and (Sooners’ defensive line coach) Calvin Thibodeaux. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State do a good job of taking kids out of Texas. New Mexico and New Mexico State usually find some good kids. And I think the service academies do a good job.
Coach 7: Oklahoma. They do a great job of forming relationships with the kids. They have the Jordan Brand, the rings, the success and obviously, have a lot of successful Texas kids on the roster.
Coach 12: Kansas State and OU do a great job.
Coach 14: Oklahoma. Everybody loves what Oklahoma does up there. It’s closer, the parents can see the games. The coach there is young, innovative, seems to really put out the message that he cares about kids. He’s — how do I say this — he hasn’t been like (Clemson coach) Dabo (Swinney). I couldn’t get enough of Dabo, now I get too much. Lincoln (Riley) is kind of in the shadows. He’s not a (Barry) Switzer. He’s like a little mad scientist that seems to be grounded.
Oklahoma and Lincoln Riley have won six straight Big 12 titles with rosters loaded with Texas standouts. (Tim Heitman / USA Today)
Coach 15: Alabama and LSU. A lot of kids, especially in the Houston area, have Louisiana ties. Either they were born there or their parents were born there and moved to Houston. There’s a lot of Louisiana blood in the Houston area and in the Dallas area, too. LSU has a huge alumni base in both cities. Alabama is just dominant.
Coach 16: Navy does a great job. Alabama. Ohio State’s gonna be a factor if we have a player. Alabama’s a factor even when we don’t.
Coach 17: Utah has done a great job over the years in the last 20 years. They’re getting the two- and three-star kids and doing well. Morgan Scalley has had this state for a long time.
Coach 18: The service academies. They don’t have restrictions other schools have. They can throw out offers like crazy and don’t have a limit on their class. It allows them to be effective in Texas. They get a lot of guys that should go FCS or slip through the cracks. But they can go there and don’t pay for school. Emmett Jones at Kansas does a great job. (Inside linebackers coach) Mark Smith at Colorado has been killing it. He’s gotten so many dang commits from DFW because he’s a former Texas high school coach.
Coach 19: Arkansas. (Wide receivers coach) Kenny Guiton is phenomenal. Tulsa has also done a great job. Aaron Fletcher, who is gone to Mizzou now, was really good at Tulsa.
Coach 2: (Offensive line coach) Brandon Jones at Houston is good. (Secondary coach) Derek Jones at Texas Tech has been really good. And I’ve always liked Sonny Cumbie (now offensive coordinator at Tech). I think he’s made horrible decisions when it comes to recruiting quarterbacks, but he’s always been a guy that will contact you back and be legitimate with you.
Coach 3: McGuire. He’s a dude. Samples has done a really good job at SMU. Terry Price at A&M, he’s a beast. And (safeties coach Jess) Loepp at UTSA does a really good job.
Coach 4: Probably (safeties coach) Trey Haverty at SMU. He’s a really good guy. He’s always been open and honest when recruiting my kids. (Defensive tackles coach JaMarkus) McFarland at (Stephen F. Austin), good dude. (Outside receivers coach) Malcolm Kelly (at TCU) for sure. To see him skyrocket the way he did has been impressive.
Coach 5: (Defensive coordinator) Chad Glasgow at TCU has always done a great job. He’s been there for a long time.
Coach 8: McGuire. There’s a trust there. I can pick up the phone, let him know about a kid I think they need to recruit. Within 72 hours, we’ll get back, one way or another: “We really like him,” or “He’s not a fit for us.” On the flip side, he values our evaluation — not that he needs it.
Coach 9: Nobody’s been better to deal with than (offensive line coach) Jarrett Anderson at TCU. I’ve known him 20-something years. Joey McGuire, I have a long relationship with him. … I’ve also developed a good relationship with the guys at A&M, Darrell Dickey and (offensive line coach) Josh Henson.
Coach 11: McGuire and (UTSA quarterbacks coach) Will Stein. During the shutdown last year, Will Stein took time and shared some things via Zoom with our program that we’re using today.
Coach 12: I’m a big fan of (tight ends/inside receivers coach) Luke Wells at Texas Tech. He’s a great connector.
Coach 13: (Safeties coach) Paul Gonzales at TCU. His communication and transparency is top-notch. I can shoot him a highlight tape, pick his brain and get a response or, “let me shoot this to the receivers coach.”
Coach 14: Haverty does a great job in DFW. He builds relationships. Trey knows everything about your school when he walks in. He knows everything about the area. He’s a genuine guy.
Coach 15: Jeff Banks … did a good job of pulling guys in when he was at Alabama. Now that he’s at Texas, they’ve got a little momentum being a new staff and everything.
Coach 17: Shawn Bell does a great job at Baylor. He’s really good about making contact and staying up, asking questions.
Coach 20: (Offensive coordinator) Jeff Grimes at Baylor. He’s a really good human and loves kids, and he’ll be honest even if he thinks it’s gonna knock him out of a kid’s recruitment. … Really good X’s and O’s guy.
Coach 4: Not really evaluating kids that coaches promote. … Selling those kids is more important than selling the big-time kid, but when they come in, they only want to see (the big-time kid). Well, you may not get that kid, but you’ve gotta listen to the coaches and evaluate the kids they push. … Then a Tennessee or Oregon offers, and then Texas and A&M jump in. That’s the same kid we were telling you about, and now you want to talk to him because someone else offered him?
Coach 7: Not valuing the influence of a high school coach over a third party. … Some guys have way bigger egos than me. I’ve never told a coach that he can’t recruit my school. These guys over here think they control the shit like that. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. “I never want you to come to my school to recruit.” Seriously?
Coach 14: Something they should all do is go to the clinics everybody has. Being more personal. We’ve gotten into a digital world where it’s all emails and texts. But actually understanding we coaches have that Santa Claus syndrome. We all can’t wait to meet Santa. Sarkisian’s here, I want to shake his hand. … (Assistants used to come by even when) we didn’t have a player they were recruiting and we sat around and talked football for I don’t know how long.
Coach 16: Rushing the process. “I got this list of schools, and I need to hit 12 on Tuesday.” When (former receivers coach) David Beaty was at A&M, he never got off the I-20 corridor. He just camped out here.
Coach 18: The biggest mistake you see is they don’t talk to the high school coaches before they offer. … It’s the biggest no-no you can do. It’s a slap in the face, to be honest.
Coach 3: I would allow head coaches on the road to recruit more. As much as the head coaches want to see the players in front of them, I would love to see the head coaches in front of me, in my environment. … The coach can see the kids up close, get to see them in their environment as well. You don’t have to bring them on campus 24/7.
Coach 4: The ability for kids to sign when they commit. There’s no signing day. I want to go to Oregon, so I’m going to Oregon. That gives everyone else the chance to recruit another kid because they were battling with Oregon.
Coach 7: There are certain periods where if a coach comes on campus, they can’t talk to a kid. Why not? That’s the dumbest thing ever. That’s like giving them a bagel but not letting them use butter.
Coach 9: One is this early signing bullshit. Make them sign in February. It would allow kids to take their visits and not be rushed during the season. Moving visits up to April has helped, but if we have an early signing, maybe before the season, not in the middle of the high school season.
Coach 12: I wish it would slow down. I’ve seen kids get offers that haven’t played a down on a Friday night, which is nuts.
Coach 13: Make sure that offers are legit. Some use the term “committable” and “non-committable” offers. If we could go back to how it used to be: “We’re honoring this scholarship offer until we fill up,” I’m OK with that.
Coach 15: The uncommittable offer. You’ll see top programs offer 200-300 kids. We try to tell our kids, “they can only take 25.”
Coach 16: Early signing day. You get ready to play a regional final, and a kid’s hosting three home visits the week of the game. It’s not right. There’s something magical about high school football, fighting for your town, fighting for the kids you went to school with since kindergarten. Now I’m being told if I don’t commit on the early signing day, I’m going to be working at the dollar store, so I have to rush and get these visits.
Article was posted on OB. Takes are in their infancy. Worth your time. Especially if you're a night pooper. Lengthy, this'n is.
Recruiting in Texas is just different. Everyone in the state will make sure that’s known. (Texas isn’t recognized for its modesty, after all.)
Texas’ 12 FBS programs are the most of any state. Nearly every Division I college football program recruits Texas in some form, but each region is different. What works in Houston might not work in West Texas. There are tens of thousands of players across more than 1,400 high schools, so college programs must be strategic. Every year, Texas is at or near the top of the list in producing college and NFL players.
The state is also unique for its power structure. The Texas High School Football Coaches Association is an influential and important group in Texas recruiting that has taken measures to make sure high school coaches remain the point of contact in players’ recruitments.
The state has also seen all kinds of change in recent years. More top high school players are leaving. Many of its Power 5 programs are in a downswing, and the University of Texas has yet another new head coach. Texas A&M’s move to the SEC forever changed the state’s recruiting landscape.
So what is recruiting in Texas really like? The Athletic spoke with a diverse group of 20 high school coaches spanning multiple regions of the state: Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, East Texas, Central Texas, South Texas and West Texas.
Here’s a rundown of the panelists, who were granted anonymity so they could speak candidly:
Coach 1: Head coach in the Houston area (10-plus years experience coaching in Texas)
Coach 2: Head coach in West Texas (15 years)
Coach 3: Head coach in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (20-plus years)
Coach 4: Head coach in East Texas (10-plus years)
Coach 5: Head coach in Central Texas (20-plus years)
Coach 6: Head coach in South Texas (15-plus years)
Coach 7: Head coach in the Houston area (15-plus years)
Coach 8: Head coach in Central Texas (30-plus years)
Coach 9: Head coach in East Texas (20-plus years)
Coach 10: Assistant coach in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (five-plus years)
Coach 11: Head coach in South Texas (20 years)
Coach 12: Head coach in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (10-plus years)
Coach 13: Offensive coordinator in the Houston area (10-plus years)
Coach 14: Head coach in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (20-plus years)
Coach 15: Assistant coach in the Houston area (15-plus years)
Coach 16: Head coach in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (20-plus years)
Coach 17: Head coach in the Houston area (30-plus years)
Coach 18: Former assistant coach in South Texas (five years)
Coach 19: Head coach in the Houston area (25-plus years)
Coach 20: Head coach in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (25-plus years)
How has Steve Sarkisian’s staff recruited your school since taking over at Texas and how has it been different, if at all, from the previous staff?
Coach 2: (Quarterbacks) coach (AJ) Milwee recruited our school, and he is a pretty nice guy. He is probably a little more friendly than the last quarterbacks coach. There’s a little arrogance in the last staff. I think the new staff is going to do a better job. Hiring (former Lancaster High) coach (Chris) Gilbert (as director of high school relations) was a home-run hire. He’s going to be able to bridge the gap, especially on that (Interstate) 20 corridor, where you’ve got to have somebody really good.Coach 3: I don’t think it’s been very good. Since Gilbert has been there, I think it’s been good. I’ve spoken to Gilbert more than I’ve spoken with any coach on that staff. I’ve only talked to Sark one time. I’ve talked to (special teams coordinator Jeff) Banks one time (since his arrival from Alabama). I called Banks recently about one of my kids, and he called me right back. That’s the fastest I’ve ever seen him call me back. I think they kind of know, and some things got back to them, that they’re not recruiting (my school) like they should be. … I talk to Alabama coaches more than I talk to Texas coaches. Over the last four months, I’ve talked to Nick Saban way more than I’ve talked to Sark. That’s no joke. … But Gilbert has done a great job there.
Coach 4: The big difference is Chris Gilbert. We’ve gotten real close over the years. My relationship with the University of Texas is a little bit different now than it has been in the past. I’ve had probably three conversations with (Sark) now, probably the most conversations I have with any head coach there besides Charlie Strong.
Coach 8: They’ve been very thorough. I’ve been very, very impressed with how professional they’ve been. Coach Sarkisian has reached out to me before anything happened with our players.
Coach 9: The biggest difference is their straight line recruiting. They contact the head coach instead of using some other source. I’ve got some personal relationships with guys on that staff, and it’s been nothing but upfront 100 percent from the day he got the job. The guy called me the day of the national championship game and introduced himself. It tells me a lot about him. He understands the importance of recruiting Texas and doing it right.
Coach 12: They’ve done a great job. They have some real dudes there. I have a strong relationship with Jeff Banks. Sark’s a guy that can really relate with kids and coaches.
Coach 14: He’s all over Twitter, they’ve got a really good presence and voice on there. Chris Gilbert, I know him and feel like we have a way to talk to Texas now. When Tom Herman was there, it was more standoffish. I don’t know Sarkisian personally, but he’s been everywhere.
Coach 16: Hustle. Straight hustle. Very impressive. Came in, got red hot in a hurry and stayed that way.
Coach 19: I haven’t heard much. I’ve only heard from one coach and that was in regards to one of my players who was there. That’s the only dialogue I’ve had with anybody from the new staff at Texas.
What have been your impressions of how Jimbo Fisher and his staff recruit the state of Texas since arriving at Texas A&M?
Coach 1: The thing I like about him and I see them having success with is, if you’re not about ball, you’re not going to last. When he came in there, he changed the culture a lot. It’s more of a blue collar-type culture. … They have gotten a lot of five-star kids in Texas, but I don’t think they go after every five-star kid. I think they’re very particular.Coach 2: (One of) the first things Jimbo ever did was meet with a 7-on-7 coach (in December 2017), so that kinda bothered a few people. But when he came by our school, he was nice, he was cool. He didn’t have that arrogance to him that he was too good for us. He was fine.
Coach 3: Top-notch. They’re going to know everything about the kids. … Great line of communication. … I feel very comfortable with the A&M staff. I can pick up the phone right now and they’re going to get back with me ASAP. They have walked out of (staff) meetings to talk to me.
Coach 9: I know he had the hiccup the first month on the job, but he figured out the lay of the land and the importance of Texas high school coaches. Jimbo and his staff are doing an excellent job. They’re doing things differently, they’re doing new things like changing the photo shoots for recruits and being open to all that.
Coach 10: They’re still trying to recruit more nationally. To be honest, they’ve been hard to get a hold of. They haven’t been as solid on the communication aspect as you’d like.
Can Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M become the first Texas program to take part in the College Football Playoff in 2021? (Joel Auerbach / Getty Images)
Coach 12: (Offensive coordinator and former longtime North Texas head coach) Darrell Dickey is a guy I’ve stayed in touch with for a long time. They do their homework. They dive deep into a kid and what he’s about as a football player. They do a great job of finding out if a kid really loves football, or if he’s about everything else. “Is this kid gonna last for us? Is he ate up with the game of football?”
Coach 14: He’s done a great job recruiting the state, bringing guys like Darrell Dickey, who have a lot of respect. He’s done a good job but they always feel like they’re in the shadow. Even though they’re in the SEC, it always seems like they’re kind of hidden. I think their attention is more on Houston than North Texas.
Coach 17: I have mixed feelings, because in the initial go, they were tied to Fast Houston 7-on-7 and all of that, but I think they have improved the relationship each year with the high school coaches by reaching out to them and talking to them. (Defensive coordinator Mike) Elko has our area, so he’s made sure to be in contact, even through COVID.
Coach 19: Phenomenal. They’ve been doing a great job of getting guys and creating a big buzz of trying to build a national power.
Coach 20: They’ve done a really good job of recruiting Texas and trying to really hone in on Houston, which is their closest big city. They’re attacking the DFW area too, East Texas. There’s enough talent in this great state to win it all if we can keep them home, whether it’s A&M or Texas or whoever.
What is the biggest difference between Texas and Texas A&M in how they recruit your players?
Coach 2: With the new staff at Texas, I don’t know that there’s a huge difference (between A&M and Texas). With the last staff, there was an arrogance. When Tom Herman came in the office, I gave him a prospect sheet and he sat down and he’s got his legs crossed like he’s running stuff. Then he leaves and the same prospect sheet is still sitting there. He just left it there, didn’t even take it with him. Stuff like that pissed me off.Coach 3: How responsive they are. With A&M, it doesn’t feel like I’m being used. It doesn’t feel like, “Well, I’m only talking to them through the recruiting process and when we get our kid, we’re done talking to them.” There’s nothing like that. It’s a relationship.
Coach 4: Texas has always been open with us and East Texas. It all started when Charlie Strong hired (former Gilmer High coach) Jeff Traylor. That opened up the door. As far as Texas, recruiting East Texas, unless you were a big-time recruit, they really didn’t come down this way to try to find out what we really had. Now they have Chris Gilbert who can get into every high school in the state of Texas, that has changed. I’ve always been connected to Texas coaches, had a real good connection with the A&M coaches when (Kevin) Sumlin was there. It really just depends on the people that are there and how personable they are.
Coach 6: When assistants roll over a bunch, you develop some inconsistency in relationships. I think Texas A&M has probably done a little bit better job of keeping the staff together. That’s helped them.
Coach 16: (Texas A&M defensive ends coach) Terry (Price) is aces. I can’t speak for everybody, but a phone call from Terry Price may be more about barbecue or an onside kick than recruiting. He’s the guy that keeps that going in the right direction. As far as a full-blown staff effort to recruit elite talent, it’s not close, Texas is way ahead of them.
Which in-state school aside from Texas and Texas A&M does the best job of recruiting your players or the state of Texas?
Coach 1: (SMU running backs coach) Ra’Shaad Samples is great. Some big school is going to come after him. They’ve done a great job. … SMU is beating Big 12 teams for (Dallas) guys.Coach 2: Texas Tech. … I know they haven’t gotten the results that they’d like to get, but they’ve done a pretty solid job.
Coach 3: Baylor. (Outside linebackers coach) Joey McGuire gets it because he used to be a Texas high school coach. And Rice. Mike Bloomgren and his assistants do a fantastic job. I’ve been really impressed with Rice.
Coach 4: Hands down, I have to say right now it’s UTSA. … Wherever Jeff (Traylor) has been, he’s always been connected to the high school coaches, because he was a high school coach himself. …When you can relate to every coach in this state, you’ve got an opportunity to get their kids.
Coach 6: TCU and SMU do a great job of recruiting our area. There’s definitely been a consistent relationship with those guys.
Coach 7: Baylor has done a great job. … It helps to have McGuire, (associate athletic director of football relations David) Wetzel and (quarterbacks coach Shawn) Bell. They get it. They’re not too far removed (from being Texas high school coaches).
Coach 9: TCU would be atop my list. They evaluate kids. They don’t look at stars. They signed players from our school in the past who weren’t highly rated and made the NFL because they got developed. Nobody beats Gary Patterson when it comes to that.
Coach 13: You don’t have to worry about TCU coming back and saying, “Oh, we’re going in a different direction.” If they offered you, they want you until they fill up. They don’t over-offer.
Coach 16: The Joey McGuire factor at Baylor and (special teams coordinator) Kenny Perry factor at SMU. The guys that are former high school coaches in this state, they kill it. UTSA is doing a great job (under head coach) Jeff Traylor.
Coach 19: UTSA and Houston with their sincere interest and aggressiveness. UH is not hesitating on offering guys they’re interested in and neither is UTSA.
Coach 20: Texas Tech has done a really good job … reaching out and being informative.
Which college head coach in Texas do you trust the most?
Coach 1: (Baylor coach) Dave Aranda. Not just for what he’s done on the field, but the kind of person off the field that he is. I haven’t found a coach yet that’s worked with him that has said one bad thing about him.Coach 2: I dislike most of them because the majority of those guys are users. But I will say (Matt) Wells at Texas Tech is pretty genuine. When I got a new job, he was one of the first people that called me, like 7 a.m. He’s had an open door for me.
Coach 3: By far, Jimbo Fisher. I think Jimbo does an outstanding job when it comes to recruiting and getting to know the kids.
Coach 4: Jeff Traylor, because I have a good relationship with him. Besides him, probably Matt Wells. I got to know him when he was at Utah State.
Coach 7: Coach Wells at Texas Tech. He’ll shoot me straight, and I think he’s trying to do things the right way. He feels like a really genuine guy.
Coach 8: (SMU coach) Sonny Dykes. We have a longstanding relationship. He’s honest. His dealings with our players have been very forthcoming.
Coach 9: Gary Patterson is hard to beat. He’s been there 20-something years, done it right, had highs and lows. His staff, how they’ve treated kids, they’re at the top of my list.
Gary Patterson is entering his 21st season as TCU’s head coach. (Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images)
Coach 10: Sonny Dykes. It always comes back to the relationship piece. He’s probably the one I feel the most comfortable with.
Coach 11: Jeff Traylor. He’s one of us. And he knows how to build relationships.
Coach 13: Gary Patterson is a straight shooter, I think he’s honest and I think his staff echoes his sentiments. There’s no sugarcoating and beating around the bush.
Coach 14: Dave Aranda. I’ve been to Baylor practices, there’s a connection with David Wetzel. He’s been very forthcoming. The second would be David Bailiff at (Texas A&M) Commerce.
Coach 15: Jimbo. We have a long history, and I respect him. We’ve built that relationship over the years.
Coach 16: Sonny (Dykes). Followed closely by (North Texas coach) Seth Littrell. They’re genuine. Sonny is a real guy.
Coach 19: Gary Patterson. He takes time out to sit back and talk, not just football, but as a person. He’s talked to me several times just in the middle of the street. I’ve had some head coaches at some Texas schools that I’ve tried to meet ‘em, and they just kept walking. I’d say Patterson, I trust the most, and Jimbo Fisher a close second.
Coach 20: Matt Wells at Texas Tech. I think he’s genuine. I think he really is trying to build something there and not looking for a stepping stone. I know his back’s against the wall and all that. … He’s having to do more of a quick fix with portal and juco guys because he is on the hot seat, but I like him a lot.
Which college head coach in Texas do you trust the least?
Coach 1: Matt Wells. … I know some kids that have left that program and when I asked what happened, they said when he came in, he kinda crapped on the previous regime’s group of guys. There’s a way to come in and change things but you don’t have to do it by talking bad about the previous regime. … I hate that I feel that way, because I thought he was real bright and I liked everything he was saying when I met him.Coach 3: Gary Patterson. I’ve had my kids come back and tell me the things that Gary Patterson has said about (my school) and our kids. I’ve heard more bad than good from my players that have gone there.
Coach 4: Probably (Houston coach Dana) Holgorsen. I don’t like all the decisions he’s been making with the kids in Texas. I don’t agree with the situation with (quarterback) D’Eriq King and how he handled that. … The wide receiver coach he had (Tyron Carrier), coached him, brought him from West Virginia, had a great relationship with every kid, but he let him go. I don’t agree with letting good coaches go when they’re not causing any ruckus.
Coach 7: I’d probably say Sark, because I don’t know him. I know all the others, but I don’t know him yet.
Coach 8: Jimbo Fisher. He hasn’t really communicated with us.
Coach 10: Jimbo Fisher. There’s no relationship there, and I don’t know that they’re worried about building those relationships unless you have a dude they want.
Coach 13: I would’ve said (Tom) Herman before he got fired. Recruiting with Herman was just a show. He wanted to keep ‘em, hoard ‘em and keep you from playing against him and then make you sit out a year when you got ready to leave.
Coach 15: Dana Holgorsen. You just don’t really see him. We’ve had guys that get recruited by everybody else but don’t have a UH offer. You’re like, “How in the world?”
Coach 17: I have a lot of questions about both (Sarkisian) and (Fisher). Those two seem like they’re above the high school coaches.
Coach 19: The guy at Texas State (Jake Spavital). I look at how many guys they’ve taken out of the portal, they didn’t recruit any high school kids. It’s hard to get them to respond when you’re trying to (inform them about) a kid that has some offers that may be interested in them. You send ‘em text messages about a kid, and the only response you’ll get is a, “Thank you.”
Coach 20: Jimbo. I don’t think he’s a relationship guy at all. … He’s more of a hot shot. I don’t trust him at all. I don’t think he’s real, and I don’t think he’s honest.
How much does conference affiliation matter in a recruitment?
Coach 1: When you talk about the SEC, I think it’s big. When you talk about your four-star and five-star kids, and I have a choice to go between the SEC and the Big Ten, they’re going to choose the SEC. Same with the Big 12 vs. the SEC. I think the Big 12 has been hurt the last couple of years on the number of kids who have been drafted.Coach 2: It matters a lot because the SEC is putting people in the NFL. Those kids are looking on draft day and seeing what conferences are putting kids in the league.
Coach 5: Completely. Most of the time, our kids tend to choose the bigger splash offer instead of what could be a better fit for them. Anybody that’s a good player coming up that says, “If I get this Group of 5 offer, I’m gonna be so fired up,” I can’t remember a kid saying that. But Group of 5 sends people to the NFL every year. Same with FCS. We want to make sure we’re not in the dream-crushing business, but I don’t want to pass up opportunities because if you get an offer for an FBS or FCS school and you blow them off, there’s no guarantee a bigger school is going to offer.
Coach 7: It’s huge, and I think that’s why A&M has swung the pendulum, because of the perceived power of the SEC. Who wouldn’t want to play in the SEC?
Coach 8: Minimal. I don’t think that conversation ever came up with our players who are committed.
Coach 10: With them expanding the College Football Playoff, this is going to be the class that benefits from that. The Group of 5 schools will now have a chance to get some of these kids because they’ll have a chance to win their conference and play in the Playoff when it gets expanded.
Why are more top recruits choosing out-of-state schools than they were 10-15 years ago?
Coach 1: Social media. It’s not just the state of Texas. More Florida kids are leaving Florida. More Louisiana kids are leaving Louisiana. With social media and the internet, kids are more aware and they feel more connected with schools from out-of-state, so it’s not a big mystery. Kids know just as much of what goes on in Stillwater, Oklahoma, as their home state because they can get online.Coach 2: Texas A&M going to the SEC has made the nation smaller. LSU started hitting pretty hard, Alabama started hitting harder. Guys have always gone out of state but it seemed like when (A&M to the SEC) happened, the floodgates opened. And people are hiring guys with Texas ties.
Coach 3: It’s about who’s putting the most guys in the NFL.
Coach 4: This is going to sound crazy, but I’m going to tell you one reason — besides Alabama, they’re the exception — but it’s uniforms. I’m telling you. Kids love the different combination of uniforms. Now don’t get me wrong, they want to win and have an opportunity to play in the NFL, but … that’s one thing that always comes up, the combination of uniforms.
Coach 6: Kids are looking at the Playoff system and there aren’t any Texas schools in it. They’re looking at national championship opportunities and NFL opportunities. I think it’s going to continue to happen until we get some guys in the College Football Playoff.
Coach 8: Because the University of Texas hasn’t been winning the way it should be. When the flagship is down, they start crossing the borders.
Coach 10: Texas schools for the most part do not do a great job of getting on Texas kids early. They feel like they always have a chance at them because they’re in-state and there’s such a pride in Texas. “We could offer him, but he’s a Texas kid and he’ll want to go to a Texas school, so let’s hold off and let’s start working on these out-of-state kids more.”
Coach 17: Kids want to play for a national championship and the in-state schools haven’t done that. Texas was the last one, but they’ve made multiple coaching changes since they were at that level. Jimbo Fisher may be turning the corner based on how they played this past year.
Coach 18: You look at the NFL Draft, they had 30-plus Texas high school kids get drafted. Of that 30-plus, more than 50 percent went out of state. I think the Texas market is saturated. There’s so much talent in Texas. They’re going to go to the state schools first. When those spots fill up, they’ll trickle out of state.
Coach 19: A lot of out-of-state schools don’t hesitate to offer. After seven, eight, nine, 10 schools have offered, then some of these Texas schools come and offer. By then, to a young man or a coach, it’s like, “I told you about this kid well before these out-of-state coaches, but you’re showing interest after these out-of-state schools did.”
Which out-of-state schools do the best job of recruiting your players or the state of Texas?
Coach 1: Utah. I think (defensive coordinator) Morgan Scalley does a better job of recruiting Texas than any other out-of-state assistant. He’s done it for over 10 years. He finds guys early.Coach 2: Right now it’s Kansas. (Wide receivers coach) Emmett Jones is the real deal.
Coach 3: Alabama does a hell of a job. There was a stretch where I was talking to Nick Saban at least once a week or once every other week. I think Ohio State does a heck of a job. Missouri does a great job with (running backs coach Curtis) Luper there. Oregon does a tremendous job, too. (Mario) Cristobal is one of the nicest coaches I’ve met in my entire life. He does a fantastic job of getting guys on campus and opening the door to high school coaches.
Coach 6: (Minnesota tight ends coach) Clay Patterson, who was a (junior college) coach in Texas, does a good job of recruiting Texas. Ohio State is obviously stealing players left and right out of Texas. Shane Beamer, I know he’s at (South Carolina) now, but he was a hell of a recruiter here in Texas (while he was at Oklahoma), him and (Sooners’ defensive line coach) Calvin Thibodeaux. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State do a good job of taking kids out of Texas. New Mexico and New Mexico State usually find some good kids. And I think the service academies do a good job.
Coach 7: Oklahoma. They do a great job of forming relationships with the kids. They have the Jordan Brand, the rings, the success and obviously, have a lot of successful Texas kids on the roster.
Coach 12: Kansas State and OU do a great job.
Coach 14: Oklahoma. Everybody loves what Oklahoma does up there. It’s closer, the parents can see the games. The coach there is young, innovative, seems to really put out the message that he cares about kids. He’s — how do I say this — he hasn’t been like (Clemson coach) Dabo (Swinney). I couldn’t get enough of Dabo, now I get too much. Lincoln (Riley) is kind of in the shadows. He’s not a (Barry) Switzer. He’s like a little mad scientist that seems to be grounded.
Oklahoma and Lincoln Riley have won six straight Big 12 titles with rosters loaded with Texas standouts. (Tim Heitman / USA Today)
Coach 15: Alabama and LSU. A lot of kids, especially in the Houston area, have Louisiana ties. Either they were born there or their parents were born there and moved to Houston. There’s a lot of Louisiana blood in the Houston area and in the Dallas area, too. LSU has a huge alumni base in both cities. Alabama is just dominant.
Coach 16: Navy does a great job. Alabama. Ohio State’s gonna be a factor if we have a player. Alabama’s a factor even when we don’t.
Coach 17: Utah has done a great job over the years in the last 20 years. They’re getting the two- and three-star kids and doing well. Morgan Scalley has had this state for a long time.
Coach 18: The service academies. They don’t have restrictions other schools have. They can throw out offers like crazy and don’t have a limit on their class. It allows them to be effective in Texas. They get a lot of guys that should go FCS or slip through the cracks. But they can go there and don’t pay for school. Emmett Jones at Kansas does a great job. (Inside linebackers coach) Mark Smith at Colorado has been killing it. He’s gotten so many dang commits from DFW because he’s a former Texas high school coach.
Coach 19: Arkansas. (Wide receivers coach) Kenny Guiton is phenomenal. Tulsa has also done a great job. Aaron Fletcher, who is gone to Mizzou now, was really good at Tulsa.
Which assistant(s) in the state has impressed you the most?
Coach 1: Samples. He is somebody who has separated himself because he hasn’t been afraid to go out and compete with the bigger schools at getting a kid at SMU. … The charisma that he has with the kids, him being himself.Coach 2: (Offensive line coach) Brandon Jones at Houston is good. (Secondary coach) Derek Jones at Texas Tech has been really good. And I’ve always liked Sonny Cumbie (now offensive coordinator at Tech). I think he’s made horrible decisions when it comes to recruiting quarterbacks, but he’s always been a guy that will contact you back and be legitimate with you.
Coach 3: McGuire. He’s a dude. Samples has done a really good job at SMU. Terry Price at A&M, he’s a beast. And (safeties coach Jess) Loepp at UTSA does a really good job.
Coach 4: Probably (safeties coach) Trey Haverty at SMU. He’s a really good guy. He’s always been open and honest when recruiting my kids. (Defensive tackles coach JaMarkus) McFarland at (Stephen F. Austin), good dude. (Outside receivers coach) Malcolm Kelly (at TCU) for sure. To see him skyrocket the way he did has been impressive.
Coach 5: (Defensive coordinator) Chad Glasgow at TCU has always done a great job. He’s been there for a long time.
Coach 8: McGuire. There’s a trust there. I can pick up the phone, let him know about a kid I think they need to recruit. Within 72 hours, we’ll get back, one way or another: “We really like him,” or “He’s not a fit for us.” On the flip side, he values our evaluation — not that he needs it.
Coach 9: Nobody’s been better to deal with than (offensive line coach) Jarrett Anderson at TCU. I’ve known him 20-something years. Joey McGuire, I have a long relationship with him. … I’ve also developed a good relationship with the guys at A&M, Darrell Dickey and (offensive line coach) Josh Henson.
Coach 11: McGuire and (UTSA quarterbacks coach) Will Stein. During the shutdown last year, Will Stein took time and shared some things via Zoom with our program that we’re using today.
Coach 12: I’m a big fan of (tight ends/inside receivers coach) Luke Wells at Texas Tech. He’s a great connector.
Coach 13: (Safeties coach) Paul Gonzales at TCU. His communication and transparency is top-notch. I can shoot him a highlight tape, pick his brain and get a response or, “let me shoot this to the receivers coach.”
Coach 14: Haverty does a great job in DFW. He builds relationships. Trey knows everything about your school when he walks in. He knows everything about the area. He’s a genuine guy.
Coach 15: Jeff Banks … did a good job of pulling guys in when he was at Alabama. Now that he’s at Texas, they’ve got a little momentum being a new staff and everything.
Coach 17: Shawn Bell does a great job at Baylor. He’s really good about making contact and staying up, asking questions.
Coach 20: (Offensive coordinator) Jeff Grimes at Baylor. He’s a really good human and loves kids, and he’ll be honest even if he thinks it’s gonna knock him out of a kid’s recruitment. … Really good X’s and O’s guy.
What mistakes do new head coaches or assistant coaches make when they begin recruiting in Texas?
Coach 2: Being arrogant. Texas high school coaches are arrogant too. I can say it. We feel pretty highly of ourselves; we feel like we can outcoach most of those guys anyway. But I think they come in and don’t try to get to know the people and the lay of the land. Some coaches act like they know it all and aren’t willing to listen.Coach 4: Not really evaluating kids that coaches promote. … Selling those kids is more important than selling the big-time kid, but when they come in, they only want to see (the big-time kid). Well, you may not get that kid, but you’ve gotta listen to the coaches and evaluate the kids they push. … Then a Tennessee or Oregon offers, and then Texas and A&M jump in. That’s the same kid we were telling you about, and now you want to talk to him because someone else offered him?
Coach 7: Not valuing the influence of a high school coach over a third party. … Some guys have way bigger egos than me. I’ve never told a coach that he can’t recruit my school. These guys over here think they control the shit like that. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. “I never want you to come to my school to recruit.” Seriously?
Coach 14: Something they should all do is go to the clinics everybody has. Being more personal. We’ve gotten into a digital world where it’s all emails and texts. But actually understanding we coaches have that Santa Claus syndrome. We all can’t wait to meet Santa. Sarkisian’s here, I want to shake his hand. … (Assistants used to come by even when) we didn’t have a player they were recruiting and we sat around and talked football for I don’t know how long.
Coach 16: Rushing the process. “I got this list of schools, and I need to hit 12 on Tuesday.” When (former receivers coach) David Beaty was at A&M, he never got off the I-20 corridor. He just camped out here.
Coach 18: The biggest mistake you see is they don’t talk to the high school coaches before they offer. … It’s the biggest no-no you can do. It’s a slap in the face, to be honest.
If you could change one thing about the recruiting process, what would it be?
Coach 1: I would go back to one signing day. I know coaches like it, but it’s affecting kids on the bubble. Mid-tier schools don’t want to offer kids because they’re waiting for the early signing period to see who didn’t sign so that they can offer. It puts a lot of pressure on bubble kids because nobody’s talked to them until after the early signing period, then it’s a mad rush from December to February and you want them to make a decision.Coach 3: I would allow head coaches on the road to recruit more. As much as the head coaches want to see the players in front of them, I would love to see the head coaches in front of me, in my environment. … The coach can see the kids up close, get to see them in their environment as well. You don’t have to bring them on campus 24/7.
Coach 4: The ability for kids to sign when they commit. There’s no signing day. I want to go to Oregon, so I’m going to Oregon. That gives everyone else the chance to recruit another kid because they were battling with Oregon.
Coach 7: There are certain periods where if a coach comes on campus, they can’t talk to a kid. Why not? That’s the dumbest thing ever. That’s like giving them a bagel but not letting them use butter.
Coach 9: One is this early signing bullshit. Make them sign in February. It would allow kids to take their visits and not be rushed during the season. Moving visits up to April has helped, but if we have an early signing, maybe before the season, not in the middle of the high school season.
Coach 12: I wish it would slow down. I’ve seen kids get offers that haven’t played a down on a Friday night, which is nuts.
Coach 13: Make sure that offers are legit. Some use the term “committable” and “non-committable” offers. If we could go back to how it used to be: “We’re honoring this scholarship offer until we fill up,” I’m OK with that.
Coach 15: The uncommittable offer. You’ll see top programs offer 200-300 kids. We try to tell our kids, “they can only take 25.”
Coach 16: Early signing day. You get ready to play a regional final, and a kid’s hosting three home visits the week of the game. It’s not right. There’s something magical about high school football, fighting for your town, fighting for the kids you went to school with since kindergarten. Now I’m being told if I don’t commit on the early signing day, I’m going to be working at the dollar store, so I have to rush and get these visits.
