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4-star EDGE Colton Vasek flips to Texas from Oklahoma

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•11/08/22•

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Colton Vasek (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

2023 Austin (Texas) Westlake EDGE Colton Vasek originally wanted to get away from home and play for the hometown school’s biggest rival. On Tuesday, Vasek changed his mind and decided to play for the school right down the road. Vasek, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound defensive end, committed to Texas after a previous commitment to Oklahoma.

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Vasek committed to the Sooners on August 1 but made several visits to Texas since that decision, including a trip for the Iowa State game with Texas commit Arch Manning in town.

Vasek, rated as a four-star EDGE by On3, played on two of the three recent Westlake state championship teams. During the 2021 season Vasek and current Longhorn EDGE Ethan Burke provided a stiff challenge for opposing offensive lines. Vasek recorded 56 tackles with 10 sacks and 14 quarterback hurries during the 2021 season, and was named the defensive MVP of the 2021 6A Div. I state championship game.

This year, Vasek has 45 tackles with 11.0 sacks and 16 hurries through 10 games. He also has one fumble recovery.

His father, Brian Vasek, played football for Texas in the mid-1990s. The Vaseks took official visits to his five finalists over the course of June, with the Texas trip on June 14 sandwiched between visits to Oklahoma and Oregon. Texas Tech and Clemson also received visits.

Vasek is the No. 137 prospect, the No. 21 EDGE, and No. 26 prospect in the state of Texas according to the On3 Consensus. On3 ranks Vasek as the No. 143 prospect, the No. 20 EDGE, and the No. 28 prospect in the state of Texas.

How he fits at Texas:

Vasek has a number of attributes which translate to good play at defensive end or EDGE. He’s long and powerful at 6-foot-5 with some good throwing numbers in track and field, and the frame to add a lot of additional strength. What’s more, as the son of a defensive line coach and former defensive lineman for the University of Texas, he’s well schooled in how to use his hands in the pass-rush to keep offensive tackles off him. This is then paired with quick feet and a fantastic motor. So he’s long, good at using his hands, and powerful up top with quick feet and a strong motor. Such a player can be a menace to opposing passing games with constant pressure at a quarterback and opposing run game. He could play either EDGE spot for Texas, it’ll depend on how big and strong he gets but I suspect Jack would be his eventual destination. – Ian Boyd 

Coach Says:

Strengths — Impressive long athlete with long arms. Extremely quick off the ball, frequently beating top-level opponents to the inside gap. Tremendous motor. Translates power from lower body very efficiently. Shows a good amount of balance at high speed and with change of direction. Good short area quickness. Takes on pullers with good technique and looks fundamentally sound in space. Deceivingly good ability to slip blocks. Sets the edge decisively. Shows speed-to-power, push-pull, and an impressive spin move as part of a nuanced pass rush repertoire. Closes quickly on the ball and frequently delivers good power on contact. 

Areas for Improvement / Concerns — Might need to add significant bulk depending on where they want him to play. Don’t know that his straight-line speed will allow him to run anyone down, but that’s probably a minor concern.

Vasek is the 21st commit in Texas’ 2023 class.

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