5 Texas commits with an eye toward early playing time

The Texas season is 8 games in, meaning we have a pretty good idea what personnel gaps the staff will need to address over the offseason.

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The staff currently has the No. 7 class committed based on the On3 Consensus. Recruiting classes and rankings will always matter but we also have to remember the role portal recruiting will play in roster management. As IT has reported on numerous occasions, Texas will look to use valuable “draft” capital to bolster defensive needs during the two portal windows this offseason.

Those free agents will be important, but many of the “draft picks” from the signed recruiting class will also have the opportunity to make an immediate impact. Here are the five with the quickest path to the field, whether based on need, ability, or a combination of the two.

Johntay Cook, WR, DeSoto (Texas)

Texas will have talent at wide receiver but also a number of questions. Most importantly, will Isaiah Neyor regain the movement skills he had before his August injury? That question could linger.

Cook will be an early enrollee and is already a good route runner. As far as freshman go, he should be advanced. Another positive aspect, he profiles to being able to play any wide receiver position.

Texas will be seeking reliability from the position, especially given the expected loss of Jordan Whittington, but Cook should be ahead of the curve compared to most young receivers.

Looking at the roster, we still expect Texas to address receiver needs through the portal.

Sydir Mitchell, DT, Oradell (N.J) Bergen Catholic

It’s possible, if not likely, Texas will lose each of T’Vondre Sweat, Keondre Coburn, and Moro Ojomo. While there are some upperclassmen who will be ready to take on bigger roles to help mitigate those losses, and some underclassmen ready for snaps, Texas will be thin at the position compared to this season.

There’s a line of thinking that goes, the closer you line up to the ball the harder it is to play early. That makes sense, outside of running back, but Mitchell should survive on size and movement skills while he adds strength and technique.

Mitchell is an early enrollee, and young for his grade, however he has an unteachable combination of size and agility. I believe he’ll be a rapid responder to strength and conditioning and will be ready to log much-needed snaps as a true freshman. Perhaps 20 a game.

Like receiver, we expect a defensive tackle to be added through the portal or perhaps Juco ranks.

Cedric Baxter, RB, Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater

The On3 five-star is a great scheme fit for Steve Sarkisian’s offense. He’s a hit it and get it, north-south runner with speed and power. He’s already pretty physically mature.

Last week Baxter said he may take more school visits as a football fan. Then last night it was revealed he’ll take an official visit to Florida State. It’s recruiting, so you have to always remain cognizant of the possibility of a flip, but there’s no point in worrying about this one yet.

Texas makes a lot of sense for Baxter, not just from the scheme standpoint mentioned above, but timing. Texas is losing a lot of carries next year and there’s opportunity for an elite talent to come in and earn some, just like a different freshman Cedric B. years ago.

Malik Muhammad, CB, Dallas (Texas) South Oak Cliff

Texas does have young defensive backs ready to compete to replace D’Shawn Jamison, but Muhammad will have the best pure corner traits on campus the day he arrives. He’s also mature, and plays with physical intent. He’ll need to get stronger and learn the defense, which goes without saying, but he’s yet another early enrollee who will get a great jump on his development.

A hypothetical that ran through my mind on Saturday. Oklahoma State wide receiver Stephon Johnson made some plays. I wondered if the former Lancaster athlete (played there as a junior before transferring to DeSoto) would make those same plays on the high school field if Muhammad was on him. I’m not so sure, and neither is WilliamsDavid.

There’s a case to be made some of UT’s young corners would make better safeties. Muhammad might allow for a player or two to find his proper fit.

Recruiting caveat applies: I just described a very good prospect so it’s no surprise Alabama will stay on him.

S’Maje Burrell, Fort Worth (Texas) North Crowley

Linebacker is a very difficult position to play early so that needs to be accounted for when it comes to expectations. However, Burrell has some promising traits going for him: maturity and leadership intangibles (mental eval), physical maturity and nature, and good movement skills for ILB. He’ll also have opportunity as Texas is set to lose DeMarvion Overshown and Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey. Outside of Jaylan Ford, the coaches will have significant questions.

The one downside — and it’s a big one when considering early playing time — is he’ll enroll next summer. Still, he should be worth the wait. There just aren’t many off-ball linebackers with this level of explosion.

athlete 😂🤘🏾. pic.twitter.com/8G18Wdx2iy

— S’Maje D’One Burrell (@Smaje0) October 20, 2022

Linebacker Liona Lefau also bears mention as a potential early impact player. Sources are high on his ability to pick things up quickly. Oregon feels the same and has been pursuing hard.