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Texas lands Cuffee

On3 imageby:Justin Wells•01/28/16
Eric Cuffee
Eric Cuffee. (Justin Wells/IT)
Eric Cuffee. (Justin Wells/IT)

Eric Cuffee. (Justin Wells/IT)

WACO — Another high school defensive back plans to enroll in DBU.

Waco High 4-star Eric Cuffee pledged to the Longhorns this evening during an announcement on ESPNU. He chose Texas over Texas A&M, Baylor, Alabama, and Notre Dame.

The 6-foot-0, 190-pound ball hawk is one of the more unique prospects in the Class of 2016. The Under Armour All-American is versatile and brings interchangeable abilities. He could play corner (man or zone), the nickel slot to lineup against the smaller receivers or help in run support, or in the back at safety – free or strong. Cuffee was a highly coveted player for just those reasons. It should help him adapt in the pass-happy Big 12.

Another reason Cuffee preferred Texas was when from a conversation after last year’s Junior Day. Cuffee mentioned former Waco alum and Longhorn great, Derrick Johnson, was someone he always looked up to. Johnson’s name brings great clout at Cuffee’s alma mater and that was something that always stuck with Eric. With only six days from national Signing Day, it’s a needed boost for the Longhorns recruiting efforts nearing the finish line.

Excerpt from the Recruiting Notebook (10/2015):

Eric Cuffee, CB , Waco High (2016)
Hudl highlights

How he fits at Texas: Cuffee is an ideal cover 2 corner that could play right cornerback or nickel at Texas. He’s great at getting a jam on receivers, sometimes even keeping opposing WRs from getting off the line of scrimmage at all, and his physicality is his best trait as a DB. That said, his quickness (4.1 shuttle) is elite and makes him very effective playing a trailing man coverage technique (again, ideal for cover 2) or sticking to receivers after they break their routes. There’s a great chance he could stick outside at corner but if not he’d likely make a fantastic nickel. – IB

Coach Says: There isn’t a whole lot of flash to Cuffee’s game, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Like with McCulloch, I don’t see any glaring things that have developed from his junior year to his senior year. Good breaks on the ball, doesn’t shy away from being physical when he is coming downhill and seems to be a pretty solid tackler for the most part. I think he is a solid take considering the crop of corners in the state for this class, and even better it will leave a bitter taste in the mouth of school up the road. Might be best suited for the nickel.

Dontavious Jackson and Eric Cuffee. (Justin Wells/IT)

Dontavious Jackson and Eric Cuffee. (Justin Wells/IT)

How this affects Texas: Cuffee’s recruitment has been your typical chart of high and low. After Junior Day and The Opening, Texas was looking real good for Cuffee’s services. Then everything stopped. He took a step back from the process to focus on his senior campaign. Along the way, he may or may not have silently pledged to Texas A&M. But towards the end of November, the tide turned. An upset win at Baylor a week later, and Cuffee was back on board the Strong Express. He’s got a good relationship with DB coach Chris Vaughn and DC Vance Bedford. He may be a corner, nickel, or safety. Either way, he’s a big DB who can move and hit. Add him to the secondary haul from 2015, and UT’s back 7 is becoming unfair for the Big 12. – JW

Cuffee is the 14th member of UT’s Class of 2016. He joins Zach Shackelford (Belton), Jean Delance (North Mesquite), Davion Curtis (Temple), Denzel Okafor (Lewisville), Andrew Fitzgerald (Flower Mound Marcus), Malcolm Roach (Baton Rouge, LA), Peyton Aucoin (Bother Martin, New Orleans), Collin Johnson (WR – Valley Christian (CA), Reggie Hemphill (WR – Manvel), Shane Buechele (QB – Arlington Lamar), Tope Imade (OL – Arlington Bowie), Gerald Wilbon (DL/OL – Destrehan, LA ) and DeMarco Boyd (ATH – Gilmer).

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