Earlier today, @Nate Clouse referenced the Huskers' renewed efforts in recruiting the state of Texas, after it was neglected by Riley & Co. In three recruiting cycles (2015, 2016, and 2017), Nebraska signed only 4 HS kids from Texas.
The door to Texas HS recruiting should have been wide open during that same time period. UTexas was flat on its ass, aTm and Kevin Sumlin were circling the drain, and Baylor was college football's version of Chernobyl.
That got me thinking: what kind of talent was available to us in Texas?
I took the Texas Top 100 list for both 2015 and 2016, and eliminated all kids who signed with Texas-based programs. I also eliminated all kids who signed with Alabama, Clemson, USC, LSU, Oklahoma, Stanford, and Florida State. Basically pared the list down to the kids who were willing to go out of state and who were being courted by programs that we were equal to or better than.
This is what I came up with:
2015:
One of the biggest overall busts in the 2015 class
1.) Soso Jamabo, UCLA - Saw action in three (3) games in 2018 as a reserve RB and special teams player; Finished his career with 11 starts, 1,183 rushing yards and 13 TDs.
17.) Carlos Strickland, California - A WR, Strickland lasted a redshirt season at Cal, and then transferred to K-State where he had 1 reception for 11 yards; He's been out of football since the 2017 season.
23.) Darrion Daniels, Oklahoma State - Now at Nebraska; Injuries limited him to 4 games for Okie State in 2018 and he was able to take a redshirt as a result; Was starting DT for the Cowboys in 2017; Was a key reserve on Okie State's D-line in 2015 and 2016; Had 64 tackles and 8.5 TFL over four seasons in Stillwater.
28.) Chad President, Tulsa - Retired from football after breaking his fibula five games into the 2018 season; Was a part-time starter at QB for Tulsa in 2017 (started seven games) and was the team's second-leading passer with 921 yards and 3 TDs; Also rushed for 429 yards and 9 TDs on the season; Injured his leg in the 2016 opener which caused him to miss the remainder of the season; Appeared in six games as a true freshman in 2015; Finished his career at Tulsa with 930 passing yards and 3 TDs.
31.) Josh Butler, Michigan State - Starting cornerback in 2018 who missed 7 games due to injury; Started 4 games in 2017; Redshirted in 2015 and was a special teams player in 2016; Has 29 tackles and 2 TFL through 30 games played so far.
34.) Jordan Stevenson, Nebraska - Showed up for fall camp overweight and out of shape, limiting himself to KO return action; Left Lincoln, spent a year at JUCO and quit football for good after that.
39.) Quenten Dormady, Tennessee - Is transferring to Central Michigan for 2019 - his third program in 4 years; Spent 2018 at University of Houston where he was a seldom-used reserve; Was Tennessee's starting QB for the first five games of 2017, but lost the job to Jarrett Guarantano; Had season-ending surgery on his shoulder in October 2017; Appeared in 10 games between 2015 and 2016 as a backup QB.
50.) Zach Rogers, Arkansas - Was slated to become Arkansas' starting center but abruptly quit football after the 2017 season to get married and begin his career in law enforcement.
59.) Jalen Guyton, Notre Dame - Got booted from Notre Dame during his RS freshman season in 2015; Spent a year at a Texas JUCO and ended up at North Texas, where he was a two-year starter at WR; Over two seasons at UNT, Guyton had 103 receptions for 1,580 yards and 15 TDs.
The SEC's leading rusher in 2016
64.) Rawleigh Williams III, Arkansas - Led the SEC in rushing in 2016 with 1,360 yards and 12 TDs; Injured his neck the following spring and was forced to retire from football.
66.) Bryce English, Kansas State - Now at North Texas where he was a reserve DT in 2018; Lasted one year at K-State where he redshirted.
69.) Nate Dalton, Arkansas - No longer in football after he left Arkansas' program last October; He appeared in 12 games during his time in Fayetteville, mostly on special teams.
Three-year starter for Mark Dantonio
73.) Tyler Higby, Michigan State - Three-year starter on Michigan State's offensive line, primarily at left guard; Was named Michigan State's best O-lineman in 2018; Has one more year of eligibility.
75.) Chason Virgil, Fresno State - Now at FCS Southeastern Louisiana where he led the Southland Conference in passing yardage in 2018; He started 14 games at QB for Fresno State between 2016 and 2017.
76.) Bryson Oglesby, Fresno State - Appeared sparingly in 5 games as a defensive back in 2018; Has appeared in six games over four seasons in Fresno.
82.) Louis Brown, Oklahoma State - No longer in football, having never played a down of college ball; Lasted one season in Stillwater where he redshirted.
83.) Jerminic Smith, Iowa - Started nine games at WR for Iowa in 2016 but failed out of school the following spring; In two seasons he had 29 receptions for 455 yards and 2 TDs; Finished his career at Division II Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, Missouri.
87.) Patrick Carr, Colorado - Now at Houston, where he led the Cougars with 868 rushing yards in 2018; Lasted one year in Boulder where he was the Buffs' 4th-leading rusher with 272 yards in 2015.
91.) Charles West, Brigham Young - Never made it to BYU; He was arrested a week after NSD and charged with assault with a deadly weapon - he tried to stiff a hooker, she came after him for her money, and he stabbed her with a knife; Was also charged with raping some chick in a separate incident; Ended up at Garden City CC in Kansas but couldn't get any 4-year universities to take him with his track record.
Led Nebraska in rushing two straight seasons
92.) Devine Ozigbo, Nebraska - NU's leading rusher in both 2017 and 2018; Came on strong in the 2nd half of 2018 after JUCO transfer Greg Bell pussed out, finishing 2018 with 1,082 yards and 12 TDs rushing; Over four seasons at NU, Ozigbo regged 419 carries for 2,196 yards and 21 TDs, along with 49 receptions for 488 yards - not too shabby for a low 3-star recruit.
94.) Darrell Miller, Tennessee - Out of football since 2017; Lasted one season in Knoxville where he appeared in five games; Left UTenn for a Texas JUCO, then spent 2017 as a reserve DB at Louisiana-Lafayette.
95.) Kenneth Edison-McGruder, Oklahoma State - Two-year starter at safety for the Cowboys; Honorable-mention All-Big 12 in 2018; Finished career with 145 tackles, 11 TFL and two forced fumblers.
97.) Johnny Wilson, Oklahoma State - Two-year starter at center for Okie State; 2nd-string center in 2016 and redshirted in 2015, giving him one more year of eligibility.
99.) Will Lockett, UCLA - Was at FCS Sam Houston State in 2018; Left UCLA after the 2017 season where he was a reserve safety for the Bruins.
2016:
Two-year starter for the Gators
9.) Tyrie Cleveland, Florida - Two-year starter at WR for the Gators; Has 46 receptions for 808 yards and 7 TDs through three seasons in Gainesville.
18.) Christian Wallace, Oregon State - A running back, Wallace has appeared in four games over the past three years and has 2 carries for 9 yards for the Beavers.
20.) Devwah Whaley, Arkansas - Two-year starter at RB for the Hogs; Has 1,439 yards and 12 TDs on 301 carries (4.8 YPC) through three seasons.
33.) Kam Martin, Auburn - Part-time starter at tailback for Auburn in 2018; Reserve tailback in both 2016 and 2017; Has 1,231 yards rushing so far in his career.
50.) Dillon Sterling-Cole - Backup QB for the Sun Devils in 2018; Threw for 388 yards and a TD over 11 games as a true freshman in 2016; Redshirted in 2017.
52.) Tristen Wallace, Oregon - Now a WR at Prairie View A&M - his 3rd school in as many years; Spent 2017 at Trinity Valley, a Texas JUCO; Redshirted in his only season at Oregon and was later barred from campus after an alleged sexual assault.
55.) Seth Green, Minnesota - Mostly used as a Wildcat QB in 2018; Rushed for 282 yards and 8 TDs on 76 carries in 2018; Appeared in one game as a reserve QB in 2017 and redshirted in 2016.
68.) Levi Onwuzurike, Washington - Started five games at DE for UDub in 2018; Reserve D-lineman in 2017 and redshirted in 2016; Has 50 tackles, 10 TFL, and 5 sacks over two seasons.
78.) Tyrell Alexander, Oklahoma State - Mostly a special teams player in 2018 after being moved to DB; Redshirted in 2016 and played six games at WR in 2017.
2x first-team All-ACC
80.) Parker Braun, Georgia Tech - Three-year starter at left guard for the Yellow Jackets; Was first-team All-ACC in both 2017 and 2018 and was a Freshman All-American in 2016; Will be a grad transfer at Texas in 2019.
83.) Brandon Stephens, UCLA - Appeared in two games as a special teams player in 2018; Reserve RB in 2016 and 2017; Announced in January that he is transferring; Finished UCLA career with 277 rushing yards and a TD.
91.) Audie Omotosho, UCLA - Has not seen the field in three seasons at UCLA.
93.) Kofi Boateng, Arkansas - Out of football having never seen the field; Suffered two knee injuries during his time in Fayetteville and decided to hang it up in June, 2018.
98.) L.D. Brown, Oklahoma State - Reserve RB in 2017 and 2018 after redshirting in 2016; Has 386 yards rushing over two seasons.
99.) Donte Coleman, Fresno State - Now at FCS Stephen F. Austin; Spent two seasons at Fresno State and appeared in one game over those two seasons.
https://n.rivals.com/state_rankings/2016/texas
The door to Texas HS recruiting should have been wide open during that same time period. UTexas was flat on its ass, aTm and Kevin Sumlin were circling the drain, and Baylor was college football's version of Chernobyl.
That got me thinking: what kind of talent was available to us in Texas?
I took the Texas Top 100 list for both 2015 and 2016, and eliminated all kids who signed with Texas-based programs. I also eliminated all kids who signed with Alabama, Clemson, USC, LSU, Oklahoma, Stanford, and Florida State. Basically pared the list down to the kids who were willing to go out of state and who were being courted by programs that we were equal to or better than.
This is what I came up with:
2015:
One of the biggest overall busts in the 2015 class
1.) Soso Jamabo, UCLA - Saw action in three (3) games in 2018 as a reserve RB and special teams player; Finished his career with 11 starts, 1,183 rushing yards and 13 TDs.
17.) Carlos Strickland, California - A WR, Strickland lasted a redshirt season at Cal, and then transferred to K-State where he had 1 reception for 11 yards; He's been out of football since the 2017 season.
23.) Darrion Daniels, Oklahoma State - Now at Nebraska; Injuries limited him to 4 games for Okie State in 2018 and he was able to take a redshirt as a result; Was starting DT for the Cowboys in 2017; Was a key reserve on Okie State's D-line in 2015 and 2016; Had 64 tackles and 8.5 TFL over four seasons in Stillwater.
28.) Chad President, Tulsa - Retired from football after breaking his fibula five games into the 2018 season; Was a part-time starter at QB for Tulsa in 2017 (started seven games) and was the team's second-leading passer with 921 yards and 3 TDs; Also rushed for 429 yards and 9 TDs on the season; Injured his leg in the 2016 opener which caused him to miss the remainder of the season; Appeared in six games as a true freshman in 2015; Finished his career at Tulsa with 930 passing yards and 3 TDs.
31.) Josh Butler, Michigan State - Starting cornerback in 2018 who missed 7 games due to injury; Started 4 games in 2017; Redshirted in 2015 and was a special teams player in 2016; Has 29 tackles and 2 TFL through 30 games played so far.
34.) Jordan Stevenson, Nebraska - Showed up for fall camp overweight and out of shape, limiting himself to KO return action; Left Lincoln, spent a year at JUCO and quit football for good after that.
39.) Quenten Dormady, Tennessee - Is transferring to Central Michigan for 2019 - his third program in 4 years; Spent 2018 at University of Houston where he was a seldom-used reserve; Was Tennessee's starting QB for the first five games of 2017, but lost the job to Jarrett Guarantano; Had season-ending surgery on his shoulder in October 2017; Appeared in 10 games between 2015 and 2016 as a backup QB.
50.) Zach Rogers, Arkansas - Was slated to become Arkansas' starting center but abruptly quit football after the 2017 season to get married and begin his career in law enforcement.
59.) Jalen Guyton, Notre Dame - Got booted from Notre Dame during his RS freshman season in 2015; Spent a year at a Texas JUCO and ended up at North Texas, where he was a two-year starter at WR; Over two seasons at UNT, Guyton had 103 receptions for 1,580 yards and 15 TDs.
The SEC's leading rusher in 2016
64.) Rawleigh Williams III, Arkansas - Led the SEC in rushing in 2016 with 1,360 yards and 12 TDs; Injured his neck the following spring and was forced to retire from football.
66.) Bryce English, Kansas State - Now at North Texas where he was a reserve DT in 2018; Lasted one year at K-State where he redshirted.
69.) Nate Dalton, Arkansas - No longer in football after he left Arkansas' program last October; He appeared in 12 games during his time in Fayetteville, mostly on special teams.
Three-year starter for Mark Dantonio
73.) Tyler Higby, Michigan State - Three-year starter on Michigan State's offensive line, primarily at left guard; Was named Michigan State's best O-lineman in 2018; Has one more year of eligibility.
75.) Chason Virgil, Fresno State - Now at FCS Southeastern Louisiana where he led the Southland Conference in passing yardage in 2018; He started 14 games at QB for Fresno State between 2016 and 2017.
76.) Bryson Oglesby, Fresno State - Appeared sparingly in 5 games as a defensive back in 2018; Has appeared in six games over four seasons in Fresno.
82.) Louis Brown, Oklahoma State - No longer in football, having never played a down of college ball; Lasted one season in Stillwater where he redshirted.
83.) Jerminic Smith, Iowa - Started nine games at WR for Iowa in 2016 but failed out of school the following spring; In two seasons he had 29 receptions for 455 yards and 2 TDs; Finished his career at Division II Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, Missouri.
87.) Patrick Carr, Colorado - Now at Houston, where he led the Cougars with 868 rushing yards in 2018; Lasted one year in Boulder where he was the Buffs' 4th-leading rusher with 272 yards in 2015.
91.) Charles West, Brigham Young - Never made it to BYU; He was arrested a week after NSD and charged with assault with a deadly weapon - he tried to stiff a hooker, she came after him for her money, and he stabbed her with a knife; Was also charged with raping some chick in a separate incident; Ended up at Garden City CC in Kansas but couldn't get any 4-year universities to take him with his track record.
Led Nebraska in rushing two straight seasons
92.) Devine Ozigbo, Nebraska - NU's leading rusher in both 2017 and 2018; Came on strong in the 2nd half of 2018 after JUCO transfer Greg Bell pussed out, finishing 2018 with 1,082 yards and 12 TDs rushing; Over four seasons at NU, Ozigbo regged 419 carries for 2,196 yards and 21 TDs, along with 49 receptions for 488 yards - not too shabby for a low 3-star recruit.
94.) Darrell Miller, Tennessee - Out of football since 2017; Lasted one season in Knoxville where he appeared in five games; Left UTenn for a Texas JUCO, then spent 2017 as a reserve DB at Louisiana-Lafayette.
95.) Kenneth Edison-McGruder, Oklahoma State - Two-year starter at safety for the Cowboys; Honorable-mention All-Big 12 in 2018; Finished career with 145 tackles, 11 TFL and two forced fumblers.
97.) Johnny Wilson, Oklahoma State - Two-year starter at center for Okie State; 2nd-string center in 2016 and redshirted in 2015, giving him one more year of eligibility.
99.) Will Lockett, UCLA - Was at FCS Sam Houston State in 2018; Left UCLA after the 2017 season where he was a reserve safety for the Bruins.
2016:
Two-year starter for the Gators
9.) Tyrie Cleveland, Florida - Two-year starter at WR for the Gators; Has 46 receptions for 808 yards and 7 TDs through three seasons in Gainesville.
18.) Christian Wallace, Oregon State - A running back, Wallace has appeared in four games over the past three years and has 2 carries for 9 yards for the Beavers.
20.) Devwah Whaley, Arkansas - Two-year starter at RB for the Hogs; Has 1,439 yards and 12 TDs on 301 carries (4.8 YPC) through three seasons.
33.) Kam Martin, Auburn - Part-time starter at tailback for Auburn in 2018; Reserve tailback in both 2016 and 2017; Has 1,231 yards rushing so far in his career.
50.) Dillon Sterling-Cole - Backup QB for the Sun Devils in 2018; Threw for 388 yards and a TD over 11 games as a true freshman in 2016; Redshirted in 2017.
52.) Tristen Wallace, Oregon - Now a WR at Prairie View A&M - his 3rd school in as many years; Spent 2017 at Trinity Valley, a Texas JUCO; Redshirted in his only season at Oregon and was later barred from campus after an alleged sexual assault.
55.) Seth Green, Minnesota - Mostly used as a Wildcat QB in 2018; Rushed for 282 yards and 8 TDs on 76 carries in 2018; Appeared in one game as a reserve QB in 2017 and redshirted in 2016.
68.) Levi Onwuzurike, Washington - Started five games at DE for UDub in 2018; Reserve D-lineman in 2017 and redshirted in 2016; Has 50 tackles, 10 TFL, and 5 sacks over two seasons.
78.) Tyrell Alexander, Oklahoma State - Mostly a special teams player in 2018 after being moved to DB; Redshirted in 2016 and played six games at WR in 2017.
2x first-team All-ACC
80.) Parker Braun, Georgia Tech - Three-year starter at left guard for the Yellow Jackets; Was first-team All-ACC in both 2017 and 2018 and was a Freshman All-American in 2016; Will be a grad transfer at Texas in 2019.
83.) Brandon Stephens, UCLA - Appeared in two games as a special teams player in 2018; Reserve RB in 2016 and 2017; Announced in January that he is transferring; Finished UCLA career with 277 rushing yards and a TD.
91.) Audie Omotosho, UCLA - Has not seen the field in three seasons at UCLA.
93.) Kofi Boateng, Arkansas - Out of football having never seen the field; Suffered two knee injuries during his time in Fayetteville and decided to hang it up in June, 2018.
98.) L.D. Brown, Oklahoma State - Reserve RB in 2017 and 2018 after redshirting in 2016; Has 386 yards rushing over two seasons.
99.) Donte Coleman, Fresno State - Now at FCS Stephen F. Austin; Spent two seasons at Fresno State and appeared in one game over those two seasons.
https://n.rivals.com/state_rankings/2016/texas
