The Blue Chips

Here's my updated list of the top Texas football recruits. I have inserted *
* * * at each position to separate the Fabulous 40 from the rest of the Elite
80.

The Elite 80 Recruits

Quarterback (6)
Matt Nordgren, 6-5, 225, 4.7, Dallas Bishop Lynch (UT, A&M, Colo, Fla)
Jason Carter, 5-11, 180, 4.5, Caldwell (A&M Commitment)
* * * *
Mike Pankratz, 6-3, 200, 4.8, Katy Taylor (A&M, UCLA, OU, KSU, ND)
Davon Vinson, 6-3, 185, 4.5, Kilgore (A&M, Ark, OU, Bay)
Tye Gunn, 6-4, 200, 4.62, La Grange (TCU Commitment)
Kevin Ford, 6-0, 188, 4.5, Madisonville (Rice Commitment)

Running Back (7)
Cedric Benson, 5-11, 200, 4.5, Midland Lee (UT Commitment)
David Underwood, 6-0, 220, 4.38, Madisonville (Michigan Commitment)
Anthony Johnson, 5-11, 195, 4.4, Jefferson (KSU, UT, FSU, TCU, OU, LSU)
Donta Hickson, 5-9, 180, 4.4, McKinney (FSU, Neb, A&M, OU, Mich, Tenn, TT)
* * * *
David Williams, 5-11, 180, 4.4, Carrollton Smith (FSU, A&M, Colo, OU, Mia)
Anthony Evans, 5-9, 195, 4.5, Pearland (Bay, A&M, Az, KSU, UCLA)
Cody Thibodeaux, 6-1, 200, 4.5, Winnie East Chambers (A&M, Neb, Ok St, LSU)

Fullback (2)
Darnell Sims, 6-2, 230, 4.7, Aldine (A&M, UH, LSU)
* * * *
Mark Pierce, 6-2, 215, 4.6, Weatherford (TCU Commitment)

Tight End (1)
James Moses, 6-3, 225, 4.7, GP North Shore (UT, A&M, Az, Mich, Colo)
* * * *

Wide Receiver (10)
Armon Dorrough, 6-1, 168, 4.4, Lancaster (ND, Tenn, Mia, Fla, FSU, A&M)
Brandon Jones, 6-3, 205, 4.4, Texark. Liberty-Eylau (Ky, Ark, A&M, FSU, UT)
Bennie Brazell, 6-2, 168, 4.4, Houston Westbury (LSU, UCLA, Ark, Ky, LSU, Mia)
Thomson Omboga, 6-2, 175, 4.5, Grand Prairie (UT, OU, ND, Ga, A&M, Mo)
Cedric Williams, 6-0, 170, 4.4, Jefferson (KSU, FSU, LSU, Neb, A&M, OU)
Keith Mills, 5-11, 175, 4.4, Garland (A&M, UT, FSU, Fla, Ark, TT, OU)
* * * *
Terrence Thomas, 5-9, 175, 4.4, Houston Washington (Mia, FSU, UCLa, A&M, UH)
Corey Roberts, 6-4, 190, 4.4, Carthage (LSU, A&M, SMU, TCU, UT)
Jesse Woods, 6-4, 190, 4.5, Katy Taylor (A&M Commitment)
Kenneth Shelton, 6-1, 175, 4.4, Port Arthur Jefferson (A&M, OU, TT, UT)

Offensive Line (13)
Jonathan Scott, 6-7, 290, 4.9, Dallas Carter (UT Commitment)
Jami Hightower, 6-4, 295, 5.2, Jacksonville (UT, A&M, FSU, OSU, TCU)
Ben Wilkerson, 6-4, 265, 4.9, Hemphill (A&M, Mich, ND, Neb, Ark, LSU, OU)
Abe Robinson, 6-6, 270, 4.9, Jersey Village (UT Commitment)
William Winston, 6-6, 330, 5.3, Houston Madison (A&M, UT, LSU, Mia, Syr)
Mike Garcia, 6-5, 280, 5.2, Galena Park (UT Commitment)
* * * *
Will Allen, 6-5, 300, 5.2, Cypress Falls (UT Commitment)
Terrance Young, 6-6, 330, 5.5, Longview (UT Commitment)
Bryan Kegans, 6-6, 305, 5.2, Stephenville (Texas Tech Commitment
Shane Simms, 6-2, 300, 4.9, Tomball (TCU Commitment)
Roman Reeves, 6-6, 295, 5.2, Livingston (UT Commitment)
E. J. Whitley, 6-5, 290, 5.3, Texas City (Kentucky Commitment)
Clint O'Neal, 6-6, 290, 5.2, Weatherford (Colorado Commitment)

Defensive End (8)
Kevin Everett, 6-5, 235, 4.6, Port Arthur Jefferson (UT, ND, Colo, Pur, Mia)
Lawrence Hooper, 6-4, 255, 4.7, Aldine (A&M, PSU, LSU, Colo, Fla, OSU, UCLA)
Simeon Jones, 6-3, 240, 4.7, Houston Jones (A&M, UH, Colo, UT, Bay)
Jamie Jackson, 6-3, 225, 4.7 Andrews (TT, OU, A&M, UT)
McKenzie Tilmon, 6-3, 235, 4.7, Irving MacArthur (KSU, UT, A&M, Tenn)
* * * *
Colin Allred, 6-3, 225, 4.7, Dallas Hillcrest (UT, Neb, TT, TCU, Mich)
Bret Rayl, 6-7, 265, 4.9, Lewisville (A&M, FSU, OU, PSU, TCU)
Quintene Newhouse, 6-2, 250, 4.7, Emory Rains (A&M, Ky, Mich, UT, Bay, TCU)

Defensive Tackle (7)
Tommie Harris, 6-3, 280, 4.8, Killeen Ellison (UT, FSU, A&M, Mia, UCLA)
Thomas Derricks, 6-1, 275, 4.9, Dallas Jesuit (PSU, ND, Neb, A&M, TCU)
* * * *
Clayton Harmon, 6-6, 260, 5.1, Stephenville (Texas Tech Commitment)
Sharod McGowan, 6-2, 250, 4.7, Waco (A&M, UT, TT, NC, OU, NC)
Brandon Goodlett, 6-2, 280, 5.1, Conroe (Ky, OU, Neb, UT)
Jeremy Calahan, 6-3, 260, 5.0, Pflugerville (UT, ND, A&M, OSU, Stan, TCU, Van)
Fred Thwreat, 6-2, 270, 4.9, Midland Lee (TT, A&M, Az)

Outside Linebacker (6)
Derrick Johnson, 6-3, 205, 4.5, Waco (UT, FSU, A&M, OU, Ark, UCLA)
Jonathon Jackson, 6-3, 225, 4.56, GP North Shore (UT, A&M, Mia, Colo, PSU)
Lance McFarland, 6-1, 225, 4.6, Jefferson (UT, KSU, Ark, OU, FSU, LSU)
* * * *
Lee Foliaki, 6-2, 200, 4.5, Euless Trinity (A&M, UT, FSU, Neb, KSU, TCU)
Shawn Willis 6-2, 215, 4.6, Flatonia (A&M, FSU, UT, Bay, TT)

Inside Linebacker (2)
Yamil Lebron, 6-2, 240, 4.7, Killeen Ellison (UT Commitment)
* * * *
Jeff Billings, 6-2, 232, 4.7, Pasadena Rayburn (A&M, Ky, Az, ASU, NW)

Cornerback (7)
Byron Jones, 5-10, 180, 4.4, Bay City (LSU, UCLA, A&M, NW, Ark, Ky)
Cedric Griffin, 6-1, 180, 4.42, San Antonio Holmes (UT Commitment)
Danielle Manning, 5-11, 187, 4.4, Corsicana (A&M, UT, TCU, La Tech)
Moses Harris, 6-1, 170, 4.4, Dallas Carter (FSU, OU, Mia, TCU, Gramb)
* * * *
Dee Durham, 5-11, 174, 4.4, Mansfield (Colo, Mich, Mia, OSU, VT, UT)
Warren Wilson, 6-0, 170, 4.4, Texas City (Pur, A&M, LSU, Ky, Az)
Courtney Sterling, 5-7, 170, 4.4, Dallas Carter (Arizona State Commitment)

Safety (5)
Dewayne Brandon, 6-3, 198, 4.46, Temple  (UT, Neb, FSU, A&M, Ky)
Rufus Harris, 6-0, 180, 4.4, LaPorte (A&M, LSU, Az, Mia, Ky)
* * * *
Kendall Briles, 5-10, 175, 4.5, Wolfforth Frenship (UT Commitment)
Jarvis Mayes, 6-2, 180, 4.45, Dallas Kimball (A&M Commitment)
Jaxson Appel, 6-0, 190, 4.5, Friendswood (A&M Commitment)

Athlete (6)
Joseph Addai, 6-1, 195, 4.5, Hstn Sharpstown (KSU, UT, Neb, Kan, Mich, A&M)
Quan Cosby, 5-10, 180, 4.4, Mart (UT, A&M, UCLA, FSU, Bay)
Gainus Scott, 5-9, 170, 4.4, La Porte (FSU, Az, Tenn, Mia, ASU, Ky)
* * * *
Ryan Gilbert, 5-11, 180, 4.4, Dallas Hillcrest (Mich, Neb, Mia, Tenn, FSU)
Braden Johnson, 6-2, 200, 4.5, Euless Trinity (UT Commitment)
Brian Carter, 5-11, 180, 4.5, The Woodlands (UT Commitment
* * * *

The 25 "Difference Makers"

These are Texas' top 25 players, in my opinion, and I have seen all of them
play, either on tape or in person:
1. DT Tommie Harris, Killeen Ellison
2. OL Jonathan Scott, Dallas Carter (Texas)
3. OL Jami Hightower, Jacksonville
4. LB Derrick Johnson, Waco
5. RB Cedric Benson, Midland Lee (Texas)
6. S Dewayne Brandon, Temple
7. RB David Underwood, Madisonville (Michigan)
8. C Ben Wilkerson, Hemphill
9. QB Matt Nordgren, Dallas Bishop Lynch
10. OL Abe Robinson, Jersey Village (Texas)
11. LB Jonathon Jackson, Galena Park North Shore
12. DE Kevin Everett, Port Arthur Jefferson
13. WR Armon Dorrough, Lancaster
14. Ath Joseph Addai, Houston Sharpstown
15. DE Lawrence Hooper, Aldine
16. WR Brandon Jones, Texarkana Liberty Eylau
17. Ath Quan Cosby, Mart
18. WR Bennie Brazell, Houston Westbury
19. RB Anthony Johnson, Jefferson
20. TE James Moses, Galena Park North Shore
21. CB Byron Jones, Bay City
22. DT Thomas Derricks, Dallas Jesuit
23. LB Lance McFarland, Jefferson
24. OL William Winston, Houston Madison
25. RB Donta Hickson, McKinney

Out-of-State Prospects

Texas is recruiting several out-of-state players. Here are the ones who are
still considering UT:
Quarterback
Bret Rawls, 6-5, 200, 4.7, Shreveport Evangel (LSU, UT, FSU, Tenn)
Running Back
Jabari Davis, 5-11, 224, 4.5, Tucker, Ga. (Tenn, Ga, UT, Neb, Ala)
Eric Shelton, 6-3, 230, 4.45, Lexington, Ky., Bryan Station (Ky, FSU, Fla,
Tenn, UT)
Fullback
James Buchanan, 6-2, 240, 4.7, Sarasota, Fla. Mooney (FSU, UT, Fla, BC)
Tight End
Marcus Spears, 6-5, 275, 4.8, Baton Rouge Southern Lab (LSU, A&M, Mich, UT)
Defensive End
Eric Hall, 6-3, 232, 4.5, Clarksville, Tenn., NW (UT, FSU, Tenn, Neb, LSU)
Shaun Cody, 6-5, 255, 4.8, Los Altos, Cal. (USC, UCLA, UT, Az, ND)
Kaelen Jakes, 6-5, 260, 4.8, Valencia, Cal. (UT, Az, USC, Neb, UCLA, Wash, ND)
Defensive Tackle
Marquise Hill, 6-7, 290, 4.8, N. Orleans De La Salle (FSU, LSU, Mich, A&M, UT)
* * * *
On the out-of-staters, UT has a 50-50 shot at Hall, and Rawls, Jakes and
Buchanan also are very seriously considering the Longhorns. Cody says he
definitely will visit UT, so the Horns have a fair chance with him. The odds
are much longer on Davis, Shelton, Spears and Hill.

Scouting Louisiana-Lafayette

If the Longhorns don't break their 10-quarter scoring drought quickly in
their Sept. 9 season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette in Austin, it will be
a very bad sign.
The Ragin' Cajuns didn't do much ragin' last season, going 2-9 with their
only victories coming over 1-AA Wofford and Middle Tennessee.
They also gave up an average of 219 yards per game rushing and allowed
opposing backs to average 5.5 yards per rush.
The Cajuns run a spread offense with four wideouts, but they didn't score a
touchdown until their fifth game last season.
Coach Mack Brown says you don't really know what you have until you start
playing other teams. He still won't know after this day in the park.
The game starts at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 9 and will be televised by the Fox
Network on a syndicated basis.

Baseball Adds 1, Loses 1

The Longhorn baseball coaches have signed shortstop Shaff Elkouri, 5-11, 175,
from Seward County JC in Kansas, but they lost one of their prized recruits
last weekend when slugger Jason Stokes of Coppell signed with Florida for $2
million.
Elkouri will be a sophomore at Texas this season.

Big Basketball Recruiting Week Coming Up

The season opener in football is always big news, and it's also going to be a
big deal for basketball this year because both Longhorn teams have some
big-time recruits taking official visits the Sept. 9 weekend.
It's really big for the men, who have only one scholarship remaining. T. J.
Ford, the 5-11 point guard who led Fort Bend Willowridge to the state Class
5A championship last season, will visit.
Ford is the player the UT coaches want, and there is a chance he will commit
on his visit.
The Longhorn women have three scholarships left, and two outstanding players
have scheduled visits for the Sept. 9 weekend.
One of them has a name you will remember. She is Lauren Selmon, a 6-0
guard-forward from Norman, Okla.
If that rings a bell, you are right. She is the daughter of Dewey Selmon, one
of those three great defensive line brothers who starred at Oklahoma a
quarter of a century ago.
I was in Oklahoma, working as a political reporter for The Associated Press,
when the Selmons played at OU. Unlike some of the later Sooner stars, who
made the wrong kind of headlines off the field, the Selmons are fine people
The other is Jody Bell, a 6-2 forward from Chestermere HS in Alberta, Canada.
She averaged a triple double last season (14 points, 10 assists, 12 rebounds).

High School Subs at 160

True Orange is going to 160 schools, thanks to several generous subscribers.
Harrison Stafford of Edna, a Longhorn football star from 70 years ago, took
out a new subscription for Wharton.
Robert L. Parker of Tulsa renewed the subscription for Oklahoma powerhouse
Jenks.
Gary Hite of Ball Ground, Ga., renewed San Antonio Alamo Heights. He is a
1953 Alamo Heights graduate.
Jimmy Keys of Houston resubscribed for Freer High School. He is a 1956 Freer
graduate.
Brad Taylor of Abilene added a new subscription for Abilene High School.
Will Coates of Austin renewed the subscription for South Grand Prairie.
An anonymous subscriber took out new subscriptions for Houston Sharpstown and
Houston Westfield and renewed the subscription for Austin Crockett.
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Next Issue September 11

The next issue will be e-mailed on September 11 and will report on the Sept.
9 season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette and preview the big game at
defending Pac 10 champ Stanford.
It will also have lots of football recruiting news, coach Mack Brown's
comments on the opener and on the trip to Palo Alto, and reports on other UT
athletic teams.

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