5 takeaways from seeing high Texas recruits in motion
TEXAS — Rivals Nationwide Recruiting Analyst Marshall Levenson was on the sidelines for a pair of marquee video games that includes a number of of Texas’ high recruits within the 2025, 2026 and 2027 courses. Included in that group are a number of blue-chippers, together with gamers dedicated to Oregon, Alabama and Baylor.
Listed below are 5 takeaways from the stay in-person evaluations:
Quinn Murphy shined with aggressive however clear passing assault
Current Baylor dedication Quinn Murphy began his junior season on a excessive word two weeks in the past with a 5 landing efficiency in a blowout win. He then had a giant take a look at in entrance of him enjoying an even bigger Texas Excessive program. Whereas Murphy and Liberty Christian completed with a loss, the 6-foot-3 quarterback shined with 336 yards and 4 touchdowns with zero turnovers.
His 4 scores got here in a wide range of methods, consisting of a again pylon toss within the crimson zone, a deep crosser from 50-plus yards out, a fast slant on the purpose line and a quick-hitting cease route, the place his wideout shook a defender and took roughly 75 yards. Murphy additionally displayed a robust and pure creativity when performs break down. He’s adept at extending performs and maneuvering briefly areas whereas conserving his eyes downfield and directing site visitors. A number of drives had been saved or prolonged merely with the athleticism and IQ of Murphy understanding what was occurring down the sector and round him.
Run after the catch means elite for Tradarian Ball
Tradarian Ball was squaring off towards the beforehand listed Murphy, and the Oregon commit was one of many main causes Murphy and his squad took a loss as he accounted for a trio of scores. Ball, the No. 31 total prospect within the nation, has been identified to be a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hand, each at operating again and wideout. He’s nonetheless enjoying each at a excessive clip, however reverse from his sophomore season, most of his manufacturing is coming at wideout this 12 months. Ball caught 5 passes on Friday evening for 183 yards and two touchdowns. His receiving touchdowns got here on back-to-back drives by way of broad receiver screens of 39-yards and 64-yards, respectively.
His third landing got here on a rush out of the backfield of simply over 50 yards, which successfully put the sport out of attain, making the rating 52-35 late within the fourth quarter. Ball’s means to navigate site visitors and hits a second gear in open area. His imaginative and prescient and phone steadiness permit him to squeeze by defenders and break performs open down the sector even when he will get the ball behind the road of scrimmage.
Qua Ford has the makings of an elite OT
My most intriguing analysis of the weekend got here with 2027 offensive sort out Donquavieus “Qua” Ford. The sophomore completely seems the half at 6-foot-6, 285-pounds. And never solely does he have the scale, however Ford displayed athleticism and suppleness, one of the vital necessary components of younger offensive lineman at that measurement. Ford has seen his recruitment take off a bit with affords from Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Missouri, Houston, and others. What I noticed from Ford was past thrilling and spectacular.
A ridiculously robust decrease half with an athletic stance and set, he was persistently mauling defenders Friday evening. He carried out properly in each the run and move recreation, displacing defenders laying pancake blocks usually. Postgame, a Texas Excessive coach informed Ford he had over 20 recorded pancakes within the recreation.
Witten exhibits to be an throughout playmaker
Cooper Witten, the son of Cowboys legend and Liberty Christian head coach Jason Witten, is a formidable trying prospect and shined at a number of positions. In his freshman season, he performed primarily at security, however this season, after some progress, he’s enjoying extra linebacker. He additionally strains up as a decent finish/broad receiver hybrid, the place he made some large performs. Witten logged seven tackles on protection in addition to three receptions with two touchdowns on offense. His two scores, which Murphy threw to him, had been the again pylon toss and deep crosser.
Witten is lively on protection and is at all times within the space of the ball, usually enjoying nearer to the road within the field now that he’s at linebacker on most snaps. At 6-foot-2, 205 kilos as a sophomore, the 2027 prospect certainly tasks as a linebacker for the long run.
Run recreation is the power for Haywood
I’ve seen Ty Haywood, a summer time Alabama dedication, on a number of events in 2024. What I noticed from him Thursday evening strengthened what I’ve thought on Haywood’s analysis for a while. When Haywood is ready to set the tone and hearth off the ball, he’s dominant. Within the run recreation, when he is ready to assault, he drives again defenders earlier than they actually have a probability to make a transfer on him.
One space of enchancment I’m in search of from Haywood is his move blocking. There have been a fair proportion of snaps the place Haywood bought off steadiness in his set as he labored to react to a rushers strikes. The Alabama commit did higher on the surface as he was ready to make use of leverage to let rushers run previous their lane, however on the within, he did hand over floor on a number of events, resulting in quarterback pressures. At just below 6-foot-5, and 270 kilos, there may be a lot to work with to construct up and develop Haywood for the long run.
