Among the 25 signees in Texas’ 2010 recruiting class, three already are enrolled for the spring semester: QB Connor Wood, QB Case McCoy and DB A.J. White. All three will take part in spring drills, where Texas coach Mack Brown said “all jobs are open.”
Technically, that includes quarterback, where sophomore-to-be Garrett Gilbert will have the inside track to the starting job after filling in for injured starter Colt McCoy -- Case’s older brother -- in the BCS National Championship Game against Alabama.
Realistically, the quarterback battle this spring will be to see if one of the incoming freshmen can unseat Sherrod Harris, a senior-to-be from Arlington Bowie, for the backup job. Brown made it clear that both of the incoming freshmen want to play next season. Asked if either had expressed a desire to redshirt, Brown said: “No. In fact, I think that when one decided to come early, they both decided to come early. I really think both want to compete with Garrett and Sherrod. If you sat down and asked them, I think they'd both say, ' … I'm coming in here to play.’ That's the attitude you want, so I don't think they'll blink at all.”
Of the two, Wood (6-4, 209) is taller and arrives with four-star credentials. McCoy (6-2, 175), like his brother, is a three-star prospect.
Brown said there are inevitable comparisons to be drawn between Case, who led Graham to a berth in this year’s Class 3A state championship game, and Colt, who reached the Class 2A state title game in his junior season at Tuscola Jim Ned (and back to the semifinals as a senior).
“As you are watching him (on film), he is very, very similar to his brother,” Brown said. “There cannot help but be comparisons while he is here. Case … is very accurate, has the ability to run, can throw from the pocket and move around. The fact that Colt was here and very successful as his brother really has nothing to do with signing Case. People will fight that because it is natural, but we would have signed him if his brother was not here (a past Texas QB). We think that Case is really good. There is some chance that he is a better, more polished player than Colt at the same age. He has had the comfort and positive experience of having Colt … to help him learn to read defenses better.”
About Wood, who played private-school football at Houston Second Baptist, Brown said: “Like Case, (Connor) has the ability to run. He is big and is very accurate. We were not concerned about a private school background or the level of football. Greg (Davis) and Major (Applewhite) really liked what they saw. “
One other note about the 2010 class: Brown said DeMarco Cobbs, who was recruited as an athlete, wants to begin his college career on offense and will be assigned a position in fall drills. Brown said Cobbs could be in the tailback mix next season.
_ Jimmy Burch
These kids are just in time for the bi-annual "L" in Lubbock. It's good experience.
Posted by: Suzy | February 06, 2010 at 09:19 AM