THE INSIDE VIEW
Barry Laminack: Early signing day changes things for college football
Dec 21, 2017, 6:28 am
Jimbo Fisher's first A&M class got off to a slow start. Tomahawknation.com
Yesterday marked the beginning of the early signing period in college football, and boy are teams already busy. This time of year is make-or-break for a lot of kids and programs alike.
For guys like new Texas A&M football coach Jimbo Fisher changing schools weeks before this moment can be challenging, so we’ll see what he can do on short notice to get recruits to come join him at Texas A&M. And don’t look now but apparently Tom Herman has an outside shot at having the number 1 recruiting class in the nation this year.
Keep in mind, recruiting – and these class rankings – are an inexact science, so take that last statement (and pretty much any recruiting statement) with a grain of salt. Predicting how good recruits will be seems to me like being able to predict how good players will do when they are drafted into the NFL. It’s just hard to tell. Some guys you think will be really good and they’re not, an other guys end up being outstanding, and nobody ever saw it coming.
ESPN predicted that either Ohio State or Georgia would finish with the number one recruiting class in the nation. If that happens it will be the first time that a team not named Alabama, Florida State, Florida, Miami, or USC has done so in the last 12 years.
Here’s your top 10 list as of late yesterday evening (according to ESPN):
- Georgia
- Ohio State
- Texas
- Penn State
- Clemson
- Alabama
- Miami
- Oklahoma
- Auburn
- Notre Dame
Other Texas notables: Baylor (16), TCU (19), Texas A&M (26).
If you’re jonesing for a UH update rivals.com says they have the #52 ranked recruiting class for 2018.
Really guys?
All this recruiting talk got me thinking about something – and yes, I know that what I’m about to write is probably going to rustle a few jimmies, and that’s OK. I get it, it’s probably not a popular take (especially here in Texas) – but why are grown men out here watching high school football with no kids on the team?
I’ll never understand how a dude can get off work on a Friday, hop in the car, drive down to the local high school football stadium, grab a hot dog and a coke, and watch a bunch of kids that he has no idea about play football. I’m not talking about guys with kids on the team. I’m not talking about guys with kids in the band, or on the cheer squad, or JV.
Just regular ass dudes who go and watch high school football, just because?
I don’t get it.
Maybe I’m not “Texas” enough, but I just do not understand it. But to each their own, I suppose
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
The Houston Texans have a big challenge in store as they look to start the season with a win against the Colts this Sunday. When these two teams met in Week 2 last year, the Colts dominated the Texans, despite losing their QB Anthony Richardson to a concussion after the first quarter.
Keeping Richardson contained on Sunday will go a long way in increasing the Texans' chances of coming home with a win. The Texans defense will have their hands full containing the Colts backs and tight ends in the passing game.
Scoring touchdowns with their wide receivers could prove difficult, as the Texans allowed the second-fewest TDs (10) to the receiver position in 2023.
Limiting running back Jonathan Taylor will also be a top priority. While the Texans had an elite defense against the run last season, they struggled with Taylor in Week 18 as he almost rushed for 200 yards.
Houston's D allowed only four carries to running backs in 2023 that went for 20 or more yards. Two of which were to Taylor in the final game of the regular season.
Finally, DeMeco Ryans and company have to find a way to get pressure on the QB. They only had one QB hit and zero sacks on Richardson and Garner Minshew the first time they faced off last year.
On offense, the Texans have two big x-factors to watch for on Sunday. The offensive line that suited up to play the Colts in Week 2 last season is completely different from this year.
The o-line was ravaged with injuries to start the 2023 campaign, so we expect a big jump in productivity in the trenches this year.
Another big addition in 2024 is the presence of running back Joe Mixon. The running game only produced 2 yards per rush in Week 2 against Indy last year, so there's clearly room for improvement.
Be sure to watch the video above for our in-depth preview of Texans-Colts!
And catch Texans on Tap (a Texans podcast) live on our SportsMapTexans YouTube channel following every game this season!