Texas, Texas A&M won’t win anything as long as the best football players leave the state
The reasons and explanations vary but the problem remains unchanged: the entire state of Texas will go another year without contending for a national title in the activity it prioritizes more than breathing.
We are in the sixth year of the college football playoff, and no team from Texas has made it. We have one national title this century, Texas in 2005. Texas lost in the title game in 2009 to Alabama.
We have the best facilities in the nation, and the most talent, and the top coaches, etc.
Is this lack of success at the highest level of college football an indictment on the Texas high school player and his coach?
“Where is the quarterback from Oklahoma from?” Aledo coach Tim Buchanan said.
Jalen Hurts is from Houston.
“I’ve got a running backs coach from Oklahoma standing in my office right now and they are going to take the best running back in the state to Oklahoma,” he said of his running back, Jase McClellan. “I’ve gotten over it. I’m from Texas. For a long time I tried to talk them into staying in Texas, but not anymore.
“The problem isn’t the player. The problem is the top kids aren’t staying in state.”
This is not a Gary Patterson or Matt Rhule problem. This is a Jimbo Fisher and Tom Herman crisis.
Until the coaches of the two biggest power programs in Texas finally fix the fleeing of the top players to Oklahoma, Ohio State and all points beyond, the state will remain without a contending national title team.
For as much as we love football, and for as many resources as we invest in the game, to go this long without even playing for a national title is not only embarrassing, but a waste.
“We can do it. Look at that Texas team (in 2005),” Buchanan said. “That whole team was from Texas.”
Texas and Texas A&M always seem to “win” the recruiting titles in the state, and yet here we are. Both teams are 7-5 and unranked.
The best team in Texas is Baylor, which never wins any recruiting battle.
Where we sit is an indictment on the coaching staffs, both current and past, at Texas A&M and Texas.
Looking at the rosters of the four playoff teams, and you could field a quality group of starters from Texas who play for LSU, Clemson, Oklahoma and Ohio State.
LSU’s roster has 15 kids from Texas, including starters Grant Delpit, K’Lavon Chaisson and Cade York. Delpit is considered a first round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Ohio State’s roster has six kids from Texas, including starting running back J.K. Dobbins and cornerback Jeff Okudah. Dobbins ran for more than 1,800 yards and scored 20 touchdowns this season. Okudah, who went to South Grand Prairie, is considered a top 10 pick.
Clemson has but one Texan, tight end J.C. Chalk from Argyle.
Which brings us to the University of Texas at Oklahoma. The Sooners’ roster features 43 players from Texas.
Name the Oklahoma Sooner, and he’s probably from Texas. Starting running back Kennedy Brooks, receiver CeeDee Lamb, top linebacker Kenneth Murray, Jalen Hurts and the list goes on, are all from Texas.
For years Oklahoma has successfully recruited Texas, so this is not a new trend.
The alarming trend not only continues but seems to getting worse; too many of our top players keep leaving for places other than Oklahoma.
For instance, Alabama has nine Texans on its roster. These aren’t the guys Texas didn’t want.
When National Signing Day comes on Dec. 18, expect Rockwall wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who set a 6A record for receiving yards, to sign with Ohio State. Denton Ryan linebacker Drew Sanders is headed to Alabama. Carroll’s RJ Mickens is going to Clemson.
Instead of just keeping their own, both UT and A&M look outside more than ever. Texas has 26 players from out of state; the Aggies have 27.
When UT won the national title in 2005, it had 11 players from out of state. Few coaches in the modern era ever recruited Texas better than Mack Brown.
The players are here in Texas for either Texas or Texas A&M to reach the playoffs, and contend for a national title.
Keep guys like Delpit, Dobbins, Hurts, Lamb and so many others from leaving, and one of the two schools will win a championship.
To do anything other than that is a waste.
This story was originally published December 10, 2019 at 5:30 AM.
