Texas Football Recruiting: What impact will 2019 WR Kennedy Lewis have on Longhorns

The 2019 Texas football recruiting class added its 22nd commit just before the start of the Early Signing Period with wide receiver Kennedy Lewis.

The second commit in the span of less than 24 hours came the way of the 2019 Texas football recruiting class just before the beginning of the Early Signing Period. After kicking off the month of December with two decommits from this 2019 Texas football recruiting class, head coach Tom Herman and his staff are piecing the puzzle back together nicely.

On Dec. 17, the Texas football recruiting class added its 21st commit in the form of the nation’s third best 2019 JUCO outside linebacker Caleb Johnson. As the fourth linebacker commit in this class for the Texas Longhorns, Johnson was a valuable add that could make an instant impact in an area of need next year.

To follow up the Dec. 17 commit of Johnson in proper fashion, Herman was able to grab a pledge from an underrated three-star Melissa High School wide receiver Kennedy Lewis. The sizable 6-foot-3 in-state wideout Lewis helped to patch up a hole left by two key decommitments from this 2019 Texas football recruiting class at the beginning of December.

It seems as if Lewis plans to be one of the first signees for this 2019 Texas football recruiting class during the Early Signing Period, which begins on Dec. 19. That in and of itself is big for the Horns since it can lock down on a wide receiver that will add valuable depth for the next few years.

In all likelihood, the Horns will lose at least two key wide receivers this off-season. How many key players the Horns lose in the receiving corps will come down to the looming decisions for Collin Johnson and Lil’Jordan Humphrey declaring early for the 2019 NFL Draft. We won’t figure out if either one of them, or both, declare for the upcoming NFL Draft likely until after the Allstate Sugar Bowl on New Years Day.

However, what Lewis brings to the Horns is something that could be valuable like what Humphrey developed into. Humphrey was a former three-star commit for the Horns for the 2016 recruiting cycle. He was a lengthy, but raw, wide receiver the Horns were able to maximize in this offense.

Lewis might not be the instant impact threat that the Horns could get out of someone like highly touted four-star wide receiver Jordan Whittington. His value will come for this Texas offense in the long-term picture. Lewis has reliable hands, potent route running ability, and good leaping ability which complements his size.

The ceiling for Lewis is much higher than his recruiting ranking would indicate. Per 247Sports Scouting Reports, Lewis compares to New England Patriots wide receiver Jordan Matthews and could develop into a late round NFL Draft pick when his time on the Forty Acres runs up.

Moreover, the pledge from Lewis didn’t boost the 2019 Texas football recruiting class up in the national rankings. It still ranks as the nation’s seventh best class, per 247Sports Team Composite Rankings. He will help the Horns stay atop the Big 12 2019 class rankings, though. He’s a big add for this class that gives the receiving corps more potential in the long run.