Early Signing Day Tracker 2019: Grading each Texas signee

Linebackers

Similar to wide receivers for the offensive side of the ball, Texas football recruiting did a great job in hauling in the some big additions for the linebacking corps around the first Early Signing Day. Losses that are coming in the off-season can now be replaced partly by the incoming class of signees.

Texas signed four linebackers, and the latest addition was big in the nation’s third best JUCO outside linebacker Caleb Johnson. He was the only JUCO signee among the four linebackers. The linebackers were also the heaviest number of early enrollees of any position group in this class.

Here’s a look at the talented group of linebackers:

Outside Linebacker:

Marcus Tillman Jr. (Orlando, FL): Tillman Jr. was the highest rated of all the three-star recruits in this class. He’s going to have a similar path that Byron Hobbs had for the Horns as he made his way on the Forty Acres as part of the 2018 class of signees. Grade: B-

Inside Linebacker:

De’Gabriel Floyd (Westlake Village, CA): For yet another recruiting cycle, the Horns were able to get a good haul out of the state of California. Floyd was the highest rated linebacker signee overall and Herman did a nice job prying him away from the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins. Grade: A

David Gbenda (Katy, TX): Gbenda might find himself in a bind for early playing time since he comes into a situation where the Horns are pretty deep among first and second year linebackers. It’s always good to have depth at this level of the defense in Orlando’s scheme, though. Grade: B

Caleb Johnson (Fullerton, CA): In terms of making an early impact, none might be more important among the four linebacker signees than Johnson. This JUCO product should be able to help the Horns replace Gary Johnson at rover. Grade: A-