Texas Football: Position-by-position grades for 2020 recruiting class
Linebackers
Jaylan Ford (Lone Star), 3-Star OLB
The only signee in the 2020 Texas football recruiting class that I’m including in the true linebackers category is the former Utah commit and three-star Lone Star outside linebacker Jaylan Ford. The 6-foot-2.5 and 205 pound linebacker is a polished product in terms of his versatility but could add some speed in pursuit of the ball carrier.
During the second day of the Early Signing Period, Ford flipped his commitment from Utah to Texas. He changed the narrative that two other former Texas commits started after the departure of former Longhorns defensive coordinator Todd Orlando saw the door. The Frisco, TX, native is ranked as the nation’s No. 1,205 2020 high school prospect, but he at least adds depth at a weaker position at the moment for the Longhorns.
Texas clearly needs to add to their linebacker spot before National Signing Day 2020 arrives. Even counting Dorbah as a true linebacker here, the Longhorns are thin at middle linebacker. Adding a JUCO product, like they did with Juwan Mitchell in the 2019 signing class, could be a good move for Herman and Ash.
Developing linebacker talent from the ground up is a big priority for the Texas coaching staff. A lack of linebacker depth this season cost the Longhorns in a big way. And the lapses at that level of the defense could be one of the major reasons why Orlando lost his job.
Add to linebacker before National Signing Day to really bring together the younger part of this Texas defense.